Walking is a great way to burn calories, lose body fat and gain physical fitness. While we all love a stroll along a quiet road or a country lane, getting a regular workout in can be a hassle. In today’s modern world people are busy and the demands on our time are greater than ever. Just because you have a busy schedule does not mean that you cannot achieve your health and fitness goals.
Using the best treadmill for walking allows you to get your exercise from the comfort of your own home. Walking treadmills are light and have a small footprint. This compact size means that you can set them up in any room of your house, even in front of the TV! With a walking treadmill, it’s now possible to get your workout in when you want at the time of your choosing.
This review looks at the top five walking treadmills available. Our review and buyers guide focuses on walking treadmills at different price points, and you are sure to find a machine that suits your budget and your fitness goals.
How to Choose a Treadmill for Walking
Before we look at the models on offer, it’s essential to outline the criteria we need to look at when creating our review. Here are the significant features that you should look for when deciding on your final purchase.
Motor
The motor of your treadmill is the heart of the machine. Motor power output for treadmills is measured in CHP (Continuous Horse Power). This reading measures the power of the motor while it is running, as opposed to the peak operating power of the motor.
Most home treadmills will come with a 3.0 CHP motor. Advanced machines will have a CHP reading of 4.0 or more and cheap, hobbyist machines will have motor outputs of 2.5 CHP or less. If you weigh more than 200 pounds, or you intend to use the treadmill frequently, you will need a motor with a power output greater than 4.0.
Price
The next important feature of a walking treadmill is the price. Walking treadmills have an entry level of around $500 for cheap, underpowered, recreational machines. A good walking treadmill that has a decent motor and an electronic console with incline and decline elevations will cost between $1,000 to $5,000.
Incline
An incline function will enhance the difficulty of your workout. Some machines feature electronic incline elevation, while the cheaper machine may have a manual adjustment. Using incline in your work0out will help you burn more calories by making the workout a lot more challenging than a traditional flatbed treadmill workout.
Workout Programs
Walking treadmills come with preprogrammed workouts that automatically adjust the speed and incline of the track during your workout. These programs vary in difficulty level, and some machines come pre-programmed with up to 40 different workouts. For those machines that have an iFit connection and Wi-Fi capability, you can upload your personalized workouts and put them into practice.
Added Extras
There are many different added extras on a walking treadmill. From cooling fans to water bottle holders and even holders for smart devices.
The Top 5 Treadmills of 2020 for Walking
The 5 Best Treadmills for Walking #1: FreeMotion 890 Treadmill
There is a lot to love about the FreeMotion 890 treadmill, not only does it have an excellent full-colour display screen. But it also provides a 15-inch high-definition television! Perfect for keeping yourself entertained during a long walk. The treadmill has a top speed of 12mph and offers both incline and decline controls.
The treadmill also uses surface response suspension cushioning which can improve your comfort and reduce injury risk. A dual-grip heart rate monitor with polar wireless chest strap is also included.
Advantages
- Incline settings up to 15%
- Decline settings up to 3%
- Top speed of 12mph
- 15 inch television
- Surface response suspension cushioning
- Lifetime frame and motor warranty
- 5-year parts warranty and 2-year labour warranty
- 400lb weight capacity
- Folds away after use
Disadvantages
- Quite expensive
- Not the most aesthetic design
- Difficult set up
The Final Verdict
The FreeMotion 890 treadmill is an excellent treadmill for walking.
It is durable, and well-cushioned meaning that it can withstand hours of walking on it without showing any signs of wear and tear. The incline and decline features will help to test your cardiovascular fitness, and the change in angle will help work different muscles (such as your calf muscles). The television, tablet, and iPod dock will ensure that you are entertained throughout your workout.
This treadmill really does have it all!
The 5 Best Treadmills for Walking #2: NordicTrack T Series 8.5S
Nordic Track are consistently voted “best treadmill” in almost every category, because their product design is clever, and they offer excellent value for money. The T series 8.5S is an excellent example of their attention to detail, durable construction, and ingenious solutions to common issues. There is also the option to purchase a year’s membership to iFit (which offers video workouts and video tours of exotic locations for you to walk through).
The treadmill itself has an amazing 10 inch HD SMART touchscreen, high tech FlexSelect cushioning, 12% incline settings, and an awesome AutoBreeze fan which pumps out cold air to keep your body temperature down while you walk. The motor is quite powerful for a treadmill of this size, and will be more than capable of handling even the most intense of walks!
