On a budget? These days lots of people are cutting back and can't necessarily afford to spend a lot on a treadmill.
The great thing about buying online is that you can usually get a higher quality treadmill for less.
We are often asked to list our picks for the best treadmill under 500 dollars. Unfortunately we would hunt these deals out and then the price would inevitably go up.
So to avoid disappointing people we decided to list some discount deals to the right (in the Amazon box), many of which are under $500. We'll also use this article as a chance to give you some cautions about buying a more economical treadmill.
Here are 4 tips you need to know when buying a budget treadmill:
#1) Any treadmill under $600 is not recommended for heavy use and/or running.
They just aren't built for it. No one - not even ICON with all of their vast resources - can build a quality unit built to withstand aggressive use for under $600.
If you're planning on using your treadmill frequently, invest a bit more and go with a higher grade of treadmill - even if you have to do installment payment options to make it more affordable.
You don't want to damage your health (and waste your time if the unit breaks down) just to save some money.
#2 Some brands are still better than others - even at this price point.
If we had to go with a treadmill under $500, it would probably be Proform first and then any other ICON brand (Reebok, Image) next.
This is because ICON is the largest treadmill manufacturer in the world (they own Proform, Reebok, Image, Weslo, Nordic Track, Epic). So if anyone has the resources to build and design a better treadmill for less, it's them.
#3 Get extra insurance if you can.
This is just good sense. Most department store treadmills have 90 day warranties - giving you essentially 3 months of protection.
There are third party companies that you can search on the Internet to find that do offer extra treadmill insurance. It may be a smart buy just to protect your investment.
#4 If you buy used (not recommended) you will have NO insurance protection at all.
Many people try to buy a used treadmill to 'get a deal'. They may get a deal up front but what they don't realize is that no manufacturer will honor the warranty on a second owner. So if it breaks as soon as you get it home, you've just wasted your money.
So those are 4 things to be aware of when buying a treadmill under 500 dollars. If you can get a deal - great. But keep in mind that you can often get a new Nordic Track for a few hundred more.
