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Cheap Treadmills: Best Cheap Treadmill Reviews
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Cheap Treadmills Buying Guide
Doctors continually cite walking and jogging as the best forms of cardiovascular exercise, so it's no surprise that treadmills are the most popular-selling fitness equipment. But with price tags ranging upwards of $2,000 for well-known, high-end brands like Nordic Track, Landice, and Bowflex, the frugal shopper is left wondering if it's really necessary to spend thousands of dollars on a treadmill.There are plenty of quality budget treadmills for less than $600 that afford users the convenience of exercising in their own home. Bear in mind, however, that many manual (i.e., non-motorized) treadmills fall into the cheap price range; experts do not recommend these models because they are only meant for walking and are not particularly sturdy. But despair not-- there are a wide variety of inexpensive motorized treadmills to choose from.
The best low-cost treadmills are produced by Icon Health and Fitness, the largest fitness equipment manufacturer in the world, and by Johnson Tech, another large, multi-national company. Icon owns brands like Proform, Gold's Gym, Reebok, and Weslo; Johnson Tech is the parent company of Horizon and Merit Fitness. Each company manufactures a range of bargain models with a vast array of capabilities and features, so determining which are essential and which are not can be daunting. Even though treadmills priced under $600 come with a variety of attractive bonus features like fans, iPod docks, speakers, and extra workout programs, experts advise consumers to stay focused on a handful of key features when judging the quality and durability of an economical treadmill. The following guide aims to educate you on the key features and performance criteria to look for in an inexpensive treadmill so you get the best value for the lowest price.
Back to top »What To Look For: Cheap Treadmills Features
Cheap Treadmills Motor Power.
Manufacturers measure a treadmill's motor power in two ways: continuous duty horsepower (CHP) or peak performance horsepower. Experts suggest that frugal shoppers focus on the continuous-duty rating, which indicates how consistently the motor will operate for the duration of your workout and over time; peak performance merely indicates the maximum horsepower the machine can reach. For serious runners and for those who plan to use their treadmill daily, experts recommend treadmills with a continuous duty horsepower rating of at least 2.0. Luckily for frugal shoppers, a select few low-priced treadmills have motors that meet this requirement. Proform's iSeries 660 (starting at $569, Amazon
) and the 5.0 Crosstrainer (starting at $599, Amazon
) are both equipped with a Mach 2.0 CHP Commercial Drive Motor, one of the most powerful motors used in treadmills selling for less than $600.
Consumers should also keep in mind that choosing the best budget treadmill depends largely on the specific fitness needs of the user(s). If you're planning to use your treadmill infrequently or only for walking, then a 2.0 CHP rating is unnecessary. For walking or for very light use, many treadmill reviews by users on Walmart.com give excellent marks to the feature-packed and ultra-cheap Gold's Gym 450 (starting at $387). Ditto on Amazon for the Merit Fitness 725T (starting at $399, Amazon
Inexpensive Treadmills Warranties.
Because treadmills in the Cheapism niche (under $600) are made with less costly materials that are unlikely to last many years, experts say long warranties on the motor and parts are must-have features of a budget treadmill. Horizon Fitness offers a lifetime motor warranty -- an atypical feature for a cheap treadmill -- on several of its low-cost machines, such as the Horizon Fitness T91 Treadmill (starting at $599, Amazon
) and Horizon Fitness T90 (starting at $534, Amazon
). Proform also offers a competitive 12-year motor warranty on most of its inexpensive models -- specifically the iSeries 660 and the 5.0 Crosstrainer. Gold's Gym also offers a competitive 25-year warranty on most of its budget treadmills, such as the Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk (starting at $599) and the Gold's Gym 450.
Low-priced Treadmills Tread Belt Size.
The dimensions of tread belts on inexpensive treadmills vary greatly. The minimum recommended tread belt length is 50" with a width of 18", although the longer your stride, the larger the running area you'll require. High quality budget treadmills, like the Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk, Horizon Fitness T91, Proform iSeries 660, and ProForm 5.0 Crosstrainer all have tread belts that exceed the recommended dimensions and also receive commendable ratings from expert reviewers at Treadmillscentral.com.Economical Treadmills Automatic Incline/Decline.
Automatic incline adjustment is another necessary feature. Many cheap treadmills only offer a manual incline, which means you have to stop your workout, get off the treadmill, and adjust the deck if you want a steeper setting. Plenty of reasonably-priced treadmills are available with an automatic incline, so consumers should not waste their money on models like the Weslo Cadence C44 (starting at $399, Amazon
), Weslo Cadence 340 CS (starting at $399), and Weslo Cadence G25 (starting at $299), none of which are equipped with power inclines. All cheap Proform and Horizon models, on the other hand, do include this feature.
