If you spend any time at Planet Fitness, you already know there is more than one treadmill. In many locations there are rows and rows of them stretching across the gym floor. While they are reliable machines, they are not exactly exciting pieces of equipment. Walking or running in place for thirty minutes can feel like an hour if you do not have something interesting to watch or listen to. Notice the lack mount locations for a phone or tablet?
Planet Fitness does try to provide some entertainment options. Most treadmills face a wall of televisions, and the console includes a small headphone jack so you can listen to the audio from those TVs. The problem is that this setup feels a bit outdated. Many people no longer carry wired headphones, and the programming on the gym televisions may not be what you want to watch during your workout.
For that reason, many gym members prefer to bring their own phone or tablet so they can watch YouTube, Netflix, or listen to music or podcasts while exercising. Unfortunately, the built-in device holders on most Planet Fitness treadmills were designed years ago and do not work well with modern smartphones and tablets.
Why Planet Fitness Treadmills Don’t Work Well for Phones and Tablets
Most Planet Fitness treadmills include a small shelf beneath the display along with a narrow phone slot built into the console…
We don’t know who invented these but it sure seems like it wasn’t thought through very well.
Most Planet Fitness treadmills include a small shelf beneath the display along with a narrow phone slot built into the console. In theory this should be a convenient place to set your phone. In reality it rarely works well.
The slot built into the console was designed when phones were much smaller. Many modern phones will not fit into the slot at all, especially if they are inside a protective case. Even if your phone does fit, the viewing angle is often awkward and it can partially block the screen or buttons on the treadmill.
The shelf beneath the display is slightly better, but it still has limitations. It is positioned too low for comfortable viewing and provides very little stability. Larger phones can slide around when the treadmill is moving, and tablets simply will not fit on the shelf.
As a result, many people end up balancing their phone against the console or holding it in their hand while running. Neither option works very well and both can be distracting during a workout.
Best Mounting Location on a Planet Fitness Treadmill
The best place to mount a phone or tablet is usually the center handlebar located between the two metal pulse sensors. This curved bar sits directly in front of you and provides a stable mounting point that keeps your device at eye level.
The diameter of this handlebar is very similar to a bicycle or motorcycle handlebar. That means many mounts designed for bikes or motorcycles will also work well on a treadmill. These mounts typically attach using a clamp or strap and can be installed in seconds without tools.
A removable mount is ideal for gym use because you can quickly install it at the start of your workout and remove it when you are finished.
Types of Mounts That Work Well
| Mount Type | Best For | Advantages |
|---|---|---|
| Strap Handlebar Mount | Smartphones | Quick installation and easy removal |
| Clamp Style Mount | Large phones | Very stable and adjustable viewing angles |
| Tablet Handlebar Mount | iPad Mini or small tablets | Supports heavier devices securely |
Phone Mount Option
One simple solution is a handlebar phone mount with a strap. These mounts wrap around the handlebar using a strap or clamp and hold your phone in an expandable cradle.
We used to recommend mounts made for bicycles but now, a few companies embraced this type of mount for treadmills. The A2C mount recommended tis made specifically for gym use. The company is well established and makes solid mounts.
The advantage of this type of mount is convenience. You can attach it to the treadmill handlebar in just a few seconds and remove it just as quickly when you are finished. This is a MagSafe attachment which is perfect fcor gym use. Small profile so easy to transport.
See this phone mount on Amazon
Tablet Mount Option
If you prefer exercising while watching movies or longer videos, a tablet mount may be a better choice. Tablet mounts typically use a stronger clamp system that grips the handlebar securely while supporting the extra weight of a tablet.
Many modern tablet mounts support devices up to the size of an iPad Mini and can tilt or rotate so you can position the screen exactly where you want it. A mount like this can make treadmill workouts much more enjoyable because you can watch shows or follow workout videos while exercising.
Can You Mount a Phone or Tablet on a Treadmill?
Yes, and many gym members do exactly that. Most treadmills, including the ones commonly found at Planet Fitness locations, have a center handlebar that works well with handlebar-style mounts. These bars are usually similar in diameter to bicycle handlebars, which means many phone mounts designed for bikes will fit perfectly.
A handlebar mount allows you to position your device directly in front of you at eye level. This makes it much easier to watch videos, follow workout programs, or listen to music without holding the device in your hand.
For larger devices like tablets, a clamp-style mount works best because it provides additional stability while the treadmill is moving.
Final Thoughts
Planet Fitness treadmills are dependable machines, but their built-in device holders have not kept up with the size of modern smartphones and tablets. A simple handlebar mount can make a big difference by holding your device securely at a comfortable viewing angle.
Whether you want to watch videos, listen to music, or follow a workout program, a removable mount allows you to turn an otherwise boring treadmill session into a much more enjoyable workout.
We also looked at elliptical phone mount challenges at Planet Fitness as well as how to mount a phone to a Peloton bike.
