You have probably noticed a treadmill at the gym, even if you don't get a chance to visit regularly. But have you ever considered buying one? What's the best treadmill for home use?
Our home use treadmill reviews can help you pick the right machine for your home. This is a solid option for people who choose not to go to the gym for various reasons, from feeling uncomfortable around others to trying to save time and money.
It is also a great option for those who are serious about fitness and would like a home gym. Read ahead for more details!
In a hurry? The top pick selections are listed:
For a list of the top treadmills for home use selling on Amazon, click here for more information.
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Buying a treadmill for home use can be a fantastic first step towards losing weight and getting in shape, all from the comfort and privacy of your own house - and without an expensive monthly gym membership.
Choosing a treadmill is not the easiest thing in the world by any stretch of the imagination. There are so many models out there, and each one offers the user a unique set of benefits.
I have done the research and answered most of the frequently asked questions. See if this machine is for you.
What Are The Types Of Treadmills?
The treadmill is a classic piece of equipment that allows for running, walking, or in some cases can even simulate hiking with some of the higher end models. This versatile piece of equipment can be a fantastic buy, but they can also be very expensive depending on the model you go with.
While there are some very specific and specialized styles of exercise equipment that might not fit into these three groups, in general you will find that there are three types of treadmills to choose from:- Budget folding- Folding- Non-folding
Budget Folding Treadmills
These are generally best for walkers and not runners, as the materials won't be quite as sturdy when it comes to taking heavy use and abuse. Generally speaking the budget models focus on just that: giving you a workable treadmill at the lowest possible price range.
They will have basic display information and a water holder, but generally won't have multiple pre-programs, heart monitors, or any other bells and whistles that others find really useful.
Folding Treadmills
Folding treadmills offer the obvious benefit of being able to fold up and move to a smaller space once a workout is finished, and this is a feature that many individuals find extremely beneficial.
Conventional folding treadmills are still going to be a little bit smaller than your non-folding treadmills and aren't always the best choice for hardcore runners, especially with longer strides, but that's a judgement that need to be made on a case by case basis.
Non-Folding Treadmills
The highest end models of treadmills tend to be non-folding, which are also the original design. Once set up, these treadmills will generally be in one place since taking them apart and putting them back together will take an enormous amount of work.
In general these are also more stable for really heavy duty use, while folding treadmills are good for most users and offer a level of convenience for home setup that's hard to ignore.
The obvious disadvantage is that these will be space hogs. However, they tend to be much sturdier than any other type of model. These are normally the best options for runners, heavy set individuals looking to get into shape, or athletes who want a really hardcore workout to get themselves into shape.
How To Select A Home Treadmill?
Some treadmills are very basic with a minimal amount of features. They focus almost exclusively on speed, angle, and on telling you the estimated number of calories you've burned. There's nothing wrong with this and
a basic treadmill that gets used frequently is a far better choice than a large and expensive treadmill that has all the bells and whistles but seeing very little use at all.
The reality is that there is no single home treadmill out there that will please everyone, so the idea is to consider a number of key features and choose the best one for you based on your findings.
Here is a fairly comprehensive guide that will help you take some of the guesswork out of the process.
What Are The Key Features?
What Size Treadmill Do I Need?
While treadmills can vary immensely, there are just certain features that must always be considered before making a purchase. Size is a big one.
The ideal size of a home treadmill varies depending on whether you intend to mostly run or walk, with walkers needing about 10 inches less than their running counterparts. Never ignore the size of a quality treadmill you're looking at and make sure it is a good fit for you!
The belt dimensions can vary. Typical dimensions are a width of 20 inches and length of 40 inches. This can vary to 22 by 60
Extra width and length are important if you are tall, take longer strides or plan on running or jogging on the treadmill. Pictured is a treadmill with extra length.
This extra width can make you will feel comfortable when you are working out. It also makes the treadmill safer to use.
Should I Buy A Folding or Compact Treadmill?
How much space is needed depends on your requirements, but is an important factor.
If you plan to create a home gym and have the treadmill set up at all times, portability does not matter.
If you need to fold up the treadmill and move to a closet for storage, ease of movement is a major issue.
If you live in an apartment and space is limited, a compact folding treadmill is a solution.
The best treadmills offer EZ folding technology. Some even fold up automatically by just pushing a button.
What Size Treadmill Motor Do I Need?
Your motor size depends on how rigorous you plan to use the machine. More weight, higher speeds and incline levels require higher performance motors.
Your motor should could have 1.5 horsepower if you are walking, a 2.5 if jogging is more your speed, or a 3.0 if you plan to run like the wind on your machine.
Speed and incline are key elements of performance.
What Is Cushioning or Shock Absorption?
You need to look at the ergonomic or shock absorbing benefits. Almost every type of modern treadmill is going to be designed to take away some of the physical shock that goes through the muscles, joints, and feet from running, which can be very hard on the body.
A treadmill that doesn't look at any of these things and has a hard running surface used for the actual running isn't going to give you the full support that you need to stay injury free.
Cushioning is for comfort. The better the shock absorption, the easier walking, jogging and running is on the knees and other joints.
You do not want to buy a treadmill that does not have a quality surface since it can help you train better. Machines that offer this are able to be used comfortably for a longer period of time, which means that you will have a much better workout.