Bargain Treadmills Console.
The console on a low-cost treadmill should display, at a minimum, critical basic information, including speed, distance, calories burned, and time elapsed. Fortunately for consumers on a budget, the majority of cheap treadmills manufactured by Icon and Johnson Tech have consoles that display much more than just the basics. The console of the Proform iSeries 660,which one treadmill review on Buzzillions describes as user-friendly, is packed with features, such as 10 pre-set workout programs and a heart rate monitor. One reviewer on Epinions gives high marks to the console on the Proform 525X (starting at $399) for its displays of speed, distance, calories burned, and pulse, as well as the buttons that let you quickly change your workout settings. Many consoles also incorporate cup holders and book rests.Low-cost Treadmills Storage/Mobility.
For thrifty buyers with limited space, a treadmill's size, weight, and ability to fold for storing may be high priorities. Owners of the Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill (starting at $600, Amazon
) comment on Amazon about the ease of moving and storing this relatively cheap treadmill, noting its light weight (99 pounds) and folded size of 10x59 means it can be put most anywhere when not in use. Other inexpensive Horizon models, such as the Horizon Fitness T91 Treadmill and the older Horizon Fitness T90 have a lift system with hydraulic shocks that make these treadmills easy to fold and unfold, although one user comments on Amazon that the T91 is too heavy and bulky to move from room to room. Inexpensive treadmill reviews on Buzzillions and Amazon also praise the ultra-cheap Merit Fitness 725T Treadmill (starting at $399, Amazon) and it's older version, the Merit Fitness 715T Treadmill (starting at $379, Amazon
) for their small size, light weight, and ease of storing -- but these models are for walkers only.
Budget Treadmills Frills and Thrills.
While experts say the most essential components of a treadmill are the motor, tread belt, and the warranty, many cheap treadmills come with a variety of "bells and whistles" that add appeal but are not necessary.Console display extras include a heart-rate monitor, such as the BodyPulse Heart Rate Monitor on the Gold's Gym 450 or the Dual-Grip EKG Heart Rate Monitor on the Proform iSeries 660. Another console extra is the ability to create your own workout programs; for instance, the Proform iSeries 660 has two "Create and Save" workout programs that let you program and store customized settings.
Workout arms, designed to exercise your upper body, are another bonus feature found on several low-cost treadmills. Some experts claim these moveable arms are useless on treadmills and belong only on elliptical machines. Still, the Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk, the Proform Crosswalk 5.0 (starting at $600), and the ProForm CrossWalk 380 (starting at $345) are three budget treadmills equipped with this feature. Despite what the experts say, users generally like the arms; posting on Sears.com, one owner of the ProForm CrossWalk 380 notes that the arms boost the cardio portion of the workout. The Proform iSeries 660 doesn't include workout arms, but does come with a couple of two-pound hand weights for users who want to exercise their upper body.
Some inexpensive treadmills, including the Proform iSeries 660, the Proform 525X, and the Horizon T91 all have a fan that may help cool you down, but for most frugal consumers this is not a critical feature.
An increasing number of treadmills now have the ability to play music directly or connect to an MP3 player. The Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk, for example, boasts a port for an iPod as well as two built-in speakers that can be used instead of headphones; the Horizon Evolve SG Compact Treadmill has built-in speakers for an MP3 or CD player. Again, audio capability is a great bonus feature, but certainly less important than how well a treadmill performs and how long it will last.
Back to top »What To Expect: CheapTreadmills Performance
Aside from knowing which features are essential in an inexpensive treadmill, you need to know what to expect in terms of performance. Although expert reviews of budget treadmills are few, a sampling of many user reviews suggests that most owners of cheap treadmills who are average-sized and use the machines several times a week are satisfied with the machines' overall performance and appreciate the convenience of being able to work out at home.
Inexpensive Treadmills Motor Performance.
As noted above, if your treadmill has a motor with a CHP under 2.0, you may be disappointed if you run on it and/or use it daily. Except for a rare counter-example -- users posting on Amazon about the Horizon Evolve SG Compact with its 1.5 CHP motor say it holds up when used daily or for light jogging -- small motors just can't handle that much of a workout. Expert reviews on Treadmill-ratings-reviews.com say using a treadmill with a small motor in this way will strain the machine and likely lead to premature repairs. Treadmills sporting motors rated at 2.0 CHP, on the other hand, are ready to go the distance. Among cheap treadmills on the market, experts and users alike seem most satisfied with the overall performance of Proform models featuring the 2.0 CHP Mach Z Commercial Drive Motor, which powers the Proform iSeries 660. The Horizon T91, also featuring a 2.0 CHP motor, wins rave reviews from an expert posting on Horizontreadmillreviews.blogspot.com for the motor's ability to tolerate users weighing up to 275 pounds and running up to 10 miles per hour; users commenting on Amazon likewise value the motor's strength and the machine's versatility.Bargain Treadmills Deck Performance.
