woman working out on the best manual treadmill

This is our review of the Best Manual Treadmill in . 

Walking is one of the easiest and best ways to stay fit. However, a busy schedule or bad weather can make it challenging to get outdoors. That is when having a treadmill at home can be beneficial. 

A manual treadmill is an excellent addition to your home gym as it offers an intense workout, is compact, and is reasonably priced. 

There are a variety of manual treadmills available in the market, with various high-end features. We have shortlisted the 6 best manual treadmills based on extensive research and comparing the industry’s best and most prominent brands. 

The Sunny Fitness Cardio Trainer Manual Treadmill SF-T7878 is the best overall motorless treadmill. With a wide walking deck, 16 levels of resistance, 3 incline levels, and 300 lbs user weight capacity, this treadmill provides a great workout. 

Having said that, let’s take a quick look at other fabulous options that can fit your fitness goals. 

Best Manual Treadmill OverallSunny Cardio Trainer Manual Treadmill  SF-T7878
Best Curved Manual TreadmillAssaultRunner Pro
Best Budget Manual Treadmill Sunny Manual Walking Treadmill SF-T1407M
Best Foldable Manual Treadmill Exerpeutic 100XL Magnetic Resistance Manual Treadmill
Best Manual Treadmill for WalkingEfitment Manual Treadmill with Arm Exerciser
Best Manual Treadmill  with Highest Weight CapacityGrit Runner Curved Manual Treadmill

To understand the different types of manual treadmills, their benefits, and what to look out for while buying a manual treadmill, do read the whole article.  

6 Best Manual Treadmills Reviewed

All the motorless treadmills listed below are great options for an effective workout from the comfort of your home. However, always consult a physician if you have any medical conditions. 

Sunny Cardio Trainer Manual Treadmill SF-T7878 – Best Manual Treadmill Overall

Belt size: 47.5 x 17.5 inches

Incline: 3 levels 

User weight capacity: 300 lbs 

Foldable: Yes

Warranty: Frame – 3 years, Other parts and components – 180 days

The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T7878 is the best self-powered treadmill as it offers a  challenging workout at a great price. 

This treadmill has a wide belt of 47.5 x 17.5 inches, making it ideal for walking or jogging. The dual 11-pound flywheels ensure that you get a smooth workout. And the 16 levels of magnetic resistance and 3 levels of incline lets you adjust the intensity of your workout to match your fitness level. 

This manual folding treadmill weighs around 100 pounds and comes with transportation wheels, making it easy to move around. In addition, it has a soft-drop hydraulics mechanism that allows the running deck to smoothly lower and fold itself, letting you store the machine with ease. 

The multifunctional digital monitor makes tracking your workout statistics easy as it displays all the essentials like speed, time, distance, calories, and pulse. In addition, you can hold on to the pulse sensors on the horizontal handlebars to monitor real-time heart rate.

With a sturdy metal frame that holds up to 300 lbs weight, Sunny Health & Fitness Cardio Trainer SF-T7878 is the best overall manual treadmill.

Why do we love itWhat you need to consider
Wide running deck No bottle holder
Dual Flywheel
Multigrip handlebars
Soft-drop Hydraulics Mechanism

Summary of Customer Reviews: 

The customers find Sunny Health and Fitness SF-T787 an easy-to-set-up sturdy treadmill. It can also be folded up easily after the workout, saving a lot of space. However, few customers have faced challenges with the soft-drop hydraulics mechanism. 

AssaultRunner Pro – Best Curved Manual Treadmill

Belt size: 62 x 17 inches

Incline: No 

User weight capacity: 350 lbs

Foldable: No

Warranty: Frame – 5 years, Parts –  3 years, Belt – 150,000 miles

The AssaultRunner Pro is a strongly built, high-performance curved treadmill. 

It comes with a wide and extra long belt measuring 62 x 17 inches, making it the ideal manual treadmill for running. The low-impact shock absorbing mechanism of the belt reduces the risk of injuries and ensures proper running form for athletes.

The 100 Precision Ball Bearings with 12 Roller Guides provide a super smooth experience, and the limitless speed capability of this treadmill pushes you to exceed your fitness goals. 

It also comes loaded with interval and competition training programs and lets you target metrics like distance, time, heart rate, and calories. The Hi-contrast console screen is easy-to-use and read. It is also compatible with Bluetooth and ANT+ technology that helps you connect to your Assault Fitness App.

