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While in theory, a short person could use just about any treadmill with a few limitations. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when looking to buy the best treadmills for short people.
The two vital components to consider when looking to purchase a treadmill if you are around 5′ in height are deck length and handgrip/console height.
- The length of the deck is important to consider when you’re a short person. Most short people could get away with running on any length deck, but why invest in something that is much bigger than you require. Having a deck that is too long will only take up too much room in you home gym and it also has the possibility of causing an injury.
- The height of the console and handrail is important because if you can’t clearly see the monitor, you will find that you will be greatly limited in your performance. If the handrails are too tall you are going to struggle to find a comfortable position. Also in the event of an accident, you won’t be able to safely grab onto the handrails for support.
The best thing about buying a compact treadmill besides being appropriate if you’re short, is that you can cut down on the initial upfront cost. Fewer materials required to make the treadmill, in theory, should benefit your wallet greatly.
Buying a treadmill for a shorter build person is not as difficult as it is compared to buying an elliptical trainer for a short person. The stride length on a treadmill is typically not as a restrictive compared to an elliptical. It is also more complex buying a short person’s rowing machine due to specific inseam measurement requirements.
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Compare Compact Treadmills By Deck Size
| Features | Deck | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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800W, 6.5mph top speed, Compact design with 220 LB capacity, Wheels for easy transport, measures heart rate | 38.2"L x14"W | Check Price On Amazon |
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2.5HP, 15 Preset programs with top speed of 8.5mph, Track, heart rates, speed, mileage calories etc. | 17"W For Users 4'6" to 6'2" | Check Price On Amazon |
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Ideal for short & heavy people - Max capacity 400LB, 1.5HP, 4mph - ideal for beginner | 20"W x 40"L | Check Price On Amazon |
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12 preset programs, 8.6mph top speed, Heart rate monitor, iPad holder, cup holder, tracks calories, speed etc. | 14"W x 39"L | Check Price On Amazon |
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2.25HP, 10.5mph top speed, Silent, Bluetooth speakers, Transform-able design to slide under the desk, sofa, bed etc. | 16"W x 40"L | Check Price On Amazon |
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1.5HP, 7.5mph top speed, Multi-functional LCD Display to track your performance in time, speed, distance and calories burnt | 15"W x 43"L | Check Price On Amazon |
Shortest Deck Treadmill
38.2″ Length
This treadmill by GoPlus is an excellent piece of exercise equipment that will make working out a lot more comfortable. It also has a few extra functions that will help in keeping you motivated when it comes to working out which who couldn’t use some help with that.
Having a decent motor like the 800W one that this treadmill has allows you to get up to some average speeds. With this motor, you’re able to get up to 6.5mph which is good for the average walker. GoPlus also has a 1100@ model which is more powerful listed further below.
Why Short People Love This Treadmill
There are a number of things that this treadmill does really well that will help in your workouts. Being able to keep track of things like your heart rate will help in keeping you safe when using your treadmill. As you will know when you’re pushing yourself too much.
One thing that I really like about this machine is that it was designed with keeping you safe in mind. It has a safety key for those emergency situations when you need to stop the machine quickly. There is also an emergency stop on the handles as well which increases your safety even more.
Having space to just let a treadmill sit there when it’s not in use is not something everyone is able to do. You’re able to fold this treadmill which does reduce its size quite a bit and makes it much easier to store. It can slide under a bed or be leaned up against a wall to save on space.
Low Handrail Treadmill For The Short Person
Min User Height 4’6″
MaxKare has knocked it out of the park with this impressive treadmill which is not only safe but comfortable to use. Combing these together makes it an excellent treadmill that is worth your time in considering if it’s right for you and your situation.
The width of the running belt is an impressive 17 inches which is one of the wider treadmills you will find without going to a professional grade. This does make using this treadmill much easier when you want to jog or powerwalk on it since you have some more room.
One of the best ways of keeping motivated is to change up your workouts to make it more interesting. With this treadmill having 15 pre-set programs you will be able to mix your workout up. This will help with how doing the same workout will get boring so mixing it up with these pre-sets will help with that.
Amazing Anti-Shock System
The most impressive thing with this treadmill is the running belt that has been designed with comfort in mind. It has several different layers that vary from a very shock absorption level, noise reduction, and a water-resistant surface. Combining these all together makes this make for comfortable and safe use.
What this does is help with keeping you safe when using the treadmill. But more importantly, in my opinion, is that it helps with reducing the impact on your joints like your knees. This really helps those who have some joint issues and will help with preventing them in the future.
Best Treadmill For The Short & Heavy People
40″ Deck + 400Lbs Weight Capacity
When it comes to treadmills one of the most overlooked people is short and heavy people. So Exerpeutic going out of their way to cater to them makes them a company that I will be keeping an eye on. Especially with just how good this treadmill makes it an essential piece of exercise equipment.
Your average treadmill has a weight capacity of 200 to 250lbs which will work for most people. Heavy people are usually ignored in this case which is why I like this treadmill since it has a very impressive 400lbs capacity. So if you’re a heavy person then it’s worth your time considering this treadmill if you want to get in shape.
One of my favorite features of a treadmill is the ability to put it on an incline to increase the intensity of your workout. This treadmill has the ability to put on an incline which will allow you to do those more intense workouts you want.
