RUN247’s Patrick Alexander is an avid trail runner who’d rather risk losing a toe to frost bite than take to the treadmill for a run session. But can Wahoo’s new smart treadmill change that? We sent Patrick to Wahoo HQ to test out the KICKR RUN treadmill, which promises to change the game for indoor running.
When I first heard that Wahoo had launched a new treadmill, I have to admit I wasn’t particularly excited. I hate running on treadmills and much prefer the great outdoors. Despite owning a treadmill—a hasty COVID purchase during lockdowns while juggling two kids under five—I’ve used it fewer than five times. My wife, on the other hand, has made much better use of it. For me, running outdoors is always the preferred option, whether in snowstorms, wind, or rain. The only weather that might drive me indoors is lightning.
While I’m happy to jump on the turbo trainer and tick off some of my bike workouts indoors. Treadmill running just hasn’t got the same appeal. It’s boring and monotonous. There’s no sensation of realistic terrain or undulation. The clunky motorhead gets in the way. It’s noisy. You spend more time jabbing at the controls than you do actually running when you’re trying to execute precise speed sessions. The list goes on!
But now Wahoo have entered the treadmill market, with their new KICKR RUN smart treadmill promising to address many of the indoor running gripes I’ve just reeled off. And with bold claims, come big expectations. Can Wahoo really change the game for indoor running with their new treadmill, like they did for indoor cycling with the KICKR turbo trainer? Intrigued, but sceptical, I headed to their London HQ to put the Wahoo KICKR RUN treadmill to the test to see if it could live up to the hype. And if it could convince me to rethink my stance on indoor running. Watch the video below or keep reading to find out how it went!
Wahoo KICKR RUN tech specs
The Wahoo KICKR RUN is an innovative smart treadmill that elevates indoor running by closely replicating the outdoor experience. Its standout feature, RunFree Mode, uses advanced sensors to automatically adjust the belt speed to match your pace, enabling hands-free operation for a more natural run.
| Max speed | 4 minutes per mile (2:58 minutes per kilometre) |
| Max incline | +15% |
| Max decline | -3% |
| Dimensions | 72″ x 38″ x 58″ |
| Belt length | 69″ |
| Motor | 3.0 horsepower |
| Features | RunFree mode with automatic pace control; Lateral tilt; Clean console; Laptop shelf; Third-party app connectivity; WIFI & Bluetooth connectivity; Time of flight safety feature; Ultra-quiet; Premium install service |
HOW WE TESTED THE WAHOO KICKR RUN SMART TREADMILL
To make sure it was a fair test, given my pathological hatred of indoor running, I was joined by my colleague Jenny – who needs very little convincing to hide from the elements and run indoors – at Wahoo HQ in London to test out the KICKR RUN smart treadmill. You can read her review over on our sister site, TRI247. The Wahoo team talked us through the basics of the treadmill, and we each took a turn at getting to grips with all the features at an easy pace before ramping up the pace to find out just how fast the KICKR RUN can go.
First impressions
I’ve always found treadmills to be ungainly machines that dominate a room, but the Wahoo KICKR RUN was a pleasant surprise. At first glance, it’s a sleek, minimalist piece of equipment. Its clean, futuristic design eliminates the bulky motor head often found on traditional treadmills, creating a streamlined aesthetic.
The control panel continues the minimalist theme with a simple digital display showing incline/decline percentage and pace in runner-friendly formats like mins/km or mins/mile—much more intuitive than the standard mph or kph. There’s also a button to engage the unique RunFree Mode and a secure shelf for your laptop or tablet. This simplicity is a breath of fresh air compared to the cockpit-style control panels cluttered with buttons and screens that often go unused on other treadmills.
Run Free mode
Looks are one thing, but the feature most likely to convince me to reconsider my stance on indoor running was the Wahoo KICKR RUN’s innovative RunFree mode. This feature essentially allows you to control the treadmill speed intuitively through your position on the belt, rather than having to constantly adjust the pace using buttons on the console. This works via neatly placed sensors in the console and under the belt which analyze your movement in real-time: move forward, and the treadmill speeds up; move backward, and it slows down.
At first, the sensitivity of these sensors took a little getting used to – I found myself alternating between going a little too fast and accidentally coming to a complete stop. But the learning curve is minimal. It only took a minute or so to get to grips with RunFree mode and then it felt incredibly intuitive and effective. Once I’d got the hang of it, I was blown away by how seamlessly it mimicked the natural rhythm of outdoor running.
Putting the Wahoo KICKR RUN treadmill through its paces
I have to admit that after my initial tutorial from the Wahoo team, and once I’d got to grips with Run Free mode, I was enjoying running on the KICKR RUN treadmill far more than I expected. But if I was going to be convinced, I needed to test out all the treadmill’s capabilities. Could it mimic the changing terrain of outdoor running, and take the hassle out of interval running?
The KICKR RUN promises some fairly astounding elite level speeds – 4 mins/mile (2:29 mins/km). Challenge accepted! With a ‘loser buys lunch’ battle on the line with my colleague Jenny, I ticked off a short stint at the treadmill’s maximum speed in Run Free mode. The treadmill got up to speed incredibly quickly, without having to touch the console once. And perhaps more impressive was how quickly and smoothly it came to a stop as soon as I needed to slow down. There was no risk of being catapulted off the back – much to my colleague Jenny’s disappointment. This slick precision bodes well for being able to execute workouts seamlessly. And even at the top speeds, this treadmill was surprisingly quiet – minimising both motor noise and the sound of footfalls. Great news for anyone living in shared spaces or running in the early morning.
I was also impressed with the incline range available on this treadmill, from -3% to +15%, allowing users to simulate a variety of terrains. You can also activate ‘terrain mode’ in the Wahoo app which incorporates a subtle lateral tilting motion – better mimicking the uneven surfaces of outdoor running so you can still work on ankle strength and stability while training indoors.
Beating the boredom – virtual training and connectivity
So far the Wahoo KICKR RUN was solving plenty of my issues with indoor running. Fuss-free interval training, exceptional speed and incline capabilities. And Run Free mode really does create an intuitive running experience that takes away the ‘hamster wheel’ sensation of running on a regular treadmill.
But what about the monotony of running indoors without the distraction of nature and scenery? RunFree mode aside, I think for me what really sets the Wahoo KICKR RUN apart is just how well it connects with third-party apps like Zwift. The smart connectivity makes it a far more engaging and immersive experience – dynamically matching any changes in elevation on the route you’re running on Zwift. Of course, nothing is going to ever truly beat the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. But with the seamless connectivity, I found myself immersed in the route I was running on Zwift – rather than watching the clock – and dare I say, actually enjoying a treadmill run?
Verdict: Has the Wahoo KICKR RUN convinced me to give indoor running a second chance?
I really didn’t expect the Wahoo KICKR RUN to change my mind about treadmill running. But I have to admit, it really is a game-changer for indoor running. It’s easy to use, intuitive and engaging to run on. The KICKR RUN transforms treadmill running from a dreaded necessity, to a viable – even fun (!) – alternative to outdoor workouts. While nothing is ever going to fully replicate the joy and freedom of running out in nature, this treadmill comes remarkably close. And it eliminates many of the frustrations and pitfalls typically associated with treadmills in the process.
Summary
At $4,999, the Wahoo KICKR RUN is undeniably a significant investment. But unlike most home treadmills, the cutting-edge features and premium running experience mean this won’t be yet another home exercise machine that ends up gathering dust. It’s too good to ignore. For serious runners and fitness enthusiasts, the Wahoo KICKR RUN is a worthwhile addition to any training arsenal.
