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Budget Treadmills: Ratings of Sources
Total of 13 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
Feb. 2011
Treadmills
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentConsumerReports.org includes a number of budget models in its latest report on 26 treadmills. Each is evaluated on several criteria, including ease of use, construction, exercise range, safety and ergonomics. Several budget treadmills earn a Best Buy recommendation, but ConsumerReports.org doesn't test any that sell for less than $500. Several models that were recommended in the 2010 evaluation aren't recommended here.
2. TreadmillDoctor.com
As of Dec. 2011
Treadmill Best Buy Awards
by Editors of TreadmillDoctor.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentTreadmillDoctor.com sells treadmill parts and accessories, and publishes reviews on nearly every treadmill on the market, including many that cost less than $500. Since the site deals with treadmill repairs, editors have a unique perspective on which budget units pose the fewest problems. The reviews are brief, but each treadmill is scored on power, cushioning, reliability, value and other factors, and editors name two best buys in the less-than-$800 price range.
3. Amazon.com
As of Dec. 2011
Treadmills
by Contributors to Amazon.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentAmazon.com sells a variety of treadmills, including popular brands such as Horizon, LifeSpan and Gold's Gym. All price ranges are represented. A few budget treadmills garner a substantial number of reviews from owners, including the Merit Fitness 725T, Horizon Fitness T101 and Horizon Evolve SG. Among manual treadmills, the Stamina InMotion II gets better reviews (and more of them) than most.
4. Walmart.com
As of Dec. 2011
Exercise & Fitness: Treadmills
by Contributors to Walmart.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentMost of the treadmills sold on Walmart.com cost less than $800, but only a few receive more than a handful of reviews. A "customer recommendation" meter is particularly helpful, listing the percentage of customers who would recommend the product in question to a friend. The Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650, Weslo Cadence G 5.9 and Gold's Gym CrossWalk 570 all stand out with a better than 4-star rating (out of 5).
5. Buzzillions.com
As of Dec. 2011
Treadmill Reviews
by Contributors to Buzzillions.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentBuzzillions.com compiles owner-written reviews from a number of online retailers, including Dick's Sporting Goods and Sports Authority. Some treadmills attract a substantial number of ratings, but there are no clear picks as to which is best. Yet Buzzillions is still worth a look because the editors compile pros and cons in a quick overview of what users like, or loathe, about each treadmill.
6. Treadmill-Ratings- Reviews.com
Dec. 22, 2010
2011 "Best Buy" Treadmills
by Fred Waters
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentFred Waters, a former executive with Smooth Fitness, maintains hundreds of treadmill reviews at Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com. Like TreadmillDoctor.com, Waters recommends several units each year. For 2011, however, all of the recommended models cost more than $800. Even so, there are numerous single-product reviews here that make a useful supplement to other professional evaluations.
7. Sears.com
As of Dec. 2011
Treadmills
by Contributors to Sears.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentSears.com has a good selection of treadmills, including several ProForm and NordicTrack units priced less than $800. Customer feedback is varied and some reviews are quite lengthy. Reviewers have the option of listing pros and cons along with their comments, but not all of them do so. Most budget treadmills earn only a handful of ratings, but the discontinued ProForm 790T gets high marks from a solid number of reviewers.
8. Runner's World
Feb. 2010
Rise of the Machines
by Lisa Jhung and Sean Downey
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentRunner's World is an excellent source for treadmill reviews, but because the magazine focuses on treadmills for serious runners, all of the tested units cost more than $1,000. In this review, 14 staffers evaluate nine new treadmills. Although the recommended models are more expensive, the article is worth a look to see what you can get at higher price ranges.
9. Runner's World
Feb. 2009
Insider Training
by Lisa Jhung
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentThis older review from Runner's World magazine focuses on more expensive treadmills for runners. Only three models are evaluated (by more than 20 testers), but the article is worth reading if you're considering splurging on a pricier treadmill.
10. About.com
Aug. 28, 2011
Best Budget Treadmills
by Wendy Bumgardner
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentWendy Bumgardner, the walking guide at About.com, names eight of the best budget treadmills. However, she doesn't personally evaluate them; her picks are based on the opinions of experts at TreadmillDoctor.com and Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com. Some of the treadmills are also older models. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
11. Choice magazine
Sept. 3, 2010
Treadmills Buying Guide
by Rebecca Gatto
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentChoice, an Australian publication similar to ConsumerReports.org, asks an ergonomics expert and an Olympic athlete to test four treadmills in four different price ranges. The evaluations are thorough and unbiased, and subscribers can access a video that documents the testing process. None of the models are available in the U.S., but this is a good resource for Australian buyers.
12. Cheapism.com
Sept. 1, 2011
Cheap Treadmills, Best Cheap Treadmills
by Editors of Cheapism.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentCheapism focuses on reviewing budget products and dedicates an entire page to the best low-cost treadmills. Editors pick the Horizon Fitness T101 and ProForm XT70 Shock incline trainer as the best inexpensive models, based largely on analysis of user and professional reviews. No actual testing appears to have been conducted.
13. TreadmillTalk.com
As of Dec. 2011
Best Treadmill Buys for 2011
by Editors of TreadmillTalk.com
Credibility Rating
Our AssessmentMost of the treadmills in this list cost more than $800, but the Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650 is recognized as an excellent value, earning a mention as the best budget-priced walking treadmill. Although this site is well put-together and investigates the features of each model in some detail, it's unclear what sort of testing, if any, was conducted. Reviews appear to be based mainly on each treadmill's spec sheets.
     
 

This is our assessment of the review’s relevance, clarity of testing and thoroughness.

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