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It can often be said that to be able to use good quality fitness equipment such as treadmills, you need an expensive gym membership or a few thousand dollars to spare. The truth is you need neither. There are many fantastic treadmills with lots of features that do not require you to bust through your credit card limit. In this article, we are going to look at the best treadmills under $500 and prove to you that if you want a quality treadmill at a decent price, you can.
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Best Treadmill Under $500 Reviews
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Our first candidate certainly has very minimalist style, but this hides the fact that it has several options in terms of exercise routines that you would find on more comprehensive machines.
The functions include pre-programmed fitness exercises of which there are no fewer than 12. This is impressive as we’ve reviewed some treadmills costing several hundred dollars more with fewer pre-sets. You can also select speed options although this only goes as high as 6 mph. For this reason, we consider this treadmill to be more suited to jogging and power walking rather than sprinting.
At the front of the machine, you have a small console where all the controls are located, and the LCD display is housed. This gives you readouts of the distance you have travelled, your speed, time and the all-important calorie burn.
The ramp is adjusted manually and can be angled to 3 incline positions as well as the default horizontal position. These along with the variable speeds give you a decent number of routine options ranging from a light exercise to a heavy-duty workout.
When you are not using the treadmill, it can be folded upright, and given that it is relatively light, it can be moved to one side or into a closet.
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- 12 pre-set routines
- Clear display readout
- Variable speed settings
- Foldable
Cons
- Manual incline
- Not for fast running
Exerpeutic TF1000 Treadmill
For the speed merchants and sprinters amongst you, we suggest you move on, as this treadmill is strictly for those who like to move at a slower and more sedate pace.
The clearest evidence of this is the fact that the maximum speed that this treadmill can run at, is 4 mph, which is only going to allow for jogging and power walking. Nevertheless, these are both excellent ways to get fit, so let’s take a closer look at the other features.
One specification that is often overlooked is the recommended maximum weight of the user which tends be around the 210-250 lb. range. With the Exerpeutic TF1000 Treadmill the maximum is an impressive 400 pounds which allows those who are carrying a lot of weight the opportunity to benefit from having a treadmill as part of their weight loss program.
Safety is also a prominent feature of this treadmill which is evidenced by the extra-long side rails to prevent the risk of you stumbling off the side of the track. There is also a safety key which provides an emergency stop should you lose your footing.
The console is very simplistic with an LCD in the center where you monitor your speed, distance, calorie burn and pulse. Unfortunately, there are no pre-set routines, so you will need to set up your exercise routines yourself, albeit it is very easy to do. One big plus for this treadmill is the controls in the side grips which make it both easier and safer to use.
Pros
- Extra-long side rails
- Emergency stop
- Up to 400 lbs. max weight
- Controls in side grips
- Folding frame
Cons
- No pre-set programs
- Track only 40″ long
Goplus Electric Treadmill
This is a treadmill which will suit users across the spectrum from beginners to experienced runners who are all looking for a competitively priced treadmill with plenty of features, and a decent level of exercise options.
Starting with the exercise options, you have 12 pre-programmed routines which will target areas such as burning fat and improving your cardiovascular fitness. Beyond these programs, you can manually initiate your own routines using the variable speed controls in conjunction with the manual incline, which can be set at three different heights.
The console is well laid out and has at its center a blue-ray LCD display unit. This can show you several stats that you might want to monitor such as the speed at which you are running or the distance you have covered. One note on the speed is that the maximum on this is around 7 mph so it is not really suited for flat-out sprinting.
The front unit also has a handy holder for your iPhone, so you can plug in your earphones and listen to music as you exercise. It also has a water bottle holder so being able to quench your thirst is never far away.
Many treadmills under $500 lack any kind of cushioning which is vital to reduce the stress being placed on your joints. Thankfully, the people at Goplus, have seen sense to fit this machine with a number of silicon pads which act as shock absorbers and reduce the impact on your ankles and knees as you run.
Pros
- 12 pre-set exercise routines
- Variable speed controls in grips
- Inclines to 15%
- iPhone and bottle holders
- Silicon cushioning
Cons
- Max speed only 7 mph
- Belt length only 47″
Efitment T1013 Treadmill
Efitment have gone for a very simplistic, and we must say, a very innovative design for this treadmill, especially when you look at the console which is as basic as they come. However, it doesn’t lack useful features which those buying their first ever treadmill will appreciate.
With a top speed of 7.5 mph, we are again looking at a treadmill that will suit jogging and walking but not sprinting. Assuming you don’t plan on sprinting, we can now look at the exercise options.
There are 9 pre-set programs you can select from, which cover routines to burn fat, build up stamina and give your cardio a good workout too. There are only two incline levels but the range of speeds you can select range from is 0.5 to 7.5 mph, so you can set up a variety of exercises for yourself.
To ensure your joints are protected from excess impact, there are 8 cushioned points underneath the running board. These help to reduce the stress incurred by ankles and knees which occurs with each stride.
The console is certainly unique with a smooth black surface which is as minimalist as we are every likely to see. There are simple back-lit digital displays for numbers such as speed and distance plus a couple of buttons. That’s all – but this adds to the treadmill’s appeal rather than negates from it.
It is not all low-tech as the treadmill has Bluetooth, so you can wirelessly connect your music devices and listen via the in-built speakers. You also have the option to plug devices directly into the 3mm audio jack.
Pros
- 8 cushioning points
- Unique console design
- Very easy to operate
- 9 pre-sets
- Bluetooth compatible
Cons
- No holders on console
- Manual incline
ZAAP TX4000 Treadmill
Our final review looks at the ZAAP TX4000 Treadmill, which has plenty of features that runners of all levels can benefit from including some that many treadmills in this price bracket normally omit.
If you are carrying a few extra pounds and have been unable to find a low-priced treadmill that will accommodate your weight, then you are in luck with this model as the max user weight on the ZAAP TX4000 is 287 lb. which is higher than most treadmills of this type.
On to the real fun stuff and the exercise options which are available to you. Unfortunately, there are no incline options but there are plenty of possibilities when it comes to adjusting the speed. Not only are they controllable from the main console, you can also adjust your speed using controls on the side grips. This allows you to keep your balance and focus more easily when making speed adjustments.
If you like to have exercise programs which you can start right away, you will be pleased to hear that there are 12 pre-set routines you can try. As you are exercising you, can monitor your progress on the LED display which shows distance, speed, heart rate and calorie burn.
For more comfortable running, the treadmill has built-in shock absorbers to help reduce the impact as you take each stride, and a further safety measure is the emergency stop clip which halts the machine should you stumble.
There is a holder at the front for your digital devices, and if any of them have music, you can connect them with by a 3mm jack or Bluetooth and listen via the built-in speakers.
Pros
- Underfoot cushioning
- 12 pre-programmed exercises
- Controllers on side grips
- Smartphone/ tablet holder
- Bluetooth connectivity
Cons
- No incline options
- Speaker volume low
Conclusion
Whether you are looking to spend less than $500 on a treadmill through necessity or choice, we believe we have chosen the one which gives the you best all-round package for your money. As a result, our best treadmill under $500 is the ZAAP TX4000 Treadmill.
We believe it is the best treadmill under $500 because other than not having an incline option, it has just about everything else you want in a treadmill and more.
It has cushioning to protect your joints, a decent selection of pre-sets, convenient speed controls on the side grips, and if all that wasn’t enough Bluetooth connectivity and speakers, so you can listen to music while you run.
Not forgetting, it can accommodate weights up to 287 lbs. to give more users than normal the opportunity to use it.
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