The treadmill is the icon product of the home gym, and now more than ever have home gyms become popular. There are many reasons why someone might invest in a treadmill to use at home.
Some people really don’t enjoy running outdoors. There can be a lot of external factors to consider such as a route, keeping track of your performance, and hopefully not bumping into the cute guy from the coffee shop while you are a sweaty mess.
Moreover, treadmills allow the home gym go-er to warm up quickly and immediately be in the vicinity of their workout gear.
People love running to warm their body up for exercise. The issue is that once you start running outdoors by the time you have messed around with locking your door and taking your shoes off, etc., you may have lost the initial pump you are seeking.
Having a treadmill at home means you can exercise whenever you want, you no longer have that social block that stops you running through social anxiety or laziness, no you have no excuse to get a few miles in before bedtime.
Having the ability to run whenever you want, no matter the weather or time, can seriously increase your health and wellbeing.
Moreover, the last thing you want to do when investing in home gym gear is to waste your money on something you know isn’t good quality or wasting money on something you won’t use.
We have listed 7 of the best treadmills on the market that are under $1000 so you can break your bad gym habits without breaking your bank.
As well as some useful tips to consider when choosing your treadmill.
This is a treadmill that is definitely closer to $1000 than some may venture. Yet, this treadmill has some super useful features that may attract the home gym renovator.
Let’s get the nitty and gritty details out the way. The running surface of this treadmill is 49.2 x 18.1 inches.
This can be relatively small so perhaps a better fit for a smaller runner. The motor speed is at around 2.0 CHP which is again on the lower side, but if you are just wanting to use the treadmill for jogging then this should be fine.
A low CHP like this could suggest the motor could burn out with continual use, this is evident also in the warranty of only 1 year which suggests the components are low quality.
There are some features which may sway a customer when considering purchasing the product. Namely, the whole treadmill can be folded down into an 8-inch deep and 62-inch long flat pack.
This means that, in a small area, you can fold it away for extra space to exercise, or keep it neatly in a study.
Utilizing the same mechanism, the height of the arms and display are easily adjusted to fit smaller runners such as children and other family members who may be smaller than you.
The display itself is pretty good for a budget treadmill. The LCD is pretty clear and high tech, it also includes a tablet or phone holder so you can potentially watch something while you run, or just plug your phone in.
Similarly, the treadmill is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity allowing you to play music out of the fairly impressive speakers on this budget treadmill.
Perhaps the best thing about this treadmill is the folding mechanisms which enable there to be absolutely no set up when you buy the product, you simply fold it up, ready for use.
This itself could be enough to warrant purchasing this for someone who isn’t a dedicated runner but wants easy access to exercise equipment.
For someone who wants to use a treadmill to do light exercise or to warm up before hitting weights, this treadmill can be worth the money. Moreover, the treadmill’s foldable features enable it to remain compact and be moved where you wish.
This product can also be purchased from BOTORRO’s online store.
Pros
Cons
This is a foldable treadmill designed for a home gym with a user who wants to use the treadmill for fitness.
One thing worth noting about this treadmill is its capacity for weight, and spacious belt.
The weight capacity of the treadmill is 265lb meaning that no matter your size, you can use this treadmill to exercise without fear.
What’s also impressive is the running surface which is almost the ideal measurements we would recommend.
At 52 x 19 inches this is a pretty large running surface for this sort of budget treadmill. Both these features obviously cater to the larger runners among us.
So this treadmill could be ideal for those who want access to light exercise in their own home.
This perhaps explains the lower CHP of this treadmill, at a meager 2.0 CHP.
While this is perfectly fine for jogging and walking, running for long periods could put the motor under a lot of strain. More often than not this should be fine for home usage.
This is evident as the components themselves, which are likely to break at some point, have only 180 days of warranty – this is extremely low.
Yet, the structural frame has a three-year warranty, but this is quite unlikely to break naturally.
The treadmill itself has a bunch of workouts and different gradients to run on, this enables you to push yourself while jogging, instead of burning the motor out by running.
You can adjust these settings such as speed and gradient easily from the arms rather than dangerously reaching for the display.
The display is pretty low brown and relies on buttons, but they all work pretty well. A small plastic shelf acts as a device holder which can be useful, but the usual iPad size would end up blocking the buttons.
The Bluetooth connectivity is great, but the speakers aren’t the best quality
A perhaps useless feature is the USB charger which remains a little pointless in a home with outlets, and even more pointless as the guide suggests you don’t use it while using the machine.
For a folding treadmill, there isn’t much to fold. Rather, the actual running deck folds upwards by barely 45 degrees, so it saves some space but sort of sticks out in a rather unsightly fashion.
For a relatively inexpensive treadmill, you do get some good features erected towards the home gym user. But the cheap price translates into the treadmills’ cheap components.
This item is also available on the Sunny Health and Fitness online store
Pros
Cons
This treadmill is quite impressive for its price and is quite ideal for the home gym.
This trumps the previous mode in so far that it can hold up to 300lbs which is quite impressive but also has a lovely 20 by 55 inch running surface which is near ideal for running safety. Almost anyone can use this, no matter what shape or size.
Another feature we really appreciate is what they describe as a ‘SMART-response’ motor, which utilizes self cooling technology to deal with greater exertion on the treadmill.
This allows it to deal with much greater intensity workouts such as running for a long time.
Moreover, this perfectly suits the 3.0 CHP which allows you to run hard for a long time without fear of components being worn out. Great for any level of runner or jogger.
The treadmill has some pretty good speakers that can be connected to both Bluetooth and auxiliary connections. Which will please the home users.
If running long distances isn’t your thing, NordicTrack provides a whole host of workouts on and off the treadmill to get the most out of it.
These happen through their affiliation with the iFit app. This is great for those who want to use the treadmill for exercise overtraining. This can even control the incline of the treadmill to mimic real terrain.
What is also great is NordicTrack’s appreciation for their users’ safety.
The treadmill has a useful safety clip as most do. But, this treadmill also has FlexSelect cushioning which is a lot softer on the joints, but can also be reduced to mimic a road better.
Even better for the home gym go-er, this treadmill has foldable capabilities. Like the previous products it sort of folds upright which can get it out of the way but certainly isn’t the most compact folding mechanism we have seen on treadmills at this price.
Pros
Cons
This is another good treadmill that can suit different users better than others, yet still remains fairly inexpensive.
With a 2.5 CHP motor, this treadmill can certainly eat up some miles without burning the motor out.
Yet, the running surface is a little small for our liking. At 41.3 x 15.7 inches, as we mention in the buyers guide, a 15 inch running strip is pretty thin and narrow and can be a little dangerous at points. Moreover, this can make running uncomfortable.
Although, while this motor is certainly powerful it is, usefully or not, quite quiet. Whether you put any stock in this observation or not is dependent upon your own usage.
While the running turf is quite narrow the actual belt itself is engineered for sound and shock absorption as well as wear resistance.
This does provide some good grip to negate some of the narrowness of the running strip and increase safety.
Perhaps the best part about this treadmill is that it is fully foldable unlike other higher end models that are only semi foldable. This treadmill when folded remains compact and can fit almost anywhere as it remains pretty flat.
The display is pretty simple, and perhaps cheap, but its simplicity ends up working in its favor as it is pretty easy to monitor and change. Although some quick access buttons would be desirable.
This product is also available on U-buy here.
Pros
Cons
Again, this is another folding treadmill that has some different features some may find desirable. This is ideal for someone who wants a small and compact treadmill they can use every day.
The folding feature actually has two functions that allow for the treadmill to be used under a desk. This means that you can collapse the arms and display so there is simply a running strip.
This means while you are working you can still get some exercise in.
The motor is fairly impressive for the price point at around 2.25 CHP this should be able to handle most domestic usage, although you run the risk of burnout at higher speeds and extended usage.
While the motor is strong, it remains quiet thanks to some clever engineering.
What’s more is that the running belt is made up of 7 layers of non-slip and shock absorbing material making the treadmill safe for your joints as well as for running.
One thing we don’t like is the display which seems hi tech but is actually rather annoying. There is no numerical display, rather the speed and gradient etc. is monitored on a LED display with colors and bars.
There are also touch buttons on the arms which can be pressed easily, a little too easily. This can be very confusing especially in the heat of exercise.
Yet, the treadmill does come with a remote control that can control speed and turn the treadmill off.
This seems a little like overkill and we would rather have a numerical display that was simple and effective.
A running strip at 40 by 16 inches can be on the smaller and more narrow side, which isn’t the safest but can work for some.
The treadmill does have Bluetooth connectivity, great for some who want to listen to a podcast or an audiobook.
There’s basically no point playing music out of this speaker though as it isn’t giving particularly great audio quality. A small shelf for your device is useful.
This product is also available on U-buy here.
Pros
Cons
This is a nifty treadmill that is small and may satisfy some customers with its extra gadget add ons.
Impressively, this treadmill has the highest CHP out of the all with 3.0 CHP. This can handle pretty long running sessions and allows a high speed of 8.5 mph. Yet, the motor remains quite quiet
Yet, annoyingly, the running strip is pretty small once more. Its width is only 16 inches making it pretty costly if you put a foot wrong and don’t have good form.
Although they do use shock absorbing technology under the running strip itself which prioritizes safety.
The treadmill is semi foldable upwards but does not become as flat as some competitors.
The LCD is simple but utilizes numerical measurements which is useful. Moreover, the treadmill seems to have ‘pulse sensors’ in the arms that can measure your heart rate which would be helpful.
Helpful, OVICX have their own app. This app can measure your runs and feed the information directly to your smartphone or tablet.
This gets rid of needing any extra apps to sync with the treadmill. The treadmill has its own app that also includes workout guides and fitness programs.
This item is also available on the OVICX website here.
Pros
Cons
ProForm is owned by the same company as NordicTrack meaning they are both compatible with iFit but also use similar components.
A 7-inch touchscreen display, which feels unnecessary, allows you to select speeds and workouts easily. This indicates that this treadmill is on the higher end of budget but still remains under $1000.
The running track is 20 inches by 55 inches which is a pretty good size that maintains safety, allowing for a little sway without compromising safety.
A 2.6 CHP motor is impressive and allows for the longer sessions to remain efficient without destroying the motor. The top speed of 10 mph can be reached easily even at the top gradient of 10%.
A built-in cooling fan sets this apart from its competitors and also includes highlights such as Bluetooth connectivity.
The domestic gym will easily fit this treadmill which can also fold down to a fairly small size allowing it to be stowed away when necessary.
This is also available on ProForm’s website, here.
Pros
Cons
When buying your treadmill there are a few things to consider, which are pretty similar to what you would consider when buying a higher end treadmill.
Yet, with these budget treadmills we should curtail our expectations a little and understand the principal features that aren’t worth giving up no matter how cheap they may be.
These features are worth considering when buying a budget treadmill.
The running surface is a measurement of the space that the rotating belt creates. This is usually measured in width x length.
You can throw your running form out the window if you haven’t got a treadmill that fits your size. Obviously taller people, with longer legs, will like a little more surface to achieve their full stride when running.
In the same vein, a shorter person may be happy to settle for a slightly smaller running surface, this all depends on your size and preferences in stride.
The last thing you want to do is to buy a treadmill that is just uncomfortable to run on, this can only provide you with more excuses on why you can’t get your miles in.
Perhaps more pertinently, the width can also be pretty important. If your running surface is particularly narrow the likelihood of you catching the side and falling is much greater.
Ideally, no matter your size, you always want a little width to cater for a little sway, especially when running long distances.
Ideally, we would suggest a running surface that measures in at 20 inches by 60 inches.
This is the golden measurement for running surfaces on a budget treadmill, this will provide enough surface area for you to hit your stride without having to worry about space.
Let’s remember that ‘budget’ doesn’t always mean ‘cheap’. You know you have a cheap treadmill when the running surface is really small, this is a great example of cutting corners.
No matter how much you try to convince yourself a 16-inch by 50-inch running surface is manageable, it is not only dangerous but is also unmanageable for most people.
Without getting too mechanical, there’s no point having a suitable running surface if you don’t have a motor that can keep up with it. The wrong motor can equally cause discomfort when running.
Most treadmill motors are measured by CHP or continuous horsepower which details how well your motor can perform and how much it can sustain, rather than necessarily speed.
This essentially will be a good tell tale sign if your treadmill will break under the pressure you put it under – but this can depend on the type of running you are planning for.
If you want to do some serious running, like full stride marathon training for hours, then it’s perhaps best to seek out a treadmill that has a good CHP to sustain the pace and length of running time.
Within this price range, shooting for something around 3.0 – 4.0 CHP will be enough to sustain running long distances and also pace.
If you are planning on light jogging simply to warm up your muscles before a workout, then something at 2.0 – 3.0 CHP can suffice.
Most of these budget treadmills will have this sort of CHP anyway. One thing worth mentioning is the size of the motors.
A larger motor can make more surface area contact with the belt itself and will make for a smoother running experience. A smaller roller can often put a lot of stress on the motor and lead to breakage more often.
This can be a game of inches, but as budget treadmills often err on the lower side, if you are stuck between two of these products, consider one the one which has a larger roller size.
It’s worth considering your warranty on these products also. Treadmills often offer different warranties for different parts, such as the motor, frame, and subsequent parts.
Quality models you pay more for often offer some lifetime warranties on all the parts, yet these budget models will offer different warranties for different parts.
Depending on your purchase, they may have between 2 – 5 years of covered damage.
It’s worth paying attention to the warranty even if you don’t plan to use it, because the warranty is often an indicator of the manufacturer’s trust in his parts.
A shorter warranty often suggests the parts are more likely to break.
This is a great tip for shopping for any mechanical product when on a budget, it helps differentiate between what are bargains and what will make you bust.
Again, when choosing between two different products I would always go for the product that has a longer warranty as this can indicate the subsequent parts are actually of greater quality.
Something to keep your eye on is features. Many of the higher end treadmills offer a whole host of interesting features that can push you in one direction or the other. Yet, some of the budget treadmills can also offer similar features which could sway your choice. We’ve listed a few features that you can expect to see in a treadmill under $1000 and what they affect.
Bluetooth Capabilities – Obviously, people love to listen to music when they are running and Bluetooth speakers built into your treadmill means you don’t have to keep those pesky earbuds in while you run.
Moreover, Bluetooth also allows you to sink up your treadmill with your own running apps and monitors. This can be a useful feature for some users and can be the defining factor when choosing between two products.
Heart Rate Monitors – In a similar vein, some treadmills use chest straps or arm strap heart rate monitors which can track your runs within the treadmill rather than on a running app. This can be pretty useful if you are using the treadmill to warm up, rather than faffing around with an app you simply jog until your heart rate is where you want it – super useful.
USB/MP3 ports – This operates the same way the Bluetooth does simply with a manual auxiliary cord you can plug into your phone or device. This lets you play music while you run, although most people may have their own external speaker that can do a better job.
Folding functions – This can be really good if you are padding out your home gym, this essentially allows you to fold your treadmill up partly. This can create a good extra foot of floor space potentially, so can be desirable for some users.
Shock Absorbing System – If your joint heath is something that worries you, consider a treadmill that has more shock absorption abilities. This can seriously alleviate some stress on your joints and encourage you to run more without feeling the effects on your knees so much.
Display – If you want your workouts to be seamless in their transitions,and bad display systems annoy you, this can be worth considering. Some displays have quick touch buttons and touch screen displays and all sorts to choose from. This can be a defining feature when choosing between two, so is worth being aware of.
There are many other features that may be on offer but these are some of the most common and perhaps most debated when comparing products.
These 7 treadmills should hopefully give you a good sense of what to expect from a treadmill that falls into the category of ‘budget’ or under $1000.
Obviously, there will be better treadmills out there for more price. We aimed to show the treadmills which can be used most within the home.
As you can see, some of these treadmills have larger running tracks, while others have powerful motors. These factors will change your purchase depending on your own preferences and situation.
We find that the NordicTrack T series treadmill is your best choice out of the 7 listed. This treadmill has lots of factors that we outline as important.
These include a nice wide and long running track that enables an amount of sway without impeding safety.
Moreover, the NordicTrack treadmill has a really powerful motor that has self cooling engineering.
This allows for the customer to embark on longer running sessions without the risk of burning such a motor out.
The treadmill also folds completely flat meaning you can pack it away neatly into any area of your home and get it out with ease and without stress.
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