Horizon Fitness T101

If you can't spend much on a treadmill, reviewers say the Horizon Fitness T101 is a good value for casual exercisers. It has features you won't always find on other low-cost machines, including preset workout programs, speakers for an MP3 player, a built-in fan and automated incline adjustments. Assembly is straightforward for a treadmill, with most users reporting it takes less than an hour, although a few say the unit arrived damaged or didn't work when first assembled.

Most reviewers call this treadmill quiet, sturdy and easy to assemble, although some users weighing 200 pounds or more complain that it shakes during use. One 230-pound reviewer on Amazon.com contradicted this trend, describing the T101 as "sturdy, smooth and quiet." The T101's 20-by-55-inch belt is larger than we found on most models in this price range, which might be why some users complain that it's heavy and bulky, even when folded.

The best review of the Horizon Fitness T101 comes from ConsumerReports.org, which conducted rigorous testing to rate more than 20 treadmills using a variety of criteria. Professional review sites such as TreadmillDoctor.com and Treadmill-Ratings-Reviews.com don't have the same regimented testing, but provide useful insider analysis from professionals with long experience in the fitness equipment field. We also found more than 100 user reviews at Amazon.com.