The treadmill's deck consists of the tread belt and the shock-absorbing cushioning that users run on. For cheap treadmills in general, users give generally good reviews to the deck's ability to absorb the impact of walking, running, or jogging. According to posts on Epinions, the cushioning on the ProForm CrossWalk Performance X Treadmill is OK but a lot like walking outside, which may not suit all home-exercisers. Another reviewer comment on Epinions about the Proform 525X notes with approval that the deck flexes as the user walks. The Merit Fitness 725T provides a cushy feel to your run and is also sturdy, according to a user's treadmill review on Amazon. Just how much cushioning you want or need is a personal call, of course, so check out a few treadmills at a local store before buying.Economical Treadmills Console Performance.
The console displays on budget treadmills are sometimes lit from behind but are invariably easy to read. Basic indicators, like workout setting, incline, speed, and resistance, always provide correct information but other displays may give misleading data. If heart-rate monitoring is your thing, be aware that consumers posting on Amazon report that this particular display is often inaccurate on many cheap treadmills. Indeed, experts suggest buying a wireless strap-on heart-rate monitor if you want, or need, an exact and correct reading.Low-cost Treadmills Durability.
Reviews by long-term users of inexpensive treadmills are few and far between. Most comments come from consumers who have recently bought a treadmill and are newly energized and enthused about their at-home exercise routine. But as a general rule, treadmills with more powerful motors last longer. Many veteran owners of the Horizon T91, for example, write on Amazon that this budget model is both durable and sturdy. Another low-priced treadmill that holds up well over time is the ultra-compact Horizon Evolve Compact SG, according to users posting on Amazon. Note, however, that durability is directly related to the size and weight of the user and the frequency of the work out.Cheap Treadmills Noise.
Frugal shoppers can be certain that the older a cheap treadmill gets, the louder it will become. That said, users have very different opinions about the noise level of certain budget treadmills. For instance, some reviews of the Horizon Evolve Compact SG on Amazon remark on its quiet operation while others complain that the noise exceeds that of normal conversation. Still, the volume of noise coming from your treadmill generally depends on how you use it. Running on the Proform 525X, for example, makes more noise than walking, according to a user review of treadmills on Epinions.One Final Note:
You can extend the life of your economical treadmill by keeping it free of dust and dirt. Daily or weekly maintenance is recommended and will allow you to get more use out of your investment. Now it's time to hit the treads. Back to top »
Best Cheap Treadmills
Horizon Fitness T91
This model is loaded with features, including a 2.0 CHP motor, 20"; by 50"; tread belt, 275 lb. user-weight capacity, 0 -10% power incline range, nine workout programs, and a lifetime warranty on motor and frame; several people may be needed to assemble the Horizon Fitness T91, and it can be a bit noisy.
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Proform iSeries 660
A newer model equipped with a 2.0 CHP Motor, 19"; x 55"; tread belt, 300 lb. user-weight capacity, 10 workout programs, Dual-Grip EKG Heart Rate Monitor, and a 12-year warranty on the motor and one year on parts and labor; users like the powerful motor, user-friendly console and sturdy design.
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Good Cheap Treadmill
Merit Fitness 725T
Powered by a 1.25 CHP motor, with an 18"x45" tread belt, a 10 mph maximum speed, lifetime warranty on the frame and two years on the motor, this budget model is only intended for walking, although several users say they consistently jog or run on it without any problems. Horizon Evolve SG Compact
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Horizon Evolve SG Compact
Another model with a small 1.5 CHP motor and a maximum speed of just six miles per hour, this cheap treadmill only supports walking or jogging on its 17"; x 45"; tread belt; it offers two workout programs, a five-year warranty on the motor and 10 on the frame , but users love the fact that no assembly is required and its super-compact design lets it to fold down to only 10"; x 59";.
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Products Mentioned in This Review
Weslo Cadence C44 TreadmillWeslo Cadence G-25
Merit Fitness 725T
Horizon Evolve SG Compact
Horizon Fitness T91
Proform iSeries 660
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