The AssaultRunner Pro is made with a solid steel frame to support a weight of 350 lbs and is coated with corrosion-resistant material to protect it from sweat.  

This curved motorless treadmill has 2 transport wheels and a handle at the back, making it easy to move from one location to another. It is also super easy to assemble and low maintenance, making it an ideal option for fitness enthusiasts. 

Why do we love itWhat you need to consider
High weight capacityHeavy equipment
Bluetooth and ANT+ functionalityNo incline
Extra long beltOnly for advanced athletes
Silky smooth drive

Summary of Customer Reviews:

Customers find the AssaultRunner Pro a great alternative to other pricey curved treadmills. The belt is quiet and smooth, and the equipment is very easy to assemble.  

Sunny Manual Walking Treadmill SF-T1407M – Best Budget Manual Treadmill

Belt size: 42 x 13 inches

Incline: Fixed incline of 10.4°

User weight capacity: 220 lbs

Foldable: Yes

Warranty: Frame – 3 years, Other parts and components – 180 days

The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T1407M is the best budget treadmill as it offers excellent value for money. 

This treadmill is ideal for walking owing to its belt size of 42 x 13 inches. The non-slip running surface and fixed incline help in building controlled momentum, which results in burning more calories while providing a low-impact workout.

The soft foam handlebars provide an excellent grip ensuring stability during the workout. 

The digital monitor displays time, speed, distance, and calorie statistics to help track your goals.

This cheap manual treadmill is lightweight, compact, and foldable, making it perfect for small spaces. It also has transportation wheels, so shifting from one place to another is easy. 

All these features make it a great buy for the price paid. 

Why do we love itWhat you need to consider
Compact design and lightweightNo pulse sensors
Value for moneyLow user weight capacity 

Summary of Customer Reviews:

The Sunny Manual Walking Treadmill SF-T1407M is easy-to-assemble, and customers find it perfect for home use as it is economical and compact. However, a few customers have faced issues with the fixed incline being too steep. There are also a few complaints about the treadmill not working smoothly after using it for a few months.   

Exerpeutic 100XL Magnetic Resistance Manual Treadmill – Best Folding Manual Treadmill 

Belt size: 45 x 16 inches

Incline: 3 levels 

User weight capacity: 325 lbs

Foldable: Yes

Warranty: Frame – 3 years, Other components – 90 days

The Exerpeutic 100XL is a heavy-duty magnetic manual treadmill fitted with a twin 6 inches flywheel drive system, giving a smoother and more comfortable workout experience than single flywheel treadmills. 

The Pacer Control technology offers 8 levels of magnetic resistance to increase the workout difficulty. You can also select between the 3 levels of manual incline to challenge yourself further. 

The LCD monitor displays the performance data like distance, time, calories, and heart rate. In addition, heart rate sensors are placed on the handlebars to measure and target the desired heart rate.

The handlebars are 2 times the length of other treadmills for extra security and to prevent injuries. 

The Exerpeutic 100XL  can be easily folded and stored with the help of transportation wheels when not in use, making it the best folding manual treadmill. 

Why do we love itWhat you need to consider
High weight capacityNo device and bottle holder
Extra-long handlebars
Compact design

Summary of Customer Reviews:

Users love the Exerpeutic 100XL as it comes virtually assembled out of the box. They just have to attach the LCD monitor to get started. They also find it sturdy as it does not wobble or make excessive noise. However, few customers faced issues with the high incline, even on the lowest setting. 

Efitment Manual Treadmill with Arm Exerciser – Best Manual Treadmill for Walking

Belt size:  42 x 13.5 inches

Incline: 3 levels

User weight capacity: 220 lbs

Foldable: Yes

Warranty: 1 year

The Efitment T017 Manual Treadmill is great for walking as it is equipped with arm exercisers that are ergonomically angled to provide a natural arm-swing movement. This ensures optimum support and comfort. Additionally, the belt size of 42 inches is best for walking, although short users can also get in a good job. 

It offers 8 levels of resistance and 3 levels of incline so you can progressively improve your stamina. 

The digital monitor helps track time, distance, speed, calories, and heart rate. With the “scan” option, you can toggle between these statistics hands-free to keep track of all the statistics. Each metric will be displayed for 4 seconds.

