Starting your way to your journey of being fit begins with a single step. What better way to accelerate your progress than by walking, and eventually running, on a treadmill? Got you! Long before treadmills were used as exercise machines at homes or in gyms, these bad boys have a historied past. First developed in 1st century A.D., treadmills back then were used by Romans as equipment in moving heavy objects for construction. In the late 1960s a mechanical engineer by the name of William Staub began developing a treadmill for home use after reading a book about aerobics and how people who ran for eight minutes every day for five days are in better shape. He called his first treadmill the PaceMaster600. Now, treadmills are arguably the most popular exercise equipment.
One thing that might stop you from getting a treadmill for yourself is the price, well fret no more. We compiled a list of the best treadmills under $1000. In this article, you will find the best treadmills for home use that are definitely within the budget. Break a sweat but don’t break your bank.
Top 10 Best Treadmills under $1000
Going to the gym can be a bit intimidating, right? Especially if you’re just starting out with your fitness regimen. That’s why more and more people prefer to do their daily work out at home. It’s convenient, you don’t have to pay a gym membership, and you can do it before or after work. Totally up to you. That’s one of the advantages of having a reliable but affordable treadmill in your house.
MaxKare Folding Treadmill
First on our list is the MaxKare treadmill. This ergonomically designed treadmill is sure to keep up with the speed of your routine. Powered by a 2.5HP motor that goes up to 8.5mph, this treadmill is sure to keep up with you as you progress on your training. It can withstand a maximum of 220 pounds of weight and is armed with a rubberized thread belt that will ensure your comfort while running and help prevent any injuries. No matter how fast you’re going the MaxKare treadmill assures a silent but efficient workout, may it be a walk, a jog, or a run. It’s also foldable for easy storage. The treadmill’s large LCD display shows a real-time speed monitor, mileage, calories, heart rate, and time as well as 15 pre-set exercise programs that you can choose from. If you’re looking for a challenge this treadmill also offers 3 incline positions. It ticks all the boxes and more that’s why MaxKare is the best treadmill for home use.
NordicTrack T 6.5 Si
The T 6.5 Si from NordicTrack has all the gadgets and gizmos. Perfect for the modern-day runner, this treadmill has the best of the best in the latest technology. You can experience live interactive running session with a trainer who can control the speed and incline of your treadmill for a more effective workout. You can also take your phone or tablet on the dash of the treadmill while working out. This equipment is also Bluetooth capable and has an auxiliary music port and a digital speaker system. It has up to 300lbs of user capacity and a pioneering technology of FlexSelect cushioning on the belt that minimizes the impact on your joints and gives you a more life-like road running experience.
Merax Electric Folding Treadmill
Next up is the Merax Folding Treadmill. This treadmill prides itself with its compact design and mobility. It has transportation wheels so you can store the equipment faster and easier after you’re done with your exercise. Needless to say, it folds so it won’t take up a lot of space either. 12 exercise programs are loaded into the treadmill so you can choose what best exercise you can do to achieve your goal. You can easily keep track of your speed, time, distance, and calories on the display. You can also plug in your flash drive or your device so you can jam to your music while working out. The 1.5HP engine purrs quietly while you run at the top speed of 7.5mph. The only thing missing on this treadmill is you running on it.
Horizon T101
Coming in hot is the Horizon T101 Treadmill. While the brand Horizon has been releasing decent and higher-end equipment in terms of treadmills, this specific unit comes up brightly on the best treadmills for home use list. The Horizon T101 is one of the more affordable models when it comes to entry-level treadmills. It also comes with a respectable warranty for those who want to relent on their tight budget. Horizon T101 is a great choice for new to fitness enthusiasts and those wanting to maintain their cardio endurance with its 2.5 HP motor. And although costing less than a grand, this treadmill comes with a whopping 30 built-in workout programs and nine different programming options. The options include a 10% incline in case you want to increase your workout challenge. A big feature for the Horizon T101 treadmill is its 300-pound capacity and yet it doesn’t compromise your comfort with its 3-zone variable response cushioning. In terms of portability, it is compact enough and the foldable design can help you manage its storage better in your home gym or office. Small added features that may be important to consumers include a built-in fan, Bluetooth speakers and a USB charging port.
XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill
Quality and comfort. That’s what XTERRA TR150 users are going to get when they purchase this treadmill for their home. A powerful yet quiet 2.5HP motor that can take you up to speeds of 10mph. The belt is laid with the Soft Cushioned Deck technology that lowers the impact on your joints and doubles the comfort of your running experience. You will never be bored with running, the TR150 has all the accessory holders you need to keep your phone, music players, and water bottle to entertain and hydrate you while you jog. You can also read while walking if you prefer, this treadmill comes with a reading rack designed with an optimal viewing angle so you can exercise your mind while you exercise your body. Another feature aside from the basics, the speed, heart rate, calorie monitor, is the 3 manual incline settings that you can easily adjust yourself depending on your fitness level. With this treadmill, a steady incline in your progress is guaranteed in the foreseeable future.
Runners-up
We’ve taken the liberty to include 5 more treadmills that didn’t quite make the top 5 but are in no way underperforming. They meet the basics of what a good quality treadmill needs and have proven time and again that they are just as effective as the others on this list of best home treadmills.
Goplus Folding Treadmill Electric Motorized Power Fitness Running Machine
The GoPlus treadmill is the beginner’s treadmill, armed with the rudimentary monitor for speed, distance, and heart rate. This treadmill also has pre-programmed 12 running exercises you can choose from to help you with your training goal. It also has a 2.0HP powerful motor that won’t disturb your housemates while you run because, you guessed it, it’s quiet. The GoPlus treadmill is sturdy and perfect for long runs. It’s comfortable and hassle-free. You won’t waste any of your time figuring out how to set up the equipment, it’s easy to use and user-friendly. Even for amateur runners, it’s no head-scratcher.
Sole New F630 Treadmill
When it comes to treadmills for personal use, you might want to opt for a simpler but durable mechanism. Built with a 3.0 HP motor, this treadmill is best for light runners, walkers, and joggers. Although known for having a minimal design on the technological side, this treadmill is Bluetooth receptive, making it easier to sync music and listen, hands-free. It also comes with a snug device holder on top of the console for those wanting to watch programs on their phones/tablets. The belt is gently textured and offers comfort, plus a longer length than other foldable treadmills. Mounted on it is a 6.5” LCD White, Back-lit display, requiring no Wi-Fi connection or monthly subscriptions for runners to be able to use it. If you’re conscious of monitoring your heart rate while using the machine, a bonus feature of the Sole F63 Treadmill is an included chest strap. This provides runners the ability to attain accurate heart rate readings. An alternative is also the EKG pulse grips on the handles.
Sunny SF-T4400 Treadmill
The Sunny SF-T4400 has a soft drop hydraulic system that allows the user to fold and unfold the equipment safely and without damaging your floors. This is a newer model that has a large display area where you can monitor your speed, time, pulse rate, distance, and calories. It also has a phone or tablet holder for your entertainment. This treadmill can withstand the speed of up to 9mph while staying silent. It also has a safety lock function and a pause option where you can press the stop button once to take a break but maintain and save all your current data and carry on after your break.
Sunny SF-T7603 Treadmill
Designed for home users, the SF-T7603 from Sunny is one of the standards for in-house treadmills. One focus of the Sunny brand is correct exercising, they design their equipment with that in mind. You can easily monitor your heart rate just by putting your hand on the rail of the treadmill. You can view this using the display screen on the treadmill, you can also see your speed, your time, and distance as well as the calories you have burned so far. This treadmill can hold a user of up to 220lbs. It also comes with 3 incline settings and a belt with a surface area of 16x49in.
