If you're looking to improve your cardiovascular fitness or lose some of that excess weight, there is no machine more loyal than the humble home treadmill. The right model can lead us running down the path to better health and higher self-esteem – all you need to do is find the right one, which is surprisingly difficult!
From non-foldable to folding, keep up with us as we race through all the points you need to consider when choosing one. We’ll cover treadmills that provide simple walking programs for senior citizens to machines that are studier for heavier builds, all whilst keeping an eye on our wallet. We'll be checking out trusted brands available on Amazon such as JLL and Branx showing you the best of the best for prices as low as £340!
Quick List - Top Treadmills
Branx
A High Performance Treadmill Suited for Anyone
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Table of Contents
It's worth breaking down a few points before you run out and pick up the first treadmill on Amazon with good reviews. In this buying guide, we're going to look at factors such as how often you plan on using it, what kind of space you have at home, and more.
It might sound obvious, but a lot of people get so caught looking at the treadmills, they forget to answer some important questions about themselves. Here we are going to look at the two most essential.
Firstly, is the purchase for recovering from injury, walking, light-jogging or serious running? How hard you’re planning on hitting it determines how much HP (horsepower) you require. Many companies advertise ‘peak’ horsepower because it looks better for them, but a treadmill can’t withstand this, so we’ll be focusing on 'continuous' horsepower.
Those taking it easier should be okay with 1 HP to 2 HP, which should provide enough power for lighter exercise, but may need replacing in a couple of years. If you’re wanting to do some daily jogging, then we would recommend between 2 to 3 HP. Jogging isn’t that much more intense than walking, and you won’t be pounding the motor as hard, so these measures should be fine.
However, if you’re a Joe Wicks in training, and looking to do some serious HIIT treadmill sessions, then something with 3 HP or above should have you covered. These types of motors are designed to withstand a bit more wear and tear and should stand the test of time with you pounding away on it.
A lot of different types of people use treadmills, and we all have different requirements. If you're a taller person, say up to 6ft 2, then you're going to need a tread belt with a length of around 132-137 cm, whereas someone of average height can get away with a shorter tread belt of around 121 cm.
Also, if you’re taking the brave step of working off strenuous supplementary weight, the last thing you need is to pick a machine only to find that it can’t quite hold you. For this reason, we'll be including the weight limitations in our spec table, which are an important point to note.
An incline on a treadmill is a great feature to have and they’re calculated in percent, so even if it says ‘level 2’ what it means is that there is a 2% incline. Using this helps in a couple of ways, firstly, it burns more calories, so bumping up the incline can help with weight loss.
Secondly, using the incline on the treadmill can reduce the chance of injury. Walking or running outside you have a higher chance of damaging your ankles, knees or hips, whereas on the treadmill you can increase the incline, therefore increase the intensity, without adding any extra stress to the body’s joints.
Machines either come with the option of a manual incline (cheaper), or power incline (more expensive). The difference is that you have to set a manual incline before you get on the machine and it remains the same throughout that period of training - unless you change it halfway. Whereas a power incline will be able to adjust while you are using it.
Many treadmills nowadays come with built-in workout programs. These menus will differ in size or variety, but they’ll all control your speed and incline, or both (keep in mind if you have a manual machine you may have to do the incline yourself).
If you’re somebody that gets bored easily when exercising, then picking a machine that has workout programs could be a brilliant way for you to stay engaged and motivated when exercising.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | JLL Digital Folding Treadmill|T350 | ![]() | An Alloy Steel Frame for Extra Hard Workouts | |
2 | Branx Fitness Foldable 'Cardio Pro' Touchscreen Console Treadmill | ![]() | A High Performance Treadmill Suited for Anyone | |
3 | Branx Elite Runner Pro | ![]() | One for the Elite Runners | |
4 | Citysports Folding Motorised Treadmill | ![]() | Light and Sleek. The Perfect for-Home Equipment | |
5 | Sporttech F37 Professional Treadmill | ![]() | Excellence for Everyone | |
6 | Ovicx Folding Portable Treadmill for Home Gym | ![]() | A No-Fuss High Quality Treadmill | |
7 | Dripex 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill | ![]() | 2-in-1 Treadmill Packed With Features | |
8 | Btm Folding Electric Treadmill|W501 | ![]() | A Treadmill With A Powerfully Quiet Motor | |
9 | Merax BTM Treadmill Electric Folding Treadmill | ![]() | A 12 Program Ready Treadmill | |
10 | Citysports Foldable Treadmill | ![]() | A Basic Treadmill For Beginners |
With a 4.5 HP treadmill, you can go far, fast and heavy up to 18km/h. Well, all of that without the actual moving part, anyway. This treadmill is great for those who love fitness and want a machine to really push them. Indoor exercise equipment can be just as good as the stuff you find in the gym, this proves it.
