Best Treadmill for Heavy People: 5 High-Quality Cardio Machines for Secure Support

The Sole F80 is an impressive treadmill that has a lot going for it. This durable cardio machine has a 375-pound user weight capacity, which is 75 pounds more than the industry standard. Plus, with a 3.5 CHP motor, the F80 is able to support a variety of sustained cardio. Similarly to the weight capacity, this motor is slightly more substantial than the 3.0 CHP we’d expect to see on the average treadmill. Because of the great features of this treadmill we think it deserves a 4-out-of-5 rating in value. 

The motor and weight capacity aren’t the only things to like about the F80. You’ll also get a lengthy 22-inch-by-60-inch deck, which is good for those who need more width on their treadmill or those who have longer strides. The deck is also cushioned, which makes it easier on your joints than running on pavement so you can amp up your walking or running volume with more peace of mind.

GGR expert product tester Lindsay Scheele, CPT, tested the cushioning and said, “I didn’t notice a huge difference, but I also didn’t feel like it was jarring. It’s somewhere in the middle of a really, really cushioned deck and one that’s not cushioned at all.”

We rate it a 4 out of 5 in the durability department. 

While you won’t be able to stow this treadmill away in a closet or under your bed, this 278-pound machine does have folding capabilities. It also comes equipped with a 10-inch touchscreen on which you can take advantage of the Sole programming app, called Studio, for an extra monthly fee. Lindsay says this programming would be good for a beginner. 

Lindsay was impressed with her experience on the treadmill. She particularly loved the wireless phone charging capabilities, as the F80 allows you to do screen mirroring with your phone. When you rest your phone in the holder below the screen, compatible phones will begin charging as soon as they make contact.

“If you’re using your phone with the screen mirroring application, you’re definitely going to want to keep your phone charged,” says Lindsay. “It’s really handy to have that feature.”

She gave it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 for overall workout experience. 

The warranty on the F80 is lifetime for the frame, deck, and motor, which is really stellar. However, the $2,000 price does reflect all of these wonderful features. Check out our full Sole F80 review for the inside scoop.

Need a foldable treadmill that can still support your weight? Check out the Horizon 7.8 AT treadmill. This well-made machine has a weight capacity of 375 pounds, which is 75 pounds more than the industry average. The 7.8 is also extremely easy to fold, thanks to the soft-drop gas shock located underneath the deck.

Speaking of the deck, the majority of people will have ample room to run and walk. The 22-inch-by-60-inch deck is large enough for all of the activities. And if you need a little guidance on workouts? You can easily sync the 7.8 to programming like Peloton, Nike Run Club, or Zwift, thanks to Bluetooth connectivity.

It’s also worth noting that this machine has easy-to-use quick-select buttons, which allow the user to change their speed or incline in a flash. If you’re someone who enjoys HIIT, this handy feature will especially appeal to you.

Our team tested the Horizon 7.4 AT Treadmill, a very similar model with a slightly smaller screen and fewer smart buttons. The 7.4 scored a 4.5 out of 5 for adjustability and ergonomics, and our tester said, “The quick dial adjustments make customizing this thing a breeze. Custom interval keys are also great for designing your own workouts.”

The 7.4 also scored 4.5 out of 5 for durability. Our tester was impressed with the overall construction, saying, “Solid. Cushioned deck, but there is a lot of plastic on this product. It has a max user weight of 350 pounds, so it should withstand frequent use even if run on by multiple people.”

Although I believe knowing the motor horsepower of a treadmill is important, Horizon doesn’t share this information with the consumer. I don’t know the exact horsepower of the motor, but I have been on the 7.4 and feel that it is powerful enough for most people. 

Take a look at our entire Horizon 7.8 AT Treadmill review. 

If you’re interested in a reasonably priced treadmill to use for walking, the XTERRA Fitness TRX3500 is a great option. This foldable treadmill has a 350-pound user weight capacity and a 20-inch-by-60 inch deck, which is ideal for heavier people.

The 3.0 CHP motor is powerful enough for heavier people who want to mostly walk or jog on their treadmill, though this motor may not be strong enough for regular running. You’ll also enjoy a comfortable belt, as the cushioning on the TRX3500 is definitely above average.

One callout is the ergonomics, which received a 3 out of 5 due to the height of the treadmill. Our tester said, “I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this machine to someone with balance issues. The almost 8-inch step-up height is pretty high and may be difficult for older adults to mount and dismount without assistance.”

Our tester also noted that the TRX3500 has quite a few plastic parts, which isn’t a huge deal as many treadmills have plastic parts, but they aren’t the most durable.

