Best Treadmills for Home Use in 2022 | Reviews and Buying Guide

It is nearly impossible to happen that you don’t know what a treadmill is? You may have noticed it at a gym or in a movie or on Netflix, but has it ever occurred to you to buy one for your home?

Having a treadmill at home is a totally different thing than using one at a gym. Treadmills are a good investment piece and an expensive one too, and It is a solid choice when you don’t want to go outside for whatever reason may be. With a treadmill inside the house, while staying active, you can multitask as well.

It gives flexibility in your workout when you don’t have time, can’t go to the gym, or are outside the house like maybe in rainy weather.

It isn’t necessary that the best treadmill always has to be expensive. The best treadmill means if it fits your requirement criteria like budget, and space, and is suitable for a different type of exercise that you are going to perform.

Running on a proper treadmill changes your body, but it also changes your mind, mood, and attitude.

If you want to find the best treadmill according to your preference criteria, then you are in the right place. We have prepared a list of the top 7 treadmills that you can buy right now.

So, go through them and see which is a good fit for you.

Best Treadmill for Home Use

1. NordicTrack T 9.5 S Series Treadmill

The newest addition to the T-series treadmill trail from NordicTrack is this T9.5-S. Although this machine is aimed toward home use, it offers a sturdiness really close to a light commercial product along with a plethora of features.

You can think of it as an entry-level commercial treadmill, offered as a personal use product.

This home-use treadmill has the most powerful motor that any of the T-series treadmills has ever seen now, with a continuous power rating of 3.6 CHP. Besides, the motor has a self-cooling mechanism, which in turn will increase the lifespan of the equipment. The noise of the motor is near to nothing, which lets you enjoy your run peacefully.

Having said that, the T 9.5 S offers a speed range from 0.5 MPH to 12 MPH. The speed changes can be in the integer or the decimal range for gradual speed adjustments.

Everyone is talking about its console, so why should we stay behind? It features the biggest console now on any T-series treadmill. The extra-large 14-inch touchscreen display lets you completely immerse yourself in the virtual environment. You can jog or run around the world while a personal trainer guides you through the best places worldwide, be it Rome, Paris, or Hawaii.

Other than that, The treadmill can handle any person weighing less than 300 pounds without creating any functionality issues.

It is foldable so that you can pack it up and put it in a corner, so it doesn’t bother anyone. Besides, the dimension of the tool is 78.9” L x 35.5” W x 59.4” H, and the running area it comes with is 20” W x 60” L, which is enough to give you a comfortable run.

That being said, it also comes with a 0% to 12% incline, which will give you a great trekking experience. With an extensive range of built-in workout programs, it comes with the 1-year free iFit coach workout program. It also comes with the FlexSelect cushioning, which will let you select the firmness of the deck.

All in all, this is the best home treadmill till now, and it comes with an excellent warranty package; a 10-year warranty on the frame and motor of the treadmill, a 2-year part warranty, and a 1-year of labor warranty.

2. Horizon Fitness T202 Advanced Treadmill

Well, if you are looking for an affordable treadmill for home use from a respected brand, then this is it. Instead of betting your money on some mysterious brand, you can go for this treadmill, which has a reputable name attached to it, Horizon.

This treadmill comes with a motor of a 2.5 CHP rating to supply continuous horsepower. Continuous rating is the motor’s capacity to supply power steadily without burning out the winding of the motor. And with this rating, you can jog through your capacity, and the motor won’t even get a scratch. Besides, the motor is quiet as a mouse.

Changing the speed on this treadmill is easy; the motor allows easy and smooth transitioning between different speeds ranging from 0.5 to 12 MPH.

Always running at the top speeds won’t be good for the treadmill’s health, but the option is there if you want to do occasional speed training.

Moving on, this treadmill features an LCD screen fitted on the console. Besides this screen, it also has a windowed LED display on which you can keep an eye on the distance traveled, time spent, speed, calories burned, heart rate, and incline as well which you can set between 0 to 12%.

The amusing thing about this treadmill is that a person weighing up to 325 pounds can also use this treadmill safely and without creating any functionality issues.

Moving on to the belt, the belt is more towards the thin side, and it may wear out fast if you are mainly going to use it for running, but if you are planning to use this treadmill for jogging or walking, then it won’t create any issue. Plus, it provides an ample running area of 20” W x 60” L for comfortable training.