Advantages
- Intuitive workout fan will keep you cool while exercising
- 12% incline setting
- iFit Membership for 1 year
- HD touchscreen
- Excellent cushioning along the belt to reduce impact on your joints
- Folds away when not in use
Disadvantages
- No decline features
- Difficult to avoid signing up for iFit membership if you don’t want to
The Final Verdict
The Nordic Track T Series 8.5S is a great treadmill for anyone who wants to primarily use it for walking. It is comfortable, has a good motor, and there are many awesome features to keep you entertained throughout. The AutoBreeze fan and FlexSelect cushioning are particularly noteworthy.
The 5 Best Treadmills for Walking #3: Horizon Fitness Elite T7
The Elite T7 is the most affordable model available from Horizon. This walking treadmill is compact and folds away. If you are looking for a quality machine that’s priced well, the Horizon Fitness Elite T7 is good value for your money.
Advantages
- Maintenance-free track
- Five-year warranty on parts.
- Light and easy to fold and store.
- Wide track (22” x 60”)
- 15% maximum incline.
- iPod compatible with built-in speakers.
- 42 preprogrammed workouts.
- Variable three-zone cushioning.
- 8.5” display with backlight.
- Heart rate sensors.
- Tablet rack.
- Folding footprint 44″ x 36″.
Disadvantages
- No touchscreen.
- Low powered motor.
- Large footprint when unfolded (71″ x 34″).
The Final Verdict
The Horizon Elite T7 is priced well, and some retailers offer the machine for $1,499. Even though it has a low powered motor, the warrantee, and quality material; ls used in construction are sure to give you a long working life.
The 5 Best Treadmills for Walking #4: Sole TT8 Light Commercial Non-Folding Treadmill
The Sole TT8 Light Commercial Non-Folding Treadmill is not a small investment, but the price you pay is incredibly good value. This is a treadmill that will upgrade your walking experience and will last you a lifetime. Strong enough to handle users weighing up to 400lbs, this treadmill is incredibly durable. The treadmill offers 15 levels of incline, which can change a simple stroll to a mountain-top hike depending on what type of walk you want.
The treadmill also benefits from a Cushion Flex Whisper Deck, which is known to reduce strain and impact on your joints by 40%! It is also Bluetooth compatible, has a tablet holder as well as a USB port, and is very simple to operate.
Advantages
- 15 levels of incline
- Incredibly durable
- Can handle users who weigh up to 400lbs (about 100lbs more than most treadmills)
- Cushion Flex Whisper Deck for reduced strain and impact on joints
- Bluetooth compatible
Disadvantages
- Non-folding (which adds to the durability, so not a massive disadvantage)
- No decline feature
- Not the most aesthetically pleasing treadmill
The Final Verdict
The Sole TT8 light commercial non-folding treadmill offers exactly what it says it does (though at 350lbs it is not that light). A commercial level treadmill, that is ideal for home use. It is great for walking thanks to the incline settings, and it can handle even the heaviest of walkers with ease.
The 5 Best Treadmills for Walking #5: CUIJIUSHILV Foldable Treadmill
The CUIJUSHILV foldable treadmill is one of the newest treadmills on this list. It’s a really clever piece of kit too! While it may be a little underpowered for heavy running. As a walking treadmill, it is ideal. The treadmill has a 5 inch LCD Display, an MP3 jack, a heart rate sensor, and even a shock absorption system. All of this is at an incredibly reasonable price too!
This treadmill is easy to fold away once you’ve finished using it, and it has transportation wheels. This is ideal if you are a little tight for space. CUIJUSHILV really has thought of everything. If you want a high-quality treadmill that will provide a great walking workout, without spending a load of money on bells and whistles then this is the one for you.
Advantages
- Silicon cushion pad for improved comfort and reduced shock
- Easy to store away safely after use
- 0-15% gradient for flat or hill walks
- Safety key helps prevent you from falling off
- Great value for money
- Whisper quiet
Disadvantages
- Entertainment features almost non-existent
- Low powered motor
The Final Verdict
As a new product, this CUIJUSHILV treadmill has already made huge strides to establishing itself as a big-name player. The treadmill is very reasonably priced, offers an excellent walking experience, and will last you a long while. It could benefit from some cool features to improve your entertainment while walking. But for this price, those features are definitely not that important!
Wrapping Up
Buying a walking treadmill is a great way to keep fit in the comfort of your own home. Avoid the pitfalls and dangers of training outdoors. Avoid the traffic, the pollution, and the weather by completing your training at home in a controlled environment.
Select the walking treadmill in this review that suits your budget and your fitness goals. This article aims to help you make an informed purchase decision and avoid buyer’s remorse. Buy once and buy right, and ensure that you select the walking treadmill that suits your training and your home.
