The 5 Best Budget Friendly Treadmills Worth Buying

Your budget is a key consideration when choosing a treadmill, but oftentimes it can be difficult to figure out which model is going to give you the most bang for your buck.

Treadmills offer a huge range of different features which significantly impact the price, but that doesn’t mean you you’ll have to make huge sacrifices when shopping on a budget.

The quiet and smooth Weslo Cadence G 5.9i treadmill features a 2.25hp motor, which can reach speeds up to 10 miles per hour (in increments of 0.5 mph), can manually incline to two positions (1.5 percent and 6 percent) and you can easily store it when not in use as it folds up. 

I really like this treadmill.  It was to assemble, a great value it is, how compact it is, and how they enjoy using it. Folding it up was also very easy. 

It’s a breeze to monitor your workout progress thanks to the two-window LED display, which tracks your time, distance, speed, calories burned, and more.

I highly recommend this treadmill for runners who are training for a race/competition or who like to use the incline regularly for maintaining fitness. The Aerosoft cushioning system below the belt isolates your feet and legs from shock.

One downfall is that the running deck measures 18” X 50”, making it slightly wider than others listed so far, but the shortest lengthwise.

This shouldn’t be an issue if you are less than 6 ft. tall, but any taller with a considerably long stride might find this running deck too short.

The roomy 20” X 55” belt features NordicTrack’s own FlexSelect cushioning system that softens the impact of each stride, but you can also set it to simulate the feel of road running.

You can find my in-depth review of the NordicTrack T 6.5 S here. 

As with all NordicTrack machines, this treadmill is compatible with iFit, a program where you can access training routes anywhere in the world via Google maps, receive automatic stats tracking, create personalized workouts, participate in competitions, watch celebrity workout videos and more (requires a separate iFit wireless module and subscription, sold separately). 

You can connect your iPod or other music device to the T 6.5 S’s integrated sound system to hear your favorite fitness playlist projected through dual 2-inch speakers, and the SpaceSaver Design with EasyLift Assist make it easy to fold up and store.

PLUS it has a lifetime warranty on the body plus a 25 year warranty on the motor (extremely impressive considering other treadmills in the price range come with a two year warranty on the motor).

It's an impressive warranty. 

The large 5” LCD display tells you your speed, incline, time, distance, calories, and pulse (measured on the handlebars) make sure that you are hitting your goals for every workout.

Maxing out at 10mph, this machine boasts quick access speed buttons that allow you to adjust your pace throughout your run. 

Horsepower Makes All the Difference

Most treadmills are between 2.0 and 3.0 horsepower.

The higher the horsepower, the faster the treadmill will go and it is also likely to be more durable.

2.0 treadmills barely get up to jogging speed, as they are meant more for people who want to use a treadmill for walking exercises. 3.0 treadmills are made for runners who are at a high fitness level and run faster than average, or want to periodically do intense speedwork (these are the type of treadmills you’ll often find in the gym). 

Everything in between is about as varied as runners themselves. Some charts say 2.0 for walkers, 2.5 for joggers, and 3.0 for runners, but I find that info a little skewed.

I consider myself an average runner, not very fast but not necessarily a jogger either, and I’ve owned a 2.25hp treadmill for years and loved it. 

I can comfortably run for 30-40 minutes at the 5 or 6 mph settings and if I bump it all the way up to top speed I’m at a near sprint. I’ve never felt like it couldn’t go fast enough if I wanted to do speedwork. 

The amount of horsepower also determines the treadmill’s weight limit. Most sources say that if you weigh more than 200 lbs you should increase the horsepower by .5 no matter what your fitness goals are (for example, it is recommended that you should get a 2.5 hp treadmill even if you’ll only be using it for walking).

I say just check the specs on the treadmill you are interested in before you buy, they will always tell you what the suggested weight limit is and I’ve found that many of them support higher weight limits than 200 lbs.

A Running Deck That is Suitable for Your Stride

Oftentimes, the cheaper the treadmill is the shorter the running deck. If you are able to test your treadmill before buying, then you’ll know pretty quick if the running deck is sufficient.

But if you are ordering online, be aware of the length of the deck, especially if you’re tall.

Size Suitable for Your Home

In order for your treadmill purchase to be a success, it has to fit in your space. While non-folding treadmill models are usually more durable than folding models, you definitely don’t want to skip this detail if you are pressed for space.

As for sound, note that motors employing direct current (or known as DC) cause less noise compared to motors that use alternate current (also known as AC).