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If you have ever used a treadmill, then you’d know that it’s a piece of incredible workout equipment for anyone. Getting a treadmill for your home gym is great if you are looking to begin your fitness journey. While higher prices often mean better performance and quality, you don’t have to put a dent in your budget when getting a good treadmill. To help you find and purchase the right one for your home gym, in this post, we review the best treadmill under $500, chosen for their performance, quality construction, and value for money.
Having your own treadmill will save you the hassle of going to the gym, as well as sparing you from unsustainable gym fees. You’ll be kept motivated to work on your fitness journey. This handy equipment offers a variety of exercises over a varying range of intensities, giving you a dynamic and rewarding workout.
Why Should I Get The Best Treadmill Under $500
The treadmills we discuss in this article are relatively inexpensive and may lack some fancy features but offer the best in performance and construction. These treadmills have lower footprints and have compact frames, making them an excellent choice for apartments with limited space. Some can be folded to occupy even less space when in storage. While lower costs typically mean reduced quality, the five best budget treadmills discussed here will give you an efficient, effective fitness regimen.
Getting your own treadmill will give you the advantage of working out within the privacy of your home. Without the hassle of sharing the treadmill with other users, you can explore various workouts to find the ideal one for you.
With treadmill workouts, you can tone your muscles, lose weight, or improve your build stamina. A treadmill can help you cover a running/walking distance of over 20 miles in a day, helping you shed calories and work leg muscles.
Enjoy the benefits of a low-impact workout on treadmills without straining your joints. The soft-padded running surfaces are designed to make exercise bearable for your joints. That is why treadmills can be used by people with arthritis and other joint complications. Plus, through incline training, you can conduct targeted muscle exercises to build strength and get the beach body you have always wanted.
Buyer’s Guide: What to Consider When Choosing the Best Treadmill Under $500
Here are some of the crucial features you should look out for when shopping for a good treadmill under $500.
Belt Size
When it comes to the deck size, the larger, the better. To fit most people, you should go for a treadmill whose running area is at least 47″ long and 15.5″ wide. The decking area becomes important depending on your speed and height. At full speed, your stride is the longest, and you may need more room.
Console
At its most basic, the screen should read out your speed, time, and total distance traveled. More advanced displays present such information as heart rate and calories burned. Other advanced consoles include sync options with Bluetooth and other apps that connect you with world-class fitness content.
Design
Choose a treadmill whose finish compliments your interior elements. Space-saving design is often desirable if you are looking to minimize the footprint.
Power and Drive Features
The core components that enable your workout are the motor and belt. With a motor power of just over 1.5 HP, you can get training speeds of up to 8 MPH, which is good for a run. Faster runners may consider more powerful motors with higher speeds.
Incline
You should go for a treadmill that lets you change the incline over time. Most models offer a manual incline adjustment, though a few models we’ve discussed allow for digital manipulation. Keep in mind that digital incline control always pushes the price up.
The Top 5 Best Treadmill Under $500 on Amazon
1. XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill – Best overall
The XTERRA Fitness TR150 is designed to offer remarkable levels of comfort and performance. The treadmill features a 16″ by 50″ running surface which is ideal for small and medium-sized individuals. This treadmill is powered by a powerful, 2.25 Horsepower motor that drives the belt at speeds between 0.5 and 10 MPH.
This treadmill spots a large, 5″ LCD display. This display is backlit, easy to read, and displays all your workout information at a glance. It is easy for you to know your speed, incline, workout times, calories burned, pulse, and distance traveled. This is the perfect treadmill for those fitness enthusiasts who’d love to follow their fitness progress closely.
You can manually adjust the incline setting over 3 levels. The treadmill also comes with 12 preset workout programs that help you set and track your workout goals. The preset, direct access keys on the console make the control of your workout fast and easy. The deck is cushioned with XTRASoft padding for maximum shock absorption.
The XTERRA Fitness TR150 is arguably the best treadmill under 500
Pros
- Affordable
- Foldable
- Large, easy-to-read LCD Display
- Powerful motor
Cons
- The screen could be much better than it is currently
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2. Exerpeutic TF1000 Electric Treadmill – Best weight capacity
The Exerpeutic TF1000 offers the most effective walking exercises. The treadmill is foldable for space-saving. It also comes with a two-position incline that you change manually to switch the resistance of your exercise.
