One of the frustrating things about trying to lose weight is that many pieces of fitness equipment are not able to support you at your current weight. How ridiculous is that? How can you begin to lose weight if your equipment won’t allow you on? Luckily, there are many treadmills for heavy people out there, and in this article, we will be taking a look at five of the best.
Best Treadmill for Heavy Person
Most home treadmills offer a max weight capacity of around 250-275 lbs, some even less than that. In this article we have found some treadmills that have max weight capacities between 300 lbs and 400 lbs.
We won’t only assess the treadmills based on their max user weight capacity though, we will also look at: Value for money, power, durability, and cushioning. For max user weight, we won’t give a score, just the actual max user weight, the max user weight score will contribute to durability.
Each category (other than weight) will be graded out of five, with the total being out of twenty.
| Best Treadmill for a Heavy Person | Value | Weight | Power | Durability | Cushioning | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny Health & Fitness T7643 Treadmill | 4 | 350 lb | 2 | 5 | 4 | 15/20 | Check Price |
| NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill | 4 | 350 lb | 5 | 5 | 4 | 18/20 | Check Price |
| Horizon Fitness T303 Advanced Treadmill | 5 | 325 lb | 3 | 4 | 4 | 16/20 | Check Price |
| SOLE F63 Treadmill | 4 | 325 lb | 3 | 4 | 4 | 15/20 | Check Price |
| NordicTrack Commercial 2450 | 4 | 400 lb | 5 | 5 | 5 | 19/20 | Check Price |
As you can see, the NordicTrack Commercial 2450 treadmill is the highest performing treadmill on our list, it also has the highest max weight capacity of 400 lbs. But all five treadmills have their reasons for being on this list and represent a great choice for anyone who requires the best treadmill for 300 lb person or heavier.
Now that we’ve listed our five favourite treadmills for heavy people, let’s take an individual look at each treadmill, so that you can find out which ones suit your needs best.
Best Treadmill for a Heavy Person #1: Sunny Health & Fitness T7643 Treadmill
Sunny Health & Fitness have an excellent reputation for high quality treadmills at reasonable prices, and the T7643 treadmill is no exception. With a max user capacity of 350lbs, this treadmill is ideal for the heavier user.
The durability is outstanding, with many users reporting the sturdiness and long-lasting ability of this treadmill, after years of constant use. The only real disadvantage of this treadmill is the poor power. It has a 2.5 CHP motor and a top speed of just 6 mph! That is really slow compared to similar treadmills.
Because of that, this treadmill is not a good fit for anyone looking to run fast or sprint. However, if you are using this as something to jog on, or walk on, then it is ideal. The low power allows it to be more durable and to last longer, it will also be very quiet as the motor is powerful enough to withstand the highest speed setting, no problem.
Another good feature for this treadmill is the amount of cushioning that is present, particularly considering the lack of sprinting or fast running. You are unlikely to feel much knee or ankle pain while running or walking, and your risk of injury will be reduced. A great for someone who is starting out on their fitness journey.
Best Treadmill for a Heavy Person #2: NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill
The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 Treadmill is the second highest ranked treadmill on our list, with a max user capacity of 350 lbs it is similar to the Sunny Health & Fitness T7643 that we reviewed first, but this treadmill is so much more powerful. Which makes the max user capacity all the more impressive.
This is a seriously sturdy treadmill that was constructed to support a heavy person running at high speeds. This is the sort of thing you’d normally expect to see in a gym-ready treadmill rather than a home one.
The treadmill boasts a 3.75 CHP motor and a top speed of 12 mph, that’s incredibly powerful for a home treadmill and excellent considering the max user weight capacity. The treadmill offers a 10 year frame warranty, 2 year parts warranty, and a 1 year labour warranty too, which indicates how confident NordicTrack are in their treadmill.
This treadmill is ideal for a heavy user who wants to be able to run fast or sprint and would benefit from both incline and decline features. This is the last treadmill you’ll ever need to buy, and is excellent value for money, even though it is at the higher end of the price market.
Best Treadmill for a Heavy Person #3: Horizon Fitness T303 Advanced Treadmill
Thanks to its very reasonable price, the Horizon Fitness T303 Advanced treadmill is the best value for money treadmill on this list. Which is impressive, as this list has five excellently priced treadmills.
The max user weight capacity for this treadmill is a little lower, offering 325 lbs rather than 350 lbs or 400. Still, 325 lbs max weight capacity is not too bad at all, and many heavy runners will still be able to use it.
The treadmill looks impressive, with an excellent display screen and panel. It has a decent incline system, a 3 CHP motor, and a top speed of 12 mph. This treadmill does well to compete with the NordicTrack treadmills while remaining a more reasonable price.
The warranty is also very impressive, with a lifetime frame and motor guarantee. That’s seriously good for a treadmill. The treadmill also has hydraulic folding to allow for simple tidying up and space saving between workouts.
The treadmill provides excellent cushioning and an extended deck. You’ll feel a lot of space and comfort as you run, with excellent support in every stride. This is a fantastic treadmill for heavy runners and will provide all the support and cushioning you’ll need to run at fast speeds. A great treadmill for advanced runners who weigh a little bit more.
Best Treadmill for a Heavy Person #4: SOLE F63 Treadmill
As with the Horizon Fitness T303, the SOLE F63 Treadmill provides a high quality treadmill at a lower price, to suit people with a less grand budget. The motor is a little weak at 2.5 CHP, but the top speed of 12 mph means that you can run very fast if you want.
It’s another treadmill with a max user weight capacity of 325 lbs rather than 350 lbs, but if you are 300 lbs or thereabouts you can use it with confidence.
The warranty is excellent (though not quite as good as Horizon Fitness’ offer). A 20 year motor warranty, a 3 year deck warranty, and a lifetime frame warranty. You also get a 3 year warranty on the electrics, belt, and rollers, as well as a 1 year labour warranty.
The running deck is high quality, with some excellent shock absorbing cushioning, but sturdy enough to allow you to run at a high intensity. The treadmill has a great HR monitor in the handles, and the Display screen is well lit and easy to use.
You get up to 15 degrees of incline too, and the treadmill has an inbuilt fan to keep you cool while you run. Considering the price, this is a seriously impressive treadmill, and great for a heavy runner who wants to train at high intensities.
Best Treadmill for a Heavy Person #5: NordicTrack Commercial 2450
The final treadmill on this list is by far the most expensive, but it is also the undisputed king of home treadmills for heavy people. With a max user weight capacity of 400 lbs this treadmill is clearly more heavy duty than the others on this list.
The whole treadmill is ridiculously durable, making it a no brainer if you are concerned about the treadmill withstanding a high intensity workout. The power of this treadmill is unmatched, with a 4 CHP motor allowing you to run at a top speed of 12 mph.
You also get a -3 decline setting and a 15 degree incline. Allowing you to sprint at a high incline (if you so choose). The warranty is not as impressive as Horizon’s or Sole’s lifetime ones, but compared to many treadmills a 10 year frame warranty is excellent value.
The running deck is amazing with Runner’s Flex Deck cushioning used to absorb any shock from even the highest of intensities. The treadmill also contains a 14 inch interactive HD touchscreen tv, which allows you to run virtual races (treadmills come with a free year of iFit) or watch your favourite shows.
Overall, this treadmill is the best for heavy runners, though the price may put off some. If you have the budget for it, then definitely get the NordicTrack Commercial 2450 treadmill, it’s by far the best performing treadmill on this list.
Final Thoughts
We’ve looked at five excellent treadmills for heavy people, each of them representing a different price point or different benefit for larger runners. Any of the ones on this list will really help you to run or walk more often and enjoy the experience.
