The Best Entry Level Treadmill For 2024

Jonathan Wilson By, Jonathan Wilson
Updated
Sunny Health Fitness Folding Treadmill
Image credit: Amazon.com

The Rundown

1. Best Of The Best: Sunny Health Fitness Folding Treadmill

"A sturdy and reliable treadmill for the whole family. The Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Treadmill for Home Exercise has large, cushioned belt and a large, spacious running area that's perfect for any size workout. It also comes with a handrail your kids can use to help keep them safe as they learn how to exercise." Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: NordicTrack T Series Treadmill

"The T Series treadmill is the ultimate indoor-outdoor workout machine. With its SMART-Response Motor, you can enjoy a smooth and effective speed, interval, and endurance training session. The 20” x 55” tread belt offers plenty of leg and elbow space as you run. It also has a FlexSelect deck cushioning that protects your joints." Read Review

3. Best Powerful: XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill

"XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill offers unmatched variety for your workouts. 12 preset programs and 3 manual incline settings offer 12 workout possibilities for any time of day, anytime. Easy to fold and store, this commercial grade treadmill is perfect for your home gym or office." Read Review

4. Best Portable: Sunny Health Fitness Folding Incline Treadmill

"The Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Incline Treadmill is the perfect upgrade for your home gym. It offers a smooth, more challenging walk, and it folds up so easily you'll be able to store it in just about any corner of your home." Read Review

If you are looking to purchase a treadmill for your home, you may be wondering what is the best entry level treadmill? This is probably the most important question you will have. After all, if it’s just going to sit in your house collecting dust, it doesn’t matter much. As with anything in life, there are good entry level treadmills and there are bad ones.

The good news is that almost any brand will have some entry level treadmills available. However, the cost of manufacturing has dropped over time which makes the bad treadmillser than the good models were 5-10 years ago. In this guide we will explain what we look for when selecting a good entry level treadmill as well as some of our favorite brands so that you can find one that meets your needs without breaking the bank.

Following extensive study and analysis, We think the best entry level treadmill of 2024 is Sunny Health Fitness Folding Treadmill. However, it is not the only thing on our list. We also show a full buyer's guide and a number of different options are available to help you find the most suitable.

Compare

TOP Choice #1 Sunny Health Fitness Folding Treadmill
Our Score:
9.8
Sunny Health & Fitness

HANDRAIL CONTROLS: Don't worry about losing stability and control during your workout with the built-in handrail buttons. These allow you to quickly and safely adjust the speed and recline of your workout while exercising.

PERFORMANCE MONITOR: Challenge your fitness with 15 pre-installed workouts and 3 custom user workout entries. Track your fitness progress by using the BMI calculator software, and onboard stats like time, speed, distance, heart rate, and calories burned.

SPACIOUS RUNNING BELT: Enjoy a wide and safe running belt (19in x 52in) that provides a comfortable workout area for your feet, which will allow you to comfortably move without worrying about drifting off the side of the machine.

MADE FOR PERFORMANCE: Power your cardio workout with speeds up to 10 mph. Increase the intensity of your workout with 15 levels of automatic recline.

USB/BLUETOOTH CONNECTION: Place your phone or tablet on the device holder. Charge your personal devices using the built-in USB port. Stream music from your phone or tablet to the built-in speakers via Bluetooth.

TOP Choice #2 NordicTrack T Series Treadmill
Our Score:
9.7
NordicTrack

300-pound user capacity; Protected with a 10-year frame warranty, 2-year parts warranty, and 1-year labor warranty; 54” H x 36” W x 73.5” L

10% OneTouch incline control; 10 MPH SMART OneTouch speed control; With iFIT, your trainer auto-adjusts your speed and incline through a smart Bluetooth connection

30-Day iFIT Membership Included; Stream live & on-demand workouts on your equipment with Global Workouts & Studio Classes; Elite trainers adjust your equipment (15 Dollar value)

SMART-Response Motor for effective speed, interval, and endurance training; 20” x 55” tread belt offers plenty of leg and elbow space as you run; FlexSelect deck cushioning protects your joints

Innovative SpaceSaver design with EasyLift Assist means your treadmill can fold up after your run for compact, simple storage; Auxiliary music port and dual 2-inch speakers provide entertainment

TOP Choice #3 XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill
Our Score:
9.6
XTERRA Fitness

