Treadmills $500 to $800

Treadmills in this price range are best among budget models

With treadmills, both expert and user reviews warn that you usually get what you pay for. In general, fitness-equipment experts advise shopping in the $1,000-and-up price range (covered in our main treadmill report) if you intend to do a lot of running, or if more than one person will use the machine. But as one Amazon.com user notes in his comments on the Best Reviewed Horizon Fitness T101 (*Est. $600) , "I definitely don't have $1,500 to $2,000 to spend on a treadmill."

Although budget models generally have less-powerful motors, smaller walking belts and lower weight capacities than their pricier counterparts, some have earned both expert and owner praise when used for walking and light jogs. This type of treadmill may also be ideal if you're just starting an exercise program. Quality in the budget range appears to be improving, and if you can shop in the high end of this price range you'll occasionally find a treadmill with the lifetime frame and motor guarantee that signals true manufacturer confidence in the product.

The Horizon Fitness T101 stands out from the pack with a Best Buy designation from a reputable testing organization, plus accolades from Cheapism.com and a runner-up slot in TreadmillDoctor.com's ratings. The T101's 2.25-horsepower continuous-duty motor and 20-by-55-inch belt are rare finds in this price range, and a major step up from the smaller belts and weaker motors found on most treadmills costing less than $500. One Amazon.com user says the T101 has "more bells and whistles than one might expect in an entry-level treadmill." These include automated incline adjustments up to 10 percent, nine preprogrammed workouts, a handgrip heart-rate monitor, a three-speed built-in cooling fan and in-console speakers for your MP3 player.

TreadmillDoctor.com calls the Horizon Fitness T101 the "strongest entry-level Horizon that we have ever seen," and almost 100 Amazon.com reviewers give it 4- or 5-star ratings, for an average ranking of 4 stars. "It's very solid, runs great, is pretty quiet, and has most of the 'bells and whistles' I wanted but thought I couldn't afford," one owner writes. "For $600, it's a great buy," says another.

Although several other budget-priced Horizon models don't receive the same near-unanimous support the Horizon T101 enjoys, they do earn generally positive comments from reviewers and may be decent alternatives. These include the Horizon T202, T91 and compact Evolve SG.

Gold's Gym treadmills also receive a number of positive reviews -- so many, in fact, that two of them are runners-up in our overall best budget treadmill category. The Gold's Gym CrossWalk 570 (*Est. $570) also is named a best buy by one independent testing organization and many enthusiastic user reviews. It has a 2.25-horsepower motor like the T101, but the 570's motor doesn't have a continuous-duty rating, which is one of the few easy-to-decipher hallmarks of a good treadmill motor. The 570 has a 20-by-55-inch belt, automated incline adjustments up to a 10-percent grade and a maximum speed of 10 mph, which is adequate for walking, jogging and light running. It also has many of the same features found on the T101, including 16 preprogrammed workouts, a built-in cooling fan and built-in speakers for your MP3 player. This treadmill can accommodate users weighing up to 300 pounds and is covered by a lifetime frame warranty. The 25-year motor warranty is generous for this price range, although the one year of coverage for parts and labor is pretty standard.

A potentially confusing feature on the Gold's Gym CrossWalk 570 is a pair of elliptical-trainer-style arms, which theoretically provide an upper-body workout during a walk or jog. According to the manufacturer, these movable arms can help users burn up to 50 percent more calories. Most owners say they just get in the way, and TreadmillDoctor.com says the arms are "essentially useless" since they offer little to no resistance. Even so, the 570 gets an average 4-star rating out of 5 from more than 100 reviewers at Walmart.com. Owners say the preprogrammed workouts are a big motivator, and the built-in speakers sound surprisingly good. We did see a number of durability complaints for this treadmill, especially from those who have owned it for more than 90 days. Two of the most common complaints are that the belt stops moving suddenly and the incline motor quits working.

The Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650 (*Est. $600) also earns favorable comments from owners, with a 4.5-star average rating (out of 5) based on more than 200 Walmart.com reviews. Users like its many features even though they don't always work well; several owners complain that the speakers are hard to hear, and the fan is weak and poorly aimed. The preprogrammed workouts and 10 motor-adjust incline levels are better received. Durability is the most common concern with this unit; one user describes the failure of one major component after another. Another reviewer struggles to move the treadmill through doorways, finding it surprisingly heavy and wide. This model also has movable handles for an upper-body workout; a couple of users say they're difficult to install, but most owners seem to ignore them.

The Maxx CrossWalk 650 receives a positive review from TreadmillTalk.com that seems to focus on its wealth of features relative to other units in the same price range. The review acknowledges user complaints, such as fans blowing over short users, but identifies the 650 as a standout among budget machines nonetheless. We're not sure if any actual testing took place for this review, but both the highs and lows of this low-cost treadmill are taken into account, without the unbridled enthusiasm that's usually the mark of a review site established only to bring in sales commissions.

The ProForm 8.0 ZT folding treadmill (*Est. $550) has a decent-sized 18-by-55-inch belt, a 2.25-horsepower continuous-duty motor and a maximum speed of 10 mph. The automated incline and weight capacity top out at 10 percent and 250 pounds, respectively. Other features include 12 preprogrammed workouts, a dual-grip heart-rate monitor and a seven-year motor warranty; parts and labor are covered for only 90 days. TreadmillDoctor.com gives the 8.0 ZT low marks for its short warranty but higher scores for cushioning, power and value, which earns it a Best Buy award in the $400 to $700 price range. Still, there aren't many user reviews available to back up this model's actual performance. A few brief reviews at SportsAuthority.com call the ProForm 8.0 ZT a decent budget treadmill, although the non-backlit screen can be hard to read. One owner says it's not sturdy enough for regular running, and another says it didn't work once assembled.

The ProForm Performance 600 and 590T also receive high praise from a reputable expert reviewer, but there's very little user feedback to flesh out that independent review. The 600 garners only four reviews on Buzzillions.com, which collects user reviews from many major websites, and the 590T receives none. Of the 600's reviews, most were positive, praising its sturdiness, convenience and value, but one owner says the motor board went out after one month.

Most treadmills in the $500 to $800 price range measure 70 inches long or more. By the same token, most budget units fold up to free some floor space when not in use, but they aren't always easy to move around. The Gold's Gym CrossWalk 570, Gold's Gym Maxx CrossWalk 650 and our Best Reviewed Horizon Fitness T101 are all heavier and bulkier than users expected, even when folded. If you need a treadmill that's easier to move around, you might prefer the LifeSpan TR200 (*Est. $700) , which measures only 60.5 inches long and folds small enough to slide under a bed. The TR200 also comes fully assembled, saving the effort of putting it together only to find that it doesn't work -- a common problem with treadmills in this price range. With a 1.5-horsepower motor and 17-by-48-inch deck, this unit definitely isn't for runners and may not be for tall walkers, either, although TreadmillDoctor.com praises the 2011 version (dubbed the TR200i) as "one of the most innovative new treadmills in an industry that is lacking in regard to innovation." On the other hand, user complaints about the belt stopping suddenly, plus warnings of smoke, a burning smell or short circuits from the machine, are troubling.

Like the LifeSpan TR200, the Horizon Fitness Evolve SG (*Est. $500) folds into a compact package. At only 10 inches thick folded, the Evolve SG is small enough to slide under most beds but has some definite limitations. Its 1.5-horsepower motor has a maximum speed of only 6 mph, there's no way to adjust the incline and the treadmill belt is only 45 inches long. Although tall walkers and joggers of any height may feel cramped on this short belt, nearly 100 user reviews on Amazon.com indicate that owners are generally happy with the unit's value, quiet operation and small size. The most common complaints are struggles with lubricating the belt and keeping it aligned, and a warning that you should place a pad or mat beneath this treadmill before using it on carpet.