Do you want to read while walking on the treadmill? These seven solutions will help you read easily by preventing any stress in your neck, back or eyes!
If your work out at home and want to read while taking an exercise break? Or You are a busy professional or a mom and only get time to read when walking on a treadmill? Or You love multitasking and think that reading while sitting or running on a treadmill alone is not a productive use of time? Or You hate being a couch potato but want to make your exercise time more fun by reading books?
You have made a great decision. You’re going to lose weight and gain knowledge.
Now, here are the seven solutions that will help you read completely hands-free while you exercise on the treadmill. These are designed to support not only the book but also hold the book open. They come in a range of price and complexity, from cheap to expensive, from really simple to sophisticated.
But before starting, please note: Some solutions provide you with a flat surface.
So, You will need to get something to keep your pages open. I have written a post on that separately, which you can check here. I think that you will need the 5th one in that list, that is, page holder clips.
Here are the seven ways to keep the book open on the treadmill?
7 best Treadmill book holders
1- Portable and the Simplest Book Holder Rack for Treadmill
It is the simplest solution which is also very inexpensive. It easily fits over most treadmills. Plus, you can carry it with you to the gym or use it in your home.
Installation is easy. Just place it on the treadmill head, and its deep pocket will hold the treadmill. Next, place the book on it and start reading. This is how simple it is to attach it to your treadmill.
It can fit most of the books easily. You can read from thin magazines and small paperbacks to thick hardcovers.
Not only that…It can also be used for placing a kindle or your laptop. But, the surface would be a bit slippery.
There are standard and Extra deep versions available. Deep ones are for either thick books or thick treadmill consoles. The deeper pockets are available in 3.5 and 5 inches.
There are also two sizes available. 1) 9×11 inches, and 2) 11×11 inches for bigger books.
There are also different colors available. You can get the one that matches your treadmill.
Or you can get the steel ones which are more durable than others.
Or you can get the one with clear plastic, which will enable you to see through the book rack to the treadmill setting and buttons. I recommend this one.
But there is a problem.
You could not read the text that is at the bottom of the page. It is hidden under the lip of the front pocket.
To avoid that problem, get the one which is made of see-through plastic.
2- Portable Treadmill Desk That You Can Easily Carry
It is a thin and lightweight flat surface that has two handles cut out at the edges.
If you want to take it to the gym, it will be easy for you to do so. Just attach it to your backpack and take it where ever you want.
The board is flexible, which allows it to absorb vibrations that your treadmill generates.
But at the same time,
It is durable enough to hold thick hardcover books easily. Or you can place a laptop as well. In addition, it supports up to 22 pounds, which is far more than your average book.
Its alternative is equally effective.
You can easily fix it on the arms of the treadmill using a velcro strap. Even if your treadmill is wider or shorter than the width of the desk, there is no problem. It is because you can still attach it to your treadmill securely.
If your height is below 5 feet 9 inches, it is perfect for you, but if you are taller, you can use a stand to lift the book at a better ergonomic level. That way, you will not feel any stress in your neck are back.
Other than reading books, you can use this desk to place your laptop or tablet.
The number 6 DIY solution is very similar to this one. This one is better, though.
3- Cheap $15 DIY treadmill desk
I came across a video on YouTube which shows how you can easily make a treadmill desk with just a simple board.
It will cost you just a few bucks. But first, you need to decide if that will even work for you.
4- Portable Surfshelf book holder for treadmill
This is another portable bookshelf for a treadmill.
You can attach it to almost 80% of the treadmills using its flexible strap. See this youtube video to understand how to install this book rack.
As you can see in the video, it attaches securely and provides you with a surface to place books, kindle, or your laptop.
It is a cost-effective solution to hold books for reading on a treadmill.
But there is a problem.
It is not a universal solution. For example, some treadmills might not get the angle right; for some people, it might be higher than it should be, and sometimes it might stop the treadmill if it hinders with the buttons. So it is advised to see your treadmill before buying.
If you do not like it, you can return it, but you will pay for it.
5- Multi purpose floor book stand by LEVO
One of the most versatile book holders works in every situation, sitting, lying down, bathing, or walking on a treadmill. I have already discussed in an article about book holder for reading in bed.
You can adjust the height and the angle of the books however you like. If you feel that you need it higher than the maximum height, you can buy a two-foot extension, and it will be at the right height.
Fixing books onto the stand is also very easy and takes less than a minute. Plus, it is safe for books.
Whether you plan to read a lightweight paperback magazine or a heavy hardcover book, the stand will support them well.
As you can see from the picture, two knobs at the bottom keep the pages open without using your hands. They exert just the right amount of pressure that does not damage the book.
It takes some floor space but saves you from the hassle of fixing anything on your treadmill.
Just roll it near the treadmill when walking, and place it near your bed before going to sleep. It has fours wheels on the base, which makes it very easy to move around.
This is what makes it a perfect companion for a bookworm.
6- Walktop Treadmill desk – Modern, Stylish & Solid!
This treadmill desk is a bit expensive, but as they say, you get what you pay for.
But still…
In this case, it might be a bit more expensive than the value it provides, especially if you consider the LEVO multipurpose floor book holder, which is half the price of this desk. But it is up to you, whether you consider it pricey or a great investment!
This desk is built with an aluminum frame and see-through plastic. And once you fix it to the treadmill, it can hold a lot of weight.
It means,
You can easily place hardcover books, laptops, and other accessories while walking on your treadmill.
You will be able to easily see through all the controls and the settings on the treadmill.
Attaching this to the treadmill is also very easy. Just place it on the arms of your treadmill and pull the straps tight. I will hold myself securely.
And if you want to do some running, then remove this stand. It will take less than a minute to detach.
You can adjust the inclination and the height of the desk.
See this demo video here
But, did you notice a problem?
You cannot place a book when inclined because it will slip down as there is no stop at the bottom. You might need to get a book holder separately. It is not expensive, but it just makes it a two-step process.
7- TrekDesk for reading books on a treadmill – Overkill as a book holder
This is for those who are so serious about multitasking that they need a complete workstation desk, not only for reading but also for doing a lot of work.
This is the most expensive desk on this list. And it is only for those who are sure that are comfortable in reading while walking.
Checkout its best alternative
The use of this desk can help you lose a lot of weight while you are busy reading.
You can adjust its height to suit a person ranging from 5’4’’ to 6’4’’. But once you fix the height, it is not easily adjustable.
It has a solid construction where the legs are made of steel with powder-coated paint. And the surface is also made of high-density plastic, which is also reinforced with steel. As a result, it can hold up to 57 pounds of weight without any problem.
Holding a book is not a problem for this desk. Rather, you can support a complete library on it.
Buy this when you are sure otherwise; there are no returns possible. But, if anything breaks down, there is a two-year warranty to back it up.
Final Thoughts:
I started this article to give you a quick solution to hold the book open to read on a treadmill. Some of these products fulfill that purpose, but the last two are more than what you need. Do you agree? Let me know your thoughts.
Now, What do I like the most?
I think either you should go for the quick and simple solution, Or get a multipurpose solution. I like LEVO stand the most.