If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best space-saving treadmill for apartments or condos is, then I’d recommend the SereneLife Smart Digital Folding Exercise Machine as the best one.
Compact treadmills can be a great way to stay consistent with your fitness goals regardless of whether you’re at home or work.
The best space-saving treadmill will fold up easily and be a hassle-free way to get in a quick walk or jog without worrying about commuting or weathering the elements.
Here are the top space-saving treadmills we’ll be reviewing:
- Merax Treadmill Folding Electric Treadmill
- Aceshin Folding Treadmill
- Confidence Power Plus Motorized Electric Folding Treadmill
- Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Treadmill
- SereneLife SLFTRD18 – Smart Folding Compact Treadmill
How to Choose the Best Space Saving Treadmill?
There are so many options when it comes to deciding which treadmill will suit your needs.
However, there are some things to look for when deciding which is the best space-saving treadmill for you.
Price
One of the great things about compact, space-saving treadmills is that they are pretty affordable compared to the heavy-duty, gym-sized ones that you’ll usually see in a fitness facility.
You can generally expect to spend a couple of hundred dollars on a decent compact treadmill.
Models that offer more features may increase the price a bit, but you can still find a great compact treadmill for under $500.
Features
Although these machines are compact to save space, they pack a bunch of features into an efficient little package.
Some features you may want to consider looking for when choosing the best space-saving treadmill are:
- adjustable speed limit
- power output
- Bluetooth connectivity
- grip sensors for pulse monitoring
- handlebars for stability
- a safety key for emergency stops
- safe weight capacity
- how much the treadmill weighs
- incline adjustments (automatic or manual)
Ease of Use
Convenience and portability are some of the main perks of using a compact treadmill. You may want to look for whether or not it comes with wheels attached.
Wheels can make pulling it out and relocating it a lot easier.
The fold-up dimensions are another consideration to make sure that it will fit wherever you’re planning to store it, should you choose to fold it up and get it out of the way when it’s not in use.
Technical Specs
Treadmills will usually provide some type of technical specifications to give you an idea of their capabilities.
Some important specs to take note of are:
- motor power
- running belt/surface size
- adjustable speed min and max
- max weight support
- power supply
What are the Advantages of the Best Space Saving Treadmill?
Compact or space-saving treadmills have myriad uses whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or spend a lot of time at work in an office.
Here are some ways that the best space-saving treadmill is advantageous.
At-home Workouts
This is probably one of the most popular uses for compact treadmills.
It’s pretty convenient to be able to pull one out after dinner, unfold it and go for a walk while watching TV.
Or you can use it to get a jog in without ever having to leave your home.
You can use them for walking, jogging and running to get a great cardio workout.
Save Time
Part of the deterrent of working out can sometimes be the actual trip to the gym.
If you have a treadmill in your home it can make it easier to fit a workout in without having to account for travel time.
This can really help you to stay consistent.
Avoid Bad Weather
Even the most dedicated fitness enthusiasts probably aren’t huge fans of walking and jogging in the elements on a less than a beautiful day.
When you have a compact treadmill that you can conveniently set up in your personal space, you can avoid having to do a workout in harsh or unpleasant weather like rain, wind, and snow.
Workout at Work
Rather than spending your whole lunch break trying to change in and out of workout clothes and get to and from a gym, it can be a way more efficient use of your time to just hop on a treadmill that you can store in your office.
Plus, compact treadmills can also double as walking desks so you can get your steps in while you’re getting work done.
Attributes of the Best Space Saving Treadmill
- Bluetooth connectivity
- apps to help you get a good workout
- digital display
- preset training modes
- multiple speed adjustment options
- emergency stop safety key
- wide and durable belt
- foldable to small or flat size
- ability to change the incline
The Best Space Saving Treadmills Reviewed
Merax Treadmill Folding Electric Treadmill
The Merax Treadmill Folding Electric Treadmill has a 16-in wide running surface belt that features a grass pattern to give it more tread.
While this is a compact treadmill there’s enough room to walk, jog and run. The built-in monitor allows you to track your run-time, distance, heart rate, and calories.
It’s manufactured with a fixed incline that can be adjusted manually.
There are also handrails for stability, that feature controls for speed, as well as start and stop buttons that are easy to reach and adjust while using the treadmill.
An EKG grip pulse sensor is another control located on the handlebars.
It will allow you to monitor your target heart rate so that you can adjust your training accordingly.
The speed adjustment will allow you to increase it up to about 6.2mph.
You can track your progress using 1 of 3 modes including distance, calories, and elapsed time.
If you’re not sure about how to structure your workout, then you can choose from 12 pre-set workout programs.
The unfolded dimensions of the Merax treadmill are 56.3in L, 25.22in W, and 42.1in H, with a running surface that’s about 43.3in in length.
It can hold up to 240 lbs safely, and weighs about 73lbs so it may take a bit more effort to move this machine compared to other compact treadmills.
Pros
- easy setup
- very user-friendly, the instrument panel is easily readable and tells you how to use it
- can connect a phone and listen to music with mp3 function
- folds up really slim for storage, and not too heavy
Cons
- loud during use, can hear each footstep
- only calculates in kilometers, not miles
Aceshin Folding Treadmill
The Aceshin Treadmill is another compact treadmill that has a manual incline setting.
You just have to adjust the back end before use in order to give it a bit more of an incline.
This treadmill also features wheels, which make transporting it a lot easier.
One of the great things about this space saving treadmill is that it comes mostly assembled, so all you have to do is install a few screws.
This is a great feature if you’re not someone who is comfortable with full mechanical assembly tasks that require lots of pieces and tools as some larger treadmills can.
Another fantastic feature of the Aceshin treadmill is the self-lubrication feature.
