Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill Review (2024) | BarBend
Sunny Health and Fitness is known for making affordable and durable equipment, including some of the best treadmills and exercise bikes we’ve tried. For this Sunny Health and Fitness treadmill review, we put the focus on the SF-T1407, a sub-$200 manual treadmill with a fixed incline. Jillian Arnold Morris, our dedicated testing analyst, found out what this treadmill brought to the table, completing a walking workout and navigating the tech offerings. Additionally, our testing facility team measured responsiveness, accuracy, noise, and more, utilizing tools like a measuring wheel, decibel reader, and luggage scale.
To glean a better understanding of how we rate and test products, check out the BarBend equipment testing methodology which details our scoring system, what we look for, and what we prioritize. The SF-T1407 is a simple machine with limited functionality and bare-bones tech, but for those tight on space, tight on cash, and wanting to add some incline walking to their routine while watching TV, we think this choice is worth your consideration.
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T1407M Manual Walking Treadmill
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T1407M Manual Walking Treadmill
This manual treadmill can be a great selection for walking enthusiasts given its minimalist design and highly-portable makeup. Additionally, the SF-T1407M features a constant incline of 13.5 percent, which can be helpful when trying to challenge yourself throughout your daily step goals.
Main Takeaways
- This budget manual treadmill features a fixed 13.5% incline.
- Users won’t need to plug this machine in since the tread belt is manually powered with each step.
- There isn’t much tech on this machine besides a basic LCD that provides speed, distance, time, and calories.
Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill Specs
| Price | $199.99 |
| Dimensions | 50” H x 49” L x 23” W |
| Folded Dimensions | 50” H x 20” L x 23” W |
| Speed | Manual |
| Incline | Fixed 13.5% |
| Product Weight | 46.7lbs |
| User Weight Capacity | 220lbs |
The Sunny Health & Fitness SF-T1407 is a manual incline treadmill, where each user’s step propels the belt. As such, you won’t need to plug it in or set it up by a nearby outlet. This manual movement is supported by a 13.5% fixed incline, which both keeps the user constantly moving forward to stay atop the treadmill and helps to increase work capacity as compared to walking on a flat surface. (1)
If you’ve been searching for the best budget treadmill, this unit’s $199 price tag may catch your eye. “This is an extremely inexpensive treadmill and I think it’s worth the price,” says BarBend tester Jillian Arnold Morris, who tackled a 20-minute workout atop the Sunny Health & Fitness treadmill. “I just wish there was a little more resistance so my steps felt more consistent.” Since this is a manual treadmill, there aren’t options to adjust resistance, and the intensity of your workout is dictated by how quickly you move your legs on the belt.
This is a bare-bones treadmill without any preset programs, however there is a simple LCD display on the handlebars. “There is only one button, and it changes the view on the LCD screen between time, calories, speed, and distance,” says Morris. When measured by our testing facility team, this console was within 15 inches from the user and the handrail was within 12 inches, which should allow a wide range of users the ability to rest their wrists or grasp the hand grip during their uphill climb.
Weighing less than 50 pounds, our tester also appreciates how easy it is to move from room to room. “This machine is easy to move around. Plus, it folds and unfolds quickly,” adds Morris. Its compact footprint shrinks down from 7.8 square feet to 3.19 square feet when folded, so users can get their workout in while watching some shows, then fold it up and hide it in a closet or a corner.
Pros
Lightweight design and transport wheels make it easy to move, per our tester
Doesn’t require any power or electricity to work
Cons
Incline can’t be adjusted
Limited tech features and tracking
Per our tester, the belt can move quickly underfoot
Who Should Use / Who Shouldn’t Use The Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill
Navigating the options when considering the best cardio machines for your home gym, budget, and fitness goals can be daunting — there are thousands of brands, models, price ranges, and modalities to choose from! To help point you in the right direction, the following are individuals we would and would not recommend investing in this walking treadmill.
Recommended for:
- Sedentary folks looking to add some movement while watching television
- Casual walkers with limited space
- Individuals on a budget who want a wallet-friendly walking treadmill
Not Recommended for:
- Intermediate and advanced runners wanting an adjustable speed range and incline levels
- Walkers who want to be able to read their phone or a book while strolling
- People who require a sturdy walking surface and a maximum weight capacity above 220 pounds
Our Experience Training With the Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill
The Sunny Health and Fitness SF-T1470 is a simple treadmill that provides a no-frills workout experience. You won’t find Bluetooth pairing, heart rate pulse sensors, built-in workout programs, shock absorption beneath the belt, or even a motor to power the tread — this treadmill’s not trying to be extra like that. It may lack fancy tech features, but our tester got their sweat on regardless by tackling a 20-minute incline walk.