With the variable response cushioning mechanism, it offers comfortable jogging and walking experience. The main idea behind it was to offer three different comfort zones depending on your status during the workout session.

With the featherlight folding, it requires minimal effort to fold up, and once you release the latch, the deck unfolds on its own and goes down very smoothly. The treadmill features 12 inbuilt workout programs, and you can do something different with them instead of your regular thing.

At last, the treadmill’s motor and the frame are covered by the lifetime warranty. On the other hand, the cushioning, parts, and labor come with a 1-year warranty, which is a generous proposition if you look at the price point.

4. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 Folding Treadmill

This budget-friendly treadmill from Sunny Health & Fitness is a straightforward choice for walking use. While being user-friendly and affordable, it also offers features that aren’t available in treadmills of this price range.

The motor is the heart of any treadmill, and this treadmill comes with the 2.20 CHP motor, which is really quiet and has an efficient drive system that saves energy. You will be able to use it for extended hours without worrying about overheating.

But due to the small size of the motor, it will be best if you stick to walking, while some episodic jogging will be fine. Also, the treadmill has easy speed-changing buttons, which will let you change it from 0.5 to 9 MPH.

Apart from that, the running area of 15.75″ W x 49″ L is quite wide, which gives you a convenient walking and jogging experience. To make these sessions more effective, the SF-T4400 offers three inclination options: 0%, 2%, and 4.37%, through which you can add resistance to your exercise, but you have to set them manually, that’s not good.

The admirable feature of this treadmill is its soft drop mechanism; it makes the unfolding process more hassle-free. The unfolding of the deck will be very smooth, and it will prevent any loud bangs and damage to you or your carpet floor. Besides, to make walking more comfortable, the deck is cushioned by built-in shock absorbers.

Other than that, the console has a large LCD screen display that shows the speed, distance, time, calories, and heart rate. If you decide to use the media shelf on the console, all those metrics will disappear.

Besides, it comes with 9 preloaded workout programs and the manual mode, which you don’t see in the home treadmills of this price range. The programs are simple and easy to understand.

The warranty period they are offering with this treadmill is quite low; a warranty of 3 years on the frame and 180 days on the other components and parts are provided.

4. XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill

Xterra 150 is a feature-packed home treadmill that is offered at an affordable price. It is designed to provide the best running experience; however, it is not a commercial-grade treadmill, but the sturdiness it offers makes you think that it is the one.

The motor it comes with has a continuous rating of 2.25 CHP, and it drives the Large 16″ X 50″ running belt; this surface will be enough for proper speedrunning. The speed range you can choose from starts at 0.5 mph to 10 mph; it is not the fastest but certainly not that slow either in terms of the price.

Naturally, any motor will make noise, but with this motor, it is not that much to create a noisy, uncomfortable environment that you can’t spend one more second in it.

That being said, the consol this treadmill has is not that modern or has appealing features, but there are a few important things that keep you motivated.

For starters, the LCD is quite large to easily read the digits displayed. The display will easily enable you to keep track of time, distance, calories burned, and pulse rate. It doesn’t come with something like a chest strap or POLAR so, it can only measure pulse through the handlebars.

Other than that, it also comes with 12 preset programs, most of them are interval-based with the default duration of 30 minutes, but they are customizable though. If you don’t want to work on any of these programs, then the manual mode will let you exercise freely.

What’s more, it will free up space if you need more because it is foldable, and the folding is quite easy; just bring the deck up a little, and the hydraulics will do the rest. Also, you can choose the firmness of the deck from the two settings provided.

The incline here isn’t much to look at, but a maximum of 2-degree incline will slightly increase the difficulty level, with other settings being 0.5 and 1 degree. This home treadmill is also capable of providing a very good running experience for a person who weighs up to 250 lbs.

On this equipment, the manufacturer offers a 1-year warranty on the motor, a lifetime warranty on the frame and parts, and labor with 90 days warranty. The customer service of Xterra is highly reliable.

5. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7603 Home Treadmill

The cardio machines and treadmills from Sunny Health & Fitness Continuously stayed among the top sellers, the reason being, they are so well made and offer useful features while their price remains under the budget.

This SF-T7603 treadmill features a 2.2 HP DC electric motor. It is relatively quiet and offers a maximum speed of 9 MPH, which starts from 0.5 MPH. This speed range is ideal for walkers and casual joggers.

The motor rotates the running belt, which has a surface area of 49 x 16 inches square. This area is great for walking but not for running. Keep in mind that this treadmill isn’t designed for running; this was obvious from the low power of the motor.

