Pro Tip: Daily exercise can aid in weight management. Read my guide, Weight Loss for Seniors, for tips on how to increase your physical activity intake.
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Treadmills can be a great exercise tool to help you increase your daily step count and stay in shape. Many treadmills are lightweight and foldable for easy storage. Some models even come equipped with high-tech features such as calorie counters, heart rate monitors, pulse monitors, smart HD touchscreens, and Bluetooth connectivity for answering phone calls and streaming movies.
In this rundown, I’ll go over some of our favorite treadmills for low-impact workouts or gentle walks for those with arthritis or joint pain.
Pro Tip: Daily exercise can aid in weight management. Read my guide, Weight Loss for Seniors, for tips on how to increase your physical activity intake.
Price: $553.99
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7515 Smart Treadmill is a great foldable treadmill for older adults who enjoy a good low-impact workout. This particular design has a large LCD monitor that tracks important health metrics such as time, speed, distance, calories, incline, and heart rate.
Some of the other standout features of this treadmill are its convenient transportation wheels and foldable design, which make it easy to store in the closet or other space. This treadmill also allows you to answer phone calls without stepping away from the workout. The bright-red emergency stop clip is another great safety feature of this treadmill. When I caught myself panting and slowing down, the red clip came out as a safety precaution. I resumed and adjusted the speed to 2 mph and went back to my workout with the red emergency clip inserted again. I also appreciated having 12 incline levels to choose from. During my cool-down period, I went for the lower incline levels, and when I wanted more cardio, I challenged myself with greater inclines.
This treadmill is priced at $553.99. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a manufacturer’s warranty on all parts. The structural frame of this treadmill is covered for three years, whereas other parts and components are covered for 180 days. You can purchase this treadmill directly from Sunny Health & Fitness, Amazon, or Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Pro Tip: You can connect most smartphones via Bluetooth on a treadmill. Read my latest review on Consumer Cellular Phones and Plans for Seniors.
Price: $1,499.99
The XTERRA Fitness TRX4500 treadmill is suitable for all fitness levels. If you’re an older adult who enjoys low-impact workouts, this treadmill comes with 30 preset programs. With a 7.5-inch LCD screen to monitor your health metrics or connect to Bluetooth to stream music, this lightweight, foldable treadmill is a great option for a variety of workouts. The TRX4500 can attain speeds of up to 12 mph.
I was pleased to note that this treadmill has 15 different incline levels, giving me the ability to change up my workout while tracking my heart rate. When you wear the heart rate chest strap, you can monitor your heart rate and adjust your incline and speed levels accordingly. Other features include a powerful and quiet motor that’s covered by XTERRA Fitness’ lifetime warranty. Some treadmills don’t have handlebar features that let you control speed and incline. With this treadmill, you can easily adjust settings from the handlebars instead of the main touchscreen. What’s more, this treadmill is lightweight and compact, and can be easily stored in the closet with its transport wheels and special carriage design.
Although this treadmill is priced on the steeper side, at $1,499.99, I’d still recommend it for active adults who enjoy switching up their workout routine with higher speeds, different inclines, and the ability to listen to your favorite music with built-in speakers. Compared to other treadmills on the market, the TRX4500 treadmill comes with a lifetime frame and motor warranty, which is quite a deal considering other treadmills have a limited lifetime warranty or 180-day manufacturer’s warranty. You can purchase this treadmill directly through XTERRA Fitness or Amazon.
Pro Tip: Finding a good mode of transportation can be challenging. Fortunately, there are several affordable mobility scooters to choose from. Read my article, Cheap Mobility Scooters, to find ways to save.
Price: $1,599.99
Known for its cushioned deck designed to reduce joint impact, the Sole F80 treadmill is great for older adults with arthritis or mobility issues. The deck is easy on the knees, and you can adjust speed and incline levels using the treadmill’s side-bar controls. Another standout feature of this treadmill is an integrated tablet holder, which lets you rest your tablet and watch shows or workout routines for a hands-free experience.
