After several months running on the Peloton Tread+, I’m still very happy with it. Most of the features have genuinely improved my indoor training — structured long runs, controlled speed workouts, and consistent mileage when life or weather gets in the way.

But one feature I was excited about and ended up not liking is the Free Mode.

I had a very specific expectation going in.

At some gyms, there are curved treadmills where you can just start running and the belt moves with you. You accelerate naturally, you decelerate naturally, and you can sprint hard without pressing buttons. I thought Peloton’s Free Mode would feel similar — a tool for strides, accelerations, maybe even short 200-meter efforts indoors.

That is not what this is.

What Free Mode Actually Is

To move the belt, you have to hold the handrail and push it backward with force using your legs.

It works best when the treadmill is at an incline. In that situation it feels like hiking or power walking uphill. The motion makes sense there — you lean in, drive your legs, and the belt responds to effort.

But once you try to run?

It breaks down quickly.

You can’t naturally accelerate into a sprint. You can’t flow through a stride. Instead of running, you’re pushing. The mechanics change from a running motion to more of a resisted drive. It becomes an exercise, not a running tool.

Why That Matters

I had hoped Free Mode would become a staple for fast mechanics work indoors — strides after runs, short pickups during winter, or controlled sprint sessions when I couldn’t get to a track.

It doesn’t fill that role.

For actual running workouts, the standard motorized mode with speed control is still far better. The dial lets you smoothly ramp pace, and it feels closer to outdoor running than trying to manually drive the belt.

Free Mode isn’t useless — it’s just different than expected. It’s more of a strength or uphill effort feature than a running feature.

Why I’m Sharing This

Maybe I should have researched more beforehand. That’s exactly why I’m writing these posts. If you’re considering the Tread+ hoping for a self-propelled sprint treadmill, this won’t replace that.

If your goal is hill strength work or power hiking, you may actually like it.

If anyone has figured out a smart running use for Free Mode that I’m missing, I’d honestly love to hear it. I’ve tried to make it part of training and haven’t found a natural place yet.

Everything else about the treadmill has supported my training well.

This just isn’t the feature I thought it would be — and knowing that ahead of time would have helped me set better expectations.