Easy pull knob releases the deck to fold or unfold for convenient storage when not in use

12 preset programs and 3 manual incline settings offer unmatched variety for your workouts

Intuitive 5" LCD display is easy to read and keeps you updated on speed, incline, time, distance, calories and pulse

Large 16" x 50" walking/running surface accommodates users of many sizes and stride lengths

4 Sunny Health Fitness Folding Incline Treadmill
Our Score:
9.4
Sunny Health & Fitness

9 Built-in workout programs with large LCD displays time, distance, speed, calories burned and pulse. Convenient smartphone/tablet holder is included to fit different devices

Handrail controls allow you to control speed, start and stop. Pause function - Press the stop button once to stop the belt and pause your run while keeping your current data and running stats intact

2.20 peak HP drive system provides speeds of 0.5 - 9 MPH along with 3 manual options for adjusting recline levels (0%, 2%, 4.37%)

Easy folding mechanism and soft drop system helps you unfold your treadmill safely and hands free

Designed for a max user weight of 220 lbs. with 49 L x 15.5W inches of running surface

【Heavy-Duty Steel Support Up To 300lbs】OMA treadmill is made of COMMERCIAL THICKNESS STEEL with grit blasting and passes thousands of running tests. We must make sure our treadmill is safe and durable for your daily home exercise.

【Fast Control Handle For Easy Adjustment】You can press the BUTTON on the handle to start or stop at any moment and quickly adjust the speed up to 8.1 MPH (13 KM/H). Good for multiple running styles combining running & jogging & walking.

【36 Preset Programs For Diverse Running】No need a fitness coach. OMA treadmills possess 36 PRESET PROGRAMS & 3 CUSTOM PROGRAMS. You can make plans for yourself and running at home. Track your Speed, Distance, Pulse, Time and Calories on the screens.

【6-layer Wider Running Belt Good For Knees】6-LAYER ELASTIC CUSHIONING BELT with a 16.5" wider running area is antislip and shock-absorbing, which is good to protect your knees. Designed with 3 MANUAL INCLINE POSITIONS.

【Upgraded 15-minute Easy Installation】86% are Pre-Installed and One person can install it in 15 minutes. Can be easily FOLDED & MOVED to the corner of your room and is perfect for small space. No worry, we provide lifetime customer service and support!

6 Sunny Health Fitness SF-T7515 Smart Treadmill
Our Score:
9.1
Sunny Health & Fitness

Phone and music function with MP3 cord

3 countdown modes: Time, Speed and Calories

Integrated Body Mass Index Calculator - Reference Only

Quick Button Auto Incline

Easy folding for storage and transportation wheels allows for easy mobility

12 levels of incline: 0% to 12% incline

Speed Range: 1 - 8 miles per hour

Pulse grip heart rate monitoring

Bluetooth wireless connectivity

【Treadmill with powerful Motor】With 2.5HP powerful Motor provides speeds of 0.6-7.6 MPH, which guarantee the stable operation of the treadmill. While a stout durable steel frame and 5-layer tread board makes the treadmill supports up to 265 lbs. The ultra-quiet motor allows you to walk or run without disturbing others, perfect for home and office.

【2 in 1 Folding Treadmill】In order to solve the problem of exercise at home and in the office, we designed a 2-in-1 folding treadmill. THERUN treadmill can be used for running as well as under desk walking pad. When the riser is folded, it can be used as a under desk treadmill at a speed of 0.6-3.8mph. When the handrail is raised, it can be used as the running speed is 0.6-7.6mph.

【Treadmill with LED touch screen】The LED display on the running board make it easy for you to track speed, distance, time and calories in real time. There are 2 controls mode, when running, the LED touch screen on the riser makes control more easily compared with buttons, it allows you turn on/off the treadmill, speed +/- or stop running more convenient. When working, the remote control can change the speed or stop running easily.

【Foldable Treadmill】No assembly required, the treadmill can be used directly after unboxing. With a one-step hydraulic folding system, enable the treadmill can be folded with one step. The treadmill folding dimensions is 56 x 27 x 5 inch, which allows stored it standing up against the wall or flat stored, such as under the bed / long sofa or any other furniture. The front Transportation wheels allows move anywhere easily, makes it perfect for home, apartment and office.