Unlike most noisy treadmills, this model is quiet due to its patented roller technology, which reduces noise. Other features I liked included the large LCD screen, which is great for tracking distance, speed, heart rate, and other helpful health metrics. Once I was done working out, I was able to easily stow the foldable treadmill. It was lightweight, compact, and able to easily lock into place in an upright position. With its easy Assist Folding Deck design, I was able to start the process over again and easily unfold the treadmill for another workout.
Priced at $1,599.99, you can purchase this treadmill via Sole Fitness and try it risk-free for 30 days. It comes with a lifetime warranty, and you get the confidence of knowing that the frame is bulletproof and able to withstand harsh conditions.
Price: $399.99
The Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill is a compact treadmill for older adults who spend a lot of time at home or at their desks. It’s also a great work-from-home treadmill because it gives users the chance to stay active while doing monotonous or sedentary tasks. I was also impressed by the LED display, which showed some of the main health metrics I cared about, such as distance, speed, and calories. However, I was not able to adjust the incline on this treadmill.
Some of the other standout features of this treadmill are its high-quality non-slip shock-absorbing running belt, which has five thick layers for extra cushioning, that’s easy on your back and knees. I especially liked being able to use my smartphone while jogging on the Goplus 2-in-1 through its Bluetooth connectivity. I’m all about safety, so the bright-orange safety key accessory was an important feature. I also noticed that this treadmill was not as noisy as other treadmills I’ve used. With a super-quiet, 2.25-hp motor, I was able to work out without disrupting others. When I was done using this treadmill, I simply left it under my desk until my next work-from-home task.
This treadmill is going for $399.99, which is a bargain compared to other treadmills on the market today. Although no warranty information was available, I found that you could purchase this model on Amazon or at other retailers like Lowe’s.
Price: $309.99
The BiFanuo 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill is an excellent choice for older adults who are looking for an affordable under-the-desk walking or running treadmill. This five-layer treadmill deck is cushioned with sound insulation and water-resistant features that provide older adults with more support for their joints.
For the price, this 2-in-1 treadmill is great for active older adults who want the option of walking or running on the treadmill without stepping outside. I liked the large LED screen, which displayed distance, speed, and calories to keep me updated on my workout progress. I appreciated the red safety key and remote control, which let me easily pause or stop the treadmill for emergencies. What’s more, this treadmill is lightweight (80 pounds) compared to other models, which makes it easier to stow in a small place.
Priced at $309.99, the BiFanuo 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill has great basic features for older adults who want to incorporate walking and running into their exercise routine. You can purchase this treadmill on Amazon and add a two-year protection plan for an additional $24.99.
Treadmill | Price | Warranty | Standout features |
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Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7515 Smart Treadmill | $553.99 |
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XTERRA Fitness TRX4500 Treadmill | $1,499.99 |
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Sole F80 Treadmill | $1,599.99 | Lifetime warranty on frame, motor, and deck |
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Goplus 2-in-1 Folding Treadmill | $399.99 | N/A |
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BiFanuo 2 in 1 Folding Treadmill | $309.99 | N/A |
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Finding a treadmill that helps you reach your health goals can be a life-changing investment. If you’re looking for ways to incorporate running or jogging into your daily routine, I’d recommend looking into a treadmill. You can use it in the convenience of your home without worrying about weather conditions or dealing with feeling self-conscious at a gym. With a portable treadmill, you can have control over your exercise and the speeds and smart features that work best for you.
To learn more tips about exercise and other mobility devices, read our other guides:
The best treadmill for older adults is the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7857 treadmill. It has a weight capacity of 295 pounds and is great for older adults who are interested in low-impact workouts.
Yes. Treadmills are a great exercise tool for older adults who want to get daily exercise from the comfort of their own home.
The daily number of exercising minutes is 30, but you should consult with your doctor to figure out what works best for your health needs.
Yes. A treadmill is perfectly safe and good to use once you’re read up on incline modes and other smart features. For extra safety, be sure to latch on a security key when walking on the treadmill.
Thirty minutes of daily walking is recommended for seniors and adults.
Walking on a treadmill might not be the same as walking outside and enjoying nature. However, it is a great option for seniors who have mobility issues or would prefer to stay indoors in one location. A treadmill can also be a great option when environmental conditions may prevent one from going outdoors.