For most people, personally purchasing the “best budget treadmill under $500” is guaranteed to be a time-consuming process. After all, there are so many different makes and models that it can quickly get confusing. But we’ve done the hard work for you, so you can relax and choose a treadmill at home with confidence.
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10 Best Budget Treadmills Under $500
1. Weslo Cadence R5.2 Treadmill
Here’s an affordable treadmill that can get the job done reliably and certainly meet the needs of many people. The Weslo Cadence R5.2 treadmill features a powerful 2.5 hp pulse motor.
There’s also a two-position manual incline available to speed up those workouts. Therefore, it is good for all types of training, including interval, speed, and resistance workouts.
This treadmill is good for both intense and light exercises. It features a 16 ″ x 50 ″ platform that is cushioned to withstand the constant impact of your feet while providing a somewhat softer landing.
Having this type of cushioned tread means you can exercise more enjoyable, without worrying about damaging your joints, the same way you would on hard pavement or concrete. This comfort cell cushioning also helps you recover faster after your workouts on the treadmill.
The motor is relatively quiet and has an internal cooling component so it doesn’t overheat. Most likely, you can push this to the limit and not have to worry much about it. With its Space Saver design, you can fold down the Weslo R5.2 when you’re not using it to make more space. Folded Weslo Cadence takes up to 24×28 inches of space.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
Several programs are included with this Weslo model, including six training apps specifically for weight loss, making it a favorite for those looking to lose a few extra pounds.
It is a sturdy treadmill designed for most medium-sized people, whether it’s walking, jogging, or even running. Some users report that they run on this treadmill up to 8 mph and they handle it very well.
But a structurally sound frame is usually quite heavy. It features a large LCD monitor to keep track of calories, distance, time, and speed, so you can see your progress in real-time.
Since this is an inexpensive treadmill, the incline is a manual adjustment. It is easily accomplished by adjusting the folding legs on the back of the treadmill. The more expensive units have automatic incline adjustments, but you can achieve a similar effect manually with this treadmill and save your hard-earned money in the process.
Just keep in mind that the incline settings are not that dramatic. If you’ve never walked on an incline treadmill before, you’ll notice a difference in doing it. But if you are used to going to extreme angles, you will quickly outgrow this model.
Many people choose the Weslo Cadence treadmill to simply get back in shape. And most of them use it for light walking or jogging. However, some users have reported using it for a much more intense workout, at speeds of 6 or 7 mph, daily. Others have used it to train for distance races, even marathons, and the machine has lasted several months with no problems.
With average use, this should last for years. Regardless of the make or model you choose, be sure to keep your treadmill indoors. Do not expose it where it can be affected by heat, dust, moisture, rain, or snow. Any of those conditions can quickly ruin a good team.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
2. SereneLife Smart Digital Folding Treadmill
SereneLife offers three different incline settings, 16 preset programs, plus a downloadable app called “Fit Show Sports” that can add a whole new level of excitement and motivation to your workout routines. This comes from almost 300 actual buyers, which is a statistically valid number for grades.
Those preset training modes include adjustable speed and incline settings to increase the intensity of your workouts and help you get in shape. So you can start at any level with this machine and get the type of exercise you are looking for.
Pairing the treadmill with the app makes it easy to automatically record your stats and track your progress. It has a 1.5 hp motor and adjustable speeds up to 7.5 mph. The maximum user weight is set at 265 pounds. Sensors built into the grips monitor your pulse while you exercise.
The tread platform measures 15.75 inches by 43.30 inches, making it suitable for most users. The top layer of the tread features a diamond pattern that provides a non-slip grip and has a nice springy feel. In total, four layers make this a durable belt that runs relatively quietly and minimizes stress on the motor.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
Built-in speakers allow you to connect to your device via Bluetooth and play your favorite music while you exercise. This is huge simply because most of the treadmills in this price range that offer Bluetooth connectivity force you to use it only for your related fitness subscriptions.
Damping on both sides of the deck helps limit the vibration and noise that occurs when your feet constantly hit the deck. There are two built-in holders to store your phone, glasses, water bottle, etc. The SereneLife smart digital treadmill also comes with a USB connection, so you can charge your device while you exercise. Makes one wonder why more manufacturers haven’t added it as standard equipment.