【Shock-absorbing Treadmill】The walking treadmill equipped with large 43" x 17" non-slip rubber running belt making running or walking on THERUN workstation more freely, while the other tread belt wide is only 15''or 16''. Extra 8 shock absorption cushions will greatly absorb shock to provide cushioning for knee, muscle and joints.

8 SereneLife Folding Treadmill
Our Score:
8.8
SereneLife

ENJOY MUSIC & USE YOUR TRAINING APPS - Make your workouts fun and simple. Have the best exercise experience by enjoying music via Bluetooth and integrating your Kinomap or Zwift fitness apps.

A SPACE-SAVING, COMPACT TREADMILL - Our treadmill with incline has a hydraulic folding system for easy storage. When folded, it has a total dimension of just 21.65 L x 24.4 W x 46.4 H inches.

PRE-SET OR PERSONALIZED CARDIO WORKOUT - Our foldable treadmill has 12 pre-set training modes. It also has a manual program mode where you can personalize and adjust the settings to your liking.

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PERFORMANCE - Reach your fitness goals with this treadmill for home workouts. It has a 3-inch LCD that shows your speed, run time, distance, heart rate, and calories burned.

WIDE RUNNING BELT: The treadmill exercise machine has a large Walking/running surface. (L x W) 15. 7” x 39. 3" running belt size provides ample workout space. Also has a 4 level manual style angle adjustable incline

9 XTERRA Fitness TRX3500 Folding Treadmill
Our Score:
8.6
XTERRA Fitness

Handlebar mounted speed and incline controls

Motivating programs include 30 pre-set, 2 custom, 1 heart rate control, and manual options

Reader-friendly 6.5” bright blue backlit LCD display – clearly shows program profile, time, speed, pace, distance, calories, incline, and pulse

Built-in Bluetooth connects to FTMS-enabled third party apps like Zwift, Kinomap, Tacx, and more

Smooth and powerful XTERRA high torque 3.0 HP motor

Treadmill dimensions – 50" L x 24" W x 49.2" H | Folded dimensions – 25.2” L x 24” W x 49.2” H | Weight – 60 lbs. | Maximum user weight – 265 lbs. | Tread Belt – 39.37” L x 15.74” W | Speed – 0.6 to 6.0 MPH | Inclination – 3 levels

Use the adjusters to manually set incline levels. Keeps you safe w/ integrated safety key emergency power off function. Features built-in book/magazine tray and cup holder. Used for walking, jogging, as home gym running equipment

The compact treadmill for small spaces has LCD display w/ touch button controls. Displays run time, distance, speed, calories burned, heart rate w/ running data statistics readout and hand grip sensors for BPM pulse monitoring

The SereneLife Smart Folding Treadmill with incline features a hassle-free electric motorized plug in design. This compact slim running machine is portable and has a convenient hydraulic folding style for easy setup and storage

Get connected w/ the ‘FitShow’ app on your device via bluetooth. Allows you to record and review training data, display training stats and challenge friends, and share fitness data on social media. Works w/ Android, iPhone, tablet

A Simple Way To Choose The best entry level treadmill For You

Would you like to know how to select the best entry level treadmill to purchase in 2024? We have a straightforward solution for you. First, consider your own requirements. For instance, should you need something that could be used during workouts, look for products that are made of high-quality materials and are resistant to water.

Consider the price range next. Some people prefer low prices, while others prefer to invest additional money on better quality items, so weigh both choices once making a decision.

Eventually, reading reviews is a simple way to select the best entry level treadmill to buy. Please read our research below before purchasing anything and follow that guide to select your best entry level treadmill.

Belt Size

It should be long enough and wide enough to accommodate the longest, largest and most fittest person. If buying for someone else take them along and make sure they test-run the belt.

Noise

You can listen carefully to how the treadmill is running inside the shop. This will help you determine whether the noise is going be an issue for your family or you.

Track Size

For petite walkers, track length doesn't matter as much. However, it's vital for treadmill users who make longer strides. This is particularly important for runners. Today, treadmill tracks are measured at 55 feet for walking treadmills and 58 to 60 feet for running ones. Some treadmills designed for runners may have tracks that measure up to 63 in length.

Incline

You can increase the intensity of your training by using an incline function. It adds a little bit of excitement to your runs or walks. The motorized or electric incline can be adjusted while running. If your treadmill has an automatic incline, then you will have to stop and get off of the treadmill. These machines, however, are typicallyer.
There are hill programs for machines that simulate hills and valleys, with different lengths. These programs can really help to improve your performance. They are also more exciting than constantly running at the exact same pace. Look for an elevation of at minimum 12% for challenging hill work.