With 20 programs and 20 incline variations, you can work out to a new speed and height every day of the week. This machine is great for multiple people as it is easy to customise the right workout for anyone. Throw in a reasonable price and this machine stands out from the crowd.
With a max weight of 130kg and a super-wide tread belt, this treadmill is great for anyone with over-average proportions. For a great deal, this treadmill brings 6 HP to the table along with 12 programs to help your body stay in shape.
With smart shock absorption, it is a great addition for people who live in shared accommodation or flats. Additionally, this treadmill is equipped with a 5.5 inch LCD touchscreen and 0-20 level auto incline. A complete must-have for those who want it all for a great price!
If you're looking for a high-end treadmill in your home, then the Elite Runner Pro has you covered. This is a comfortable machine that will protect your joints with its dual shock 10-point absorption. It also has 3.5 HP and a top speed of 23km/h, which should be enough to keep even the Mo Farah's of the world busy.
One thing we also love is the maximum user weight is an impressive 25 stone, which is a huge improvement on most of the other machines on this list.
Not everyone is looking for a high performance piece of kit and want something that looks great, performs well but can also be easily stored under a bed or other area. This treadmill is great because of its sleek yet sturdy design and 1.5 HP motor, which makes it great for occasional runners!
Thanks to a handlebar that you can attach your own smart devices to it, you can enjoy your favourite programmes, listen to your favourite music or keep motivated with exercise videos. What's more, on the bottom of the treadmill you can easily track your time running, calorie burn and so on! A truly complete piece of kit.
The number 1 selling point of this treadmill from Sporttech is it's mammoth 7 HP, which will go as fast as you like, for as long as you need and remain almost silent while doing it. Another great feature of the F37 is that it has a self-lubricating system that will oil the machine automatically once it has run dry, so you'll never have to worry about that.
Along with these USP's it comes with a 5 layered 130 x 50 cm belt thread and 8 cushioning zones which help give users a more natural feeling running feel. All of this is in a foldable machine that can be conveniently rolled away when you're finished.
Foldable, easy to use with intelligent features, this treadmill is ideal for anyone who likes to run without the aid of programs. With a maximum weight of 18.9 stone, this treadmill does not discriminate either!
Additional features include an ultra-wide running area, to help you keep balance and stay focused, dual chrome pulse sensors and a shock absorption design to protect against knee injuries. Plus, the added absorption works to make it run quieter!
This 2-in-1 treadmill has been designed for those who like to walk as much as they do run. With an easy assembly design, you can detach the arms of the machine to create a walk-only mode or, when attached, run up to 12km/h.
With a Bluetooth speaker and remote control, you can easily switch up the music & the pace whenever you want. Additionally, its shock deductive platform make this a great choice when you need to be conscious of how loud you are being while protecting your body!
If you need to think about your noise pollution in relation to your neighbours, finding exercise equipment to help soften the sounds is always harder to find. This treadmill's 'smooth strong motor' has been designed to run fast and hard, while keeping as quiet as possible.
Fully ROHS and CE compliant supporting up to 17 stone, this treadmill is great for anyone, whether you are looking to lose weight, get more steps in or just like doing it for fun.
If you like to be guided by programs, this treadmill is a good choice. With 12 specially designed programs to choose from, you can complete workouts efficiently without having to create your own.
Thanks to a built-in loud speaker and MP3 support, you can listen to your favourite podcasts or music as you run or walk. While there are certainly a few good features included on this machine, there aren't enough to make it truly stand out.
This treadmill is a great way to get to grips with indoor exercise. With a great design and easy to fold away design, it is perfect for homes that are not afforded a lot of space.
Being able to run up to 8km/h, this treadmill certainly packs a punch, but compared to other machines, it runs below the average horsepower a treadmill uses and fails to have any stand out features.
A treadmill is a fantastic way to get fit at home, but it's not the only option! Check out some of our other fitness-related articles for some inspiration.
Finding the right treadmill for you shouldn't be too difficult now that you know which factors you need to consider. Hopefully, you'll be on the way to smashing some great workouts just in time for summer!
Author: Lewis Clark
No. 1: JLL|Digital Folding Treadmill|T350
No. 2: Branx|Fitness Foldable 'Cardio Pro' Touchscreen Console Treadmill
No. 3: Branx|Elite Runner Pro
No. 4: Citysports|Folding Motorised Treadmill
No. 5: Sporttech|F37 Professional Treadmill
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