Five years ago, you couldn’t get an auto-adjustable incline treadmill for under $500. They just weren’t on the market. The cheapest was around $800.
Surprisingly, this is the second treadmill I’ve reviewed in the past six months that boasts a power-adjustable incline for under $500. Even more impressive is that the TheRun Incline Treadmill boasts a 15% 15-level incline. 15% power inclines are usually reserved for mid to high-end treadmills. So it was great to see one featured on a sub $500 treadmill.
Sturdy 145lb Well-Built Machine
Still, it got me thinking: did they cut back somewhere else in the build so they could keep the price low and still boast such an impressive Incline? Thankfully, they haven’t. This thing is solid. It weighs 145lb, which is a telling sign it is made from high-quality materials, and that weight helps keep it sturdy. It doesn’t feel cheap and unstable.
And the monitor is decent too. So far, the TheRun Treadmill looks like a winner and certainly a treadmill that’s going to challenge the top 3 treadmills in this price bracket.
It’s certainly a treadmill I want to take a closer look at, and today, we’re going to deep dive into all the pros and cons of this incline treadmill, as well as the drawbacks, as there are a few.
I’ll also compare it to the Borgusi Auto-Incline Treadmill, the only other power adjustable incline treadmill in this price bracket, which I reviewed recently. It will be interesting to see how they match up.
First a quick look at the product specs!
Product Specifications
Product dimensions – 60″D x 30″W x 51″H
Weight – 145lb
Speed – 0.6 – 10mph
Max user height – 6’1″
Anti-shock system
Folds for storage
Motor – 3.5HP
Weight capcacity – 220lb
Running belt size – 17″ X 47″
Why Do We Like The THERUN Incline Treadmill?
One of the first things you’re going to love about this treadmill is that it’s quiet in operation. So many treadmills, even the small walking pads, can be loud and off putting when jogging on them. This treadmill is quiet at around 60DB when jogging at a medium pace, which is impressive.
I haven’t taken this one apart, but I’m sure it must be using a brushless motor to operate so quietly.
Brushless motors are much quieter than the brushed types. Also, a brushless motor will last 4 times longer than the brushed motor. So, it is always a good idea to choose a treadmill with a brushless motor.
And the motor is surprisingly powerful too, peaking at 3.5HP easily powerful enough for jogging and light running.
Compact Design
Something else I’m sure many are going to like about TheRun Treadmill is its size. It’s not too big. It would fit into most bedrooms. It’s not a bulky large machine.
Normally, 10mph, 3.5HP treadmills are large and can be a headache to store and move. But not so with this treadmill. The design is compact. Making it a great choice for apartments or anyone who’s tight on space.
15% – 15 Level Auto Incline
But what really sells this treadmill is the power adjustable incline. I used to be impressed to find a 3-way manual incline on the treadmills in this price bracket, but now we’re seeing sub $500 treadmills with a 15% auto adjust incline, which is just excellent.
I’ve always said an incline feature on a treadmill is essential to get the most out of your cardio sessions. Walking/jogging on an incline will double calorie burn, and what’s best is that incline running works and builds those hard to train muscles in your legs like your calves, hamstrings, and glutes.
Also the handy thing about having an auto-adjust incline vs. a manual incline is that you don’t have to get off the treadmill to adjust the incline level manually. You can simply use the control buttons instead. Nice.
47″ Belt is It Long enough For Running?
I mentioned earlier that the TheRun treadmill isn’t a large machine. In fact, it’s quite a compact machine. Compact machines have their drawbacks, and one of those is smaller running belts. This belt measures 47″, which isn’t short, but it will restrict who can use the treadmill and for what.
A 47″ belt will allow users with a height of up to 6ft to jog comfortably on the treadmill. Any taller than this, and you will need to pay a little more for a larger treadmill.
It’s not a treadmill designed for serious runners. The belt is too short and narrow. This treadmill is designed for light cardio, such as walking and jogging.
18 workout Programs and BlueTooth a Decent Monitor
A basic, easy to use monitor, you are not going to have to spend an hour trying to set it up. It’s nice and simple.
I prefer the basic monitors to high end ones, there are no annoying menus to scroll through and features you’ll never use. With a basic monitor like this, you have all the essentials, and you can just jump on your treadmill and get exercising.
I was happy to see that the TheRun monitor includes a ton of workout programs. Workout programs are great for keeping you challenged and coming back for more. It also has BlueTooth, so you can connect with Zwift and download all your workout stats, etc.
This monitor will track all your vital workout stats, such as time, distance, calories, and incline level. It also has built-in handrail pulse sensors for measuring heart rate.
I like the quick touch buttons for speed, workout programs, and incline, they are fast and easy to use even while jogging.
There’s nothing to fault with this monitor. It has everything you need.
Protects Joints By Up To 30%
All good treadmills should come with an anti-shock system for protecting joints from the impact of each foot strike. And the TheRun treadmill has a surprisingly good one for the price point.