Miageek 2 in 1 Under Desk Folding Treadmill
Why 2 in 1 you may ask, this treadmill can be used as a traditional treadmill, with the handrails up, or you can fold it, put it under your desk and use it as a walking treadmill. There’s no such thing as wasted time as this one. A space saver treadmill that in no way, shape, or form compromises its function. It comes with a remote controller that allows the user to stop the treadmill with a push of a button. A 2.25HP motor that powers the treadmill at the top speed of 7.5mph. It also has Bluetooth speakers and a phone or tablet holder to keep you entertained. It’s so user-friendly that you can use it right out of the box, no assembly required.
Established Brands
Here are some notable brands to look out for when you’re searching for the best treadmill that will suit your lifestyle and taste. They are established brands that pride themselves in the consistent quality of the exercise equipment they produce most importantly their treadmills.
- Horizon Fitness
Horizon is a subsidiary company of Johnson Health Tech in Taiwan. The Horizon Fitness brands started in 1975 founded by Peter Lo. Since then, the company has been designing and changing the landscape of home exercising. They are known for their diverse range of products that include treadmills, elliptical machines, weight training machines, and stationary bikes as well.
- ProForm
The ProForm brand is under the Icon Health and Fitness company whose portfolio is focused on exercise equipment. It started in the 1980s by Gary Stevenson and Scott Watterson. These two then Utah State University students started a company in 1977 called Weslo Inc., where they imported kitchenware from Asia. It kept evolving until they founded ProForm Fitness Products and began manufacturing fitness equipment.
- NordicTrack
This company started in 1975 and its brand has always been about exercise equipment. It began when Edward Pauls invented the NordicTrack ski machine. He and Florence Pauls were contacted by a cardiologist raving about the benefits of the machine on cardiovascular health. In 1998, Icon Health and Fitness acquired the company. NordicTrack has the best selling treadmills all over the world.
A Buyer’s Guide to Purchasing a Treadmill
Here are the things you should keep in mind while looking for the perfect indoor treadmill. They are the most basic criteria and any good quality treadmill should be able to pass all of them with no problem.
- Budget
Given that this is a list of treadmills under a thousand bucks, budget is always a consideration. Nothing comes that cheap anymore so any big purchase you make, you should always be a smart consumer. You can always find a treadmill that’s within your budget and functions like a dream.
- Continuous Horsepower
In the most general way, continuous horsepower pertains to the ability of the treadmill to sustain its power over a long period of time meaning the power of the treadmill throughout the workout. Some manufacturers try to cop out of this by saying that this machine has 2.5HP. What they’re actually talking about then is the machine’s peak horsepower or the maximum power the treadmill can reach at one point. A good treadmill should be able to maintain and keep up with your pace without lag all throughout your workout.
- Noise
Before you buy any treadmill you should test out if it’s loud or quiet when you use it. Not only is this a consideration for the people you live with or your neighbors a loud machine means poor construction. Generally, a high-quality machine is as silent as it can be due to flawless engineering.
Conclusion
In any journey, the first step is always the hardest. I have no explanation but it just is. Especially when it comes to fitness. It’s exhausting, right? After a long day of work and miscellaneous activities, exercising could be a little bit difficult to fit in your busy day. On the flip side, it’s cathartic. Exercising produces serotonin, the feel-good hormone. It benefits you physically and mentally. Using a treadmill helps improve your overall health, it tones your muscles, improves your cardiovascular and respiratory health, and makes you lose weight if you want to. It also gives you the luxury of convenience and comfort. I mean, what other machines can make you run for over an hour but you stay in the same place?
Cliché as it may sound, health is wealth. You have to live healthier for yourself and the most important people in your life. There are so many things you want to accomplish and you can’t do all of them if you’re not healthy. It’s been proven by various studies that the simple act of walking, jogging, or running can marginally increase the life expectancy of a person. One machine can help you do it all. A treadmill. You are now the bearer of the list of very budget-friendly treadmills, pass it on and help someone get healthier.