The short answer
For a small apartment, the folded footprint and the weight matter more than the unfolded specs, because you live with the stored machine every day. The most space-efficient folders here: the MERACH T12 Pro folds to about 5 square feet of floor (25.6" x 27.6" x 55"), the WalkingPad X21 double-folds to 39.6" x 27.9" x 8.8" and stores vertically at 81 lb, and the UREVO Strol 2S Pro folds flat to 6.69 inches high. Full-size folders need a real corner: the Horizon 7.0 AT folds to 44" x 35" x 68" at 277 lb, and the Sole F80 to 48" x 36" x 66" at 218 lb.
On noise, the only same-method measurements cover the full-size machines: BarBend measured 34.7 dB for the Horizon 7.0 AT, 35.4 dB for the older Sole F80, and 36.3 dB for the 2023 NordicTrack 1750, all with the tester one foot away at top speed after subtracting ambient room noise. The compact models carry manufacturer claims instead: under 42 dB for the T12 Pro, under 65 dB for the X21, about 35 dB under specified conditions for the UREVO CyberPad for Office, and 45 dB or less on DeerRun's UK site for the A1 Pro Move+. These are different methods and cannot be ranked together.
All specs and prices are from the official product pages, checked 2026-10-02.
Folded footprints compared
| Model | Folded / stored size | Weight | In-use belt |
|---|---|---|---|
| MERACH T12 Pro | 25.6" x 27.6" x 55" (about 5 sq ft of floor) | 99.2 lb | 17.7" x 47.3" |
| WalkingPad X21 | 39.6" x 27.9" x 8.8", stores vertically | 81 lb | 47.6" x 18.1" |
| UREVO Strol 2S Pro | 54.72" x 25.39" x 6.69" (folds flat) | 74.51 lb | 42.52" x 16.54" |
| DeerRun A1 Pro Move+ | 53.35" x 24.06" x 44.57" in use; folding dimensions listed on the UK site | 79.59 lb | Not listed on the US product page |
| Sole F63 (2026) | 42" x 34" x 71" | 187 lb | 20" x 60" |
| Horizon 7.0 AT | 44" x 35" x 68" | 277 lb | 20" x 60" |
| Sole F80 (2026) | 48" x 36" x 66" | 218 lb | 20" x 60" |
Measure your storage spot before you buy, including the doorway the machine must pass through. A folded treadmill that cannot get through the bedroom door is not a folding treadmill for your apartment.
How the folding mechanisms differ
- Horizon 7.0 AT: FeatherLight hydraulic folding. The hydraulics control the drop, so unfolding is gentle and one person can manage it.
- Sole F80 and F63: Kick Release folding. A release lever drops the deck; simple and mechanical.
- NordicTrack 1750: SpaceSaver design.
- WalkingPad X21: double-fold design that collapses to 8.8 inches thick for vertical storage.
- T12 Pro, A1 Pro Move+, Strol 2S Pro: compact folding frames aimed at flat or vertical storage in small rooms.
Hydraulic assistance makes folding easier. It does not make the machine light. A 277 lb treadmill with hydraulic folding is still 277 lb to move across the room or up stairs. Do not confuse easy folding with easy carrying.
"One-person folding" is not "one-person carrying." If the machine must go upstairs or through tight hallways regularly, the 74 to 99 lb compact class is the realistic solo-handling range, not the 187 to 277 lb full-size class.
Weight versus noise upstairs
Upstairs apartments add a second constraint on top of noise: every pound crosses the floor your neighbor lives under. The compact class (74.5 to 99.2 lb) is dramatically easier to place, move, and isolate than the full-size class (187 to 277 lb). Lower machine weight does not automatically mean less noise, but lower weight plus lower top speeds plus smaller motors is the combination that keeps both vibration and thud down. The full upstairs protocol is in the upstairs apartment checklist.
What the folding trade costs you
Compact folders trade belt length for footprint. The T12 Pro's 17.7" x 47.3" belt and the X21's 47.6" x 18.1" belt are walking and jogging belts, not full running decks. The full-size class keeps 20" x 60" decks and 12 mph top speeds. Incline also splits: the T12 Pro offers 15 percent auto incline and the Strol 2S Pro 0 to 9 percent auto incline, while the X21 has no incline and the A1 Pro Move+ has 6 percent manual incline. Full-size machines offer 0 to 15 percent powered incline. Buy the belt and speed your training actually needs; unused capacity is just stored weight.
Noise data, kept honest
Within BarBend's single test: Horizon 7.0 AT 34.7 dB, Sole F80 35.4 dB (older F80), NordicTrack 1750 36.3 dB (2023 model). Those are the only head-to-head numbers on this page. Everything else is a manufacturer claim under the manufacturer's own conditions: T12 Pro under 42 dB, X21 under 65 dB, CyberPad for Office about 35 dB (specified conditions), A1 Pro Move+ 45 dB or less (UK site only; the US page carries no figure). The Strol 2S Pro, Sole F63, and DeerRun Q2 carry no noise figure at all. The full explanation of why these cannot be ranked together is in running vs walking noise compared.
Budget bands
Using official-site listed prices checked 2026-10-02:
- $269 to $349: DeerRun A1 Pro Move+ ($269) and WalkingPad P1 ($349). Compact, light, walking-focused with the A1 Pro reaching 10 mph.
- $319.99: UREVO Strol 2S Pro, currently pre-order with estimated delivery 2026-10-15. Do not count it as an in-stock pick.
- $529.99 to $799: MERACH T12 Pro ($529.99) and WalkingPad X21 ($799). The step up buys powered incline options, longer belts, and higher capacity.
- $1,099 and up: Horizon 7.0 AT ($1,099), Sole F63 ($1,199.99), Sole F80 ($1,599.99). Full decks, full speeds, full weight.
The under-$500 field in detail is in quiet treadmills under $500. Prices are listed prices on the check date; promotions move them.