It includes dual shock absorbers fitted between the deck and running belt, which is great to see. And you’ll really feel the cushioning, so much better for your joints than running on hard impact surfaces like roads.
Powerful 3.5HP Motor?
It’s impressive to find a 3.5HP motor for a $500 treadmill. Still, remember that 3.5HP is the peak performance of this motor, not its continuous power.
Heavy-duty treadmills and motors are rated by their CHP (Continuous Horse Power). Low—and mid-cost treadmills will normally just state their peak HP, as it always sounds better.
So, although TheRun Treadmill motor is powerful for the price, it’s not powerful when compared to higher-end treadmills, and the CHP of TheRun Treadmill would be more like 1.5HP.
This means you need to be careful with the weight capacity of any low-cost treadmill, as they do not have heavy-duty motors. You want to keep the weight load well under the stated max capacity. A more realistic weight capacity for jogging on a 3.5HP motor would be around 220lb for jogging and slightly higher for walking.
This is important if you want to avoid early motor burnout.
Do I need a Treadmill Mat?
A reason a lot of people buy a treadmill mat is that it helps with stability, especially with lightweight treadmills that move around a little when you’re jogging on them.
This treadmill weighs 145lb so it has some weight, still its not heavy for a treadmill and on polished floors it may move a bit which can be off-putting.
Another reason people buy treadmill mats is to protect their polished floors from scratches.
Lastly, a treadmill mat is excellent for soaking up the vibrations from your workouts, which is particularly important for those of you who live in apartments and want to keep your neighbors happy.
I found Sunny Health and Fitness makes the best cheap treadmill mats. Click link below to view.
20 Minute Assembly
Assembly is easy. The only heavy lifting is attaching the handrails and monitor. All the tools for the job are supplied. The only tricky bit is lubricating the running belt, which might take you a few minutes to master.
The box is fairly large and heavy, so it’s always a good idea to have another person help you move it and set the treadmill in place, especially if you’re going to take it upstairs and use it in a bedroom.
A few other things to remember is to center the belt before first use. And tighten the belt with an allen key if it’s loose.
Most treadmill belts are lubricated at the factory, but whenever I use a treadmill for the first time, I always make sure to lubricate it just in case they forgot or missed it.
Lubricate the belt every three months for medium use.
The Good
Impressive build quality for price point – sturdy
15% 15 level auto-adjust incline – excellent for under $500
Easy to use monitor nothing complicated
Fairly compact design, should fit most rooms
Decent anti-shock system to protect your joints from the impact of each foot strike
3.5HP motor – can cope with walking and jogging easily
Built in transport wheels, just fold, tilt, and roll to store
The Bad
No running on this treadmill for most people as the belt is too short – designed for walking/jogging
Some people may find the monitor lacks features
A few users have mentioned the pulse sensors are not accurate
Alternative
Borgusi Auto Incline Treadmill
The Borgusi Treadmill is the only other well made auto-incline treadmill currently available for under $500. I recently reviewed it and was really impressed.
Like the TheRun incline treadmill, the Borgusi treadmill is sturdy. Users praise its stability, which is always good to hear. And just like the TheRun treadmill, the Borgusi treadmill’s main selling feature is its auto-incline. The 12% incline is not quite as impressive, but it is still very good for a treadmill in this price range.
The monitor is like most at this price point: it’s simple and easy to use, It includes BlueTooth and access to their app, and it comes with 12 workout programs and a large LCD that are easy to read while exercising. It’s a decent monitor similar to the TheRun treadmill monitor.
You also have an excellent soft-drop folding system that uses hydraulics to do the lifting, making it a breeze to fold and unfold. The anti-shock system is a good one, too, with dual rubber shock absorbers for joint protection.
The Borgusi treadmill is also a compact machine. Once you unbox it, you might be surprised at its size. As with all compact treadmills, the running belt length suffers. The Borgusi treadmill’s belt length is just 42.5″, which is going to limit the height range for jogging to around 5’8″, which is a shame.
Overall, this is another low-cost auto-incline treadmill that offers a lot for the money. It’s a great choice for people who are 5’8″ or under.
To Sum Up
The TheRun Incline Treadmill has to be one of the best under $500 treadmills I’ve reviewed in years. It offers so much bang for your buck. The 15-level 15% incline is what makes this treadmill stand out from the rest in this price range. It’s so impressive to find on a low-cost treadmill.
But it’s not just the incline feature that impresses, as many users have said the TheRun Treadmill is sturdy. It doesn’t feel cheap. It’s been built well, and that 145lb weight is proof of this: it is heavy for a compact machine. A good sign it’s made from quality materials.
Okay a few people might be disappointed with the monitor it is pretty basic, but most monitors are in this price bracket, you wont find HD color screens and VR. I liked the monitor. It’s so easy to use, and it has Bluetooth to connect with apps and workout programs. It’s decent.
Overall, a treadmill that offers you a lot for the price tag. If you’re looking for a well made, compact well-equipped treadmill for home and you don’t want to break the bank. This one should be at the top of your list.
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