Senior-friendly treadmills: Features to look for
If you're a senior shopping for a treadmill, you're likely seeking one that's simple to use, safe to work out on... and maybe even easy to assemble. We have a breakdown of what features to look for in senior-friendly treadmills, plus great options to shop for, no matter how much you weigh, what your health goals are, or what your budget is. We even have recommendations for people worried about joint pain, or folks who live in small spaces.
But first, why is it important to invest in a treadmill as a senior?
"As a senior, it's important to prioritize walking more in your daily routine to improve cardiovascular health, maintain mobility and balance, enhance mental health, manage weight, improve bone density and promote better sleep," says Julie Lohre, certified personal trainer, certified nutrition specialist and "American Ninja Warrior" contestant. "Regular walking is a simple and accessible exercise, making it a crucial component of a healthy lifestyle.
"Adding a treadmill can allow you to get in more activity daily, no matter the weather."
Read on for the best senior-friendly treadmills, plus more information on how to find the best one for you.
The best senior-friendly treadmills in 2023
Here's a quick look at the best senior-friendly treadmills.
- Best monitor: Echelon Stride treadmill
- Easy to assemble: Runow folding treadmill
- Above-average weight capacity: Sunny Health & Fitness T7643 walking treadmill
- Incline on a budget: XTERRA Fitness TR folding treadmill
- Most affordable: ProGear 190 manual treadmill
- Extra shock absorption: Sunny Health & Fitness electric treadmill
- Best for recovery: Exerpeutic TF2000 recovery fitness treadmill
Shop these great treadmills from Sam's Club and Amazon.
Best monitor: Echelon Stride treadmill
This 4.3-star-rated Echelon Stride Treadmill features a 20-inch by 55-inch deck, a 10% maximum incline and a maximum speed of 12 mph. Your cardiologist may be pleased to know that heart-rate sensors are integrated into the handlebars.
This piece of home gym equipment includes a 30-day free trial to Echelon Premiere, which offers access to -- not a misprint -- 3,000 live and on-demand classes by fitness professionals.
Sara Dimmick, a certified personal trainer, running coach and founder of Physical Equilibrium fitness boutique, told CBS Essentials that Echelon treadmills may be ideal for heavier individuals versus more affordable counterparts, thanks to their known durability. This Echelon treadmill has a weight limit of 300 pounds, for example.
Echelon Stride treadmill, $1,170 (reduced from $1,300)
Easy to assemble: Runow folding treadmill
This folding treadmill has three incline options and an LED monitor that tracks your speed, distance, calories burned, time and pulse, all while you're working out. And if you're worried about joint pain, there's more good news: This piece of gym equipment has a shock-absorbing system that protects your knees and ankles.
Even better: It takes only 15 minutes to assemble.
Runow folding treadmill, $540 after coupon (reduced from $700)
Above-average weight capacity: Sunny Health & Fitness T7643 walking treadmill
The T7643 walking treadmill by Sunny Health & Fitness would make an excellent addition to your home gym. The treadmill boasts a 19.5-inch-wide surface for walking or running and an above-average weight capacity of 350 pounds. It's equipped with two bottle holders (even walking can be thirsty work) and a space for your tablet or phone.
A good fit for speed walkers and light joggers, the T7643 walking treadmill can reach speeds up to 6 mph. The built-in digital monitor displays your burned calories, speed and distance covered while working out. This piece of home gym equipment's deck can be folded into the frame. Plus, it's often on sale.
Sunny Health & Fitness T7643 walking treadmill, $650 (reduced from $770)
Incline on a budget: XTERRA Fitness TR folding treadmill
This affordable treadmill has a 16-inch by 50-inch running surface and a 250-pound weight limit. It has an LCD display that tells you your speed, incline, time, distance, calories and pulse. If you're not sure what kind of treadmill workout is best for you, get this: This model offers 12 preset programs and three manual incline settings, so you can play around and find the best workout for you.
Even better: This model folds, so you can store it away while it's not in use.
XTERRA Fitness TR folding treadmill, $375
Most affordable: ProGear 190 manual treadmill
If you don't want to deal with technology at all, and really just want the basics, enter your most affordable and approachable option here: the ProGear 190 manual treadmill. There's no electricity needed to power this treadmill with handles. It even has two incline positions. This item's weight capacity is 230 pounds.
ProGear 190 manual treadmill, $199
Extra shock absorption: Sunny Health & Fitness electric treadmill
If a bunch of fancy tech isn't important to you, check out this affordable treadmill from Sunny Health & Fitness. It has an LCD monitor where you can see your distance and time, and a pulse grip, but no confusing smart tech beyond that. Also find nine workout programs and three levels of adjustable incline. You can fold this treadmill and stow it away after use. Even better: It promises to have extra shock absorption.
Sunny Health & Fitness electric treadmill, $343
Best for recovery: Exerpeutic TF2000 recovery fitness treadmill
If you're concerned about tripping or have chronic health issues, pick up this recovery treadmill that has handrails all along its belt. The handrails are padded for comfort, and this walking treadmill has an LCD display showing time, speed, distance, calories burned and pulse. It has a 300-pound weight capacity and its belt is shock-absorbing -- better for delicate or injured joints.
Exerpeutic TF2000 recovery fitness treadmill, $649
What to consider when buying a senior-friendly treadmill
You may find safety and ease of use important when shopping for a treadmill.
"You want to look for treadmills that prioritize shock absorption and cushion to keep joints safe and injury-free," Lohre says. "Additionally, a low step height to the platform and a wider, longer deck can make entering and exiting the treadmill safer. Finally, safety features like handrails, emergency stops, safety keys and simple [operating] features can make a treadmill easier to use."
Speaking of safety, Dimmick recommends investing in a treadmill with a sturdy frame, so it's less likely to topple over.
Finally, if you suffer from health issues, a recovery treadmill with extra safety features such as handrails all along its belt may be your best bet.
How we chose these treadmills
When picking the best senior-friendly treadmills, we considered:
- Authentic customer reviews: We combed through verified customer reviews to ensure that real buyers are consistently pleased with these products.
- Expert recommendations: For their thoughts on senior-friendly treadmills, we spoke with Julie Lohre as well as Sara Dimmick, a certified personal trainer, running coach and founder of Physical Equilibrium fitness boutique.
- Star rating: All of these products have a four-star rating or higher.
- Your unique needs: We picked treadmills that tackle a variety of the most popular needs. We found running treadmills, walking treadmills, treadmills for recovery and more.
Read more about how we review products
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