You just add some lubricant to the designated input hole and then let the treadmill run at max speed for a little bit to dispense the fluid.
This feature is great for increasing the longevity of the machine.
There are a few other helpful features such as an auto-stop safety clip for emergency stops, and LCD window display to help you track time, distance, calories, and heart rate.
It also includes a hand-grip sensor that picks up your heart rate when you place your thumb on the handgrip.
This treadmill has an adjustable speed from 0.5-6mph and weighs 57lbs. It has a max weight capacity of 220lbs, and a 1.4mm thick running belt that’s 14in wide and about 41in long.
The unfolded dimensions are 49.21in x 23.58in x 42.12in.
The folded dimensions are 47.25in x 23.58in x 9.45in.
Pros
- really easy to put together, only a few very simple steps
- lightweight and takes up very minimal space, even when unfolded
- great compact treadmill for walking and jogging
Cons
- the instruction booklet doesn’t give you enough information about the programs or presets
- small treadmill with a narrow belt, may not be big enough for tall or large people
- a little unstable might need to put a mat under it
Confidence Power Plus Motorized Electric Folding Treadmill
The Confidence Power Plus Motorized Electric Folding Treadmill easily folds up for convenient storage. Its dimensions when folded are 10in L, 25in W, and 49in H. The unfolded dimensions are 49in L, 24in W, 11in H.
At 49lbs, it’s one of the lightest treadmills on this list and one of the easiest to move around. It also supports up to about 250lbs.
When it’s unfolded the running belt is about 14in wide and 39.5in long, so it’s one of the smaller running surfaces and a more compact treadmill than some other options.
It comes with an LCD display that shows your speed, distance, the time elapsed and calories burned.
This is a great treadmill if you like to walk, but may not be the best option if you’re an avid runner due to its compact size and speed adjustments.
However, it is one of the most affordable options on this list, so if you want a compact treadmill that won’t take up much space and is easy to transport then it may be a great option for you.
Pros
- very little, almost no assembly which is convenient
- folds up pretty flat which is nice for easy storage, rolls right under your bed
- comes with different programs and speeds for running and walking
Cons
- no side/handlebars for balance
- not very durable
- the belt may slip out of place
Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Treadmill
The Sunny Health & Fitness Folding Treadmill is one of the more expensive options on the list. However, it also offers more features than some of the other more simpler options.
This is the only compact treadmill featured in this review that has an adjustable speed of 0.5-9mph, and an adjustable incline of 0%, 2%, and 4.37%.
It also has a lower maximum weight capacity, at 220lbs, but not by much compared to the other machines listed.
The running surface is 48.8in long, and 15.75 wide, so it also has one of the larger belts.
This may be more comfortable for some people, potentially mitigating the feeling of being cramped.
One of the features that differentiate this product from most of the other treadmills is the soft-drop folding mechanism that helps you to unfold the treadmill more safely and hands-free.
There’s also a handrail with controls to allow you to start, stop, and adjust speed conveniently.
There are 9 pre-set workout programs, and an LCD display that tracks your time, distance traveled speed, calories, and heart rate.
It also includes a little shelf to hold your tablet or smartphone.
The Sunny Health & Fitness treadmill is a heavier compact treadmill, weighing about 103lbs.
The unfolded dimensions are 62in L, 27in W, 50in H.
The folded dimensions are 36in L, 26in W, and 58.8in H.
Pros
- easy to pull out and put away
- easy to assemble right out of the box
- comes with lubricant to keep it running well
Cons
- can be loud during use due to the hollow frame, so can’t really watch tv and run on it
- stopped working in less than 6 months, not very durable
- tread belt may be a bit unstable and slip out of place
SereneLife SLFTRD18 – Smart Folding Compact Treadmill
The SereneLife SLFTRD18 – Smart Folding Compact Treadmill has a smaller running surface than a lot of other options. It’s 39.3in long and about 13.4in wide.
The speed is adjustable from 0.6-6mph and can support up to 265lbs.
One of the great features about this treadmill is that it has Bluetooth connectivity that allows you to pair smartphones, laptops, and tablets with it.
There are also apps that you can download and connect to the treadmill, such as FitShow which provides exercise routines for running and walking.
This treadmill is easy to fold up and has a soft-drop hydraulic mechanism that allows the machine to unfold itself by gently lowering the running deck without you even having to touch it. Weighing 57.3lbs, it’s a pretty manageable compact treadmill that’s easy to store.
There are handlebars attached to help you keep yourself stable, and wheels to make transportation easy and convenient.
It also includes a safety key with an emergency shut-off feature in case you need to shut the machine off quickly.
The dimensions are 27.5in x 24in x 51.2in.
Pros
- great for walking
- doesn’t take up a lot of space
- very easy to fold up and store, great for small apartments
- can pair it with the FitShow app to track your progress and activity
Cons
- not for serious runners since it only goes up to about 6mph
- running belt isn’t very big, pretty narrow and short
- handles aren’t sturdy and wiggle a lot
Final Thoughts
Based on the recommended criteria for things to look for in the best space saving treadmill, our pick is the SereneLife Smart Digital Folding Exercise Machine.
It’s compact with a manageable weight of about 57lbs which makes it easy to handle.
Plus, the hands-free self-unfolding mechanism makes it convenient and safer to use rather than unfolding it yourself.
This is a pretty durable option that won’t take up much space and has one of the most accommodating weight capacity limits of 265lbs.
It’s one of the only options that includes Bluetooth connectivity as one of the key features so you can connect your devices and listen to music or training programs.
There’s also an app that you can download and pair with the machine to lead you through workouts, which may take the pressure off of you to come up with a training routine.
The speed adjustment allows you to increase it up to about 6mph so it’s a great option for walking or jogging, and also includes transportation wheels that make moving it around hassle-free.