Despite the low price, this is a quality folding treadmill with a built-in soft-drop system, you don’t have to worry about damaging your floor or supporting the weight of the base as it descends into position. Ready to go, the SereneLife smart treadmill measures 54.7 inches long by 26.7 inches wide by 49.6 inches high. Folded, it measures 25.6 inches long by 26.7 inches wide by 52.3 inches high.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
3. Weslo Cadence G 5.9i Folding Treadmill
Weslo is a well-known brand that offers you a complete treadmill experience, at a price you can live with. That is important. Most people are looking for a treadmill that can run over time and grow with them as they get in better physical shape.
If you’re looking for a reliable treadmill that allows you to perform multiple forms of exercise, without weighing down your budget, the Weslo Cadence G5 .9i is a solid choice.
This particular treadmill is designed for people who weigh up to 275 pounds. It has a good size platform (16 ″ x 50 ″) and is powered by a powerful 2.25 hp engine. It also deploys what Weslo calls “comfort cell cushioning” under the tread deck to help absorb some of the impacts from feet continually hitting the deck.
It supports your joints and gives you a much more comfortable training experience, as well as faster recovery times. We recommend that you only consider a treadmill with some sort of built-in cushioning or cushioning system. It feels better and is more pleasant to the body compared to a treadmill without this feature or walking on paved roads or concrete sidewalks.
Most people will find the 16×50 inches treadmill to be a more than normal size. But for those who are particularly tall or have longer crotches – you may want a somewhat longer tread. But the vast majority of people who buy the best treadmill under 500 will find that this is the right one for their intended use.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
Like many makes and models on the market, Weslo treadmills are designed to be used with an iFit membership. With the purchase of the Weslo Cadence G5.9i, a one-month complimentary iFit is included and worth checking out. Just keep in mind that after that initial month, you’ll need to pay a monthly subscription if you want to keep your iFit membership.
With Weslo, you’re protected with a one-year warranty on the engine and 90 days on parts and labor.
If you haven’t been exercising much lately, you should probably start at a slow speed and gradually increase your pace. Weslo Cadence makes this easy to do by simply pressing the plus button. Gradually increase your speed and the distance you walk or jog.
That way you will constantly improve your conditioning. just don’t overdo it. Slow and steady makes the most progress. Exercise at your own pace and do whatever you want. Having a treadmill like this is an easy way to do your daily exercise.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
4. Xterra Fitness TR 150 Folding Treadmill
This is another lesser-known brand with a lot to offer. It’s the Xterra Fitness TR 150, another stellar selection among the many we tested in the treadmill category.
Xterra Fitness folding treadmill preset speed controls give you a quick and easy way to boost your treadmill workout midway. With the 16 x 50 tread size, there is plenty of room to move.
And with 12 preset programs offering a variety of different workouts that you can experience on this treadmill, there are plenty of ways to mix things up. Three manual incline settings allow you to increase the intensity of your exercise and increase your heart rate.
Multiple damping points support the tread deck and your joints at the same time, minimizing the impact of each step, and allowing you to exercise more than you would be comfortable doing.
The Xterra has a powerful 2.25 hp engine and speeds range from .5 to 10 mph. It is a motor that runs smoothly and is relatively quiet. It has a 1-year warranty too. Three levels of manual adjustment (1 °, 1.5 °, and 2 °) allow you to increase the incline and thus the intensity of your workout.
When configured and ready to go, the Xterra footprint measures 60-63.4 “long x 28.7” wide. Folded for storage, the size is reduced to 28.5 “x 28.75” wide.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
5. GYMAX Folding Treadmill
Here’s another affordable space-saving treadmill. And when it comes to saving space, this reigns supreme. The GYMAX folding treadmill occupies an area of 46 “long x 20” wide x 43 “high when installed.
Folded, that size drops to just 9 “long x 23” wide x 51 “high. That makes it the most compact folding treadmill of all competitors in the category of “best budget treadmill under $ 500.”
This type of space saver is perfect for smaller apartments and condos, or any room with limited space.
The GYMAX folding treadmill features a contemporary design with a sleek round monitor that displays your distance, current speed, elapsed time, and calories burned. The easy-access buttons on the Gymax give you total control of your treadmill experience.