Safety Is Key
Treadmills can be more dangerous than most people think which is why having extra safety features is important in my opinion. Often times someone’s hands will slip off the handles since they’re usually very short. The handles on this treadmill are 18 inches which are longer than the industry standard.
I really like how they handle the speed with this treadmill. While it has a lower top speed of 4mph, you’re able to increase the speed in increments of 0.1mph. This makes it much safer to use since it won’t just take off on you when you’re using the machine.
Best Compact Treadmill
39″ Surface Area
GoPlus is making a name for themselves and making quality pieces of exercise equipment which is exactly what they have achieved with this treadmill. There are a number of reasons why you should consider this treadmill since it has a lot of good features and made out of high-quality steel that makes it durable.
Having multiple presets is an important thing for a treadmill to have in my opinion. This treadmill has a total of 12 special training programs to help keep you motivated when you work out.
Something that can go unnoticed with a treadmill is just how noisy the engines can be. Which is one of the reasons I like this treadmill since its motor is extremely quiet. This works well if you use it and someone in the house is asleep or you’re watching a movie while using it.
While I really like how this treadmill comes with a heads up display that you can track a number of things. I find it strange that the Ipad or phone holder is placed in a way that covers all this information up. It’s only a minor inconvenience when using but certainly not a deal-breaker.
Moving a treadmill can be difficult and just folding up isn’t enough in some cases. So GoPlus made the smart move of including wheels on this treadmill for when you do need to move it. This makes moving for when you want to use it or store it very easy especially combined with the ability to fold it up.
Underdesk Treadmill For Short People
This is one of the more unique treadmills on the market with it being what’s called a desk treadmill. If you want a treadmill that is all about saving space and being easy to use then this treadmill by Ancheer is a great option for you.
With just how quiet the motor is you’d be surprised to find that it has a good amount of power with it being 2.25 HP. What this allows you to is to get speeds of up to 7mph when you have it in the running position and a modest 2mph in its walking mode.
Since you’re able to use this treadmill at work it needs to have more than just a quiet motor. The impact of your feet on the running deck needs to be quieter which they have achieved by the excellent shock and noise reduction systems it has.
Designed With Your Convenience In Mind
One of the best things about this treadmill is how it can be used as two types of treadmills. You can raise the arms so it can be used as a standard treadmill or you can lay them flat and using it as an under the desk treadmill. This gives it a lot more versatility than most other treadmills on the market.
While a lot of other treadmills have the ability to connect your phone to it with an aux cable. Ancheer made the clever choice to go with the ability to connect it via Bluetooth. This makes it easy to connect phones that don’t have a headphone jack.
Low Profile Treadmill For Short Runners
43.3″ Running Deck, Total Height 43″
When it comes to a quality treadmill for short people it’s hard to go past this incredible treadmill from Merax. It’s a very durable and very easy to use treadmill that makes working out much easier and comfortable to do.
Motors on a treadmill are important and can often be overlooked when people are looking into getting a new treadmill. Considering the motor will affect things like top speed and how quiet the treadmill makes this a mistake in my opinion. The included 1.5Hp motor gives this treadmill a top speed of 7.5mph.
The large LCD display is very easy to read which is useful when you’re trying to track how hard you’ve been working. You’re able to track the basics such as Speed, distance, time, and calories burnt which are all very useful in keeping you up to date on how hard you’ve been working.
When a company designs something with convenience in mind it can often lead to being more of a hindrance than a help. That’s not the case with Merax and this treadmill with how they gave this treadmill shortcut buttons. So you can instantly start, stop, and change speeds very easily.
Ideal For Shorter People
Often when it comes to treadmills the handles are usually too high for a shorter person to use comfortably. That’s not the case with this treadmill since the maximum height of this treadmill is 43 inches and the handles themselves are a little lower at about 40 inches. This makes it that much easier to use for a shorter person which is nice for a change.
How Fast Should You Walk On A Treadmill A Short Person
There’s always going to be discussions and comparisons as to how fast a short person can walk before it’s considered jogging or running. At the end of the day, it varies for everyone, regardless of their height. Just like when a tall person vs a short person running, the individual’s fitness levels along with their stride come into play.
It’s more important to focus on your own performance and monitor how your own body responds to the speed you are use to and how you heart rate is going. Getting your heart rate up may not need you to increase the speed of your walking, while the person next in line may need to. This is because we are all at different fitness levels and respond differently to the workout.
For example, you may be 5’3″ and back when you started using the treadmill seriously, 4mph may have been considered a light job. But now that you have been at it consistently, you find that you can still maintain a walking pace at 6mph.
Many Short People Find 4mph A Good Walking Pace
However, the general consensus is that for a short person, 4mph seems to be the difference between walking pace and light jogging. But as I mentioned earlier, the more you increase your fitness, the faster the treadmill can go before you need to engage in the running action.
Why is this relevant to buying a treadmill for a short person?. Well, its good to know what top speed your treadmill can go before you buy one. If you are already-fit and use a treadmill on a regular basis at the gym, one of these treadmills that can only go 4mph simply won’t be enough for you.
But if you’re just starting out, it’s good to know that a short person can get a decent walking pace and a slight jog on a treadmill with a top speed of 4mph. From here you can base your buying decision on whether or not you plan to become a runner, or just a treadmill walker. At this point, you can decide what treadmill is best for you based on top speed.
By breaking it down like this, you can save a lot of money by not needing to buy the treadmill with the fastest speeds, because it’s simply not plausible for a short person.
