There really isn’t much choice in this price range when looking for a high-capacity 400lb treadmill. If you want to keep the price tag low, there are basically two treadmills the Exerpeutic TF1000 and the Pro Gear HCXL 4000. Both are almost identical, made by the same company, and are average low-cost treadmills.

The selling feature of the TF1000 walking treadmill is its 400lb capacity, not the fancy tech. There aren’t any high-end features when you pay this price for a 400lb capacity machine. You won’t find HD color screens or tons of workout programs.

And if you want a heavy-duty treadmill that has all the latest tech and a large running belt and a 400lb weight capcacity, you’ll be looking at $2k +, which is out of most people’s reach.

You Can Burn 250 Calories an Hour Walking.

Still, there’s nothing wrong with low-cost walking treadmills, you can burn over 250 calories an hour walking on a treadmill, and it will help increase your overall fitness level. It’s much better to exercise than to do nothing at all, and if your budget for a treadmill is tight right now, a walking treadmill is an excellent idea to get you started on your fitness journey.

woman walking on exerpeutic TF1000 treadmill

So in today’s review, I’m going to take a close look at everything the Exerpeutic TF1000 has to offer, including any drawbacks. At the end of the review, I’ll compare the TF1000 with the Sole F85, my favorite heavy-duty 400lb capacity treadmill, so that you can see what to expect if you decide to upgrade in a few years’ time.

Product Specifications

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Product dimensions – 51.2″D x 32″W x 63″H

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Weight – 142lb

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Speed – 0.5 – 4mph

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Max user height – 6’1″ for walking

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Folds for storage

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Motor – 1.5HP

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Weight capacity – 400lb

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Running belt size – 20” X 40″

Why Do We Like The Exerpeutic TF1000?

The best feature of this treadmill is the width of the belt. Its measures 20″, and when you consider a commercial treadmill uses a 22″ width for its belt, we’re really not far off commercial size for the width. This is impressive for a treadmill in this price range.

A wide belt is important because it will prevent you from stepping off the side of the treadmill belt in the middle of your cardio session, which is a common problem with narrow belts.

Also, a wider belt gives you that extra space, so you don’t feel so restricted, and it gives you more confidence to walk at pace on the treadmill.

Extra Long Safty Handrails For Beginners

And another feature I like about this treadmill are the extended handrails. The extra long 18″ handrails are a handy feature not just for seniors who need that extra support but for anyone who hasn’t owned a treadmill before.

You can use the extended handrails for support while getting used to the feel of walking on the treadmill, and then once you feel more confident, gradually use them less until you can walk freely on the treadmill without them.

Also, a bonus feature is that you can adjust the treadmill’s speed from the extra pair of speed control buttons on the handrails, a cool feature as it saves you from having to reach forward to the monitor in the middle of a workout to adjust speed.

Max Height For Treadmill?

Because this treadmill has a belt length of just 40″, the max height is restricted to around 6’1″. Low-cost treadmills typically have short running belts, and because this is a walking treadmill, there’s no real need for anything longer.

The good news about owning a treadmill with a short belt is that it makes the machine more compact. This thing will fit into small spaces quite easily.

You also have a folding system, so once you’ve finished your workout, you can always fold the treadmill, more than halving its overall footprint.

Burn Twice As Many Calories Walking on an Incline

Whether you’re buying a low-cost or high-end treadmill, I always recommend you look for a treadmill with an incline feature. You won’t find power adjustable inclines in this price range, but you will find manual inclines.

A manual incline will mean you’ll have to get off the treadmill and adjust it manually, but it’s easy to do and takes just a few seconds.

The benefits of incline walking are huge, which is why I say it’s an essential feature of a treadmill. You’ll burn twice as many calories walking on an incline and strengthen and build those hard-to-train muscles such as your glutes, calves, and hamstrings.

The TF1000 treadmill includes a two-way manual incline with a max incline of  4%, which is perfect for beginners.

It’s best to take incline walking slow at first, gradually build up speed, and then adjust it to the higher incline setting once you feel comfortable and strong enough. But remember, you must first get used to walking with the treadmill in the flat position for a few months, especially if this is your first treadmill. Or it has been a long time since you last did any regular exercise.

exerpeutic tf1000 monitor

Easy To Use Basic Monitor

The good thing about this monitor is that it’s very easy to set up and use. You won’t have to spend half an hour trying to figure out how to work it. Still, it is fairly basic, there’s no built-in workout programs, BlueTooth, speakers, or a fan. It’s about as basic as monitors come.

Basic and easy to use is something many users love; not everybody wants or needs all the techy stuff. Still, this monitor needs an update because lately, the price of this treadmill has gone up, so they should have updated the monitor or at least made the LCD screen larger because it’s hard to read when exercising on the treadmill.

However, the monitor does track all your essential workout data such as speed, distance, and time, and you do have the pulse sensors built into the handrails to monitor your pulse.

Is The Motor Powerful Enough?

1.5HP doesn’t sound much, and it isn’t if you compare it to other treadmills, but this is a walking treadmill, and it doesn’t need anything more.

The TF1000 treadmill has been around for years. And no one has ever complained about the power of the motor.

