The Sunny SF-T4400 Treadmill has been one of the most popular low-cost treadmills for years. I first reviewed it in 2020, over five years ago. Even at that time, it outsold every other budget treadmill, and it continues to be even more popular today, now with over 9,000 ratings on Amazon.

The reason this treadmill continues to be so popular is that it offers so much for the price point.  It has a sturdy build, a long-running belt, an Incline, a decent monitor, an excellent hydraulic folding system, and a cushioning system for joint protection. It’s a low-cost treadmill that punches well above its price tag.

Over Two Decades of Experience

Sunny Health & Fitness has been around for over 2 decades. They are the kings of low-cost cardio equipment. They are one of the only companies that can produce high-quality fitness equipment and keep the prices low. I’ve been reviewing their equipment for nearly 10 years, and they’ve always impressed me. Yes, it’s not heavy-duty gear, but for the price point, most of the time, these guys are unbeatable on quality.

So yes, it’s always a good idea to check out Sunny Health and Fitness first when looking for low-cost quality cardio equipment.

Today, I want to dive deep and take a close look at everything their most popular treadmill, the SF-T4400, has to offer, including its drawbacks because there are a few.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that there is a smart version of this treadmill that comes with Bluetooth and access to Sunny’s New app, which I’ll talk about at the end of this review.  It will be interesting to compare both treadmills and see if the Smart version is worth the extra $90.

First a quick at the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 Treadmill product specs!

Product Specifications

$

Product dimensions – 62L x 25.5W x 50H inches – Folded 36L X 25.5W X 58H inches  

$

Weight – 103lb

$

Speed – 0.5 – 9mph

$

Max user height – 6’1″

$

Anti-shock system

$

Folds for storage

$

Motor – 2.2HP

$

Weight capacity – 220lb

$

Running belt size – 16″ X 49″

Why Do We Like The Sunny SF-T4400 Treadmill?

The size of the running belt is the most important feature to consider when buying a treadmill because it determines who can use it and for what purpose. The Sunny Health and Fitness SF-T4400 boasts one of the largest treadmill belts I’ve seen in this price bracket, at 49″.

A belt this length will allow users up to 6’1″ to jog on this treadmill comfortably without feeling restricted.

And when we consider that most treadmills in this price range can only offer belt lengths in the low to mid-40s with max height limits for the jogging of just 5’7″, you start to realize how impressive Sunny’s running belt is for the price tag.

Feels Stable, Doesn’t Feel Cheap.

But it’s not just the size of the running belt that impresses me about this budget treadmill from Sunny. This treadmill feels stable. Many users have praised how good this treadmill feels when exercising on it, saying it feels solid, which is surprising for a low-cost treadmill.

It’s Not Large and Bulky

Also, I think many people will like that this treadmill is pretty compact. It is not a large, bulky machine that’s difficult to move and store. It will fit into most rooms, even bedrooms. The built-in transport wheels make moving the treadmill a breeze.

Decent Anti-Shock System – Reduce Foot Strike Impact by Upto 30%

Most good treadmills will come with an anti-shock system. And surprisingly, Sunny has used the same anti-shock system for the SF-T4400 as they do on their higher priced machines, which is great news.

This is a 4 point anti-shock system which I’ve seen used on treadmills twice this price, it’s great for protecting your joints from the impact of each foot strike.

A treadmill with a decent anti-shock system is so much better for your joints than running on hard impact surfaces like roads. Sunny’s deck cushioning system should reduce the impact of each foot strike by a whopping 30%.

Will I Be Able To Run on The SF-T4400 Treadmill?

This really depends on your height and stride length. First, we need to remember that this is a budget treadmill. It’s a long way from a treadmill you might use in your local gym. Budget treadmills have short, narrow belts and lack power.

Even though Sunny’s treadmill is impressive for its price point, boasting a 49″ running belt, it’s still a lot shorter than a treadmill belt you’ll run on in a gym, which has a 60″ running belt.