The Efitment Manual Treadmill has a compact design and is foldable. It also comes with transportation wheels. So, once you complete the workout, you can easily fold it and move it from one room to another.

Why do we love itWhat you need to consider
Arm exercisersShorter warranty period
Easy to moveLow weight capacity
No device or bottle holder

Summary of Customer Reviews:

Customers find the 3 levels of incline on the Efitment T017 Manual Treadmill very convenient. However, a few customers faced challenges with assembling the treadmill, and some complained about receiving broken parts. 

Tru Grit – Fitness Grit Runner Curved Manual Treadmill – Best Manual Treadmill with Highest Weight Capacity

Belt size: 62.5 x 19 inches 

Incline: No

User weight capacity: 400 lbs

Foldable: No

Warranty: Lifetime

The Tru Grit – Fitness Grit Runner is a powerful curved treadmill that provides a more intense and challenging workout than any traditional manual treadmill. 

This treadmill is made with commercial grade steel and aluminum frame, making it super durable. Thanks to this,  it can support a user weight of 400 lbs, the highest in the manual treadmill category. 

The Grit Runner features 6 levels of resistance to move forward on your fitness journey. Level 1-2 for running, Level 3-4 for walking, and Level 5-6 for push sledge. You can change between the levels with a simple knob twist. 

The treadmill is equipped with a battery-powered LCD monitor that keeps track of all the workout essentials, like speed, time, distance, and calories. It also has a device holder to place your phone while working out. 

The lifetime warranty is a huge plus and makes us very confident about the machine.

Why do we love itWhat you need to consider
High weight capacityOnly for advanced athletes
Lifetime warrantyHeavy equipment

Summary of Customer Reviews:

The customers find the Grit Runner to be safely designed compared to other treadmills, making it an ideal manual treadmill for running. However, few have faced challenges while assembling the treadmill. 

What is a Manual Treadmill? 

A manual treadmill is a treadmill that operates without an electric motor. It is often referred to as a motorless treadmill. The treadmill belt starts moving when you push it back with your feet, and the speed is directly proportional to your effort. 

A manual treadmill is generally safer and cheaper as it requires no electricity or motor. It is also low maintenance and better for the environment. 

How is a manual treadmill different from an electric/motorized treadmill? 

The main difference between a manual and an electric treadmill is that an electric motor powers the latter to set the belt in motion. 

Electric treadmills are generally easy to use as all you need to do is adjust the speed and start walking. They often also have more features and programs to make your workout fun. However, they are usually more expensive than manual treadmills due to the electric motor and these added features.

Types of manual treadmills

Now that you’re aware of what a manual treadmill is, let’s have a look at the types of manual treadmills: 

Traditional belt treadmills  

Traditional belt treadmills are the simplest kind of manual treadmills. As the name suggests, it features a traditional belt and is best suited for people who want to use it primarily for walking. 

These treadmills are often lightweight and compact, making them easy to move. They also don’t have too many fancy features. All of this makes these the most economical treadmills on the market. 

Slat belt straight treadmills

Slat belt treadmills have horizontal rubber slats moving around the running deck instead of the traditional belt. The slats provide better cushioning during the workout, helping users maintain the correct posture and prevent injuries. 

These high-end treadmills have fancy features and are heavier than their traditional counterparts. They are good for running and suitable for fitness enthusiasts, gym-goers, and athletes. These treadmills are often found in professional gyms. 

Slat belt curved treadmills 

Salt belt curved treadmills are the most advanced treadmills, suitable for experienced runners and people with good muscle strength and balance. 

The belt’s pace is directly proportional to your pace, which means the faster you run, the faster the belt moves. However, these treadmills are difficult to use and have a high risk of falling if used inappropriately.  

Hybrid treadmills

Treadmills that can be powered by a motor or used manually are known as hybrid treadmills. They come in two options – straight or curved, and often have better features than traditional manual treadmills. 

These treadmills are suitable for homes with multiple users having different workout goals.

Benefits Of A Manual Treadmill

A manual treadmill provides a range of benefits compared to an electric treadmill.

You control the machine and the workout

A manual treadmill responds to your pace, which means you control the speed of your workout. The faster you run, the faster the belt will move. 

They burn more calories

Working out on a manual treadmill burns more calories when compared to an electric treadmill. They provide a more challenging workout as you don’t have any extra help.