Cushioning

If you use your treadmill frequently, it is essential to have a cushioned deck. This will absorb your steps and protect your ligaments and joints. Running properly can reduce injuries to ligaments and joints.

Safety Key

This important safety feature is why we recommend that the key be used each time the treadmill is turned on. You can attach the safety key clip on your clothes to the treadmill to instantly stop it if you fall suddenly. To prevent small children from accidentally starting the machine, keep it safe.

Frame Size And Weight

Treadmills are generally heavier and can do more work, but they also offer greater comfort. As a rule, the treadmill should not weigh more than the largest user. The treadmill will be unstable if the user is smaller than it. The vibrations will cause it to feel uncomfortable. However, it can also decrease the lifespan of your unit as the parts will be worn out faster. The issue will be less noticeable if your are moving.

Programs

Some models have programs that take into account factors like speed, distance, and time. The other programs that are listed do not require time. There are a variety of programs you may find useful, if the treadmill is planning a session. These programs could not be very useful for you if you are a part of your personal fitness routine.

FAQs

Is Using A Treadmill As Effective As Running Outdoors?

The treadmill creates a safe running track that is free from potholes and branches, as well as other hazards that could make it dangerous. A treadmill makes running smoother and more consistent. You also have full control of your pace and how steep you go. To imitate running outdoors on a smooth surface, we recommend that you set your incline at 1.5.

Is A Treadmill With Better Cushioning Better For Your Knees Or Body?

While this area is often a source of controversy, the answer really depends upon your running technique as well as what type of footwear you choose. Not all cushioning will work for you. Your running technique and your overall body health are more important than the type of cushioning.

Can I Still Get Work Done If I’m Working At A Treadmill Desk?

You have the freedom to choose how fast you want while using our customized desktop for your work. While it may take some adjustment to move while writing or typing on a keyboard, this will soon be over. Studies show that sitting at your desk for longer periods of time is better than sitting. It's also beneficial to move around while at the desk, which can increase creativity and productivity.

Do Treadmills Require Special Shoes?

Shoes that are suitable for running outdoors would also be suitable to use on a treadmill. By running on a treadmill you can stay clear of gravel, broken glass and any other hazards that could lead to injury or discomfort.

How Important Is The Running Belt (the Width, The Amount Of Cushioning, And What It's Made Of)?

Different kinds of belts will suit different individuals. People like the feel of a real belt, while others prefer it to be firmer. Other people like softness and a bit of bounce. People who run with a tight running style are more prone to walking on the treadmill. If this is you, then a large belt may be necessary.

Can I Train On A Treadmill For A Road Race?

Training for a race can be done mostly on a treadmill. There are a few things you can do to improve your training. To begin, you should adjust the treadmill to run hills on it once or twice each week. Because treadmill belts are relatively smooth, you can prepare your body to race on asphalt.

Are Treadmills Only For People Who Enjoy Running?

There are many exercises you can do on treadmills. You need to get moving with a treadmill. Running, walking or doing incline exercises on a treadmill will produce amazing results. A treadmill is a fantastic addition to HIIT training, weightlifting and many other activities.

Conclusion

We hope this blog has provided you with useful information about selecting the best entry level treadmill to buy. If you're still unsure, consider why you're purchasing a product in the first place.

Here you can select the Weslo Cadence Folding Treadmill if you are unable to select one of the available items above. Consider whether any of our suggestions aided you in deciding which products to purchase. Please do not hesitate to contact us at any time!


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About Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson is a former pro football player and tech reporter who now serves as the editor of Kris Van Assche's website. He is a dedicated fitness enthusiast who splits his workout time between strength and conditioning training, martial arts and running.

Jonathan's athletic career began in college, where he was a star running back. He went on to play professionally for several years before injuries forced him to retire. Afterward, Jonathan transitioned into a career in tech reporting, where he quickly made a name for himself as a knowledgeable and insightful commentator on the industry.

In addition to his work with our website, Jonathan remains active in the world of sports. He regularly competes in martial arts tournaments and running events, and he is always looking for new ways to challenge himself physically. Jonathan is an inspiration to many people, and he is proof that it is never too late to pursue your passions.

Read Jonathan's full bio