Finding the right treadmill for your needs, capabilities, and future, is very important. Particularly if you are new to running, or exercise in general. In this article, we will be looking at five high quality treadmills in an attempt to find the best treadmill for beginners.
But what makes a good treadmill for beginners?
There are several criteria that we look at. You want a treadmill that is going to be good value for money. This can mean a lot of things; you can get an expensive treadmill that is good value simply because it will last you a lifetime. Or you can get a very low priced treadmill that massively outperforms your expectations.
Beginners can have wildly different budgets and long-term goals, which is reflected in the treadmills we have picked. We also look at cushioning, as shock absorption can be very important for beginners (and experienced runners).
Power is also important, as it gives an indication of how good the treadmill is, what top speed it can reach, and how easily it can cope with the demands of a long or high intensity session. Some people might say that a beginner shouldn’t be too fussed about the top speed, but remember, the purpose is to find a treadmill that can last you a long time, who knows what goals you’ll have in five years?
This leads us into the final area that we will focus on, durability. How sturdy a treadmill is, how long it is likely to last, and what the max user weight capacity is.
Best Treadmill for Beginners
In this section, we are going to provide a table of five of the best treadmills for beginners. We will rank them on value for money, durability, power, and cushioning. Each criterion will be ranked out of 5 and the total will be out of 20.
| Best Treadmill for Beginners | Value | Durability | Power | Cushioning | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTERRA Fitness TR300 Folding Treadmill | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 15/20 | Check Price |
| Schwinn 810 Treadmill | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 16/20 | Check Price |
| Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7718 Treadmill | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 15/20 | Check Price |
| SereneLife Foldable Treadmill | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 15/20 | Check Price |
| NordicTrack T 6.5 Si Treadmill | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 17/20 | Check Price |
As you can see, the NordicTrack T 6.5 Si Treadmill is the best overall performing treadmill for beginners, with stern competition from Schwinn. To be honest, the difference in power between the two is the only real difference, and that is pretty small.
None of these treadmills would be considered top of the range, they are medium price range, and a lot of focus is on durability and value for money, with power an afterthought. Most allow you to run very fast, but don’t hit the sprinting speeds of certain treadmills. But beginners rarely jump straight into sprinting!
Now that we’ve established the rankings, it’s time to take a look at each treadmill individually. That way you can find the one that suits your needs best.
Best Treadmill for Beginners #1: XTERRA Fitness TR300 Folding Treadmill
While the XTERRA Fitness TR300 folding treadmill is not a particularly powerful treadmill, it is durable, excellent value for money and has good cushioning on its deck. This is a great treadmill for beginners and will last you a long time.
The power comes from a 2.25 HP motor, and the treadmill has a maximum speed of 10 mph. Now, that speed is pretty fast for a 2.25 HP motor, so you can expect a bit of strain if you run at 10 mph for too long. Not that many beginners are likely to do that.
The cushioning is excellent, with an extra soft cushioned deck providing maximum impact shock absorption. This will reduce the stress on your joints as you run, and help you feel comfortable throughout.
The price is very reasonable, particularly when you consider the max user weight capacity is a very decent 300 lbs, and the lifetime frame warranty that XTERRA offer. The treadmill has a good incline setting too, a fan, and an audio jack. Allowing you to feel comfortable and entertained during your workout.
Overall, this is a really impressive beginners treadmill, and one that should last you a long time. If you are planning on jogging and walking more than sprinting, then you will get the most out of this treadmill. Incline walking and jogging will allow you to burn a lot of calories and to improve your cardiovascular health.
Best Treadmill for Beginners #2: Schwinn 810 Treadmill
This is such a great treadmill for the price that it could be on any list of best treadmills, not just treadmills for beginners. It is excellent value for money, has amazing cushioning, and is very durable. Again, just like the XTERRA Fitness TR300, this treadmill is a little light when it comes to power, just 2.6 HP.
As we said, the motor is a little underpowered, however the treadmill offers a top speed of 10 mph. As with the previous treadmill, this can mean that your treadmill may be quite noisy during a sprint, but as this treadmill is being used once or twice per day (compared to 40 times for a gym treadmill) the motor should be able to cope fine.
The cushioning on the deck is pretty special, with excellent shock absorption helping you to run for long distances without feeling any pain in your knees. There is a good amount of spring in the deck too, allowing you to run hard when you want to.
The treadmill is really well made and will last you a long time provided you treat it well. It looks great (an added bonus) and even folds away nicely after use. Though it does look a bit weird when folded away!
This is a great treadmill for beginners and will last you well. Allowing you to run at decent speeds and burn a load of calories.
Best Treadmill for Beginners #3: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7718 Treadmill
A great price, excellent value for money, and superior cushioning make this a great choice for beginners. However, the power and durability are not as good as the others on this list. There is a max user weight capacity of 250 lbs which is quite low. If you are a lighter runner, then you shouldn’t notice any difference.
The main downside to this treadmill is how it looks. Sure, aesthetics is not that important when it comes to treadmills, but this is certainly not a pretty treadmill to look at. It kind of looks like a 1980s talking robot with tiny arms (or maybe that’s just what we see).
The motor is the same as the Schwinn treadmill (2.5 HP) but the top speed is just 9 mph. This means that if you are looking for a treadmill that you can sprint on, this is NOT the treadmill for you.
But as a beginner, you are unlikely to want a treadmill for sprinting on. If you are looking for a treadmill that you can walk on or run at a slow or medium pace on, then this is ideal. The biggest plus for this treadmill is definitely the price. Excellent value for money, and a perfect fit for beginners.
Best Treadmill for Beginners #4: SereneLife Foldable Treadmill
This treadmill is very similar to the Sunny Health & Fitness treadmill, but looks nicer, and offers 10 mph rather than 9 mph as a top speed. It works out at roughly the same price too. The motor is identical when it comes to power, at 2.5 HP. The manufacturer recommends people who are 285 lbs max use it, which is okay but not as durable as some treadmills on this list.
The treadmill folds away nicely, the display screen is well designed and simple to use, the running deck is well made, and nicely cushioned. We’d say that it is slightly less durable than Sunny Health’s treadmill, but there’s not much in it.
This is a great compromise between price and quality. It may not last as long as some on this list, but as an entry level treadmill it’s great. It should last you quite a few years, and then you can replace it with a more advanced alternative.
Best Treadmill for Beginners #5: NordicTrack T 6.5 Si Treadmill
The final treadmill on this list is also our favourite. The NordicTrack T 6.5 Si treadmill is one of the cheapest NordicTrack treadmills you can purchase, but it is still more expensive than the other four treadmills on this list!
But you are paying for serious quality. Sure, compared to other NordicTrack treadmills, the 2.6 CHP motor is not going to stack up so well, but 2.6 CHP is fine for beginners. The treadmill is amazingly durable and should last you years. A top speed of 10 mph is decent, allowing you to run at almost a sprint.
The treadmill looks great, has an excellent display screen, amazing incline settings, and a 10 year frame warranty testifies to its durability. The treadmill folds up nicely when not in use, and has a max user weight capacity of 300 lbs. This is an incredible treadmill for beginners.