Going ahead, the maximum weight capacity this home-use treadmill offers is 220 pounds. If the person weighs more than that, the treadmill might not last long.

If we talk about the folding mechanism, the unit comes with an uncomplicated folding system with a soft drop feature. The soft drop system lets the user fold and unfold it quickly without any loud bangs or pinched toes, and the deck drops very smoothly. Besides, it requires a relatively small space in a folded condition and has wheels at the base to easily move it around.

That being said, it comes with the 3 incline levels, which is a good thing, but the incline is manual. Manual adjustment is not good because to set the incline, you will have to stop your exercise.

The treadmill features an LCD that gives information about basic metrics about workout sessions like time, distance covered, etc. The console is pretty simple; it has large buttons, which makes it easy to use. Furthermore, it comes with 9 built-in programs and a heart rate monitor, for which the sensor is placed on the handles.

And the most important thing is the safety pin, never use the treadmill without attaching it; it is highly recommended.

In the end, the tool comes with just a 90 days manufacturer’s warranty. The warranty could have been better here, but hey, look at the price.

6. Weslo Cadence G 5.9i Cadence Folding Treadmill

The Weslo Cadence G 5.9 is generally the preferred brand of first-timers who doesn’t want to spend much and wants compact equipment. It is an entry-level treadmill to use at home. It has attracted many users due to its lowest price point in the market.

As usual, let’s start with the motor; the treadmill features a 2.25 CHP motor, which generally you don’t get in this price range. The motor does its job pretty well without any noticeable noise; it is most likely to happen that the other appliances of your home may create more sound than this.

The speed range is from 0.5 to 10 MPH, thanks to the motor it has. You can easily set the desired speed from the buttons on the console, and you can use the plus or minus buttons or choose to change it abruptly by selecting given numbers.

The 50” x 16” fo running area provides enough space for the walking exercise. The width is quite low compared to other home treadmills, so make sure if that’s enough for you. Besides, you can fold it and place it in a corner, and it takes up very little space when folded.

The equipment can properly function as long as the person’s weight stays below 275 pounds, which is higher than some of the more expensive treadmills.

To help you protect your joints from having any problems due to impacts, this treadmill features specially designed comfort cell cushioning that reduces impacts and shocks. These are going to be less intensive impacts compared to outdoor exercise.

Moving on, Weslo Cadence G 5.9 comes with 2-point adjustable incline positions. The incline-changing process is manual; you can do this by folding two feet at the end of the treadmill. The incline is helpful to burn more calories and to give more stress to the leg muscles.

To display the exercise data like time, distance, speed, etc., it comes with a blue-tinted display, and it isn’t backlit, so you will need good lighting to see the data correctly.

Given the price point, they are offering a 1 years warranty on the motor and a 90 days warranty on the parts of the treadmill.

7. NordicTrack T 7.5 S T-Series Treadmill

NordicTrack T 7.5 S treadmill has allured a wide range of consumers to its nest; I mean, why not? If they are offering excellent features at a reasonable price, who wouldn’t want them? and that too from a respected industry brand. Despite its price point, it comes with some of the best features.

Let’s start with the console, shall we? The treadmill features a 7-inch smart HD touchscreen display to make your workout more immersive. The touchscreen is really effective as you go through the treadmill and very responsive; even if your hands are sweaty, it will receive the command properly.

It’s a tough job to maintain consistency, especially if you are doing things that are repetitive. It is going to feel boring, but that won’t be a problem here as it comes with a year’s free iFit subscription while also having the 50 inbuilt workout programs from different professional coaches, so you get to do something new every day.

Going ahead, the treadmill has a running area with the dimensions 20” W x 60” L; this is enough space for walking, jogging, or running as well. The spinning of the belt is supplied by the powerful 3.0 CHP DurX commercial plus motor. It is capable enough to ride you through any kind of workout you want, starting from a walk to a tough sprint workout.

Having said that, the treadmill comes with a wide speed selection option starting from 0.5 MPH to 12 MPH. I don’t want to spin my head around just thinking about why anyone would want to run at 10 MPH, let alone 12 MPH, but you do have the option for that extreme speed.

This unit comes with an unanticipated weight capacity of 300 lbs, and this also suggests that it is also going to have a pretty sturdy build.

When not in use, you can free up space by folding the treadmill, and it is pretty easy to do, owing to the EasyLiftAssist built into it. Also, it is extremely easy to unfold it; just give a little press to the deck, and it will descend to the floor like a feather.

