A low-impact treadmill is the most suitable if you are looking for exercise equipment for your daily fitness routine without harsh impacts on your joints. These exercise machines offer optimum cardiovascular benefits with a significantly lower recovery period.
There are hundreds of low-impact treadmills available to purchase for home. However, not all equipment offers the same benefits. We have researched more than thirty different low-impact treadmills and selected the following 5 best low-impact treadmills for the home that stood out among them.
- NordicTrack T Series Treadmills
- Sunny Health and Fitness SF-T1407M Foldable Manual Walking Treadmill
- XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill
- SereneLife Smart Electric Folding Treadmill
- Bowflex Treadmill Series
Here, we will discuss these low-impact treadmills and how you should choose them for your home in detail.
1. XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill
Features:
- Alloy Steel material
- 63.4” x 28.75” x 51.4” dimension
- Corded Electric power source
- 2.25 HP motor
- 250 lb weight capacity
- 12 different workout programs
If you want a treadmill for running, XTERRA TR150 is one of the best options. It has a 4.4-star rating on the Amazon store out of 5 stars. The large 16” x 50” running surface can be suitable for users with different sizes and stride lengths.
This treadmill’s 5” LCD display is easy to read and offers all the necessary workout data. This machine has 12 preset programs and 3 manual inclination settings to customize your workout routine.
This treadmill has an easy-to-pull knob that releases the deck to unfold or fold conveniently for use. XTRASoft cushioned deck technology absorbs most impacts and keeps users’ joints safe.
Find this treadmill here.
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- The motor does not make much noise
Cons:
- Many users complained about getting an E2 error after 6 weeks of use
2. NordicTrack T Series Treadmills
Features:
- Alloy Steel material
- 73” x 35.8” x 67.5” dimension
- Electric corded power source
- 3HP motor
- 10 percent inclination
- 300 lb weight capacity
This is one of the best low-impact treadmills available on the market. This treadmill has a 4.4-star rating out of 5 stars on the Amazon store. The FlexSelect deck cushioning is used in this treadmill to reduce impacts on joints.
A 30-day iFit membership is included with this treadmill to help you start your workout routine with elite trainer consultation. With 10% inclination control, you can easily customize your workout intensity.
This machine has a 20” x 55” tread belt to offer you a comfortable workout with plenty of space. NordicTrack T series treadmills come with an innovative SpaceSaver design to store your treadmill after a workout.
For extra features, this treadmill offers an auxiliary music port and dual 2” speakers. You can have the option to purchase to buy this treadmill with a 10” or 5” display.
Find this treadmill here.
Pros:
- Specious running belt
- Ideal for serious runners
- Foldable
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with a cooling fan
- You will need to pay for iFit after the trial period
3. Sunny Health and Fitness SF-T1407M Foldable Manual Treadmill
Features:
- Alloy Steel material
- 49” x 23” x 50” dimension
- Manual power
- 13.5 percent inclination
- 220 lb weight capacity
This treadmill from Sunny Health is perfect for walking exercise. You will have to manually power this treadmill, meaning there is less chance of accidents. This machine has been marked as Amazon’s Choice and has a 4-star rating out of 5 stars.
This treadmill has a non-slip 42” x 13” running surface that is safe and secured on a smooth belt. It is very durable, and you can power walk or light jog on it.
The compact design of this treadmill can help you with your workout regardless of your home size. An LCD monitor is included with this machine to display speed, time, distance, and burnt calories.
Find this treadmill here.
Pros:
- Comes with transportation wheels for better mobility
- Comes with pulse sensors for the heart rate function
Cons:
- Doesn’t have a phone/tablet holder
- You will need to set inclination manually
4. SereneLife Smart Electric Folding Treadmill
Features:
- Aluminum material
- 50.79” x 24.02” x 49.22” dimension
- Corded Electric power source
- 1HP motor
- 265 lb weight capacity
- 12 different workout programs
- Manual inclination
This treadmill is most suitable for walking exercise and has a 4.2-star rating out of 5 stars. This treadmill has a compact design suitable for small spaces and comes with a touch screen LCD display. You will be able to see distance, run time, speed, calories burned, and heart rate on this monitor.
