The Best Treadmills Under 500: All You Need to Know

Home is gradually turning out to be the most comfortable place nowadays, and as a result, a majority of people now prefer to work from home and work out from the comfort of their home. Having a home gym is the best way to train at any time and keep your body fit even with the tightest of your schedules, and the treadmill machine is one you want to have in your home gym.

As you browse the best treadmills under 500 in our review, including our top pick, know that we’ve considered and tested an array of exercise tools and equipment to aid you in realizing your overall exercise and fitness goals. Let’s get started!

The Benefits of Using a Treadmill as Part of Your Fitness Program?

The treadmill is a favorite exercise machine that stimulates the most natural and basic aerobic exercise, walking, with options to either slow or quicken your pace depending on the fitness goals you’ve set or how you feel.

Better yet, the treadmill machine offers versatile, indoor exercise options which can provide a venue for either walking or running. The benefits of using a treadmill as part of your fitness program are wide-ranging and here are a few of them:

Bone Health

Weight-bearing exercises, like walking or running on a treadmill, can increase the density of your bones. An increased bone density strengthens the skeleton and minimizes your risk of suffering from bone-thinning diseases such as osteoporosis.

Besides, research has revealed that regular endurance training on a treadmill has significant benefits on the bone quality of people above 50 years of age. Better yet, treadmills play a significant role in the development of healthy bone material.


Cardiovascular

Just like any other aerobic exercises, running on a treadmill has lots of cardiovascular benefits. The single action of treadmill walking or running requires that you repeatedly move the major muscles in your arms, legs, and hips.

As a result of this physical effort, your heart rate and breathing increase, and blood flow between the muscles and lungs increases. In the long run, aerobic exercises will strengthen your heart, improve your resting circulation, and keep your arteries clear thus minimizing the risk of stroke or a heart attack.


Emotional and Mental

Apart from its excellent physical benefits, treadmill training has several benefits relating to your emotional well-being and mental health. Aerobic exercises performed on a treadmill prompt the release of endorphins that give you an overall sense of well-being.

Besides, treadmill training can help you to relax and alleviate the symptoms of depression. If you are constantly battling mental tension and anxiety, treadmill training at an aerobic level of intensity can mitigate these symptoms.


Motivation

A treadmill’s running surface provides you with a low-impact option for jogging or running as compared to a rough, outdoor surface. If unsupervised outdoor training is unsafe for you due to health concerns such as seizure disorders, morbid obesity or heart disease, the treadmill machine allows you to perform aerobic exercises in a safe indoor environment.

What’s even more exciting about the treadmill is that it gives one the ability to control the climate, incline, and speed during a workout, which may increase your motivation to do more treadmill workouts.


What Should You Look For When Choosing a Treadmill?

When selecting a treadmill, the three most important aspects to consider are: the workout features include, how the machine performs, and accessories of the treadmill. The workout features include the treadmill console and options to break up the monotony of your exercise.

The performance focuses on crucial design aspects that make maximize your workout experience whereas the special accessories/inclusions make your overall workout experience more enjoyable. Read on for insight on the standout details to look for in a treadmill.

Performance

via Amazon

Incline Level Options.

A good treadmill should offer the option to adjust the incline level of your workout area to make your workout more challenging. The greater the slope, the more strenuous your workout will be and thus a great option for losing weight.

Depending on the treadmill model, the incline can go to about 12- 15 percent for more significant workout challenge. Some treadmills also provide the ability to decline the exercise area by 3 percent to simulate a downhill walk.

(Related: Best Leg Press Machine)


How Fast The Treadmill Can Go.

via Amazon

This is another important factor to look at, and although it is not a big deal if you’re walking, it is essential if you want to run, particularly if you’re training for a foot race or a marathon. The average human being moves at a pace between 6 and nine mph so a treadmill with a top speed of 12 mph can be a good choice.


via Amazon

The Length of Running Surface.

However basic it may sound, this is an aspect shouldn’t be ignored. People taller than 6’5” typically have long strides hence they need a longer treadmill surface to comfortably run or walk on. A treadmill with 60 inches of surface length will accommodate tall persons perfectly.

Workout Features

Preprogrammed Workout Features.

via Amazon

The preprogrammed workout features of a treadmill are just as essential as the performance because they let you maintain consistency in your workouts depending on the selected setting.

For instance, a steady pace is enough for basic weight loss, but more challenging routines can be achieved with programs such as cross-country, aerobic options, and hill climbing. The more presets your treadmill has, the more versatile it is.

Heart Rate Monitors.

via Amazon

It is crucial that you keep track of your heart rate as you work out, so look for a treadmill that includes a heart rate monitor on the hand grips and a console that tracks and records your heart rate. Some more advanced treadmills have chest straps that help you monitor your heart rate wirelessly.

Inclusions/Accessories

Preprogrammed Workout Features.

For the best workout experience, a treadmill should have a water bottle holder and book rest. A few other aspects that help a treadmill stand out above other basic machines include web browser for sharing your workout results online and touch screen consoles.

The Best Treadmills under 500 Reviews

via Amazon

Driven by a powerful electric motor, the Sunny Health & Fitness treadmill is the best deal for serious runners. The design of this workout machine is one that no one can resist, not forgetting its easy folding system that helps you fold and unfold it quickly and effortlessly. This machine also boasts of 3 levels of incline which help simulate a full scope of terrain training.

This treadmill also boasts of meticulously built handrail controls that allow you to stop, start or adjust the treadmill speed. The heart rate pulse sensors are also conveniently located on the bars for better heart rate monitoring.

