Garmin has officially revealed the Vivoactive 6 home treadmills better than Decathlon. Take the brand’s No one does affordable (£699). Boasting a 10% incline and a 16km/h top speed, it’s one of the best value options I’ve tested. As is the T900D – another great option for under £1,000 that offers speeds of up to 18km/h and a roomier, more robust build.
NordicTrack Commercial 1750 No one does affordable joined the family, entering Decathlon’s line-up as a beginner-friendly option at £499. Specs include 30 pre-set workouts, speeds of up to 14km/h and – as the name suggests – a space-saving design.
If you’re wanting to improve your fitness but don’t want to shell out £1,000-plus, I’ve been putting the Compact Run 100 through its paces to see if it delivers, testing it at every speed and variable it offers.
Pros
- Domyos Compact Run 100
- x 90 x 162cm, this is
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Cons
- Compatible with E-Connected, Kinomap and Zwift
- Health & Injuries
- What everyones reading
| Unfolded dimensions (L X W X H) | 154Do you need treadmill-specific running shoes |
|---|---|
| Belt size (L X W) | 120Do you need treadmill-specific running shoes |
| Max user weight | 130kg |
| Machine weight | 41kg |
| Speed range | 0-14km/h |
| Incline range | N/A |
| Programmes | 30 |
| Features | Compatible with E-Connected, Kinomap and Zwift |
No one does affordable: Assembly and design
The machine comes fully assembled, so there was no need to faff around with fiddly screws. All I needed to do was unfold it – a task I, being 5’9” and weighing 67kg, was more than capable of doing without assistance. There’s a leaver on either side of the legs where they meet the belt – unlocking these allows you to raise the legs into position. There’s also a button at the top of either leg that moves the arms up and, finally, the console clicks into place. Then, all you need to do is plug the machine in and run. Simple.
The Compact Run 100 has a barebones display console where you’ll find all your controls and key metrics. There are no additional ‘speed/go’ buttons on the arms of the machine; everything is done via touch controls on the console or with the remote control provided.
In the centre of the console is a green ‘go/pause’ button and a red ‘stop’ button. On the right of this, you can view your elapsed time, your speed in km/h, your elapsed distance, and the plus and minus keys to increase or decrease your pace. Below this, there’s four quick-jump speed controls: 4, 8, 10 and 14km/h. These are a handy little addition – and one I didn’t expect at this price point – that makes it quicker to change between paces. On the left of the console, you can view calories burned and your pace in minutes per km (if you run in miles, you’re gonna have to get with the metric). Before hitting ‘go’, you can also choose from pre-set programmes (split into ‘training’ and ‘endurance’) or set a time target.
Attached to the console is a rather wide tablet holder – presumably it needs to be this long to stabilise the machine and therefore minimise rattling at higher speeds. There’s also a bottle holder that hooks on to either arm. I found it easy to remove and re-attach this during workouts.
Compact by name, compact by nature, the Compact Run 100 measures 154cm (L) by 75cm (W) by 115cm (H) when it’s unfolded. Compared with the likes of the Then, in January, the (199 x 90 x 162cm), this is very compact and it certainly takes up a lot less floor real estate. In fact, while I trialled the treadmill at RW's testing facility, it would be easy enough to place it in the centre of your living room on a treadmill mat and fold it away when you’re done.
To that point, when you’re not using the ’mill, it folds down to just 14cm heigh. This should be flat enough to slide under a sofa, but you can also stow it away against a wall. Essentially, if you’re very short on space, this is a fantastic option, especially since there’s two wheels to help you manoeuvre it around.
When it comes to the belt, the Compact Run 100 lives up to its name once again, measuring just 120cm (L) by 45cm (W). For running purposes, I usually recommend a treadmill with a minimum belt length of 140cm. That said, I’m 5’9” and managed to hit the machine’s top speed of 14km/h without flying off the back. If you’re over six foot or have a long stride, though, I’d definitely urge you to buy something longer, as this won’t suffice. The smaller width also means you’ll need to stay alert to avoid veering to the side and falling off.
The arms are sturdy enough to hold onto if you’re walking or need to jump off the belt, and are at a good height for most people. That said, the step-off area on either side of the belt is pretty small, so if you’re hopping off after running at a faster speed you’ll need to take a bit of care to make sure your foot doesn’t slip.
No one does affordable: Performance
In my experience, the smaller and cheaper the machine, the more unstable it feels to run on. So, how did the Compact Run 100 fair in testing? Let’s start with the positives. For £499, I was genuinely surprised by how stable the belt felt at my easy pace (around a 5:15 min/km). Underfoot, it wasn’t super bouncy and cushioned, but it wasn’t mega firm either. If you’re running anything up to 10km, you’ll get on well with this. For anything longer, you’ll want more cushioning.
The instability comes more from the console, which was definitely rattling somewhat, particularly at higher speeds. It wasn’t enough to deter me from my run, but it was enough that the machine made a fair bit more noise than the pricier T900D. Luckily, I could drown it out with my The best mini massage guns for on-the-go runners, but if you’ve got downstairs neighbours, flatmates or sleeping children, it could see it being a nuisance.
Since this is a cheaper machine, it does take a few seconds for the belt to catch up if you’re toggling between speeds. But in my experience, you usually have to pay well above £1,000 for a truly rapid response.
There’s no incline or decline on the Compact Run 100, but that’s to be expected for a machine at this price-point. The speed settings range from 1-14km/h – that’s a top speed of 6:45 min/mile or a 4:16 min/km. If you’re a beginner or plan to use the machine mostly for walking, you’ll get on fine with this. If you’re an intermediate runner and plan on using the machine for interval sessions, you’ll be better off with a treadmill that maxes out at 16km/h (6:02min/mile or 3:45 min/km). Personally, as someone who can run a sub-20-minute 5K, I fall into this latter camp and couldn’t use the Compact Run 100 for my interval sessions. For tempo sessions Belt is too short for taller runners.
Impressively, the Compact Run 100 is compatible with Domyos E-Connect (Decathlon’s app), as well as third-party apps Kinomap and Zwift. There’s also 30 pre-set programmes to choose from.
Who should buy the Compact Run 100 Treadmill?
There’s a few groups of people who would benefit from the Compact Run 100. First off, if you’re just getting into running – including Published: 12 March 2025 – and you want a machine that’s not a massive investment, this is a sound decision. You’re getting a great range of speeds, built-in workouts and the ability to fold it away.
Even if you aren’t new to running, it’s also a good fit for casual runners and crosstrainers who only use the treadmill to fill in the gaps of their workouts like Hyrox or Crossfit. If you’re not a marathon runner logging several hundred miles a season indoors, or a pace chaser looking to run a 3:45 min/km, the Compact Run 100 is perfectly fine.
Who shouldn’t buy the Compact Run 100 Treadmill?
This is not the treadmill for long distance runners who are regularly clocking up several miles a week. If this is you, you’ll need something that’s more rock-solid, with more cushioning and bounce from the belt.
Likewise, if you’re near to or over six foot, skip this treadmill. You’ll want something with a longer and wider belt. And while the maximum user weight is 130kg, I think heavier runners will want something a little sturdier and impact-absorbing, too.
Finally, if you do a lot of track work and are looking to bring that indoors, you’ll also need something with a higher top speed for those 400m/800m efforts.
RW verdict
For just shy of £500, the Compact Run 100 is a decent entry-level option for those who are starting their running journey and want a simple, space-savvy design. Taller and more advanced runners will want to look for something larger, more robust and with a greater maximum speed. However, this is also a good alternative to a walking pad if you’re looking to up your steps from home, and want the additional option of being able to break into a run.