We’ve tested more than 50 of the top treadmills on the market, so we know what to look for when it comes to training on these machines. To help you understand our testing, we’ve provided a score between 1 (bad) and 5 (we love it) in areas like durability, workout experience, tech capabilities, noise, and more. We get more into the weeds about our experience on the SF-T1407 below.
Set Incline
Since it has a fixed 13.5% incline, training on this treadmill immediately starts activating your hips, knees, and ankle extensors. (2) Tackling a treadmill incline workout here also picks up the pace of your walk, whether you like it or not, since gravity is pushing you down, helping to propel the belt underfoot.
“There is only one level of incline on this treadmill,” mentions BarBend tester Jillian Arnold Morris who gave a general experience score of 3 out of 5. As such, you won’t be able to lower the incline for a more casual stroll or raise it higher to increase the intensity.
While it is fixed, you’ll be gaining a wealth of benefits as compared to training on a flat surface, as studies suggest incline work can help reduce cartilage degeneration of the knee joint and decrease the risk of developing knee joint osteoarthritis. (3) This makes incline walking, as found here, often beneficial for those who struggle with knee pain, people with obesity, and older adults.
User-Propelled
Unlike electric treadmills, where the belt’s speed is chosen from handrail controls, this manual treadmill’s belt moves when you move. Because of this, you don’t need to plug this machine in to get it to go — your own steps are what propels the belt. While working to get the belt going, Morris didn’t notice the treadmill shake, however, she was concerned about her stability on the moving belt. “I did not like how unstable the tread felt,” she says. ”It moved quicker than I would have liked whenever I took a step.”
Due to the speed — mind you, Morris still calls her workout on this treadmill a walk — some users may need to constantly hold onto the handrail to keep them from slipping off the back. Construction earned a low 2 out of 5 with Morris, due to the speed of the manual belt.
Compact Size and Portable
Portability is an area where this bite-size treadmill earns first prize. Similar to many of the best treadmills for apartments, this machine is lightweight and foldable. “Moving it around is really easy. Once folded, I was able to lift it, but it does have transport wheels for transport as well,” says Morris, who was able to move this 47-pound machine around with ease.
When folded, which Morris said was quick and easy to do, this machine’s length shrinks from 49 inches down to 20 inches without increasing its height or width. The only thing missing here is a latch to keep this treadmill folded when not in use since there isn’t a soft-drop system to keep the belt from falling open. When Morris attempted to fold and unfold this treadmill, the folding mechanism opened and dropped quickly — something that might be a concern if you have little kids running around pulling on odds and ends.
Foldability still earned a perfect 5 out of 5 with Morris. “It’s so compact and easy to move when folded, that I could easily hide this in a corner or a closet when I wanted it out of the way.”
Noise Level
Our testing facility pulled out a decibel reader to see how noisy this treadmill was in use. For the user on top of the tread, the tread’s noise created 65 decibels. Standing 9 feet away, this reading dropped to 56 decibels. Compared to motorized treadmills, which tend to have a reading of around 70 to 78 decibels, this treadmill is fairly quiet while in use.
“The treadmill does make some noise with each step, but it isn’t overwhelming,” says Morris. This makes training on the SF-T107 ideal for those wanting to catch up on their shows while logging some steps. Noise scores a 4 out of 5.
What to Consider Before Buying The Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill
If you’re anything like me, buying a treadmill may take you months as you go back and forth between your options. To help make that decision a little bit easier, the following are some areas to consider before choosing the Sunny Health and Fitness Ft-T1407 treadmill.
- Type of Training: “I would recommend this treadmill to someone who wants a compact and moveable treadmill to use while watching TV,” says BarBend tester Jillian Arnold Morris. If you’re looking to tackle a more intense training session, you may want to consider a treadmill with a wider range of preset workouts, speed, and incline capabilities.
- Test The Water or Take The Leap: “Budget-friendly treadmills specifically provide access to exercise for… individuals at any income level to test the waters in this exercise category without spending thousands of dollars on a machine they may end up not using,” says BarBend expert contributor and certified personal trainer Amanda Capritto. Consider if you’re looking to test the waters here or if you’re ready to take the leap on a higher-end machine and maybe spend a little more.
