There's a reason elite athletes train in the mountains: To build ultimate fitness, nothing beats running up steep hills until your legs and lungs surrender. At the touch of a button, the X10 tilts to a punishing 50 percent incline, putting a virtual Mount Whitney in your home gym. You can choose any grade between Florida flat and Colorado steep, in 5 percent increments. It's a quality treadmill in all the usual ways—cushioned platform, one-to-12-mph speed control, 37 preprogrammed workouts, displays of training and heart-rate data, a three-horsepower motor with lifetime warranty—but the X10's ability both to inspire and humble (try 40 percent at 4 mph!) sets it apart. Think of it this way: The X10 is cheaper than moving to Boulder.

NordicTrack Incline Trainer X10 $2,499 www.nordictrack.com