The motor has a 5-year warranty, so should anything go wrong, you are covered. So I wouldn’t worry about the power of the motor. It’s easily powerful enough for walking and supporting up to 400lb of weight. It’s also an ultra-quiet, high quality motor, and because it’s so quiet, you’ll be able to watch TV or listen to music without being disturbed by the sound of the machine, which is always a good thing.

Deck Cushioning To Protect Your Joints

One of the reasons I like to use a treadmill is that it protects my joints, as walking or running outside on hard surfaces puts a lot of unneeded stress on the joints. A treadmill such as the Exerpeutic TF1000 comes with built-in deck cushioning, which takes up to 40% of each stride’s impact.

Deck cushioning protects your joints and allows you to walk for longer periods and recover faster from your workout.

Do I Need a Treadmill Mat?

At 142lb, this isn’t a lightweight treadmill. It actually has a respectable weight for a low-cost machine, it’s not heavy-duty, but it feels stable enough, so a treadmill mat probably won’t be needed to aid stability.

The one time you really need a treadmill mat is if you plan to use the treadmill on polished hard floors. A treadmill mat will protect your floors from scratches.

Another time you might need a treadmill mat is if you live in an apartment, as the mat will help to soak up a lot of the vibrations from your workouts.

The best cheap treadmill mats are made by Sunny Health & Fitness. You can click the link below to view on Amazon.

Sunny Health & Fitness Treadmill Mats

20 Minute Assembly

You’ll be glad to hear the Exerpeutic TF1000 comes almost fully assembled. All you need to do is unfold it and lock the uprights. Then attach the monitor; that’s it. This shouldn’t take longer than 20 minutes. All instructions are in the manual, plus you get the Allen key to adjust and tighten the treadmill belt when needed.

For maintenance: You’ll need to keep the belt lubricated. You’ll find the instructions for how to lubricate in the manual, and it’s always a good idea to keep the running belt clean as it will prevent debris from getting into the motor.

The Good

Sturdy build supports 400lb

Wide running belt 

Easy assembly – most of the treadmill comes pre-assembled

Uncomplicated machine – easy to use

One of only two affordable 400lb capacity treadmills on the market

Folds for easy storage

Long support handrails with speed buttons and pulse sensors

Built-in transport wheels

The Bad

Monitor needs updating

Running belt is short – limits user height to 6’1″

LCD is small – hard to read when exercising 

                                                                                         

Alternative

best 400 lb capcity treadmill sole f85 treadmill in home gym

Sole F85 Treadmill

The Sole F85 isn’t a treadmill I recommend for beginners. It’s a heavy-duty machine costing just under $2000. This is a treadmill you upgrade to when you need a treadmill for more than just walking.

It’s a solid machine weighing over 300lb. It feels more like something you’d use in your local gym, it even carries a semi-commercial badge. It’s the best treadmill I’ve reviewed under $2000 with a 400lb weight capacity, and I’ve been reviewing treadmills for years.

The Sole Treadmill comes with a powerful 4HP motor and commercial-size running belt measuring 22″ x 60″, an excellent 30-level 15% power adjustable incline, and a top speed of 12MPH

The monitor has been recently updated, and it now includes a 10″ color screen with apps like youtube, Netflix, and some news channels already installed. You also have tons of workout programs 1/4 track tracks feature and wireless heart rate monitoring with the HR chest strap included

And because this monitor uses quick touch buttons, it’s fast and easy to use as everything can be accessed with one touch of a button. This really is an impressive treadmill from Sole Fitness for people who are serious about their cardio.

It’s a big step up from the TF1000, but the Sole F85 is worth some serious consideration. Maybe you won’t need something like this for a few years, but it’s a treadmill to keep in mind for your future fitness goals!

                                                                                         

To Sum Up

If you don’t want to spend a lot of cash on a high-capacity treadmill, then the Exeprutic TF1000 is the best choice out there, simply because there isn’t much choice.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the TF1000. In fact, it’s hard to fault as it offers value for money and allows people to burn some calories walking indoors at an affordable price.

It’s built well and made by a reputable company that specializes in helping people with health problems. Overall, it’s a decent machine.

The only thing that lets the TF1000 down is its monitor and the screen size. I feel the monitor is too basic for the price point. Still, this is a minor drawback.

Exerpeutic TF1000 FAQS

Can Use The Exerprutic TF1000 In  An Apartment Without Disturbing The Neighbours?

Yes, you can. This is a walking treadmill, so you will not create as many vibrations as someone running on a large treadmill. Also, if you are worried about your neighbors, you can buy a treadmill mat, as this will help absorb a lot of the vibrations from your workouts.

What is The Max Height For the Exerpeutic TF1000 Treadmill?

The TF1000 is a treadmill designed for walking, and because walking requires shorter strides than jogging or running, you have an impressive max height of 6’1″, even though the running belt is relatively short at 40″.

Can You Adjust The Incline of the TF1000 Electronically?

No, the Experpeutic TF1000 uses a manual Incline which means you have to get off of the treadmill to adjust the incline manually. It only takes a few seconds as it is very easy to do.