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Walking treadmills can benefit a person’s overall health. The best treadmills for walking feature adjustable speeds and incline levels and offer access to exercise classes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week. This can include brisk walking.

A treadmill may help a person achieve this physical activity goal.

This article looks at some of the best treadmills for walking. It discusses who treadmills may be suitable for and how effective they may be. It also provides a list of products a person can consider and answers some frequently asked questions.

Below is a list of some of the best treadmills for walking a person may consider purchasing online.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

Below is a table comparing the treadmills for walking included in this article.

PriceWeight capacitySpeed rangeIncline rangeTread belt sizeWarranty length
NordicTrack$2,999300 lb0–12 mph-3–15%22 x 60 in• 10 years frame,
• 2 years parts
• 1 year labor
Horizon T101$999300 lb0.5–10 mph0–10%20 x 55 in• lifetime home and motor
• 1 year parts and labor
ProForm$599250 lb0–8 mph—17.5 x 45 in• 10 years frame
• 1 year parts and labor
Horizon 7.8 AT$1,999375 lb0.5–12 mph0–15%22 x 60 in• lifetime frame and motor
• 3 years parts
• 1 year labor
Echelon$1,299.99300 lb0–12 mph12 incline levels20 x 55 in• 1 year parts and labor
Schwinn$879.97275 Ib0–10 mph0–10%20 x 55 in• 10 years frame and motor
• 2 years mechanical and electronics
• 1 year labor
Bowflex$2,299400 lb0–12 mph-5–15%22 x 60 in• 15 years frame and motor
• 5 years mechanical parts
• 2 years labor
GoPlus$299.99265 lb0–2.4 or 0–7.45 mph—16 x 40 in1 year
NordicTrack X22i$3,499300 lb0–12 mph-5%–40%22 x 60 in• 10 years frame
• 2 years parts
• 1 year labor
Peloton$3,495300 lb0.5– 12.5 mph0–12.5%20 x 59 in• 5 years frame
• 3 years motor and belt
• 1 year parts and labor
Sunny Health and Fitness$169.97220 lb——13 x 42 in• 3 years frame
• 180 days parts and other components
Urevo$299.99265 Ib0–3.8 mph or 0–7.6 mph__17 x 42.5 in• 1 year parts and labor

A few factors a person may wish to consider when choosing a treadmill for walking include:

  • Budget: There are many quality treadmills available at different price points. A person should consider their overall budget and choose a treadmill that offers a wide range of features and fits their ideal price range. A person should also consider any additional costs for memberships, payment schemes, and extra features they would like.
  • Weight capacity: Users with a high body weight should research the weight capacity before purchasing.
  • Settings: Speed ranges and incline settings may influence a person’s decision when purchasing a treadmill. For those who want to use their treadmill for walking, models with lower speed ranges may be adequate.
  • Warranty: A person should ensure they purchase from a company that provides a suitable warranty. Some brands may also offer an in-home trial.
  • Shock absorption: A person can check if the treadmill has shock absorption to reduce pressure on the joints.

A treadmill is a piece of equipment that allows a person to walk or run while staying in the same place. A person can use a treadmill at home or at a gym.

Users can often change the speed of the treadmill belt to increase their walking or running speed. They also may be able to increase the incline of the treadmill to simulate walking or running uphill.

Medical News Today chooses fitness equipment that meets the following criteria:

  • Price: MNT chooses products available for a wide range of budgets.
  • Size and capacity: MNT selects products to suit people of different heights, weights, and strength levels.
  • Connectivity: For equipment that involves fitness memberships or subscriptions, MNT ensures variation in classes and services that benefit a person’s health.
  • Materials: MNT chooses products that have safe and durable materials that are easy to clean and maintain.
  • Ease of use: MNT selects simple-to-use products that have clear instructions. If setup is complicated, MNT chooses brands that offer a setup or installation service.
  • Quality: MNT selects companies that adhere to high quality manufacturing processes that ensure its products are safe for personal use.
  • Reputable: MNT chooses products from businesses that adhere to industry best practices and offer reliable customer service and support.
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Treadmills can be suitable for many adults for daily exercise, injury rehabilitation, and athletic training. People of all experience levels can use a treadmill. As a person can start walking slowly and gradually increase their pace and distance, walking can be good for people who have not exercised before or have been sedentary for an extended period.

According to the advocacy organization Arthritis Foundation, the benefits of walking include:

Walking can also benefit people with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) notes that walking at a brisk pace can lower blood sugar, blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. It can also improve a person’s insulin sensitivity.

It is important to note that some treadmills may have a weight limit. People with high body weights should check the weight limit of their chosen treadmill to ensure that it is safe for them to use.

Treadmills are not safe for children to use, and research has found that children can be at risk of sustaining injuries. For example, researchers in a small 2020 study analyzed records of 12 children with hand abrasions from treadmills and found that this injury occurred after they touched the treadmill belt when it was in use.

A person should also keep pets away from the treadmill when it is in use.

Treadmills are effective in allowing users to regularly participate in moderate aerobic activity. Aerobic activity makes the heart and lungs work harder than usual. This can increase the efficiency of the lungs, heart, circulatory system, and muscles.

Aerobic exercise can also help a person burn calories and lose weight.

Additionally, treadmills can be part of a person’s rehabilitation after heart disease and can help prevent further heart damage, according to a 2018 study.

A 2021 study states that treadmill walking and overground walking can be effective for persons with chronic stroke. These can help with improving balance, motor function, and walking speed.

Treadmills can be beneficial for people with neurological disorders as well. The authors of a 2020 study found that children with cerebral palsy can improve their gait and limb support time with treadmill training.

When using a treadmill for walking, a person can choose the speed at which they walk. This means that treadmills can be suitable for people who need to build up their walking pace and duration slowly.

A treadmill provides a stable walking surface, and if a person has one at home, it can be a convenient way to take part in exercise each day. This can help people keep up with exercise plans.

Below are some common questions about treadmills for walking.

What treadmill is good for walking?

People who wish to buy a treadmill for walking may consider various factors, such as:

  • speed ranges
  • budget
  • weight capacity
  • shock absorption features

Is walking 30 minutes on a treadmill good for you?

Walking 30 minutes on a treadmill regularly can help a person obtain the 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity physical activity health experts recommend. This activity works the heart, lungs, and large muscle groups. It is a cardio workout that is accessible to people at all levels of fitness. The ADA recommends that new exercisers start by walking for roughly 15 minutes a few days a week and gradually build up to five 30-minute walking sessions per week. may also wish to start with a neutral incline to make their beginning exercise sessions easier.

Is there such a thing as a walking treadmill?

Almost all treadmills are walking treadmills. A treadmill is a piece of equipment that allows a person to walk or run in place. Most treadmills allow users to select the speed at which the treadmill belt moves, which determines how fast the user moves. Different treadmills have different speed ranges. Most will offer walking speeds and running speeds.

Is walking on a treadmill better than walking on the sidewalk?

Walking on a treadmill and the sidewalk both provide important health benefits, including a boost to cardiovascular health, stronger bones, and help with weight management. A 2021 study found that treadmill walking can be effective as overground walking. Walking on a treadmill may be easier on the joints than the sidewalk. However, researchers found that older adults may feel unstable after walking on a treadmill and may take time to adjust afterward.

A variety of treadmills for walking are available on the U.S. market. Many include access to exercise classes, smart device connectivity, and a range of speed and incline settings that make them suitable for walking and running alike.

A person should consider their budget and the weight capacity, shock absorption, and warranty length of a treadmill before making a purchase.