However, your purchase includes a stellar lifetime frame and motor warranty that earns a 5 out of 5, as lifetime warranties are very good for the TRX3500’s $1,300 price tag. Plus, you won’t have to worry about paying for interactive programming subscriptions (unless you want to) since the TRX3500 has 30 preset programs available right on the display.

You should be aware that the step-up height on this machine is high at 7.75 inches. If you’re someone who has balance issues, the TRX3500 may not be the best option for you. 

Check out our full XTERRA Fitness TRX3500 treadmill review.

If you’re looking for a treadmill that will help you avoid boredom while you’re working out, the Peloton Tread is a great option. While this treadmill won’t accommodate users over 300 pounds or those taller than 6 foot, 4 inches, it will provide you with plenty of entertainment when in use. 

If you’re familiar with the Peloton brand (honestly, who isn’t?), you’ve probably heard the hype around their online training programs. Peloton offers interactive programs as well as on-demand classes so you have the option for a sense of accountability if that’s something that excites you. This treadmill also has a 23.5-inch HD touchscreen display, which will help you feel fully immersed in the variety of available classes.

In terms of programming, when choosing your workout program the system will guide you through any selections you need to make, which makes the process easy. Lindsay Scheele, CPT and GGR Everything lead reviewer, said, “I’m pretty confident that my eight-year-old could figure it out.” We rated the Peloton Tread a 5 out of 5 for both programming and tech capabilities. 

One of our testers has completed over 1,500 combined workouts on her Peloton Tread and Bike, and loves this treadmill.

“I love how sturdy and durable the Peloton Tread is,” she explains. “I’ve had several other treadmills in the past and this one surpasses the others on every level. I purchased the Tread in December of 2018. It’s the best piece of exercise equipment I’ve ever owned.”

The programming options on this treadmill are awesome, but you’ll pay extra for them. To access the programming on the tread, you’ll need to pay $44 per month for the Peloton subscription. On the plus side, the programming is good for more than just the treadmill—you can try out the other Peloton programming as well, like yoga and strength workouts. You can even sync up your Apple Watch if you have one. We love workout data, so having Peloton programming plus Apple Watch syncing capabilities is a beautiful marriage. 

We like the bells and whistles this treadmill has to offer, but the nearly $3,000 price tag might not be appealing to some users. Luckily, Peloton offers to finance in case you don’t want to pay it all upfront. It’s worth noting that the price does include professional assembly and shipping. This machine does have a lot of great features, so even with the high price tag and monthly subscription, we’re rating it a 4 out of 5 in value. 

Check out our full Peloton Tread review for a deeper dive. 

Although the NordicTrack Commercial 2450 is a nearly $3,000 machine, you get what you pay for. With a 400-pound user weight capacity, a 4.25 CHP motor, and a more than 300-pound weight limit, this machine is super stable for walking and running for many users and will provide a smooth in-use experience. 

Our tester was very impressed by the durability and gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, saying, “It feels super durable and like it will last a long time. There was little to no shifting on the treadmill.”

Lindsay Scheele, the lead reviewer at Garage Gym Reviews Everything, also tested this treadmill and didn’t notice any wobbling or shaking when she was running at one of the higher speeds. She noted that it even felt sturdy when she ran at a 5% incline. This treadmill also features a 3% decline functionality as well, which is less common.

Lindsay also likes the 3.6 CHP motor. Even though previous models had a 4.0 CHP motor, she said, “I’m kind of surprised by this, but I don’t notice a difference. I think that a 3.6 CHP is a really great motor size that’s going to last a really long time, and handle any speed or incline you throw at it.”

Overall, Lindsay likes this treadmill and its features so much that she rated it a 5 out of 5 for general workout experience.

This NordicTrack treadmill is compatible with iFIT programming via Bluetooth connectivity, and a 30-day iFIT trial is included with your purchase. If you’re not interested in that, the NordicTrack Commercial 2450 does have Google Maps workout technology as well, but there are no other built-in programs. As you can read about in our iFIT reviews, we think this is one of the best fitness programming options out there, so we give the NordicTrack 2450 a 5 out of 5 in the programming department. 

Even though this treadmill is on the heavier and larger side, we do appreciate that it is foldable so you can flip the deck up when it’s not in use. There are even wheels on the front stabilizers so once it’s folded, you can move it around your space fairly easily. This frees up space for other home exercise equipment. Because of these features, it earned a rating of 4 out of 5 for portability.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that this machine is not a walk in the park to assemble—we rated it a 2.5 out of 5 in this category. There are a lot of screws, bolts, and small parts to deal with. You can read more about this process, and more details about this machine, in our NordicTrack Commercial 2450 review.