When buying cheap home gym machines, like a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical, there are certain things to expect if you decide to go for the low-end models. While they are made to be lightweight, compact and wheeled away for easy storage, they may not hold up to the workout.

Cheap Home Treadmills

The lifespan of a low-cost treadmill can be less than a year. This is not a heavy duty treadmill like at the gym. The walking/running surface tends to be shorter and narrower (on average 20 inches shorter and five inches narrower) than high-end models, so they are not great for anyone above average height. The running surface usually has little cushioning, so that could be harder on the joints. A lot of treadmills in this price point are manually powered, meaning there is no motor. The handle bars, whether they are upfront or at the side, have to be sturdy; otherwise you will spend more effort trying to keep yourself on the machine than on running. There will be some sort of monitor that will indicate speed, distance and time but unlikely anything too sophisticated like heart rate monitors. Most of the low-cost home treadmills only offer one incline, and there are weight restrictions, some unable to handle more than 230 pounds.

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