How Easy Is Treadmill Set Up?
Some products are pre-assembled and can take 15 minutes to set up. Others require at least 2 people and can take hours. If the treadmill has the features that you want, it may be worth the extra hassle for a one time 2 hour assembly. You can always pay to have it done.
Which Programs or Apps Are Compatible with the Treadmill?
If you love working out to music or even motivational speeches then you are going to want a treadmill that has an attachment where you can plug in an MP3 music player, Apple iPod, or even a smartphone to play your favorite music and audio programs.
Let's take this up a notch. There are treadmill apps that can change the tempo of your music and synchronize it to your workout. There are video apps that mimic the exact elevation to different trails around the world. There are amazing video tours as well as intense coaching courses to make workout very enjoyable. The possibilities are actually endless on the best treadmills.
For some people these are nice benefits, for others, they are necessities.
What Treadmill Brand Is The Best?
There are countless options on the market, but there are some that are known for being higher quality than many of the others that are available.
If you want the most bang for your buck, you should seek out one of the following brands: Sunny Health & Fitness,, NordicTrack T Series Treadmill + 30-Day iFIT Membership, Exerpeutic, Sole, Xterra, ProForm,and LifeSpan. There are others available, but these are some of the best treadmills available.
Which Treadmill Offers The Best Warranty?
Warranties are covered on the motor and frame, labor and parts. As the price goes up, so does the warranty typically. The motor and frame can have a 1 year warranty or lifetime warranty. Labor and Parts can be as little as 90 days or up to 5 years.
Some brands comes with a lifetime warranty on motor and frame.
What Are Bonus Features?
Just a short list of the most popular bonus features some of what have become necessities for the active workout:
How Much Does A Treadmill Cost?
As was briefly mentioned earlier, different types of machines have very different price tags. This means that there is likely to be something out there for everyone.
Some fairly decent inexpensive models that give just the absolute basics can go for as little as $200-300 while there are high end models that fall in the $2,000 to $3,000 range. This all depends on several factors, including the brand, size, type, number of features and store you decide to make a purchase from. There is a large price range.
Obviously that's a huge budget difference for most people, and further goes to show why research is so critical to make sure you're not spending way more on a treadmill than you need to in order to get the home exercise that actually benefits you.
You should not allow the price to be the only thing you consider, or you may end up unsatisfied with the purchase you have made.
For instance, trying to be cheap and buying a $200 treadmill would not be wise if you plan to workout vigorously or have a weight capacity issue. It is best to consider price after everything else has been taken into consideration.
What Is The Best Treadmill For The Money?
***Due our current situation, exercise equipment is in high demand. We will update post often to provide the currently available treadmills.
The Sunny Health and Fitness Folding Treadmill was in stock as of this writing but with very few units. Another alternative is the Pink Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill. Sunny is a reputable affordable brand with several models under 400. ***
Best Buy Treadmill Under 400 - Sunny Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Treadmill
This is a great machine for people who are not looking to spend a great deal of money. While it weighs about 103 pounds, it is really lightweight in comparison to other machines of this caliber.
It is collapsible, which means that you can move it from room to room without any issues.
There are some treadmills that are very difficult to assemble, but this is not one of them.
From start to finish it should take the average person around 30 minutes. It has a large LCD display with 9 preset programs that lets the user keep track of the calories burned, distance, elapsed time and mph.
This machine is sturdy enough that many people have used it for jogging.
Best Buy Treadmill Under 1500 - Nautilus T616
This Nautilus treadmill model offers all the bells and whistles that you want in a high performance treadmill. This includes 15 incline levels and a 3.0 HP motor to support it.
You can travel the globe with Bluetooth technology and the World app. There are 26 programs.
There are different types of heart rate monitor. This home treadmill is contact & telemetry enabled. A chest strap is included for measuring your heart rate.
The treadmill has the extra length (60 inches) to support long strides and jogging.
If you are a someone who is into high-intensity running workouts, this is definitely a brand that you may want to consider.
Basically, this is the perfect machine for someone who is totally into technology and getting the most out of their workouts.
The T616 has a 15 year warranty on the the motor and frame.
For a full review, visit Nautilus T616 Treadmill – A Great Workout Without Leaving Home.
Conclusion - Which Treadmill Is For You?
Now that you have all of this information available to you, it is time for you to find a home treadmill that is right for you. Think about all of the features and other information that was provided here and use that to make a solid decision. Remember speed and incline are key to performance.
Choose wisely, especially if you plan to spend a considerable amount of money. This is far too large a purchase to make a hasty decision that you will regret later. Perhaps you will like one of the two machines that were reviewed here, or maybe something else out there is more your speed. Either way, you will be armed with all of the right information when it is time to go shopping.
Good luck on your search and hopefully you will make a purchase that will not leave you with buyer's remorse. Now you can save time and money by working out at home instead of heading to the local gym.
There actually is another type of home treadmill that might interest you. Do you work from home? Or have a home office? A treadmill desk is becoming more popular both in home offices and at companies who are health conscious. Read about the Exerpeutic Treadmill Desk in my post "Why Use A Treadmill Desk - Cause Sitting Is The New Smoking".