If you’re under 5’7″, you may be able to run on this treadmill. Still, this treadmill is designed for light cardio, like walking and jogging, not running.  Also, the motor isn’t powerful enough for running. It’s only 2.2HP, and 2.2HP is its peak performance. Its actual CHP (continuous horse power) will be much lower, more like 1HP, which isn’t very powerful.

sunny sf-t4400 treadmill monitor with workout programs not smart option

Easy To Use Basic Monitor

At this price, we are never going to see an advanced monitor. We usually find fairly basic monitors, but the good thing about basic monitors is that they are easy to use and don’t require much time to get to know all the features.

The Sunny Health SF-T4400 monitor provides you with a large, easy-to-read LCD so you can keep track of all your workout stats.

The best feature of this monitor is that it boasts nine workout programs. Workout programs are great for giving you an extra challenge for your cardio workouts; they range from easy to hard, and as your fitness improves, you can work your way through them.

The monitor also tracks time, pulse, speed, and calories.

The pulse sensors are integrated into the handles. They’re not as accurate as a chest strap, but they’re better than nothing and will still be useful for those who like to work out in their chosen heart rate zone.

Another cool feature of this treadmill is controlling the speed from the buttons on the handrail. I know many users like this option as it saves having to reach out in the middle of a cardio session to increase the speed via the monitor.

woman folding treadmill deck of sunny treadmill

Soft Drop Folding System – Let The Hydrolics Do The Work For You

One of my favorite folding systems for treadmills is the soft drop. These systems used to be found only on mid-to-high-end treadmills, so it’s great to see they have filtered down to low-priced treadmills.

What’s so good about this folding system is that it uses hydraulics. The hydraulics do all the heavy lifting for you. You can literally fold the running deck with one finger; it’s that easy. To unfold, just give the hydraulics a little kick, and it will autonomically unfold in front of you.

And once folded, the SF-T4400 treadmill’s footprint is almost halved, making it much easier to store. Especially useful for people tight on space.

medium floor mat for treadmill

Do I Need a Treadmill Mat?

The Sunny SF-T 4400 isn’t a heavy-duty treadmill, so it doesn’t have a whole lot of weight to keep it planted to the floor. A treadmill mat is a good idea if you’re going to place the treadmill on a polished floor, as the mat will prevent slips. A treadmill mat will also help protect your floors from scratches.

The one time I feel a treadmill mat is essential is if you live in an apartment, as the treadmill mat will help absorb a lot of the vibrations from your workouts.

Sunny Health & Fitness makes the best cheap treadmill mats. Click the link below to view on Amazon.

Sunny Health & Fitness Treadmill Mat 

1 Hour Assembly

The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 treadmill you’ll be glad to hear comes almost fully assembled.

All you have to do is use the supplied allen wrench to screw in 10 bolts which are in easily located places.

Full instructions are provided, as well as the tools for the job. Most people have this out of the box and set up in under an hour.

Most treadmills are lubricated at the factory. However, I always lubricate a treadmill belt before the first use, just to be safe. You never know if they forgot or missed it.

Another thing to remember is to center the treadmill belt before first use, and if the belt is loose, you must tighten it with a fall. Only takes a few seconds.

Anything I didn’t Like?

There really wasn’t much I didn’t like about this treadmill. Sunny has got most of the essentials right with their budget machine. Still, if I had to be picky, the width of the running belt is narrow.

The issue with a narrow belt is stepping off the side of the treadmill, it’s not so much of a problem when walking or light jogging, but it’s an issue for faster-paced sessions. And this belt is narrow at just 15.5″. 

Okay, it’s not a deal killer as most people will use this treadmill for walking and light jogging, but it’s worth mentioning, as I know some might be shocked at how narrow a 15.5″ belt is.

The Good

Sturdy build doesn’t feel cheap

People are still praising this treadmill 3 years after purchasing it. Almost unheard of for a sub $500 treadmill

3 level manual incline

49″ running belt, impressive for the price 

Hydraulic folding system – can be folded with one hand

Surprisingly good cushioning system for joint protection

Decent monitor withh built in workout programs

Built in transport wheels – just tilt and roll to move

Easy to assemble

The Bad

The narrow running belt can take some time to get used to

A few users have mentioned the built in pulse sensors aren’t very accurate

Theres no workout fan 

                                                                                         

Alternatives

sunny sf-t4400 smart treadmill

Sunny Health  SF-T4400 Smart

Over the past few months, Sunny Health and Fitness has been updating its fitness app. They’ve taken everything good from the previous version and added thousands of workouts and over 10,000 scenic global routes for you to try. You can also download all your workout stats to the app.

