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If you mostly walk, the WalkingPad Z1 has the lowest list price of the picks and folds away, but it is a walking pad: it stops at 6 km/h. For running on a budget, buy the Horizon T101: it reaches 16 km/h (10 mph), tilts to 10% and folds. The WalkingPad X21 is a compact middle ground at 12 km/h. The NordicTrack T Series 10 is a step up rather than a cheap treadmill: it has the highest list price here, for 12% incline and a touchscreen.
Our picks
- 1Cheapest for walking
WalkingPad Z1
The lowest list price of the picks in every market. A 121 cm belt, a 110 kg limit and a fold, but walking only at up to 6 km/h.
- 2Best budget running treadmill
Horizon T101
Reaches 16 km/h with 0 to 10% incline and a hydraulic fold, rated for 136 kg.
- 3Best compact budget pick
WalkingPad X21
Double-folds like a walking pad but reaches 12 km/h, with a handrail and a 46 cm wide belt.
- 4Best step-up pick
NordicTrack T Series 10
The highest list price here, but 12% incline, a 152 cm belt, a 3.0 CHP motor and a touchscreen.
| Model | WalkingPadWalkingPad Z1 | Horizon FitnessHorizon T101 | WalkingPadWalkingPad X21 | NordicTrackNordicTrack T Series 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top speed | 6 km/h | 16.1 km/h | 12 km/h | 19.3 km/h |
| Max incline | — | 10 % | — | 12 % |
| Belt | 121 x 40 cm | 51 x 140 cm | 121 x 46 cm | 51 x 152 cm |
| Motor | — | — | — | 3 HP |
| Max user | 110 kg | 136 kg | 110 kg | 148 kg |
| Folds away | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What you give up on a cheap treadmill
- Belt length. Budget machines often have shorter belts: as short as 121 cm on the cheaper picks here, against 152 cm on the T Series 10. That is fine for walking but tight for running if you are tall.
- Top speed. Walking pads stop at about 6 km/h. For running, look for 16 km/h (10 mph) or more.
- Incline. Many cheap machines have none or a little. On the cheaper picks here it is none on the walking pads and at most 10% on the treadmills.
- User limit. Budget frames carry less: as low as 110 kg on the cheaper picks here. Stay under the maker's figure.
- Motor and warranty. Look for a continuous horsepower (CHP) figure and a long motor warranty. Not every maker publishes the CHP figure.
WalkingPad Z1: cheapest for walking
The Z1 has the lowest list price of our picks in every market. It is a folding walking pad with a 121 x 40 cm walking area, a 6 km/h top speed and a 110 kg user limit, and at 23 kg it is easy to move. It has no incline and no handrail, so it suits walking at a desk or in front of the TV, not running.
Pros
- 23 kg, the lightest pick to move and store
- 110 kg user limit
- 121 cm belt
Cons
- No incline and no handlebar
- Walking only: tops out at 6 km/h
- WalkingPad lists different motor ratings on its US, Canadian and Australian pages
Horizon T101: best budget running treadmill
The T101 reaches 16 km/h (10 mph), tilts from 0 to 10% and folds on a hydraulic strut. It has a 51 x 140 cm belt and a 136 kg (300 lb) user limit. Horizon gives a lifetime frame and motor warranty.
Horizon sells it direct in the US. The 140 cm belt is fine for walking and jogging but short for fast running if you are tall.
Pros
- Reaches 16 km/h (10 mph), the running threshold
- 0 to 10% incline
- Hydraulic folding; lifetime frame and motor warranty from Horizon in the US
Cons
- 140 cm belt is short for tall runners
- Horizon does not publish a motor horsepower figure
- Sold by Horizon in the US; versions sold elsewhere have different specs
WalkingPad X21: best compact budget pick
The X21 is a double-folding treadmill that reaches 12 km/h on a 121 x 46 cm belt, with the controls on a handrail. It is rated for 110 kg and has no incline. It suits jogging and brisk walking in a small home, but its belt is short for faster running.
Pros
- Reaches 12 km/h, fast enough for a jog
- Handrail with the controls on it
- Widest belt of the WalkingPad picks at 46 cm
Cons
- No incline
- 37 kg, heavy to move for a folding pad
- More a compact treadmill than an under-desk pad once the handrail is up
NordicTrack T Series 10: best step-up pick
The T Series 10 is not a cheap treadmill: it has the highest list price of the picks in this guide. It is here as NordicTrack's lower-priced alternative to the Commercial 1750, for people who need what the cheaper picks lack: 12% incline, a 152 cm belt, a 3.0 CHP motor, a 148 kg user limit and a 10-inch touchscreen for iFIT. It reaches 19 km/h (12 mph) and folds.
Pros
- 12% incline and 19 km/h (12 mph), the same as the Commercial 1750
- 152 cm belt, long enough for running
- Lower 21.1 cm step-up height
Cons
- 148 kg user limit
- Narrower 51 cm belt
- Trainer-controlled speed and incline need an iFIT membership
Is a cheap treadmill worth it?
For walking and light jogging, yes, if the user limit and belt length suit you. For regular running, a budget machine that reaches 16 km/h (10 mph), like the Horizon T101, is the minimum. Heavier users should look at the user limit before the price.
What is the cheapest treadmill you can run on?
Of our picks, the Horizon T101 is the budget option that reaches 16 km/h (10 mph). Walking pads such as the WalkingPad Z1 cost less but stop at 6 km/h.
Is a walking pad a cheap treadmill?
It is a cheaper way to walk indoors. Most walking pads have no handrail, short belts and top speeds of about 6 km/h, so they are not for running.
Do cheap treadmills fold?
All of the picks here fold. Folding saves floor space but a folded treadmill is still heavy, so check you can lift the deck.
How we chose
We have not tested these treadmills. We ranked by the makers' own list prices in each country, then compared specifications, user limits and warranties, and kept only models the maker or a retailer inside that country sells new. We do not show prices because they change often; the wording here is relative to the other picks.
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