With Zwift-compatible treadmills, runners in Australia can connect their equipment right to the Zwift app. As a result, this connection provides a more realistic and community-focused running experience while indoors.
These treadmills can send speed and incline data to Zwift, so users can join group runs, races, or just track their own stats. Thankfully, most of the popular brands have built-in or add-on support for Zwift.
Our in-depth guide will analyze the best contenders, features and specs to look for, and what you should know before purchasing.
What is Zwift Running Anyway?
Zwift running brings treadmill workouts online, letting runners join virtual tracks and group runs from home. While Zwift is big with cyclists, it has a growing running crowd who use it for a bit of variety or to keep up with mates.
On the technical side, the configuration requires equipment such as a Zwift Run footpod, a compatible Garmin watch or a treadmill with smart technology to connect. Many people have issues with Zwift not reading their speed correctly or not syncing their devices.
This is why calibration is so important, either by hand or automated tools. While Zwift can pick up speed data from your treadmill, a footpod, or an armband, incline adjustment will have to be done manually.
Most treadmills are compatible with Zwift, but you may need additional equipment for accurate tracking.
How Treadmills Connect with Zwift
Zwift is compatible with treadmills in several different ways. Luckily, the majority of treadmills now support Bluetooth to transmit speed data to Zwift. You don’t have to have a smart treadmill.
Any treadmill can work with Zwift if you add a foot pod, a heart rate monitor, or a device like the NPE Runn. Apple TV is a favourite among many of us here at Zwift. It only lets you connect one Bluetooth device at a time, which can add a level of complexity.
If you’re looking for incline data, a third-party app like Zwift’s Companion App can pipe that info into Zwift, but it’s not natively integrated. Additionally, no treadmill allows Zwift to automatically adjust your pace.
While most people connect without issue, others have occasionally experienced connection dropouts, despite months of smooth sailing.
Big Perks of a Zwift-Ready Treadmill
What makes a Zwift-ready treadmill special? Combining smart tech with real-world training. Users are treated to up-to-the-millisecond data, including pace, distance, and heart rate.
This creates simple dashboards for tracking progress and seeing trends over time. Though challenging, with Zwift, every workout becomes a competition—complete with badges and rewards—making treadmill runs less monotonous and more exciting.
The in-game chat feature allows users to connect with friends or make new ones, providing an added boost of motivation. Personalized workout plans ensure runners get the appropriate level of challenge, whether it’s their first workout or they’re gearing up for a marathon.
On rainy days, or when schedules get especially tight, Zwift-ready treadmills provide a convenient indoor solution. Speed readings are right on the money and the connection to other devices makes everything very smooth and up to date.
Key Features for Your Zwift Treadmill
A Zwift compatible treadmill with local runners provides plenty of opportunities to get more out of indoor training. Bluetooth connectivity means quick, no-nonsense syncing to Zwift, so you can jump into a run with minimal setup time.
You’ll have a blast picking from hundreds of different virtual courses. The app keeps a history of your pace, incline, and each session, so syncing to Strava or just checking how your runs stack up over time is a breeze.
All other setups will work on iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows. With a larger screen, such as a TV, the immersive experience really opens up and becomes much more rewarding.
If your treadmill doesn’t have any smart features, hope is not lost! Lastly, tracking your speed is simple with a foot pod or a Bluetooth HRM.
Do You Really Need a Special Treadmill?
Zwift has applications for both smart treadmills and dumb treadmills. All of the other Australians it seems even start on a standard treadmill with foot pod or heart rate monitor. These straightforward add-ons track pace and wirelessly transmit it to Zwift. Most people have determined that this is sufficient for personal use at home.
Select treadmills even have Zwift support built-in, allowing you to avoid additional gear and go right to direct syncing. This helps simplify things a little, but even that isn’t necessary for everybody. You don’t need high-tech gizmos for that—you can log run details directly on your phone or tablet.
If you’re looking for certain features such as auto incline or quicker syncing to Zwift, a Zwift-compatible treadmill is the way to go. Ultimately, it really comes down to what your needs are and what your setup is.
Sorting Out Connection Issues
With a Zwift-compatible treadmill, initial setup can prevent a world of hurt later on. For optimal connectivity, keep your device within 20 feet of the treadmill. Just don’t make it a logistical hassle!
Bluetooth works one-to-one, so if your treadmill is linked with an app, it can’t link with another at the same time. What you can do Even moving your treadmill or laptop a foot or two closer can help strengthen the connection.
If your data seems to be incorrect, performing a spin-down calibration in the app resolves the majority of issues. Many people report that using a Bluetooth heart rate monitor resolves their dropouts.
If you continue to experience issues, please verify your machine serial number. If you’re still having issues, consider resetting it or contacting customer service.
Zwift vs. Outdoor Running Compared
Zwift provides runners with a multitude of virtual courses to run on. Whether you’re a fan of flat streets or hilly trails, these features allow you to escape the boredom of running inside. These routes provide a constantly changing backdrop to your runs.
There’s nothing like the experience of an outdoor trail, with its undulations, scenery and breeze. Note that some treadmills provide more accurate speed readings, but your configuration can change the Zwift experience, so these results may vary.
Indoor runners can rely on accurate footpods for pace and distance. Smart treadmills provide a practical alternative for athletes looking to train smartly wherever they are.
Custom chat options allow runners to connect with other users on the run, spicing things up. Information like pace and distance can be inaccurate compared to outdoor runs.
Why Our Treadmills Nail Zwift
What makes Zwift-ready treadmills special are their Bluetooth connections. They provide runners the ability to join real-time group runs, run along virtual course routes, and track key metrics including pace, distance and heart rate.
Our treadmills work seamlessly with Zwift, making them a popular choice for gyms across Australia. Their performance is hit or miss depending on the model and what exact data they’re sending like speed, incline, and cadence.
Other units don’t transmit all of their data, resulting in a very lackluster Zwift experience. Users can take their experience to the next level with easy to use third-party applications.
Zwift’s achievement badges and leaderboards give competitive and non-competitive solo runs a gaming element. The diverse range of routes prevents repetitiveness that can kill motivation.
Zwift’s compatible treadmills list is a good start, but it’s not always current.
