If I had to pick just one piece of fitness equipment to own it would undoubtedly be a home treadmill. This, to me, is a no brainer for several reasons. Unlike your various weight benches or other muscle builders, this one is the most likely to actually get used.
Tell the truth. If you've owned a home gym before, do you use it every day? Three times a week? Or is it just sitting in your garage or storage building? What makes the treadmill so enticing is that almost everybody has a little TV time during the day. Want to watch the big game? Why not spend 30 minutes walking while watching. Have a favorite soap? Again walk and watch. Did you just rent a movie? Try doing that while doing 15 reps on a bench press.
In other words, the treadmill is the easiest exercise equipment to fit into your daily routine. And for overall fitness (not just building bigger muscles), the aerobic benefits of the treadmill are unmatched.
Treadmills are, and have been for some time, among the most popular and the most valuable pieces of aerobic equipment. They're simple to use and naturally intuitive. They burn calories very well and offer a range of exercises from walking, to climbing, or even jogging. And even the rain or snow won't slow you down.
Because the treadmill has so many uses and benefits, it is extremely popular among those who want to stay fit. And where there is a demand...well for better or for worse the fitness equipment market is flooded with options. And when there's more options it becomes that much more difficult to choose the right product at the right price..
So what do you look for? Here's a few guidlines for buying a treadmill online..
Shopping Tips
Ask yourself first "why am I buying a treadmill?" Is it because you want to get fit and you feel like this is a piece of equipment you'll acutally use? Would you rather walk or run indoors? Do you want to keep up your routine no matter what the weather?
How often do you plan on using it? If you are only going to use it on days when you can't go outside, then you might be better off with a treadmill that comes at a lower price.
Is anyone else in your home going to use it? If the answer is yes then make sure that your treadmill fits their exercise needs also.
One mistake you don't want to make is buying a low quality, low-powered machine that won't meet the long-term needs of all the users in your family.
If you are serious about buying a treadmill, chances are that you have already done some research on your own. You may even know which features you want in a treadmill. So you probably already know that not all home treadmill brands are created equal.
Most people would choose Brand A because, as the unwritten treadmill buying guide states, you should select the home treadmill that provides more motor power for less. In other words, more bang for the buck. But there are other things you should consider. Horsepower alone is no guarantee that the treadmill is a good buy.
It's possible that Choice 3 is the better choice, considering that Brand C has a better reputation for delivering a quality treadmill with extensive warranties. Yes motor power is a good feature, but be careful. Take into account the whole package, the brand, the features, the warranty. It all matters.
And that salesman you've been talking to, just how knowledgable is he? Remember he wants to make a sale. I'm not suggesting he's dishonest, but be sure to get everyting in writing. Yes even a salesman can make mistakes, and his mistake could end up costing you money, and add to your frustration level as well.
The final consideration that you have when shopping for a home treadmill is the price. When we say price, we don’t just mean the amount on the price tag. In fact, forget about the tag all together (for now) and look at the real price of the treadmill.
There is no question that cost is one of the most important factors when buying a home treadmill. But sometimes, as you well know, price can be very misleading. So when you are buying a treadmill, don’t make your decision on the price tag alone. Consider everything else about the machine to determine its real price.
What’s in the treadmill motor?
Perhaps the most important part of any treadmill is the motor. In fact, as stated earlier, most people tend to make their buying decision on motor power. So what’s the deal with a treadmill’s motor?
One difference in treadmill motors, which isn’t always reflected in the product literature, is whether the horsepower is listed in terms of “continuous duty” or “peak performance.” A manufacturer may be able to get that motor to operate up to 2 HP at peak-performance levels, but that doesn’t mean that it will perform at that level all the time. Some manufacturers actually claim that they’ve got a 1.5 HP motor, but when you push it, you find it can actually reach up to 2.5 HP at peak level.
If you’re on a tight budget and want an inexpensive treadmill, our suggestion is you buy a treadmill with a manual motor. Manual motors are simply less likely to break down. The downside of course is that it is user powered. And when the user begins to tire and slow down, the belt slows down also.
On the other hand, the belt of an electric model continues at the same speed no matter how tired you are, and that means you will keep going the same speed as well.
Other Treadmill Features to Consider
Treadmills vary according to the type of features they have. Knowing what these features are can help you in buying a treadmill, whether online or offline.