The FlexSelect cushioning gives full control over the firmness of the deck, and you can precisely select how much cushioning you want. The shock absorbers under the deck will make the deck more firm or hard as you wish.

Also, the treadmill comes with an adjustable incline ranging from 0 to 12 %, which will make your exercise more challenging.

With this purchase, you get a 10-year warranty on the frame and the motor while 2 years warranty on parts, and a 1-year warranty on the labor.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using A Treadmill

Treadmills are a good choice to keep your exercise going in any weather, and that too inside four walls of your house with safety. But same as every other thing on this planet it has some advantages and some disadvantages too.

Advantages

• The treadmill is simple equipment for exercise, and also it is easy to use.
• Compared to outside walks, the surface of a treadmill is predictable, whereas outside, the sidewalks, curbs, and trails will increase the risk of tripping.
• You can have full control over your workout metrics like speed, incline, how many calories are burned, etc.
• They come with preset programs to keep the exercise interesting, and users can also make their custom programs to fit into their schedules.
• Multiple users can use the same treadmill for exercise without doing anything.
• You can also track your heart rate and step counts to have a better idea about the fitness program.
• A recent study shows that exercise on the treadmills burns more calories than any other form of home exercise.
• Users can watch television or can read to keep the exercise interesting.

Disadvantages

• They are expensive; some models have a price of over $2000.
• The impact due to the cushioned surface of the treadmill may create stress on the back and different joints, so testing becomes crucial.
• They can occupy a significant amount of space, especially if it is a sophisticated one, and they don’t generally offer the folding option.
• For maintenance of the programs and motors of the treadmill, you usually require a professional.
• It’s good if the treadmill has a silent motor, but if it creates a significant amount of noise, then it may interfere with other activities nearby, or the environment it will create won’t be pleasant to do your exercise in.
• You can use the treadmill for only running and walking so after a while you might find it boring.

How To Safely Use The Home Treadmill

Although being the simplest exercise equipment, it can turn out to be a pretty dangerous thing if not properly used or safety precautions are ignored. It will only take a fraction of a second to turn a perfectly well exercise session into a serious injury. To avoid any accidents, keep your kids and pets away from the treadmill, and don’t ever leave the key in the machine while not in use.

To avoid any unfortunate events, follow these few safety tips.

Keep Your Sight Forward

If you don’t look forward and look sideways, then you are more likely to lose balance and fall because people’s feet follow their eyes, which means your feet will move to the side, and injury can happen. For first-time users, it gives a feeling of dizziness because the treadmill walking gives the sensation of the ground moving, which causes disorientation, so they need to hold something.

Don’t Rely On Handrails

It’s fine to get support from a handrail at starting, but an extended period of use is not recommended because it can put an extra burden on the shoulders and elbow. Besides, relying on the rails will decrease the number of calories burned because not all muscles are engaged in exercise. Free movement of arms is a more natural process that also burns calories.

Never Start The Machine While Standing On The Deck

At the beginning of the workout, start the treadmill while you are on the floor, don’t start it with both feet on the deck. Generally, all the treadmills start at a low speed despite the setting of the previous session, but if this feature malfunctions, then you may get injured. Even if you are planning to run, start with a low speed and increase the speed gradually.

Maintain a Proper Speed Or Incline

It is a very difficult task to maintain speed at high-incline settings. If you want to do the running on an incline, then first set the incline at a convenient level and then only increase the speed level gradually. If the speed is increased without the adjustment, then the runner is more likely to slip and fall.

Don’t Run Without Shoes

If you are going to use the treadmill barefoot, then be ready for Burns and blisters because the moving belt has heat and friction, so the feet need to be protected from that. Shoes of proper fitting also help to absorb shocks of movement and reduce the impacts. Also, while running barefoot, there is a possibility of feet getting caught where the side of the moving belt and machine meet; this may lead to serious injury.

Have Plenty Of Free Space Around The Treadmill

There is always a likelihood of accidents no matter how experienced the user is; falls can happen to anyone. To prevent this kind of accident, everyone should try to balance themselves on a treadmill, and follow all the safety guidelines.

Now, even if accidents happen, make sure there isn’t anything in the nearby vicinity of the machine. After all, you don’t want to be slammed into one of your things. The treadmill belt spins fast, so the runner needs to be careful if a fall happens.