With a frame constructed of solid steel and a shock-absorbing, non-slip tread, it’s a pleasure to exercise. Speed ranges from 0.5-6.5 mph. And you won’t hurt your knees, ankles, or back, thanks to the padded platform. It is designed to accommodate users up to 220 pounds, but not to exceed them.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
6. Sunny Health and Fitness SF – Treadmill T7603
Sunny Health and Fitness have been making their treadmills for years and in the under $ 500 treadmill category, they are an excellent all-purpose treadmill that many will find ideal for their homes.
Ready to go, this treadmill measures 62 ″ long by 27 ″ wide by 47 ″ high. Folded size reduces to 32.5×27 inches. Therefore, it is a space-saving treadmill and costs much less than $ 500.
If you just want to get in shape or are tired of walking or jogging on hard asphalt outside, this low-cost unit from Sunny Health is a great option. It is a well-padded treadmill made of solid steel and designed with additional shock absorption on the tread deck. So you can do effective cardio anytime at home, without pain in your knees or ankles.
This treadmill may be the perfect option for those of us who just don’t have the time, or the desire, to hit the gym. After using a treadmill like this at home, you may wonder, who could bother packing a gym bag and taking the time to drive to the gym and back?
In the time it would take most people to get ready, you could dive deep into a solid workout on your Sunny Health and Fitness treadmill. Whether you just want to lose those extra pounds or want to keep fit, exercising from the comfort of your home is a convenient, fun, and easy way to do it.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
With this treadmill, you’ll get a decent 2.2 hp DC motor and 16 “x 49” tread surface, plus handrail controls to start, stop, and adjust your speed, plus measure your heart rate. This model from Sunny Health is a relatively small treadmill that gets smaller when not in use with the easy-fold mechanism and soft drop system.
This is very useful. It means you don’t have to bear weight or worry about it hitting your floor while lowering the tread from its storage position. This smooth drop mechanism allows you to prepare for a workout safely and hands-free.
Walking at a steady pace helps you burn off those extra pounds. You’ll want to increase your heart rate from your resting rate and the longer you can keep it there while walking, the more fat you’ll burn excessively. The Sunny Health SF-T7603 can help you do just that and has earned its rightful place on our list of the “best treadmills for households under 500”.
With a set of transport wheels built into the undercarriage, it is relatively easy to move the treadmill to another location in your home, assuming it can get through the door without a hitch.
The 2.2 hp engine is more than enough. This one is made for two 2220 lbs max weight. it is foldable with three manual tilt adjustments.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
7. MaxCare Folding Treadmill
This is another budget treadmill option that has been well thought out by product developers. The Maxcare folding treadmill offers one-touch operation and easy control of speed, distance, time spent, calories burned, and your current heart rate – all useful information. The large LCD screen makes this particularly easy to see while walking, jogging, or running on the treadmill.
MaxCare machines ship with a pure copper motor that runs quietly but is capable of propelling the treadmill from 0.5 mph to 8.5 mph. It also features a 17-inch wide multi-layer tread with a multi-location anti-shock system that provides a level of quality cushioning.
According to the manufacturer, this model is ergonomically designed for people between heights of 4’6 “to approximately 6’2” in height and with a maximum weight of 220 pounds. This would be a good option for most adults.
Interestingly, the weight of this treadmill is only 91 pounds. It’s not the lightest, but it certainly weighs less than many inexpensive machines on the market. At the same time, it is heavy enough and well-designed to provide stable support while on the track.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
It couldn’t be easier to operate. Just get on board, turn on the treadmill, and set your desired speed with one click. That’s all you need and you go off to the races, figuratively.
With MaxCare, you get 15 preset programs available through the backlit LCD screen. At any time, whether you are following one of these programs or not, you can monitor your speed, distance, time, calories burned and pulse.
We have reviewed countless treadmills over several months. One thing that stood out about MaxCare was that it was well packaged and easy to put together, with more than adequate instructions. It would probably take an average person an hour or two to have it fully assembled and ready to go. But with some experience, you could probably cut that time in half, or more.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
8. Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill, 2.25HP
It doesn’t matter if you live in a house, a condo, or an apartment building. Whenever you are allowed to have exercise equipment such as a treadmill in your home, you may want to seriously consider the GoPlus 2 e folding treadmill. n 1. It has a lot to offer and is one of the best home treadmills for under $ 500.
It’s no wonder this version of the GoPlus 2-in-1 folding treadmill scores a respectable 4.0 out of 5 possible stars from actual buyers.
