Gold's Gym 480

Treadmills in the less-than-$500 range usually don't get very good user reviews, but the Gold's Gym 480 earns higher ratings than most. Owners acknowledge that this isn't the most powerful or durable treadmill -- it comes with a 1.5-horsepower motor -- but casual exercisers and walkers say it's a good value. The automated incline is a rare feature in this price range, and many users like the preprogrammed workouts. Assembly can be challenging, so owners recommend setting aside a few hours to put the treadmill together. We also saw a few complaints that the non-backlit display can be hard to read. Overall, the 480 is called a decent choice for those who can't spend much, but it's not recommended for runners. The unit comes with a five-year motor warranty, but parts and labor are covered for only 90 days. If you can afford to spend more, reviewers recommend the Horizon Fitness T101 (*Est. $600) . While the 480 used to be sold in Walmart stores, it's now available only online, so shoppers can no longer try it before buying it.

TreadmillDoctor.com and Bestcovery.com both publish brief reviews of the Gold's Gym 480, but give no details about their testing process. User reviews are often the best source of information for inexpensive treadmills like this; more than 750 owners review this model on Walmart.com.