A look at some of the best treadmills under $500
A few weeks ago we took a look at some of the best options for elliptical machines under $1000. Now it’s time to check out the best treadmill under 500 and 1000 dollars.
Purchasing a home treadmill can be a challenging experience. In addition to the countless varieties you could opt for, there are numerous models and brands in the market to add to your confusion. What used to be an expensive piece of equipment has now become an affordable addition to your home.
To narrow down the best options for you, let us look at the best treadmill under $500, a reasonable budget for those who are looking to use it moderately.
Considerations before you buy
Activity type. What are you going to do on the treadmill? Is it going to be used for a light jog, walking, or sprinting? The type of activities you are planning to perform will dictate which models are best suited for you.
Weight limits. Next, is the user weight limits. Walking or running will have an impact on the treadmill, and the heavier you are, the more the impact.
Your height. Your height can affect the choice of treadmills since a longer stride requires a longer belt.
Who will use it? Finally, you need to identify other people who will be using the treadmill with you, more users equal more abuse to the machine.
Now it’s time to review the best treadmills for under $500.
3 of our favorite treadmills under $500:
Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill
This is one of the bestselling treadmills for a couple of reasons: It doesn’t require much space in your home and has multiple speeds and inclines to match your fitness level.
It also features a heart monitor to help you stay in the fat-burning zone and a cushioned treadmill deck to reduce the impact on your joints as you increase speeds. At its current price, this is an excellent choice for your first home treadmill without breaking the bank.
Gold’s Gym Trainer 720 Treadmill
If you’re looking for a sturdy treadmill for everyday use then look no further. The Gold’s Gym Trainer 720 Treadmill has lots of cool features for its price tag; one of them is the music port that lets you play your own music or podcasts. This treadmill also has 18 workout programs built-in to provide you with different challenges to help you improve your fitness levels.
Similar to the Weslo G 5.9, it is space efficient and has a cushioned deck for lessening joint stress. Gold’s Gym Trainer 720 Treadmill comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame and a 25-year warranty on the motor, a sweet deal that you can’t miss!
Confidence Power Plus Motorized Electric Treadmill
In case you’re not interested in all the hot features and additional options on a treadmill, then the Confidence Power Plus Motorized Electric Treadmill provides you with a basic piece of equipment that is inexpensive and really compact. The basic feature on this treadmill gives it an advantage over the other models: quiet running. Many find this to be a major advantage especially if you have neighbors below you or if you exercise at odd hours of the day when others might be sleeping.
Those were 3 of the best treadmills for less than $500, but if you’d like a heavier-duty treadmill or a gym quality machine, then consider increasing your budget.
Best treadmills under $1000
LifeSpan TR1200i Folding Treadmill
With a budget close to $1000, you are investing in an overall higher-quality treadmill that is resilient, dependable and loaded with valuable options.
One feature that stands out from the budget treadmills is its capability of saving your workout data on USB devices that in turn can be uploaded to the lifetime subscription you are offered to an online LifeSpan Fitness Club account. This account helps you track and manage your data, and provides motivating support towards achieving your fitness goals. Its highest selling point is the 2.5 horsepower motor that fuels your workouts, and it comes with a lifetime warranty!
Nautilus T614 Treadmill
American Manufacturer Nautilus teamed up with Myfitnesspal.com to provide you with an advanced treadmill that checks all the blocks for a very affordable price tag.
A large LCD monitor to track your important data, a powerful 2.75 horsepower motor to provide you with a top speed of 12 MPH, and a 3-speed fan for cooling purposes are some of the highlights of this powerful machine.
This is a machine that can provide you with a tough workout and rivals those big gym treadmills.
ProForm 505 CST Treadmill
Concerned about consistent and reliable performance?
Then the Proform 505 CST treadmill is one of the best choices you can make in getting a machine that will take some beating.
Equipped with the Proshox cushioning, it provides a comfortable running experience on the joints yet the 10% incline training option is a guaranteed way to get legs burning.
On top of this, you have all the essential features like a music port, heart rate monitor, and a space saver design.
So now you that you know which treadmill best fits your budget and needs, you must have started to think about alternative workouts than simply hopping on a treadmill and running.
Best treadmill workout for weight loss
Start by perfecting your treadmill technique as explained in this video:
One of the most exciting methods of exercising on a treadmill is the High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).
HIIT is an exercise technique during which you switch between elevated and reduced intensity activity or between high intensity and a rest period. One example could be a sprint up the stairs, and then a slow walk down.
If you’ve ever partaken in HIIT, you know that this method of working out for 15 minutes can be a lot more stimulating than a simple jog around the block.
HIIT is excellent for:
- dropping body fat while minimizing muscle loss
- improving your cardiovascular and lung strength
- quick training sessions when you’re short on time
HIIT workout on a treadmill
When performing your HIIT workouts on the treadmill, you may need a little experimenting to figure out the settings that best suit you.
Controlling the speed and incline levels can make all the difference in designing a great HIIT workout. Try to find a speed/incline level that you can sustain for no more than 30 seconds. You can increase the speed, incline, or duration as your fitness improves.
HIIT on Treadmill Video:
This is a helpful graphic in showing some of the different ways to workout on a treadmill:

So in short here’s the best treadmill workout for weight loss:
- Warm-up for a period of 5 minutes
- Perform the high-intensity part (speed, incline, or both) for 30 seconds
- Walk at a low speed for 1 minute
- Repeat this cycle for at least 5 times
- Cool-down walk for another 5 minutes to wrap up
Best treadmill brands
Alright so we’ve gone over the best treadmills under 500 and the best treadmills under 1000, but now it’s time to hone in on who makes the absolute best treadmill on the market.
In order to figure out the best treadmill brands available on the market, you simply need to visit a couple of gyms and notice which brands pop up the most. The three brands below, Landice, PRECOR, and Life Fitness can be found in gyms all over the place.
Let’s quickly chat about why they are some of the most popular treadmill brands out there.
Landice
Landice is a manufacturer that usually stands out from the rest of the competition as they have been providing heavy duty treadmills and other sports equipment for nearly half-a-century. A company so confident in their product that they offer the consumer a lifetime warranty on the product is a winner in our book!
Precor
Another company on the list is Precor, a top manufacturer chosen by fitness clubs, hotels, universities, and individuals all over the world. It is famous for its history of innovation, where each product provides an improved support for human ergonomics. They were the pioneers in adding motivational microprocessor-based electronics to their machines, providing constant feedback and superior workout effectiveness. In 1990, they created the first cushioned treadmill that paved the way for all other manufacturers.
True Fitness
True Fitness is another global treadmill brand that focuses on high-end product, encompassing the latest safety features along with the latest technologies. It was the company that first introduced the Heart Rate Monitor on their treadmills back in 1991, which is now the gold standard for treadmill features. Keeping the safety of the user as a priority, they were also the first company to introduce the first removable safety key on a treadmill. The inserted safety key is usually attached to the user by a cord. This prevents accidents by disabling the motor if the user steps away from the machine. This is an important safety feature to prevent children from operating the treadmill.
Now that you are well equipped with the best treadmill workouts, and a list of the best treadmills under 500 and even 1000 dollars, you are well on your way to a healthier lifestyle. The best part about it is that it’s not going to break your bank!