This treadmill has been optimized for walking exercises. It has a speed limit of 4 MPH, which is perfect for walks and brisk walks. The design and construction are of premium quality, and the base is sturdy enough to support users weighing up to 400 pounds, making it one of the strongest on our list.
The walking surface is long and wide, accommodating users of all sizes. This platform also feels more natural and safer to walk on. This treadmill has very long handles to minimize the chance that users can fall out as they walk. These handles are equipped with sensors that transmit heart rate information to the monitor.
For its remarkable attributes, it is the best treadmill under $500 for walking.
Pros
- Large Walking Surface
- Very Reasonable Warranty
- Quiet Operation
- Pulse grip sensors
Cons
- Not ideal for running
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Walkingpad Ultra Slim Folding Treadmill – Best for small spaces
Enjoy the comfortable walking feeling on the Walkingpad Ultra-slim folding treadmill. This machine comes fully assembled out of the box, hence no worries concerning installation.
The makers of this treadmill focused on a minimalist design that is practically unrivaled in the market. The walking pad features a smart, slim design that occupies very little space, and is also foldable for easy storage.
The running speed on this treadmill is under intelligent control in which the speed is controlled based on the trajectory of your motion. However, the machine allows you to control the speed manually. Thanks to is strong frames made of steel, this treadmill has a weight capacity of 220lbs.
Pros
- Unique space-saving design
- Features automatic speed controls
- Comes fully assembled
- Sleek design that will get people talking
- Solid construction
Cons
- Its weight capacity is rather low
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Sunny Health & Fitness SF-7632
Sunny Health & Fitness is known for the finest fitness products that help users achieve their fitness goals. The SF-7632 is one of their leading products that shall transform your workout routine.
The most outstanding feature of this treadmill is its large running surface. Its ample size can accommodate most users, having space for longer strides. Speeds of up to 7mph are offered on this treadmill. Thanks to its ergonomic design, the SF-7632 leaves a very small footprint and can fit into any room.
The console is backlit, and the digital displays show the time, speed and calories burnt. You stand to benefit from an incline of up to 11%. This machine can support users weighing up to 220lbs, and can be assembled very easily.
Pros
- Occupies little space
- Great value for money
- Provides a large running surface
- Easy folding design and transport wheels make storage very convenient
Cons
- The speed limit of this treadmill is a little less than what other entry-level treadmills offer
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5. Merax MS020307BAA JK1603E Folding Electric Treadmill
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The Merax Electric Folding is the best treadmill under $500 with the most advanced features for comfortable and efficient workouts. This reliable and easy-to-assemble treadmill comes at a very low price, so anyone can get in on the fitness journey.
One of this treadmill’s outstanding features is its large, multifunctional LCD. Besides monitoring and presenting your fitness statistics, this feature connects to your phone or tablet for multimedia entertainment. You can use the quick-speed option or choose one of 12 preset workouts to get you started on your workout regimen.
This treadmill runs on a 1.5 Horsepower motor. The motor generates enough power to roll the belt at speeds of up to 7.5 MPH. The belt is made of PVC covered in an anti-slip coating featuring a diamond pattern texture. This gives the belt shock-absorption qualities that minimize the impact of footfall on your joints, ankles, and knees.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Includes some advanced features
- Large LCD
- Great for confined/limited spaces
Cons
- Lower weight capacity
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Frequently asked Questions on the best treadmill under $500
Which one is better; running on a treadmill or running outside?
A treadmill allows you to tailor your running in a way that suits your needs. Plus, you’ll not be facing obstacles such as rocks and potholes, and you’ll experience no interference due to the weather.
What features should I expect on treadmills under 500?
The most important features necessary for a smooth workout can be found on a treadmill below 500. Fortunately, the manufacturers have done a great job at including helpful features such as cushioning systems, smart controls, ample running surfaces, and inclines.
How can I use the workout programs on my treadmill?
The pre-programmed workouts on treadmills often target the inclines and speeds. Based on the program you selected, the program adjusts the speed and incline automatically with the intention of either shedding fat or building endurance.
Conclusion
All treadmills we’ve explored here will help you walk, jog, or run from the comfort of your home gym. While $500 seems a little on the cheaper side, you’ll still want a return on your investment. The best treadmill under $500 we have listed here offer the most effective workouts, so we hope that this will effectively guide you when buying one. Be sure to check our buyers’ guide section to know what features to look out for in an affordable treadmill.
Last update on 2023-05-10 at 11:18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API