One of the unique features is that this treadmill has two different modes (hence the name). With the arms upright in place, it performs like any other quality treadmill, and at speeds up to 12 km / h (7.45 mph). In walk mode, the belt speed is 1 to 4 km / h (2.48 mph).
With a durable frame made of quality steel and a noise-reducing, shock-absorbing, multi-layer tread deck, rest assured this is stable, safe, and comfortable to use.
With a treadmill that measures approximately 16 inches wide by 40 inches long, there’s plenty of room for most (not all) people. Taller, larger-build people would do better with a treadmill like this. What the multi-layer tread provides is a softer cushion for the feet when they hit the tread, step by step.
The GoPlus 2 in 1 has a remote control where you have control of all the functions. There’s also a built-in phone holder, so you don’t have to worry about staying connected while working out.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
Perhaps one of the best features is the Bluetooth speaker that allows you to connect your device to the speaker and listen to whatever you want while you exercise. But it is better to leave that option to use at home, rather than in the office.
As soon as you press the stop button, it will reset to zero. If you want to track and record your progress daily, we suggest that you get a simple notebook and manually record the details as you go.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
9. SereneLife Smart Electric Treadmill
When used with the compatible app, the SereneLife Smart Electric Treadmill offers additional benefits beyond what you might expect from a treadmill.
There is an LCD with control buttons and the display indicates distance, accumulated time, current speed, calories burned, and heart rate, which is determined via sensors in the handle on the handlebar.
You can manually adjust the incline level to enhance your workouts. There is also a built-in tray for a book or iPad (very useful), as well as a cup or bottle holder. What makes this an attractive option for many is SereneLife’s “Fit Show Sports” compatible app.
Pair this with your device via Bluetooth and you will automatically record and review your exercise data, display your training statistics, and challenge your friends to a workout in a way similar to what Fitbit offers. Since the app works with Android and iOS systems, anyone with a smart device can use it. This adds to the usability and functionality of the treadmill.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
Speeds range from 0.6 to 6 mph and the engine has proven itself capable and capable of sustaining itself for extended periods of training. Also, this treadmill has a capacity of up to 265 pounds. According to buyers, it’s proven and versatile exercise equipment, of your whole family is likely to enjoy.
Ready to use, it measures 50.8 “long by 24” wide by 49.2 “high. The folded size is 25.2 inches long by 24 inches wide by 49.2 inches high.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
10. Merax Electric Folding Treadmill
Merax offers many functions, including an LCD screen that tracks your statistics. But there is also a USB connection so you can plug in your device or flash drive and enjoy listening to your favorite playlist while working out.
That is a huge advantage in our book. Not surprisingly, it gets an impressive 4.1 out of 5 possible stars from nearly 350 buyer reviews.
Merax is built with a 1.5 hp motor that runs smoothly and efficiently. Speed ranges from 0.5-7.5 mph and handlebar controls allow you to change speed settings during your workout.
What’s significantly different here is the automatic incline adjustment, so you can increase or decrease your workouts at any time.
Merax outer layer has a high-density material. This helps absorb shock when your feet hit the tread over and over again. Shock absorption like this not only makes you more comfortable, but it also helps save your joints, especially your knees, and speeds recovery times between workouts.
This is another relatively lightweight in terms of overall machine weight that weighs 64 pounds. But the Merax’s frame is surprisingly strong and reliable. It’s designed to support distance jogging and running, for those weighing up to 240 pounds.
The treadmill is smaller than many of the ones we’ve seen. But it does the job well. When installed, the Merax treadmill measures 55 “long by 23.5” wide by 43 “high. In its folded position, the size becomes 29.5 inches long by 23.5 inches wide by 49 inches high.
Best Budget Treadmill Under $500
Conclusion
When looking for the best budget treadmill under $ 500, your options are many. We’ve narrowed the field down to the top ten and added a couple of bonus products that we love. By choosing one of our recommendations, you will save a lot of time and uncertainty.
Confidently choose the treadmill from our list that best suits your needs. If you are looking for the best overall treadmill under 500, we recommend the Merax Electric, highly rated by the owners at a great price. If you want to get the most out of your investment, here’s what we recommend: Weslo Cadence G 5.9i, a well-known brand with excellent value for your investment. And if it’s primarily a dependable treadmill you’re after, you can’t go wrong with the Weslo Cadence R5.2, a recognizable brand, and a solid machine.
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