SereneLife Smart Folding Treadmill offers a hassle-free electric notarized plug and hydraulic folding style for easy storage and setup.
You can connect with the FitShow app on this device via Bluetooth to review and record training data and compare states. The integrated safety key helps in the emergency power-off function. There is also a built-in book/ magazine tray and cup holder.
Find this treadmill here.
Pros:
- Folds nicely to save space
- Easy to transport
Cons:
- No pause button
- The arm of this treadmill is slightly narrow
5. Bowflex Treadmill Series
Features:
- 85” x 40” x 70” dimension
- Corded Electric power source
- 3HP motor
- 16 different workout programs
- 350 lb weight capacity
- 5 -20 percent inclination
Last but not least, we have the Bowflex treadmill series that has a 3.8-star rating out of 5 stars in the Amazon store. This treadmill comes with a 1-year JRNY membership to access fitness levels, create custom workouts, and offer to coach.
This treadmill has a 22” console to watch movies while working out. Different streaming platforms can be integrated into this console too.
With this treadmill, you can explore different destinations worldwide and discover more than 50 global routes. This treadmill will auto-adjust with your real-time speed to give you the best workout experience.
This machine offers 16 different workout routines and motorized 5 -20 percent inclination to help you with your fitness routine. The Comfort Tech deck cushioning highly helps in reducing impacts on your joints while exercising on this treadmill.
Find this treadmill here.
Pros:
- Easy to assemble
- Extremely reliable
Cons:
- Needs a high-speed internet connection
- The customer service is not too helpful
Buying Guide
When you are choosing your treadmill, you should check out the following features to ensure that the exercise machine is truly the one that has a low impact on your joints. Otherwise, you will need a longer recovery period after each of your exercise sessions.
Dimension
While choosing your low-impact treadmill, make sure that it has a larger dimension to perform your cardiovascular exercise comfortably. If you struggle to run comfortably on your treadmill, it will have added impact on your joints, which you definitely want to avoid.
However, treadmills with larger dimensions are heavier and take up more space. So, if you don’t have adequate space in your home, look for a foldable model. Thus, you can comfortably run on your treadmill while exercising and fold them to store it after your workout session.
Cushioned Tread
A well-cushioned treadmill belt can reduce the impact on joints by up to 40%. This helps in reducing impacts on joints and back injuries.
All the treadmills we have chosen above have well-cushioned tread. While you are choosing your machine, make sure to look for the thickest cushioning to have the best workout experience.
Programs
While exercising, you will want to have the best possible workout benefits. Therefore, guesswork while exercising is highly prohibited. You should choose a treadmill that offers you a preset workout program to record and analyze your workout routine.
Some treadmill comes with onboard programs that control the treadmill’s inclination, declination, and speed. Some treadmills also offer customizable programs for users to set their own functions according to their fitness needs.
A treadmill with onboard programs will be most suitable if you are just starting your workout routine. On the other hand, if you are already at an advanced level of fitness, treadmills with customizable functions will suit you best.
Treadmill Motor
The CHP of a treadmill’s motor determines what type of exercise you can do. If you are looking for a treadmill to walk, a 1 to 2.5 HP motor can fit your needs. Choose a treadmill with a 2.5 to 3 HP motor for running exercise.
If you are looking for intense workouts, find a treadmill that has a motor with 3.0 CHP or above. These treadmills are excellent for interval training too.
Other Features
Besides the features mentioned above, some treadmills offer additional features to make the fitness routine more effective and enjoyable. Here are some features you should consider having while getting your treadmill:
- Heart rate monitor
- Inclination and declination features
- Water bottle holder
- Phone and tablet holder
Bottom Line
Any of the treadmills mentioned above can be the best solution for your low-impact workout routine. Make sure to consider all the necessary features you need while choosing your treadmill.
If you follow our buying guide and compare it with the products mentioned above, you will be sure to get the best machine that is worth your money.
