Reviews

Best Treadmills For Home Under 500 in 2022 – Reviewed

A lot of people think that they can’t afford home gym equipment—specifically, home treadmills. That’s because when they look for these devices, they see them in price ranges from $1000 all the way up to $3000 and sometimes even more. No wonder so many people look at these treadmills as being out of their reach. Fortunately, there is a solution to that problem. We’ve found several treadmills that not only equal the quality of more expensive treadmills but are actually quite affordable. Models that will help people keep themselves in shape and do it without having to drive to the gym. These are the best treadmills for the home that are under $500.

Quick Summary of Best Treadmills For Home Under 500

 Editor’s Choice 
Funmily Heavy-Duty 2.25-HP Walking/Running Treadmill  (review)
 Also Recommended 
Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Treadmill With Shock Absorption  (review)
 Also Consider 
XTerra Fitness Folding TR150 Treadmill  (review)

Reviews

Editor’s Choice: Funmily Heavy-Duty 2.25-HP Walking/Running Treadmill

Anyone searching for the best treadmill for the home under $500 only needs to look as far as this model. That’s because this product has all of the features a person could want out of a treadmill. It’s a product that’s easy to set up, has a small footprint, and can handle runners up to 265-pounds. That allows it to be used by just about anyone who is looking to add a little bit of exercise into their daily or weekly routine. Let’s take a closer look at some of this model’s features to see if it might be the right one for you.

One of the first things that we noticed about this product is that it can be easily set up within about 10-minutes, maybe a little bit longer if you’re unfamiliar with assembling treadmills. Once assembled it provides a nice flat running surface and a multi-layer tread belt that’s approximately 16.5-inches by 39.4-inches in size. The upper portion of the belt is made of a rubber running belt, and the bottom layer is made with a silicone material that helps to absorb shock.

This product has a very small footprint that doesn’t take up a whole lot of space, and if need be, the consumer can fold it up to put it away. Unfortunately, folding it up does require the consumer to remove a bolt, so it does add an extra step that might be a bit of a hassle to some people.

Another thing that this product has is a large LCD that can be used to display useful information such as calories burned, heart rate, distance, speed, and run time. It also has 12 preset programs and 3 countdown modes. It’s also equipped with a 2.25-HP motor that’s very quiet and can power the treadmills from ½ mile-per-hour to 7.5 miles-per-hour.

Additional features that can be found on this remarkable budget home treadmill include a desktop that can be used to hold books, tables, or even a laptop; large and very stable cupholders for holding your favorite drink; and hand-grip heart rate testers that help the runner keep track of their heart rate. All of these features make this a quality treadmill that’s well worth its price tag.

PROS:

  • This treadmill can be assembled in about 10-minutes.
  • It holds up to 265-pounds.
  • It has a large LCD and 12 preset programs.
  • It has a large footprint.
CONS:

  • This product doesn’t incline.

Also Recommended: Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Treadmill With Shock Absorption

Another treadmill that has appeared on our radar is this one from Sunny Health & Fitness. This is a treadmill that’s approximately 62-inches long, 25.5-inches wide, and 50-inches high, and has a running surface that is approximately 49-inches long and 15.5-inches wide. It’s also a treadmill that only weighs a little over 100-pounds, so it’s easy to set up and put away for storage.

Speaking of storage, this treadmill is easy to fold up, but it also easy to setup. It uses a soft drop-system that allows for hassle-free unfolding every single time. And since it folds up to a size of 36-inches long by 25.5-inches wide and 58-inches high, it’s easy to put away in a closet or other location as needed by the user.

We would also like to say that this treadmill has three manual incline levels. Of course, one of its incline levels is 0%, which is a flat running surface. The other two incline levels include a 2% incline and a 4% incline level.

Another thing we’d like to mention about this treadmill is that it has a digital monitor that has 9 different programs for the runner to choose from, as well as a device holder that allows the runner to set up a table or a smartphone.

It’s also worth noting that this product has a speed range of ½ MPH to 9 MPH, and has quick speed buttons located on that handle that allows the runner to start, stop and adjust their running speed quickly and easily. That allows the runner to concentrate more on their running and less on the operation of the treadmill.

If there was one negative we could find about this treadmill, it’s the fact that it only has a maximum weight capacity of 220-pounds. That might keep some people from being able to use it. Fortunately, that’s the only negative we could find about this high-quality home treadmill and we think it’s a piece of personal exercise equipment that some consumers are going to want to think about.

PROS:

  • This treadmill has a max speed of 9 MPH.
  • This product has three incline levels.
  • It’s easy to set up and fold-up.
  • It has a digital monitor with 9 programs.
CONS:

  • It only has a 220-pound weight capacity.

Also Consider: XTerra Fitness Folding TR150 Treadmill

Another home treadmill that we liked was this one from Xterra. This model is approximately 63.4-inches by 28.75-inches by 51.4-inches in size, has a 16-inch by 50-inch running surface, and weighs approximately 110-pounds. It’s also a product that’s easy to set up and just as easy to fold up when it’s time to put it away for the day.

