Choosing the Right Treadmill

Want to get fit? What a great time this is to think about shopping for a treadmill, whether you are a dedicated walker or runner, or you are a novice! Imagine the convenience of being able to walk or run on your own treadmill in the comfort of your own home during those brutally cold winter months and harsh summer heat! You could avoid missing your workouts and keep fit on your treadmill, due to extreme weather conditions or over-crowded gyms. But, with so many treadmills on the market today, how do you know which one is right for you to add to your home gym?

Keep in mind

Treadmills come in a variety of sizes and price ranges. Some treadmills provide a wide array of features, while others are quite plain and simple. Of course, you must consider how much you wish to spend on a treadmill and begin your search for a treadmill in that price category. Generally, the more you can spend on a treadmill, the better the quality you are going to get and the more feature choices you will have from which to choose. You would also do well to pay attention to the warranties that back the treadmills you check out! A good warranty indicates that the treadmill manufacturer making the treadmill believes in the quality of its product and is willing to back up their treadmill.

What to look for

A good treadmill is one of the best choices in fitness equipment for burning calories and losing fat. The treadmill you choose should be one that will withstand lots of hard pounding and regular use and looks good in your home gym. It should be durable enough to easily support your body size and weight during your fitness workouts. After all, you are not going to be buying a treadmill just so it can sit around and gather dust or act as a clothes rack for all your discarded clothing, are you? It should also provide an optimal cardio workout that is comfortable and pleasant. You will do well to find a treadmill that has at least a 2 HP to 2.5 HP continuous duty motor. Such a motor will contribute to a smoother treadmill workout because of its constant maximum power output.

Be sure to consider the size of the treadmill deck. The running surface of your treadmill should be of adequate size to accommodate the length and width of your walking or running stride. A minimum of 18" by 52" is a good guideline to go by. If you are a tall runner or plan to do sprints, you might want to consider purchasing a treadmill with a "stretch" model deck. Also, make sure the treadmill deck provides enough cushioning to give you a low-impact workout and to protect your ankles, feet, and knees from possible injury.

Speed

The speed of the treadmill will of course determine how fast you will walk, jog or run. Keep in mind you will be able to walk on all treadmills, however you will only be able to jog or run on those that are suited to that purpose.

Incline / Elevation

Hanging the elevation of your treadmill allows you to vary your workout as if you were walking up a hill which will increase your workout intensity and therefore your heart rate. The majority of treadmills come with electronic incline so that you may vary the incline at the touch of a button whilst walking or running. Some entry level treadmills come with only a manual incline system where you must demount the treadmill to change the elevation. You will be less likely of course to vary your workout with a manual system.

Safety

Look for features like emergency stop in the form of a key on the treadmill that attaches to the wearer, or a panic stop button. If slow incremental pace changes are necessary for you as a user, factor that into your buying decision. A safety key is also useful where small children may be around the treadmill as without the key, in most cases the treadmill cannot be used.

Treadmill Motor

Depending if you are walking or running, you can easily place 80 to 250 percent of your body weight on the treadmill every time your foot hits the belt. It's the motor's job to take a beating and still keep a constant speed.

Treadmill Ease of use

Let's face it, we need as few hindrances to our exercise program as possible. Choose a treadmill that meets your electronic needs, yet is simple for you to operate.

Folding or Non Folding Treadmill

Try not to let ‘out of sight out of mind' play a part in your decision process so that you get the most benefit from your investment. This might suggest that a dedicated exercise area is put aside in your home gym for your treadmill rather than a corner of a spare bedroom or the garage.

Where are you going to workout and put your treadmill?

In line with a decision to choose a folding or non folding treadmill is the decision of where you will have your home gym. If the floor surface is hard such as timber, concrete or tiles, a rubber mat can reduce vibration and noise whilst on carpet, a mat may reduce static electricity that can build up and also make the area underneath the treadmill easier to wipe clean and reduce the dust build up.

Maintenance

Treadmills, like any mechanical and devices require general maintenance and cleaning to keep them in good working order. Depending on the treadmill running deck and belt construction quality, regularity of monitoring will differ, however belt alignment and lubrication should be checked and maintained on a regular basis. We suggest also that the area inside the treadmill, adjacent to the motor and electronic control board should be vacuumed once or twice yearly or even more regularly depending on the dust in the area in which the treadmill is kept.

Optional features

Most treadmills offer styles that come with a number of convenient features. There are those treadmill styles that have several user programs, for those of you who will be sharing your treadmill with others. Many styles come with computers that can be programmed to give you a variety of running or walking experiences such as speed intervals and hill simulation training. If you wish to monitor your heart rate during your workout, there are treadmills that come with heart rate monitors and controls. The heart rate controls can be set to increase or decrease the intensity of your workouts according to your heart rate, so that you will be certain you are getting an optimum workout in your home gym. You can even buy a treadmill, now, that will start and stop, speed up or slow down, merely by waving a hand over one of the side rails or holding both hands above each side rail. Several models have this feature, called "Motion control". You can also choose a treadmill that folds to save space... either manual fold or power fold. And, the list of optional features goes on and on.

Walking is a very effective exercise which everybody is able to do. It is basic, doesn't require a lot of coordination, and can be an excellent way to deal with stress by clearing your head. Anybody of any age can do it, and it is the same for a beginner as well as for an athlete. So, if you are an indoor person, cannot go to a gym, or if you do not get time to go out to exercise, you can get a treadmill and exercise at home whenever you can and want to.

We can help you choose the right treadmill for you and your family. Make sure the treadmill you choose is suitable for your needs and will last for the long run. And, enjoy those treadmill workouts all year long in the convenience of your own home gym!

To view some of the home gyms we can offer you please click here to view our Treadmills and Home Gyms.

To view some of the cardio equipment we can offer you please click here to view our Treadmills, Exercise Bikes, Rowers, Elliptical Trainers and Other Cardio.

To view some of the strength training equipment we can offer you please click here to view our Strength Training Equipment including Power Racks, Smith Machine’s, Leg Press Machine, ProSpot Fusion Fitness Equipment Home Gym Machines and More.