What to look for when buying a home treadmill

Cushioning

To have a regular run on the treadmill, it should be comfortable enough and have a speed range, so it doesn’t always run at the maximum speed. The recommended choice would be a machine that has a maximum speed capacity of 10 MPH or higher. Besides the speed, the running area should be firm and have enough area, and most importantly, it should be able to absorb the shock. Cushioning is important; it will save your joints by reducing the impact which you may while running on the asphalt.

Motor

The majority of home treadmills you see on the market are motorized ones. The motors they feature are different based on their CHP ratings.

The minimum motor you should buy is 1.5 CHP. Although, if the treadmill is going to be used by many people on a regular basis, then you should look for more CHP. The more CHP means the more robustness, which means it will have a longer life when used for frequent heavy workouts daily. Also, more CHP means more weight capacity, which is something to keep in mind.

Space

Space consideration becomes more important when you don’t have a considerable amount of space to store the treadmill. Even when they are folded, they can take up a considerable amount of space, but it will be more when they are in use. It is advised to keep the treadmill in a space where there is nothing around; in case the user falls, there will be fewer chances of injury.

Moreover, not all machines can be easily moved around, so make sure where they will be placed beforehand.

Speed And Incline

The speed and incline of the treadmill are important considerations because they can give you an idea about what kind of different exercises you will be able to perform.

If you want to do some speed running or interval training, then you need to consider a treadmill that comes with a high-speed rating; otherwise, you are going to outgrow the treadmill at some point or another.

Correspondingly, if you want to push things to the next level but the treadmill you have only provided the maximum incline of 4, then you may not get that extra push of another mile.

So before purchasing a home-use treadmill, know your needs and then invest in a machine that gives you years of service.

Modes

Some treadmills feature preloaded workout modes to keep the variety in daily workout sessions. All the treadmills on our lists come with preset workout modes of one type or another.

Some treadmills are capable of remembering your recent workout setting for an easy transition between workout intervals. In comparison, some treadmills come with a manual mode. In the manual mode, the treadmill powers the belt with just your body weight; it’s like you are pushing a weighted block across the floor.

Features

These are not necessary to do your workout, but they can improve your overall workout experience quite nicely, like preprogrammed workouts, streaming abilities, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and the sync with third-party mobile fitness applications.

Warranty and SetUp

And Finally, you should look at the warranty offered by the manufacturer because it provides a crucial idea about the quality of the treadmill parts. The Ideal warranty package should have a lifetime or 10 years warranty on the frame and the motor, while the electronics should have a 5 years warranty, and it should offer a 2-year warranty on the labor.

Besides, also take into account the assembling of the treadmill. You are most likely to need help to do that. Plus, also consider the delivery charges if it’s free or you need to pay separately for it.

FAQs

Q. What is the best speed on the treadmill to lose weight?

The treadmill walking burns calories, which means it is good equipment you can use to lose weight. The average velocity of an individual is about 2 to 3 miles an hour. To lose weight, you will need to walk around 3 to 4 miles an hour, which means it will burn extra calories.

To make it more effective, you can increase the speed, try jogging, and you can also increase the incline level.

Q. What is the best time to run on a treadmill?

Some researchers at Appalachian State University did some experiments on the sleep patterns of 40 to 60 people who walked 30 minutes on a treadmill 3 times weekly.

From those experiments, they concluded that if you walk on the treadmill in the morning, you are going to get a better night’s sleep and who doesn’t want that?.

So, morning workouts should be the best.

Q. How many times a week should you do the treadmill?

Running 3-4 times a week is a good exercising schedule. To follow it properly:

• Make a weekly routine, and be devoted to it.
• Take one or two days off your schedule.
• While on the exercise schedule, don’t forget to take a proper diet.

Q. How long should you walk on a treadmill to lose weight?

To lose weight and burn extra calories, treadmill walking is a very good way. 1-hour of walking daily will help you burn extra calories, which won’t be much, but as you stick to the routine and do the daily exercise, you are going to chip away all those extra pounds.

In one study, a few individuals lost 10% of their initial weight just by walking for an hour daily continuously for 6 months.

So, 1-hour walking on a daily basis can help you a reasonable amount of weight.

Q. Is walking on a treadmill good for knee pain?

Exercise makes you stronger and reduces knee pain if you have arthritis. Walking is the most simple way to start working out, and a treadmill provides that facility. It allows you to stay active and walk no matter the weather. Besides, it’s almost the same as walking outside.