This product is made using a heavy-gauge steel frame that can support runners up to 250 pounds, and it features transport wheels that make moving it into position easier. Although we were a little underwhelmed by this treadmills maximum incline level, it does feature three different levels for the runner to choose from for their runs.

Also equipped on this product is a 5-inch LCD that displays some of the information that runners need to know during runs. This information includes incline level, time, speed, distance, pulse, and calories burned. It also has 12 preset programs that allow the runner to maximize his or her workouts. Other features found on this model include hand pulse-grips, a cushioned deck, accessory holders, a quick fold-up release for the deck, and direct access speed keys for added convenience.

And the last thing we’d like to mention about this treadmill is that it has a powerful 2.25-HP motor that gives it a speed of between 0.5 miles-per-hour and 10 miles-per-hour. That allows the runner to run as fast or as slow as they need to during their workout.

PROS:

  • This treadmill has a weight capacity of 250-pounds.
  • This product has a top speed of 10 MPH.
  • It’s easy to setup.
CONS:

  • The incline is a bit disappointing.

A Guide To Buying A Budget Treadmill

The next thing we’d like to talk about is how runners can choose the best treadmill for under $500, and we’re going to do that with this guide. Before we officially begin this guide, however, we feel that we should preface it by stating that the runner should maintain reasonable expectations when they’re choosing a treadmill in the under $500 range. No matter how good these treadmills are, they simply won’t equal the size or the quality of treadmills in the above $1000 range, or even the $500-$1000 range. 

The main problem with budget treadmills is that they tend to have smaller workout areas than more expensive treadmills. They also tend to not be as durable as more expensive models, although we do have to say that most claims that these treadmills are going to fall apart after a few months are patently false. Although there are “cheap” treadmills that fall apart after a few months, if the runner buys a quality under $500 model, then it should last them a long time—provided that they don’t abuse it. 

Now that we’ve set the expectations of our readers to a more reasonable level, let’s talk about some of the things that runners should think about when choosing a treadmill that’s in the budget category. By thinking about the following features, the consumer will ensure that they find a treadmill in the under $500 range that will work well for their needs. 

Think About Deck Size

One of the first things the runner or walker is going to want to think about is the size of the treadmill’s deck. While most high-end treadmills have a minimum of 20-inches and a length of 50-inches, most budget treadmills aren’t going to have that large of a deck. What consumers can hope for is to find a deck that is at least 40-inches long, and at least 15-inches wide. That won’t give a lot of running or walking space to the consumer, but it will provide enough for them to get the job done. 

Look For A Model With At Least a 2-HP motor

The next thing that the consumer is going to want to think about is the power of the treadmill’s motor. They’re going to want to make sure that they have at least a 2-HP motor on it. That should be enough power to give the runner an approximate speed of ½ MPH up to 9 or 10 MPH. Avoid those treadmills that are “human-powered” and that don’t contain any motor at all. Those treadmills tend to be the ones that seem to break down the most. 

Consider Models With A Display & Preset Programs

Another thing that consumers are going to want to consider when purchasing their new budget treadmill is whether it has a display and preset programs. Being able to easily set the speed or routines on the treadmill is one of the things that can make it easier to use. It’s definitely something that all treadmills should have—regardless of their price tag. 

Consider Weight Capacity

The weight capacity of the treadmill is something that the runner might want to think about, especially if they’re larger than most people. While a 100-pound runner isn’t going to necessarily have to worry about whether the treadmill will support their weight, for people over 220-pounds, it’s going to have to be something the runner thinks about seriously. If the runner is over 265 pounds, they’re probably not even going to be able to find a treadmill in this price range and are probably going to have to search for one that will support their weight in the above $1000 price range. 

The Size Of Its Footprint

One of the reasons that some people purchase treadmills in this price range is because they tend to have a smaller footprint than more expensive models. Of course, not all of the treadmills in this category have small footprints, so the runner is probably going to want to make sure it fits in the space they have allocated for it to make sure it’s a good fit for their home. 

The Ease Of Folding It Up

The consumer is probably also going to want to find out how easy the treadmill is to fold up. This isn’t that big of a concern if the consumer plans to set up their treadmill and just leave it set up, but if they plan on taking it down every day, then they’re going to want to make sure it’s easy to do so. 

While some treadmills are easy to fold up, others require the consumer to remove a bolt or two in order to fold it up. When buying a new treadmill, the consumer should think about such features as soft drop systems and transport wheels. This will make the treadmill a lot easier to set up and takedown. 

Think About Incline Levels

Although treadmills in this price range aren’t going to have automatic include adjustments, many of them do have manual incline levels. If an incline level is important for you, then make sure that it has at least 2 incline levels and that it has at least a 4-inch maximum incline level.

Additional Features To Consider

Budget treadmills don’t have to be bare-bone models, they can have features that make them easier to use. Below are some of the features that consumers might want to consider when purchasing a treadmill in this price range. 

  • Water Bottle Holders
  • Safety Lock Function
  • Quick Speed Buttons
  • Built-In Heart Rate Monitor
  • A Pause Feature
  • Built-In Bluetooth Speakers
  • Built-In Desktop

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