To find the best treadmill for weight loss, you need to understand exactly what it is that a treadmill can do to help you lose weight. In this article, we will talk about what makes a treadmill good for weight loss and we will also look at five excellent products to help you find the best treadmill for your needs.
What Makes a Good Treadmill for Weight Loss?
There are two main ways to train for weight loss when it comes to treadmills. Either you can perform low intensity steady state cardio (LISS), which involves running or walking at a very low intensity for a long time, or there is high intensity interval training (HIIT).
Many fitness experts recommend HIIT for fat loss, but this isn’t always a good idea. For starters, most people are nowhere near fit enough to run at full intensity (sprint). So, they end up running at more of a medium intensity. HIIT works best if you are very fit.
But if you are fit enough? Then HIIT is an amazing tool for weight loss, not only does it burn calories during the workout, it also burns calories afterwards, often called the “afterburn effect”.
So, the type of treadmill you need is one that is going to be durable. That means that it can handle long runs at a low intensity, but also handle top speed sprinting. An incline setting is also very useful as it can increase the intensity for both LISS and HIIT.
A well cushioned running deck is also vital, as you’re going to be training hard on this treadmill and don’t want joint pain or injuries to affect you.
In the table below, we have ranked our five treadmills based on durability, power, cushioning, and we’ve also added in value for money. While this isn’t particularly important for fat loss, it is important when purchasing a treadmill! Each criterion is ranked out of five, and the total is out of twenty.
| Best Treadmill for Weight Loss | Durability | Power | Cushioning | Value | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunny Health T7643 Walking Treadmill | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 15/20 | Check Price |
| NordicTrack Commercial 2950 Treadmill | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 19/20 | Check Price |
| Weslo Cadence G 5.9i Folding Treadmill | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 15/20 | Check Price |
| XTERRA Fitness TR300 Folding Treadmill | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 16/20 | Check Price |
| ProForm 905-CST Treadmill | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16/20 | Check Price |
As you can see, we have one treadmill that absolutely dominates the rest, however it also happens to cost more than the other four. So, it may not be the right fit for everyone. Luckily, all of the five treadmills on this list are high quality and represent a range of budgets. Let’s find out which treadmill is the right fit for you by taking a look at each one individually.
Best Treadmill for Weight Loss #1: Sunny Health T7643 Walking Treadmill
After talking about how important a powerful motor is for a treadmill it must seem an odd choice to put this treadmill as our first treadmill. The Sunny Health T7643 walking treadmill only has a top speed of 6 mph!
However, it is built really well, and with a max weight user capacity of 350 lbs it is built for people who are overweight. If you are overweight, you don’t need a treadmill that can help you sprint at a 10 degree incline. You need a treadmill that will allow you to perform a brisk walk or even some light jogging for 30-60 minutes.
The T7643 walking treadmill does just that. It has a 2.5 HP motor, which will allow your treadmill to cope with long distance walks/jogs and will keep it relatively quiet throughout. It is incredibly durable, and should last you years.
It can fold up easily, and can be wheeled away after use, making it perfect for homes which are low on space. The price is very reasonable, which explains our 4/5 score for value for money. While this treadmill scores low overall, this is down to a low power score.
If you don’t need a powerful treadmill (and we have established that many people who want weight loss don’t), then this could be the perfect treadmill for you. The only downside is that if you eventually get fit enough, you’ll need to upgrade your treadmill to something a little more powerful.
Best Treadmill for Weight Loss #2: NordicTrack Commercial 2950 Treadmill
The NordicTrack Commercial 2950 treadmill is the best treadmill on the market right now, and as such it has to be on this list. It is perfect for runners who are already very fit but want to lose weight through HIIT or hill sprints.
It is also great for low intensity steady state, but if that’s all you want to do then there are lower priced treadmills on this list that will also suit you perfectly.
The treadmill is seriously well made, with both incline and decline settings, a top speed of 12 mph, and the most powerful motor in home treadmills (4 CHP). The treadmill is really sturdy, and is able to handle a 300 lb person running at a 12 mph speed on incline setting without any fuss. That’s seriously impressive!
This treadmill will provide the best running experience, and if used correctly should provide amazing fat loss results. However, it is the most expensive treadmill on this list and could well be classed as a luxury. If you want a treadmill that is gym standard, then this is definitely the right option for you.
Best Treadmill for Weight Loss #3: Weslo Cadence G 5.9i Folding Treadmill
Like the Sunny Health T7643 walking treadmill, the Weslo Cadence G 5.9i folding treadmill is not the most powerful treadmill on the market, and it is better suited to brisk walking, jogging, or regular speed running.
Unlike the Sunny Health treadmill though, it does have a top speed of 10 mph, which is very respectable. Though with only a 2.5 HP motor, it is going to struggle at the top speeds if left on for too long.
The cushioning is excellent though, it is surprisingly durable with a 275 lb max user capacity, and it is amazing value for money. This is a great treadmill for people who want to lose weight but don’t have a massive budget. Sure, HIIT may be a bit unlikely, but LISS would work really well. This is a solid entry on this list.
Best Treadmill for Weight Loss #4: XTERRA Fitness TR300 Folding Treadmill
The amazing thing about the XTERRA Fitness TR300 folding treadmill is how well priced it is. This is a treadmill with amazing cushioning, a lot of durability, and reasonable power, that costs the same as many much inferior treadmills.
The power is a bit of a let down, with just a 2.25 HP motor, but it does have a top speed of 10 mph. This treadmill may struggle at the top speeds, but at regular running pace it will perform admirably. We’ve given this a top score of 5 out of 5 for value for money though, as power aside, this treadmill is amazing.
The cushioning is fully adjustable, meaning that you can have it at max comfort to lower any risk of injury or pain. Or, you can choose to have it at minimum comfort which makes the running deck harder and allows you to run at top speed. Or somewhere in between.
The treadmill performs well and is foldable, so is great for people who don’t have much space in their home. The display screen is a little low budget, but it does what you need, and is simple to operate. It also offers 24 training programs which is pretty cool.
Best Treadmill for Weight Loss #5: ProForm 905-CST Treadmill
The final treadmill on this list is the ProForm 905-CST treadmill, and it’s a strong finisher to the article. It performs very well in every category, with all four our of fives. A top speed of 12 mph, a 12% incline setting, and a 3 CHP motor demonstrates that this treadmill, like the NordicTrack, is excellent for HIIT and hill sprints.
The price is very reasonable for a treadmill of this standard, and it’s easy to see why we’ve scored it so highly. The belt is excellent, 20 inches by 60 inches in size, and well cushioned, to allow you the ability to sprint hard, and to protect your knees during longer runs.
The display is excellent, almost as good as the NordicTrack commercial that we looked at earlier. The treadmill is also very durable, with a 300 lb max user capacity, and a superb warranty. 10 years frame warranty, 2 year parts warranty, and a 1 year labour warranty. This is a treadmill that the owners are confident can survive the toughest of workouts.
If you want a seriously good treadmill for sprinting and hill running, but don’t quite have the budget for the NordicTrack, then the ProForm 905-CST treadmill is an excellent choice.