If you like to vary your workouts, this treadmill gives you every reason to smile all thanks to its nine built-in user programs which help you to find the right intensity for different fitness levels easily.


Pros

  • It’s foldable
  • Doesn’t wobble while you work out
  • Very quiet
  • Easy assembly
  • Simple and user-friendly

Cons

  • The belt speed is jerky and inconsistent
  • The machine is too narrow to run aggressively

via Amazon

If you’re looking for a way to burn the extra calories and achieve a healthy lifestyle all in the comfort of your home, then the ProGear 350 Electric Treadmill is the right machine for you. With a maximum motor speed of 6 mph, this treadmill lets you at a high speed for optimal body fitness. With its quiet motor drive, this treadmill lets you enjoy your music or TV shows without any sound interference.

Better yet, this electric treadmill has an intuitive display window that shows the elapsed time, the calories burned, distance walked, speed and heart pulse for better fitness tracking. This treadmill’s extended handlebars guarantee a stable and safe workout. Also, the safety clip lets you stop the machine when need be.


Pros

  • This treadmill’s price is fair
  • It’s designed to be light without compromising quality
  • Extremely portable
  • Has a smooth operation
  • Easy to fold up and relocate

Cons

  • It operates with a natural incline
  • Complaints of a few manufacturer defects

via Amazon

If you’re looking to take your home fitness standards to a whole new level, this treadmill from Sunny Health is all you need since it provides a variety of necessities that come in handy for a fantastic cardio workout.

To begin with, this machine features a soft drop system for safe, hassle-free folding and unfolding in addition to built-in transportation wheels for convenient relocation when the need arises.

Regarding technology, this treadmill boasts of handrail control keys designed with the latest technology for you to easily control your workouts with your fingertips. As if that’s not enough, the easy-to-read display console comes with nine programs to choose from, a safety lock function, and power saving function for the best workout experience.


Pros

  • It’s foldable
  • Doesn’t wobble while you work out
  • Very quiet
  • Easy assembly
  • Simple and user-friendly

Cons

  • The belt speed is jerky and inconsistent
  • The machine is too narrow to run aggressively

via Amazon

The Exerpeutic TF1000 electric treadmill gives you an effective way to shed extra calories and realize a healthy lifestyle. Even if you like having an outdoor job once in a while, this treadmill boasts of excellent shock absorbing qualities which will see you prefer an indoor workout with this machine.

Also, this machine’s 1.5 HP high torque motor uses ‘Quiet Drive’ which means you’ll not have to deal with unbearable noise when working out.

This machine also has a treadmill belt widened to a fitness club size for security and safety as you exercise. The extra-long safety handles also incorporate Heart Pulse Pads and speed control buttons that let you target your heart rate and conveniently adjust your speed respectively.

This treadmill can also accommodate a staggering 400 pounds of user weight capacity so no need to worry about it wobbling as you work out.


Pros

  • The reinforced frame gives it the ability to accommodate a high weight capacity
  • LCD helps you track your workout progress easily
  • Its 20-inch wide belt makes it extremely safe
  • Folds easily for storage
  • Side rails are longer and very strong for added support

Cons

  • The assembly instructions are a bit complicated.
  • Has a short life when used regularly.
  • Complaints of poor customer service from the manufacturer.

via Amazon

The Pro Gear Electric treadmill offers you the option to send less and stay fit. It comes equipped with 18-inch long safety handles that include heart pulse sensors that let you measure your heart rate as you work out.

This treadmill is one you cannot punish with your weight because it can withstand up to 400 pounds of weight. Besides, this machine boasts of a 2 level manual incline feature that lets you adjust between easy and challenging workouts.

Regarding aesthetics, this electric treadmill has strategically placed speed control buttons that help you adjust your running speed by increments of 1/10’s miles per hour up to 4 mph. The treadmill belt is also extra wide for security and safety as you perform various aerobic exercises.


Pros

  • The design is smart
  • Moves around very little during use
  • Grab bars are nice and long
  • It’s quiet and comfortable

Cons

  • It takes a lot of time to unpack this machine
  • The two pockets in the console are not deep enough to hold a water bottle or TV remote

Our Best Pick

If you’re on a budget below $500, you cannot go wrong with any of these treadmills. From space-saving design to simplicity, these machines offer almost everything that a starter machine under $500 would have.

However, if you are looking for something more robust, easy to assemble, and safe to tread on, then the Sunny Health & Fitness Motorized Treadmill is the best sub $500 machine, and it scoops our best pick for this category.

Read more on talkforfitness for the best treadmills under $700.


Leave a Comment:

(8) comments

[…] Treadmills have been a favorite household piece of workout equipment for decades. Companies that develop and manufacture treadmills have made great strides in the technological advancement of treadmills in the past decade. […]

Reply

[…] of a foot or leg injury, runners who can’t hit the trail for awhile can benefit from cycling or treadmill work. Injured swimmers may tackle indoor rowing to avoid further shoulder or arm injury but still […]

Reply

[…] of the two is needed for efficient runs when preparing for the hike uphill. You can also use a treadmill that has high incline […]

Reply

[…] enough to fit in the treadmill or elliptical trainer’s cup […]

Reply

[…] and power. Some of these ingredients are betaine and beta-alanine – both of which can help strengthen your muscles and increase their […]

Reply

[…] make mistakes, and dropping our phones occasionally is almost inevitable. If you enjoy running on treadmills or using any other cardio machine, then you are increasing the risk of damaging your phone at the […]

Reply

[…] With many treadmills, you’ll be able to adjust the incline so you can get a tougher workout. While expensive, owning a treadmill will be well worth it in the long run. […]

Reply
Add Your Reply

Leave a Comment: