Amazing exercise machines to take your cardio to the next level.
Choosing the best treadmill under 500 dollars or pounds can be challenging as it can be difficult to determine what kind of quality you're getting for your cash.
Based on their features, prices, and reviews, we've compiled a list of our top picks to help you search, highlighting some of the key characteristics that set these budget running machines apart from the rest of the crowd.
Whether you're looking for something suitable for beginners, like this Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T1407M, or you're searching for something packed with technology, like this OMA 5108EB, we've got you covered right here.
We've also answered some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding running machines to help you come to an informed decision on which is best for you.
So, without further delay, let's dive in...
In our list of the best treadmills, we previously included the XTERRA Fitness TR150 as one of the top budget options, so it may come as no surprise we're including it again here.
This machine features a large 16" x 50" workout surface designed to accommodate all users, and a speed range of 1 to 16kph, allowing you to change the difficulty level from low to high intensity at your discretion.
You can also choose from 12 preset programmes and 3 manual incline settings to create a variety of exercises and training sessions.
It's also worth noting that the XTERRA Fitness TR150 is foldable, so, if you're looking to save space, this could be the machine for you.
Again, if you're limited to space, but want to upgrade your home gym with some cardio equipment, then we feel this FYC Treadmill is worth considering.
Its unique foldable design has 2 exercise modes - one with the handrail raised, allowing you to run up to 7.5mph, and the other where the handrail is folded, allowing you to walk on it up to 4mph.
Furthermore, FYC boasts its treadmill has been designed for home use by incorporating a quiet 2.5HP motor that shouldn't disturb your neighbours whilst you're exercising.
On the whole, this FYC Treadmill looks to be a great device that's easy to store when not in use.
A manual treadmill, like this Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T1407M, has the benefit of not requiring electricity, meaning it can be placed anywhere and still be useful.
It can also be a great starting point for beginners who want to walk or complete a light jog to get their fitness journey underway.
To help track your progress, it comes with an LCD screen that displays time, speed, distance, and calories burned to give you an idea of how hard your training.
Ultimately, this extremely portable and lightweight machine should be a good option to consider if you're looking to gently work your way up the running ladder.
If you're looking for a machine to keep you fit whilst at work, then CITYSPORTS Treadmill could be your answer.
Its handrail-less design means it should fit under your desk, whether that's at home or at work, with ease, and the low-intensity speeds mean it shouldn't be a hindrance to your tasks.
Moreover, CITYSPORTS states its treadmill features a powerful 'mute motor', designed to keep the noise to a minimum when you're exercising in order to avoid distracting your colleagues.
All in all, we feel this CITYSPORTS Treadmill could be a great way of getting your steps in if you work in an office-based job.
To maintain your motivation to exercise, it's important to keep your workouts varied and challenging.
Thankfully, this Reebok ZR8 comes with 24 varied fitness programs to take you from a gentle jog to a mountainous hill climb depending on how difficult you want to make things.
To help you reach your fitness goals, the Reebok ZR8 comes with a phone port so you can play your favourite tunes through the speakers to keep your energy levels high.
With a max speed of 10mph and 12 levels of electronic incline, this should definitely be one to consider if you're looking to mix up your indoor runs.
The OMA 5108EB looks to be a great treadmill for home use thanks to its powerful yet quiet 2.25HP motor, the ideal combination if you've got neighbours.
However, what we like most about this machine is some of the useful features that come with it like the 36 preset programmes and 3 custom workouts to diversify your running routine.
Moreover, you can track your speed, distance, pulse, time, and calories via the display, plus adjust your speed at a touch of a button to ensure you continue to make progress.
Overall, we feel the OMA 5108EB is well worth considering if you're after a treadmill packed with technology to upgrade your home gym.
When it comes to picking the best treadmill, you may have a few questions. Don't worry though, as we're here to clear up some of the most common queries.
Running, jogging, or walking are some of the easiest forms of exercise for most, but when it starts to get cold in the winter months, it can be difficult to gather the motivation to venture outdoors.
A treadmill offers you the chance to complete these exercises from the comfort of your home or gym, making them a worthwhile investment if you're looking to get your steps in across the full 365 days of the year.
It's also worth noting that you don't have to spend loads to get a solid machine. As shown by this list, you can find some good quality treadmills to upgrade your home gym for under 500 dollars or pounds.
There are several things to consider when searching for a treadmill. Firstly, make sure you get the belt size right. For running, you should find a treadmill with at least a 48" long and 18" wide belt.
To make things harder, you may want to consider a treadmill with an incline. Anything up to 10% or higher should be more than suitable to make your workouts more challenging.
Keep an eye out for the stated top speed and maximum weight recommendation as well to ensure you're getting the right bit of kit to suit your needs.
Finally, it's worth considering the control panel and display. For example, you may want to find a machine that analyses several workout metrics to help you keep track of each workout.
According to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, you should run for 150 minutes each week at a moderate level of intensity or 75 minutes each week at a vigorous intensity level.
Using this as a guide, we'd recommend running somewhere between 15 to 30 minutes on a treadmill 3-5 days a week depending on your fitness levels.
At this rate, you should see your fitness improving week after week without overdoing it and increasing your risk of injury.
This depends on the intensity of each workout.
For example, it shouldn't be detrimental to complete a short walk on your treadmill every day, however, you should take at least one recovery day a week if you participate in light jogs, runs, or sprints on your machine.
Incorporating at least one rest day helps to ensure your muscles are adequately repaired and restored as well as your joints and energy stores, thus reducing the likelihood of injury.
This is particularly the case with treadmills because if you land flat-footed, you can cause yourself to lose balance and strain muscles through your legs, hips, and even in your back.
As a form of cardio, a treadmill can offer an excellent way of burning calories which, in turn, can help you lose weight if paired with the right diet.
In fact, a 2017 study into the effects of HIIT training found treadmills to be effective for burning calories, reducing body fat, and improving cardiovascular fitness in a short period of time.
The idea behind this is to exert high effort for short periods of rest in between which, ultimately, should help contribute to weight loss.
Another key benefit of running on a treadmill is that it is extremely accessible and, for the most part, great for beginners as almost everybody has some idea of how to run.
While running on a treadmill isn't easy, it is actually slightly less taxing on your body compared to running outdoors.
While indoors on a treadmill, you avoid a number of extraneous variables like the wind, uneven paths, and obstacles which can all slow you down and be physically challenging to avoid at times.
Unpredictable surfaces can also have an adverse effect on your joints, particularly in your lower body, as differing amounts of shock will be transferred through your legs during each stride.
Ultimately, a treadmill means you can just continuously run in a straight line on the spot and not have to worry about your surroundings.
A treadmill can also be highly effective for high-intensity interval training (HIIT) which, in a 2017 study into the effects of HIIT training, is found to be effective for burning calories, reducing body fat, and improving cardiovascular fitness in a short period of time.
While both are excellent forms of cardio, they differ slightly in the overall impact on your fitness.
A study conducted by the University of Roehampton compared running on a treadmill to rowing on a machine and found the participants on a treadmill burnt 350 calories in 20 minutes, while those on the rowing machine expended 300 calories.
The results also showed, however, that rowing activated more muscle groups than running which may be unsurprising given the pulling motion required to row.
Ultimately, choosing which one is better will come down to your own personal preference and what you're looking to get out of your exercise machine.
If you want to find out more, then check out our comparison of treadmills and rowing machines here.
While some cardio machines are more accurate than others, none of them will be 100% accurate at counting calories.
VeryWellFit estimates that cardio machines overestimate your calories burnt by 15-20% as they can't account for all the influencing factors.
With that being said, it's worth keeping in mind a treadmill will only track calories burned during your time on the machine rather than the calories burnt, plus whatever you would normally burn away, so you may be using up more calories than you think.
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