The Best Non-Motorized Treadmills
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By Simon Gould
If you’re looking for a cheaper treadmill or one which needs no electrical outlet, then manual or flat belt treadmills are for you. They’re often a fraction of the price of motorized ones. You can still get fit and lose weight on them, they usually have an incline to help this. Here I’ll give you a list of the best manual treadmills available today.
Quick Summary
| Verdict | Treadmill | Price |
| Top Pick! | Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T1407M | Best Price* |
| 2nd | Fitness Reality TR3000 | Best Price* |
| 3rd | EFITMENT T017 | Best Price* |
| 4th | ProGear 190 | Best Price* |
| 5th | Kotia GHN213 | Best Price* |
Top Pick: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T1407M Treadmill
This is the most popular manual treadmill that doesn’t need electricity on Amazon. It has just under 5,000 ratings with an average of 4 out of 5. Sunny Health and Fitness have been making good value cardio equipment for nearly 20 years. This treadmill is one of their best sellers and gives you the ability to get fulfilling workouts that will help you achieve your fitness goals.
- Weight capacity: 220 lbs
- Folding: Yes
- No electric outlet needed
- Digital monitor: Yes
The high weight capacity means this is ideal for helping heavy people lose weight, which is one of the most common reasons for buying a treadmill. The LCD monitor, for which the batteries are included, shows your time, speed, distance and calories. There are wheels to help you store it after use and it’s foldable which makes this even easier. Both men and women can get a good workout with this one.
| Pros Soft foam hand grips Dual flywheels Floor stabilizers 180 day warranty Transport wheels | Cons One incline level |
Click here for the best price on the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T1407M Treadmill*
2nd: Fitness Reality TR3000 Treadmill
The Fitness Reality TR300 is a feature packed treadmill that doesn’t need electricity. They claim their equipment gives “real people, real results”. The outstanding aspect of this one is the weight capacity of 325 lbs. That is the sort of number you get with thousand dollar motorized treadmills and I know because I’ve reviewed so many. Therefore, if you’re very overweight, this one’s for you.
- Weight capacity: 325 lbs
- Folding: Yes
- No electric outlet needed
- Digital monitor: Yes
There are 3 incline settings and 8 levels if magnetic tension, all this without needing a power source. On the handles are pulse pads which enable your heart rate to show on the display. These are not usually very accurate, but give you an idea of how hard you’re exercising. The deck is well cushioned and you get a 3 year limited warranty.
| Pros Good warranty High weight capacity Variable incline8 levels of resistance Water bottle holder | Cons Minor assembly needed |
Click here for the best price on the Fitness Reality TR3000 Treadmill*
3rd: EFITMENT T017 Treadmill
EFITMENT are another company who make a wide range of fitness equipment. They pride themselves on making affordable and high quality products. This manual treadmill has proved a popular one. The most unique thing about it, and the most beneficial, are the arm exercisers. This is very rare and gives you the opportunity to get a whole body workout while you’re walking or running.
- Weight capacity: 220 lbs
- Folding: Yes
- No electric outlet needed
- Digital monitor: Yes
You’ll be able to get a good workout on this treadmill as the deck is large and wide. The 3 levels of adjustable manual incline help too. The handlebars have a dial which can change the resistance in the belt to give you a more challenging experience. This one also has the ability to measure your heart rate, but as I said before, these are not medically accurate.
| Pros Arm exercisers 3 levels of incline Adjustable resistance Lightweight High customer satisfaction | Cons 7 degree lowest incline |
Click here for the best price on the EFITMENT T017 Treadmill*
4th: ProGear 190 Treadmill
The ProGear 190 treadmill is a very popular manual treadmill because it falls into a nice price range. It’s a simple piece of equipment that’s been designed to help you effortlessly get good workouts in the home. It can then be folded away and stored until you need it again. It comes with 2 levels of incline and it’s LCD monitor tells you all your vital workout stats.
- Weight capacity: 230 lbs
- Folding: Yes
- No electric outlet needed
- Digital monitor: Yes
It’s made of steel which is designed to last and is very lightweight at only 49 pounds. Despite this, it has a good weight capacity with one buyer saying they weigh 260 lbs and they’ve never had a problem with it. The long handlebars provide you with safety, security and confidence as you exercise. The treadmill arrives in 4 parts which snap easily together, then you’re good to go.
| Pros Lightweight Easy assembly 2 Incline levels Long handlebars Portable | Cons Noisy |
Click here for the best price on the ProGear 190 Treadmill*
5th: Kotia GHN213 Treadmill
The Kotia GHN213 manual treadmill has few reviews for it, but the ones they do have seem overwhelmingly good, they’re rated 4.2 out of 5 by their users. They claim the belt is non slip and it’s quiet in use. It’s designed for everyone who wants to lose fat and get in shape. Anyone who wants to get some decent movement in the home, this could be the ideal treadmill for you.
- Weight capacity: 220 lbs
- Folding: Yes
- No electric outlet needed
- Digital monitor: Yes
Kotia say this treadmill is suitable for indoor and outdoor use, however, I don’t recommend you use any treadmill outdoors. The humidity reduces it’s lifespan. Unfortunately there’s no choice on incline levels as there’s only one. It should be good for most people anyway. They’ve used premium grade steel in it’s structure so it should last longer and the display gives you your essential workout stats.
| Pros Lightweight 5 inch LCD display Quick stop sides Large flywheels Transportation wheels | Cons Thin deck |
Click here for the best price on the Kotia GHN213 Treadmill*
How to use a manual treadmill
As there’s no motor, there needs to be another way to power the belt. And that’s you, your own push and momentum is what gets the belt turning round the deck. It also uses gravity to help this and that’s why there’s always an incline. It wouldn’t work if it was flat. It may take a few tries to get used to it, you need to maintain a certain pace otherwise it will stop.
Sometimes you may need to hold on to the handlebars as you exercise for it not to stop. Having said all that, they’re easy to use and people successfully get fit and lose weight using manual treadmills. They’re sometimes useful as an introduction to this equipment. If you get a lot of use out of it and enjoy it, you could then upgrade to a motorized one with more features.
Final thoughts
Those are the best 4 treadmills that don’t need electricity currently available right now. They’re cheap and compact, they’re light and don’t require much assembly. They’re popular all over the world and are perfect for the home. They can go in any room and slide under a bed or couch when not in use. If you want to start or continue an exercise routine, they make a great choice.
Thinking of buying a treadmill? Here’s my favorite, I always recommend it when asked*
