Vintage Exercise Machines That Look Like Torture Devices

Wooden Treadmill

Before modern treadmills, there were wooden treadmills—hulking beasts made of slats and gears. Users had to power them manually, like hamsters on a wheel, which meant your cardio session felt more like a punishment than a health pursuit.

With no motor or cushion, every step was a noisy clunk that echoed through your house like a construction site. These machines weren’t just ineffective—they were dangerous. Slips, stumbles, and splinters were common. Unsurprisingly, once electric treadmills arrived, these wooden torture tracks were banished to basements and bonfires.

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