Affordable Treadmills for Home Gyms | HIIT Workouts & Running Exercises

Many of us have aspirations to be slimmer and fitter but often time constraints and gym fees stop us from achieving our goals. However, having a treadmill at home puts exercise at arms reach and make it a lot more achievable.

Treadmills let you walk, jog or run whilst indoors in the warmth and comfort of your own home, so they are ideal for the colder months when you don't want to jog outside, or perhaps you live somewhere (like I do) where it always seems to be raining! Having a running machine in easy reach all year around means that it's easier to get the motivation to train regularly. And also, the accurate measures on a treadmill mean that you can use it to reach very specific fitness goals.

On this page I have included videos on how to use a treadmill, plus my top recommendations of the best treadmills at different price points and a range of very useful accessories including waterproof music players especially for use in the gym. And I also include lots of tips and buying guides for choosing the right machine for you, and a list of great treadmill workouts including high intensity interval training (HIIT) routines for the most effective way to lose fat and get in shape.

Treadmills are gentler on sensitive knee and hip joints because of their consistent, flat and often padded surface, and are really convenient too. I hope you find this page useful.

When choosing a treadmill, there are a wide range of qualities and options to choose from. I would say that the best way to narrow your search down would be first to decide a budget, as the price determines what you can buy.

Manual treadmills are the most budget-friendly option, and are often the smallest and most portable, and best if you don't have much room at home. However, they are obviously not motorized so you can't choose a specific speed to go at, so it's not for serious training, but more for people who just want a method of running or walking in their own home without having any particular target they want to reach. I personally didn't choose a manual treadmill (my budget was under $400) because my motivation levels are low and I need a machine which will force me to move!

Most treadmills are motorized, allowing you to choose the constant speed to run at, and most also have a timer, calorie counter, distance counter and probably a heart rate monitor of sorts. Additional options include incline settings, which are where you can incline the running belt to different angles in order to simulate walking/running up hills of different steepness. On cheaper treadmills, there are either no incline options, or at best one or two. Higher-end treadmills can have around 10 or more setting options, usually peaking at an incline of 15%. Another option to look for is the fold-away option for if you have little space at home or you are planning to store the treadmill away in summer and only use it in the colder months for instance. Some treadmills do fold up and some don't. Be sure to have a look at the space taken up by the treadmill when it is folded, as some fold into a relatively narrow space, whilst others are still very bulky even when folded.

If you can test out a treadmill first, this is recommended, as it's hard to tell how powerful a treadmill feels or how noisy it is just by looking. If you can't try before you buy, reviews are helpful so have a look at what people are saying online about things like noise level, power and sturdiness. You want something well built, not flimsy, with a good level of power for your budget. Best not to go for a particularly large or thick running belt, just have the normal belt width and thickness, as the bigger the belt, the harder the motor must work to move it. The width of the belt is usually very similar throughout all treadmills.

With regards to choosing the power of your treadmill, it's best to try it out first, but have a look around at the power statistics between treadmills in your budget range to get an idea of what you can get for your money first. Sometimes the most powerful is not the best option, just take all of the features into consideration.

When planning to buy a treadmill, carefully use the provided treadmill measurements to check that it will fit into your intended room at home OK, with at least a meter of free space on each side and preferably a couple of meters space at the back. I know that when I got my treadmill home it seemed a lot bigger than I imagined...they're definitely monsters! It's best to have a padded mat underneath the treadmill to protect your flooring, and also to deaden the noise, especially if you have people living below you.

Extra features may be drinks holders, mp3 player holders and other fun and useful things.

Here are a couple more treadmill desk options, plus the all-important foam mat which is vital for protecting your flooring - whether it's wood or carpet. For adding (often much-needed!) distractions to your workout I've also listed a phone holder and a music player specifically designed for use during exercise:

I had never used a treadmill before I bought one for my home, and it certainly scared me a bit to start with, especially at higher speeds. And I felt dizzy the first few times I tried it because when I suddenly stopped running, the room kept on moving (I get motion sickness really easy!) However, this went away after a few runs and I really love my treadmill now. I am fitter than I have ever been in my adult life and I've only had the machine for a few months! I truly recommend them as a) a cheaper alternative (at least it was for me) than going to the gym, and b) as a way of avoiding running in the cold, wind or rain, which I hate - and there is nowhere safe near me due to high-speed roads with no pavements.

If you're a complete beginner, the best tips are to start slowly and increase the speed gradually over time. My balance is a bit wonky so it was hard to stay centred on the belt to start with, but I found that staring at a fixed point straight in front of the treadmill helped me a lot. Persistence is key with the treadmill, and I also need a bit of a distraction whilst jogging, so I usually listen to music or the radio, or watch the TV I have in front of me.

Treadmills are ideal for training yourself to reach specific targets, due to the fact you can set the speed so precisely and monitor your progress easily. If you only want to walk, treadmills set the pace and mean you don't have to leave the house to do so (so good if you live in rainy England!) Daily walking is fantastic for a healthy lifestyle, and treadmills make it so easy. And the machines don't need to cost the Earth either as they are available in a range of price points from around $150 upwards.

Using a treadmill is very simple, with a start button (which starts at a very low speed), a stop button (which stops the belt slowly), an emergency stop safety feature, and up and down keys to change the speed. More expensive treadmills may have extra buttons, but those are the basics. I also have the option to choose from 4 different programmes on mine (most treadmills provides pre-programmed options) which change the speeds for you. Each one is spread over a different length of time, from 10 to 30 minutes and during the cycle the speed goes up and down at certain points and you have to keep up. I tried the 15 minutes one as soon as I bought it and when it jumped up to a high speed I wasn't expecting, it freaked me out, so be careful with them!

Here are some links for what to look for when buying a treadmill, plus starter tips:

Running shoes are very important for giving your feet support and comfort during your workouts, and below are few top-rated men's and women's shoes to choose from.

I've also included a useful watch which monitors your heart rate, plus an item of moisture wicking clothing, which is made of a fabric that wicks the sweat away from your skin quickly to help your body cool down efficiently.