Cheap is a relative term when it come to treadmills due to the fact that the amount of money you need to spend to get a model that is fit for purpose may not strike many people as being particularly affordable. Having said that, prices have come down significantly in the last decade so this great piece of home exercise equipment is now within the reach of far more people.

The price that you have to pay when you’re on the market for a treadmill will depend on what use you are going to put it to. Its not that many of the cheap treadmills at the lower end of the market are particularly bad machines, its just that they can only do they job they were intended to do. If you wan to run at speed for hours every day then these treadmills aren’t going to last very long at all.

The cheapest of the cheap on the market is the manual treadmill which requires you to push the belt with your own power in contrast to the more popular motorized version which uses an electrical motor. The only advantage of a manual treadmill is its price, you can pick them up new for a little over $100 or probably get a second hand one for free off a friend who bought it and realized how bad it was.

Problems With Manual Treadmills

- Given that you have to move the belt with your own steam it can be a struggle to get your workout started although hopefully as it gets used it will start to loosen up.

- The effort to keep the belt moving may tire you so quickly that you don’t much in the way of a meaning full workout.

Forget Manual And Go For A Motorized Treadmill

Save yourself the hassle of buying a manual model just to find out its no good. Better to save up a little longer and get a motorized treadmill which you will be happy with and which will provide the fitness benefits that you are looking for.

The Merit 725T Treadmill

A nice entry level motorized treadmill which you can pick up for under $400 is this Merit 725T. Keep in mind that as with anything you get what you pay for but if you are looking for an introduction to the world of indoor running then you could certainly do a lot worse than take a closer look here.

Many discount treadmills aren’t really up to the job for people who wan tot run and are more suitable for use at walking speed but this machine will have no problems for those who want to run at up to 10 miles per hour. Even if you happen to weight well over 200lbs this machine will cope without any worries thinks to its surprisingly durable build quality at this price point.

With a lifetime warranty on the frame, 2 years on the motor and the fact that this is built by one of the largest manufacturers of fitness equipment in the world you can be sure that it isn’t going to fall apart the minute you start doing a serious workout. Certainly, for a beginner there isn’t much better at this price point and if you are just starting out you won’t be able to tell the difference between this and many models further up the range.

The only disadvantage that I want to bring up with the Merit 725T are that you will have to assemble it yourself on delivery which although most people don’t a problem with, some users report difficulty with the construction process. Also worth mentioning is the noise produced by this cheap treadmill when its in use but for such a low price its hard to hold such a minor factor against it.

Horizon Fitness T91 Treadmill

Get a little bit more money together and you can take a step up in quality and get a Horizon Fitness T91 Treadmill for an experience which will more closely match what you would expect from a machine in the gym. You get a lot for your money these days in a $600 treadmill and the Horizon delivers much more than we could realistically expect for this amount of cash. You get a super tough 2.0-horsepower continuous-duty motor which comes with a lifetime guarantee, you can’t ask for much more than that.

Like the Merit, this machine is great for beginners but its also has the ability to please those with more experience using treadmills so if you have had a gym membership in the past but want to buy something for use at home this could be the one for you.

You get the capability to walk or run from 0.5 to 10 mph an incline of up to 10% and the ComfortZone air cell system to make running more comfortable and easier on your joints. Also part of the Horizon is a control console with back lit LCD screen that offers feedback on your workout, contact heart rate grips, and a 20-by-50-inch running area.

One solution to this problem is to buy a portable treadmill. Large in place treadmills have large bases and displays and are not easily stored. A portable treadmill however can be folded and stored in the closet or under the bed. A portable treadmill will usually not have the plethora of features like televisions, but it is still a great piece of workout equipment and buying one will save you a great deal of time and money. This is not just a folding treadmill. The portable treadmill can be transported easily because it is actually smaller than most folding treadmills. It will fold however. Some portable treadmills also have an automatic folding system making it even easier to store.

You will find that some portable treadmills come with wheels and some do not. For the easiest use you will want to find one with attached wheels. Portable treadmills also have far less features, than other treadmills, mostly to keep the weight and size down, and some do not even have motors. If you are trying to save space and still get a good workout you will have to sacrifice some features.

One other thing to consider before you buy a portable treadmill is that, because of space limitations, the running deck can be significantly shorter than an standard treadmill. If you are a long legged person you will have to shorten your step. If you are used to working out in a health spa, also keep in mind that the machines there are large, in place machines with long decks.

Icon makes this treadmill exclusively for Costco and all Costco stores carry them. The Costco website also has the Epic T60 Treadmill. The unit is a commercial grade unit and is not a cheap treadmill by any standards. Suggested retail is just short of $1000 and it does not have the solid construction of some of the other commercial treadmills on the market. As commercial grade treadmills go however that is a decent price and this unit has a very strong motor and the running deck can support up to 350 lbs at one time. The platform is powered for easy adjustment while you are running and this model comes with enough workout programs to give you a workout at any level.

The display of the Epic T60 Treadmill features readouts for distance traveled, time used, calories burned, speed, and it also measures your heart rate with an optional chest pulse sensor and your pulse by remote grips. The hard drive contains both pre-programmed workouts and customizable workouts designed by iFit.com. This interactive technology controls both the speed of the run and the incline of the running surface based on the runners heart rate and can be used with either the guidance of online trainers or a CD, depending on your connectivity.