- Available Space: If you’ve been on the search for the best compact treadmill that also fits your budget, this option is a worthwhile consideration. While it’s one of the smallest treadmills our tester has ever tried — taking up 7.8 square feet and transforming to 3.19 square feet when folded — it’s still important to make sure it’ll fit in your home. “Triple-measure your space to make sure it will fit!” says Capritto.
Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill Vs. Competitors
We get it. It can be overwhelming perusing all of the options on the market, trying to nail down exactly what the right choice is for you. To help, we’ve put together a chart below that compares Sunny Health and Fitness with other worthwhile compact or folding treadmills.
| Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill | Egofit Walker Pro | WalkingPad P1 | |
| Price | $199.99 | $479 | $499 |
| Speed | Manual | 3.1mph max | 3.75mph max |
| Incline | Fixed 13.5% | Fixed 5% | NA |
| Dimensions | 50” H x 49” L x 23” W | 38.39” L x 21.85” W x 6.89” H | 56.37” L x 21.5” W x 5” H |
| Foldable? | Yes | No | Yes |
Ordering and Assembling The Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill
I’ve ordered other Sunny Health and Fitness products — shout out to the SF-B1002, which you can read more about in our Sunny Health and Fitness Exercise Bike Review — and when ordered off Amazon they arrive in about a week. What’s more, this treadmill is super simple to assemble. Sunny Health and Fitness even includes all of the tools you’ll need to get this treadmill rolling.
Places to Buy The Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill
You can find the SF-T1407 home treadmill available on Amazon and through the Sunny Health and Fitness website.
Brand Reputation and Customer Reviews
Sunny Health and Fitness has been around for over 20 years, and the brand has a strong foundation in providing budget-friendly fitness machines, including ellipticals, exercise bikes, rowers, strength equipment, and some of the best manual treadmills.
To contact Sunny Health and Fitness, you can utilize a live chat feature found on the brand’s website or contact them via phone at 1-877-90SUNNY.
Warranties
Sunny Health and Fitness provides a 3-year warranty that covers the structural frame of this treadmill, while other parts and components are covered by a 6-month warranty.
Final Thoughts on The Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill
This Sunny Health & Fitness treadmill is a portable machine that can give beginners and casual walkers the ability to log some steps and then fold it up and move it out of the way. It’s a reliable, no-fuss piece of fitness equipment that keeps users moving at the fixed 13.5% incline without the need of electricity.
However, there are quite a few limitations to this walking treadmill. Users won’t be able to adjust the speed to help keep their pace, there’s limited tech, and the fixed incline may be too intense for slow strolls (since you’ll need to pick up the pace to keep yourself from slipping off the back of the running surface). Overall, this SF-T1470 is an affordable choice — it just may be the least expensive treadmill we’ve ever tested — for users looking to add a little movement to their day.
Sunny Health and Fitness Treadmill FAQs
Does Sunny Health and Fitness make good treadmills?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Sunny Health and Fitness treadmills aren’t going to make it onto any of our best high-end treadmills lists. That’s because the brand is focused on providing fitness equipment that can be used by a wider range of people thanks to their affordable prices. If you’re looking for equipment that fits your budget and is “good enough,” Sunny Health and Fitness is a great brand to peruse.
What’s the difference between a cheap and expensive treadmill?
Typically, lower-priced treadmills won’t have fancy tech features like built-in touchscreens, app connectivity, auto incline, and quick speed buttons. However, for those looking for a simple way to train (while saving some cash), budget-friendly models can provide some impressive training capabilities.
How much does the Sunny Health and Fitness SF-T1407 treadmill cost?
This treadmill can be found on Amazon for $199.99.
References
- da Silva RS, da Silva ST, de Souza JM, de Figueiredo MCC, Mendes TAS, de Sena Nunes MC, de Oliveira SKR, Cardoso DCR, da Câmara Silva RG, de Oliveira DC, Ribeiro TS. Effects of inclined treadmill training on functional and cardiovascular parameters of stroke patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2019 May 2;20(1):252. doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3298-3. PMID: 31046812; PMCID: PMC6498604.
- Franz JR, Kram R. The effects of grade and speed on leg muscle activations during walking. Gait Posture. 2012 Jan;35(1):143-7. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.08.025. Epub 2011 Oct 2. PMID: 21962846; PMCID: PMC3262943.
- Haggerty, M., Dickin, D. C., Popp, J., & Wang, H. (2014). The influence of incline walking on joint mechanics. Gait & posture, 39(4), 1017–1021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2013.12.027
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