Is cheap and low maintenance

These treadmills are more cost-effective and low on maintenance compared to electric treadmills. 

man working out on the best manual treadmill

Doesn’t require electricity 

A manual treadmill has no motor, so it doesn’t require electricity. As a result, it doesn’t leave any carbon footprint and helps you save on electricity bills. 

Is easy to store

There are various models of manual treadmills which are compact or foldable, taking up less space and making them easier to move and store. 

Makes less noise

The manual treadmills are less noisy than electric treadmills, as they do not have a motor. This allows you to do other things while working out, like listening to music, watching TV shows, etc. 

Buying guide: What to look for when buying a Motorless Treadmill? 

Below are some of the main things to look out for when buying a manual treadmill. 

Treadmill frame 

The frame material and quality is a crucial factor when buying a treadmill. The treadmill should have a durable, high-quality frame that supports heavy weight capacity. This will ensure stability during the workouts to avoid injuries and the long life of the equipment. 

Some treadmills are equipped with floor stabilizers that help balance the treadmill, even on uneven floors. This also helps avoid injuries. 

Belt dimension

You must check for the correct belt size before buying a treadmill. The belt size should match your stride length. For maximum comfort, the width of the belt should be around 17” for walking and 20” for running, whereas the length should be 50” for walking and 55” for running. 

These are the ideal numbers but can change basis the user’s height and weight. For example, shorter users can go for a shorter length, whereas heavy users might prefer a wider width. Cheaper and compact treadmills will also have smaller belts, so you need to evaluate this per your requirements. 

Space

Space is one of the foremost requirements to consider before buying a treadmill. If you have a small house, you don’t want your treadmill to occupy much space when not in use. In that case, you can consider buying a treadmill that can fold easily. 

Maximum weight capacity 

It is essential to check the maximum weight capacity before buying any fitness equipment, and we advise you to buy a treadmill with more capacity than your weight. 

High-weight-capacity treadmills are often more durable, so consider this point if you have the budget. 

Warranty

Exercise equipment goes through wear and tear over time. As a result, the importance of a warranty cannot be overstated. Therefore, ensuring that the treadmill you buy has a long-term warranty covering the frame, body parts, and labor is better. 

Budget 

You need to set a budget which you can spend on buying a treadmill. On average, the manual treadmill ranges from $150 to $5,000. However, you should keep in mind that your budget will determine the additional features of the treadmill.

Additional features 

Modern-day treadmills are equipped with additional features like onboard programs, BlueTooth connectivity, pulse sensors, speakers, etc. So you need to decide which features will improve your workout experience and adherence and make sure to get these in your treadmill.

Conclusion

There are numerous manual treadmills available, each offering unique features and benefits. However, considering all the aspects like quality, price, space, dimensions, and belt, we strongly recommend the Sunny Cardio Trainer SF-T7878 as the best manual treadmill. With a heavy flywheel, wide belt, foldable design, adjustable resistance, and incline, you are bound to get the best workout results on this treadmill.

FAQs 

Are manual treadmills good for walking?

Manual treadmills are well suited for walking. They actually provide a more effective workout and burn more calories than electric treadmills.  

Can you run on a manual treadmill?

Yes, you can run, jog, or walk on the manual treadmill. However, this depends on the type and model, as some are built only for walking. So make sure to check the specs of your equipment carefully. 

What is the cost of a manual treadmill? 

On average, the price of a manual treadmill ranges from $150 to $5,000. 

Do Manual Treadmills Have Incline Levels?

Yes, most manual treadmills have inclines ranging from 0.5% to 15%. 

How do you use a manual treadmill?

Start with standing on the treadmill, and then move your feet backward. This will set the belt into motion. Next, continue to walk to keep the belt moving. Remember, the speed of the treadmill is determined by your pace and the effort you put in. 

Can you lose weight on a manual treadmill?

Absolutely yes, manual treadmills require more effort than motorized treadmills. Thus, resulting in burning more calories and weight loss. If weight loss is your goal, you will find our reviews on the best heavy-duty elliptical and the best exercise bike to lose weight helpful.

Disclaimer: The information mentioned in the article above is for educational and informational purposes only. It shouldn’t be considered health or medical advice. Please consult a doctor or a qualified health professional if you have any medical/health conditions questions.

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