While the display does not have an LCD TV or iPod port your computer, stereo, DVD player or other portable device that has a USB port can be attached to your treadmill. This model has a 12 year motor warranty and a great 15 year frame warranty, and a 1 year parts and labor guarantee. This is one of the least expensive models however and it is a good idea to get an extended warranty on the rollers. All in all this is a great treadmill for the budget conscious shopper who still wants to get a good workout on a professional grade treadmill.

First of all, it should be noted that many people buy new treadmills thinking that they are going to become a workout buff and finally really get in shape. They have high hopes and New Year’s resolutions that they think will pan out. Unfortunately they end up just tossing the machine into the corner of their basement or workout room and hardly using it more than every once in a while. Or maybe they use it regularly at first and then they peter off, eventually relegating it to the confines of nothingness. This is good news for you if you want to get a treadmill on the cheap. Because there are so many consumers who follow the pattern I have described above, the used market is essentially flooded at all times.

And what does that mean in economic terms? It means that there is a surplus of used gym treadmills on the market. And what does that mean for the price of these items? It means that the price must come down to meet the relative lack of demand. In other words, you can easily save a lot of money by buying a barely used treadmill from one of these previous owners.

So where might one find such a deal? On the Internet of course. One place worth looking is Craigslist. If you can find one locally then you can save money on things like shipping and handling. The only thing I would caution here is that you definitely inspect before signing any agreement. (Or forking over the cash.) If you don’t know what to look for in a used treadmill then I highly suggest you either read some guides about it or else bring a knowledgeable friend with you when you go to make the purchase. It is easy to overlook inner mechanical problems.

Lastly make sure and use your cheap treadmill. Don’t be like the dolt whom you bought it from. Saving money and making good use of your new running machine. This is the way to go.

First let’s take a look at price. This is usually the main reason that people consider buying a manual treadmill. They can often be purchased for as little as $100 or $200. For a really top quality machine you may pay upwards of $400 or so.

The reason that manual treadmills are so much cheaper than their motorized cousins is because they run on your own walking and running power. Yes, like a hamster wheel you are the one powering these things. One drawback of this is that it may be tough to get the belt going initially. You will really have to dig in depending on the amount of friction present in your treadmill.

Of course, this can be a good way to get some initial leg stretching and warming up going on. Once the belt is going it will not be an issue for you to keep it going. But if you slow up or stop, the belt will follow you. Then you will have to exert more force to get it moving once again. But then again, isn’t the purpose of this all to get some exercise? Beware that this kind of stress does not do damage to your legs. If you already have major problems in this part of your body you may want to consider a motorized treadmill.

Once again, it can’t be overemphasized that the main crux of manual treadmills is that they are powered by their human user. Once you become initially interested in possibly purchasing one, you should really consider this aspect of them. If you think that manually powering your own treadmill might actually be something you would like then the low price could even just be an added benefit.

As you can see, a manual treadmill offers a couple benefits that many people don’t know about. More than anything, it offers a low price that simply can’t be beat. That is the number one reason to buy one. They will be sure to give you a good workout too. And all from the comfort of your own home! I applaud anyone who wants to take advantage of today’s great home exercise technology. The machines can really do a lot of good for those of us who don’t have the time or inclination to go to a gym on a regular basis.

One of the best times to find discount treadmills is when there is a clearance or blow out sale going on. When a treadmill manufacturer goes out of business they have to liquidate the exercise equipment relatively fast and this means that they are going to mark prices down (way down in many cases) just to get something for them before they officially fold it all up, pack it in, and call it a day. These sales can be found online just as much (if not more) as they are found in the malls and outlets in your neighborhood.

Read a lot of reviews of any treadmills you are considering buying. The Internet (again) is a wealth of information, user reviews, tips, tricks, and other helpful anecdotes that will only ensure your ultimate happiness with your eventual purpose. Discount treadmills are a dime a dozen. But they are not all worth buying. The educated consumer is at peace with his purchase no matter what happens down the line.

Many of us are unfortunate enough to live in climes where the weather during the winter months makes the prospect of venturing out into the cold a most unpleasant thought. With the ability to pick up cheap treadmills from a variety of sources having increased over the last few years purchasing such a device for your home fitness gym is within reach even for those on a modest income.

Whether you want to stay out of the cold, the wind and the rain or you just like the convenience of getting your exercise on the comfort of your own home there are a wide variety of exercise machines to choose from. Why would we opt to purchase a treadmill rather than a stationary exercise bike or an elliptical trainer?

For people who run for fun or in competition its important to practice the range of movement which we want to excel at. If you are to replace your outdoor running with an exercise routine which consists only of sessions on exercise bikes, elliptical trainers or resistance training you will lose some of the conditioning that you require for your running.

Outdoor Running

In days gone by it was possible for retailers to charge as much as they wanted for their exercise equipment due to the fact that there was rarely any competition in the local area. Today of course we have the Internet to thank for the fact that we can now compare prices from hundreds of exercise equipment retailers before making a decision. With a little research we can now find the best cheap treadmills money can buy without leaving our home.