It’s a cool running app that includes app control, which adds a lot to your workouts. You won’t get bored running on your treadmill with this app.

So, to go with their new app, Sunny has released a few updated versions of their treadmills that now include BlueTooth and free access to their app—SunnyFit. Available from Google Play or the App Store.

The Updated (smart version) of the SF-T4400 is basically the same treadmill, except you have BlueTooth. The monitor and layout of the control buttons are slightly different, and the smart version is black, but other than that, it’s the same as the original.

You’ll need to decide if the app is worth the extra $90. Personally, I like it, the workouts help push and challenge you, and the scenic routes are great. I’ll leave a link to the app page below so you can check it out.

SunnyFit App

                                                                                         

side view of woman running on xterra fitness compact treadmill

Xterra Fitness TR150 Treadmill

Xterra has been around for a few years now, and these guys are really starting to challenge the top companies such as Schwinn, Sunny Health, and NordicTrack.

What I like about Xterra is that they make quality cardio gear, but their prices are affordable.

The Xterra TR150 treadmill is a favorite of mine. This machine costs around $600, so it’s a bit more expensive than the Sunny SF-T4400. Still, it boasts some great features, such as a 50″ x 16″ running belt, a monitor with 12 workout programs, a good anti-shock system, a soft fold system, a manual incline, and the build quality we have come to expect from this company.

As you can see, this treadmill is very similar to the Sunny SF-T4400, there really isn’t much between them. The Xterra running belt is slightly larger, and it offers an extra inch of width and length, which will be noticeable. However, is the somewhat larger running belt worth the extra $150?

Overall, this is an excellent Xterra treadmill for beginners. It certainly rivals the other top treadmills in this price range.

                                                                                         

To Sum Up

The Sunny Health SF-T4400 Treadmill is an impressive machine for the price, it has everything you need for a calorie burning workout at home.

I like the 3-way incline and the easy to use fold feature. It’s also one of the only entry-level treadmills to boast a near 50″ running belt, allowing users up to 6’1″ to jog comfortably on the machine.

You can’t expect too much at this price. Still, for under $400, the Sunny Health Treadmill is surprisingly capable, treat it well, remember to keep it lubricated, usually once every few months or every 100 miles, and vacuum under the belt once a month or so, and it should last years.

Tip if you are having trouble lubricating the treadmill. You may also have to loosen the belt before applying the lubricant and retighten it after you finish.

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T4400 Treadmill FAQs

How Much Does The Sunny SF-T4400 Treadmill Weigh?

The Sunny SF-T4400 Treadmill weighs 103lb.

Is The Sunny Health Treadmill Easy To Move, or Is It Heavy?

The Sunny Health Treadmill is easy to move thanks to the built-in transport wheels. All you have to do is fold the machine, tilt, and roll it to move. It’s not a heavy treadmill weighing just 103lb. It’s lighter than most treadmills this size.

Is The SF-T4400 Treadmill Quiet?

Yes, the Sunny SF-T4400 is a quiet treadmill. It uses a 2.2HP motor, a small motor that doesn’t make much noise. You can watch TV or listen to music without being disturbed by the sound of the treadmill.

Does The Sunny SF-T4400 Have an Incline?

Yes, this treadmill has 3 manually adjustable incline levels, ranging from 1.5% to a maximum of 4.3%. However, because it is manual, you won’t be able to adjust the level of incline while you are working out. You have to get off the treadmill and adjust it manually.

Does Sunny Health & Fitness Make Good Treadmills?

For over twenty years, Sunny Health has specialized in making high-quality, low-priced treadmills, and they are the best at it. Although their treadmills lack the features of the high-end, more expensive machines, if you are after a basic but high-quality, durable treadmill, Sunny Health and Fitness is always a good choice.