AC or DC motor – Most home treadmill units are DC. Commercial treadmills may have either AC or DC. AC treadmills will likely require a dedicated power line because their motors tend to draw more power. AC also tends to be noisier than DC, making it much more difficult to hear who is cheating on who in your latest soap episode.
The thickness of the running belt – Face it, you cannot maintain a straight line while running. If you could, you could just go ahead and run on a six inch balance beam. That is why the thickness of the running belt is an important feature to consider. Two-ply belts are stronger and less likely to curl at the sides than one-ply belts.
The length of the running surface – Next to the thickness is the length. If you're Yao Ming (or even just slightly taller than average), you might need more running surface for you to make sweeping strides on your home treadmill. Of course you want to really challenge yourself with short, brisk strides. If that's the case, then get a treadmill with a shorter running surface.
The minimum and maximum speed – Ask yourself whether you’ll be using your treadmill for walking or running. Treadmills for walking start at 0 or .5 and go up to around 6 mph. Those for jogging or running generally start at 0, .5, or 1 mph and go up to 8-12 mph. Go 12 mph and your really moving.
The percentage of incline – It can range from a low of 2-4% to a high of 15%. The general rule is the bigger the better, but as always, there are exceptions: Not all treadmills with high percentage inclines are good buys. Remember to consider all the other features of the product. Commercial-grade treadmills often go as high as 25%. Or you could just go climb your local mountain.
The type of incline adjustment – If we're talking about automatic incline, we're talking serious high-tech stuff. This type of incline changes depending upon your heart rate, sometimes via a wireless monitor. It will automatically adjust the percentage of incline to keep the person within the target heart range. Other treadmills have electronic inclines that can be changed by pushing a button on the console. Less sophisticated ones have either a manual hand crack (that's exercise in and of itself) or other manual adjustment that needs to be set before starting to exercise.
Electronic feedback displays of speed, time, and distance – On most treadmills these are generally standard. Of course as we get more high-tech some will add a few extras in their feedback monitor. For instance, some treadmills can display the number of calories burned or the user’s heart rate. Also, most home treadmills offer preset and/or customizable programming capabilities. This is a pretty cool feature. You can now design your own program with the use of the customizing capabilities of your treadmill.
Features to Look for in a Good Treadmill
Sometimes, knowing the features of a typical treadmill is not enough to help you determine a good buy. So here's a list of features to covet in a treadmill:
Emergency Shut Off – Usually, these are magnets or buttons you yank or push to cut power instantly. This should be mandatory, but since it's not, it's great to have if you get into trouble on your home treadmill. Older seniors that could be unstable should really look closely at this.
Hand Rails – I know. Who wants to get hampered holding onto a rail while running? Well, consider what the hand rails are for before you dismiss the idea. You need at least one just for safety and balance. If not, then at least get one with a slightly extended front rail.
Cushioning – How much is based on personal preference. This is for less impact and more comfort with each foot strike you make. Your knees will thank you.
Safety Lock or Switch – This is advisable if you have kids who love to fiddle with things (as most do) and accidentally start the machine.
Warranties – Always, always, always check the warranty. Most companies these days offer various levels on frames, motors, parts and labor that vary from 1-5 years, with some even offering 10 years or limited lifetime. And be sure to check the limits on the warranty.
Now Comes the Features to Avoid
If there are features in a treadmill that you ought to covet, there are also features that you need to avoid. These are the following:
Incline adjustments that require you to dismount and move pins or other mounts on a support leg. Exercise is enough work. Who wants to work just so they can exercise?
Non-motorized models. We talked about these earlier. They're great for your budget, but they are a strain on joints and muscles. And the speeds are irregular since you can’t “pull” at a steady pace with your stride, especially if you run. Running means you spend a few milliseconds on every stride off the belt in the air and are obviously not able to pull.
Start speeds of 1.0 mph or more. Let's start slow and get warmed up.
No warranty. To me that means no purchase.
Surface areas that are short or narrow.
Single-ply belts. They're more likely to curl around the edges and become crooked and throw off the whole thing.
Less than 1.5 HP. I said we wanted to start slow, but we do want to work our way up.
AC or treadmill-duty motors. More power used and more noise and for what purpose?
Shaking, rattling, or squeaking while you workout. I hope you kept your receipt, or at least got a good warranty as mentioned above.
As long as you keep these pointers and advice in mind as you shop for a treadmill online, there is no reason why you shouldn’t end up with a product that turns out to be the best deal you’ve ever had. Your heart will thank you.
