The ‘Don’ts’ In Buying Treadmills

Let's face it, this is a big investment. No a treadmill is not a car, and it's definately not a house. But you are probably going to spend about $1000 on a machine. Basically, a piece of metal to help you stay trim and healthy. There's no reason to drop that kind of money on something that won't work or that won't have a long shelf life.

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So before you pull out your checkbook or credit card, remember all the factors you need. Factor number one should always be your budget. But next there are several more variables you should and shouldn't look for in any home treadmill.

Let's first consider the list of "don'ts" you need to consider when buying a treadmill.

Do Not Skimp on an Underpowered Engine

True a home treadmill has 7 components, all of which are important. But what makes a treadmill go is the engine or motor. Do not try to save money on a home treadmill by buying one with a weak motor. .

Any home treadmill should have a horsepower of at least 1.5. Commercial grade treadmills reach up to 5.0 horsepower.

So how much horsepower do you need? First ask yourself how often you'll be using it. Do you plan on using the home treadmill just occasionally? Maybe when running outside is not an option because of bad weather or other constraints? If so, then you can likely get away with a 1.5 CHP model. But if your treadmill will rack up lots of mileage, or maybe you're a heavier runner or walker, then browse for something at least 2 CHP or even more.

Do Not Discount the Importance of Speed

A typical home treadmill will have a top speed of 10 MPH, meaning you will go a mile in 6 minutes. If you are like most people that only run a couple of times a week, that'll probably be enough. If however you run a lot and at a much faster pace, then speed should be a consideration in your treadmill purchase. What good is a machine that can't keep up with you? And if you're pretty fast, a machine that only goes 8 MPH just isn't enough.

So if you have a need for speed, get a machine that can keep up. Even if you don't plan on running at a full sprint, stay away from any home treadmill that can't move 10 MPH. Chances are, that's a pretty good indication of how the treadmill was constructed. Why would you want a home treadmill that can't even keep up with an average speed?

Short and Narrow Won't Work

Obviously we don't want to get too wide. Let's face it, it's called a home treadmill because it's going in your home. And unless you shell out big bucks for one that can be folded, then you'll need one that is wide enough for you to move well, but narrow enough so as not to eat up an entire room. Wider is definately better, but you need to pay attention to space as well.

As for length, well how long is your stride and how steady is your pace? Lots of people, when they get tired near the end of their run, tend to slow down and drift off the back. A longer deck just makes sense. Then you can catch up before you fall off.

And how tall you are also matters in the length of your treadmill deck. Naturally, taller users will have longer strides, thus will need a longer deck. But if your aim is to improve your form, then a shorter deck is a good idea. It will force you to keep your strides short and snappy. The average treadmill deck is usually between 52 and 60 inches. Avoid anything less than 52 inches unless you just want to feel like a hampster on a wheel. Longer than 60 inches is probably just a bit too impractical.

Always Make Sure There's a Money Back Guarantee

You really need to consider cushioning when you buy a home treadmill. Many people (maybe you) buy treadmills to avoid injury. Running injuries happen frequently because the ground is not really ideal for running. But you run anyway because, well, because that's what you do. There's lots of calories there that need to be burned. Treadmills are a great way to avoid getting injuries because of the cushioning they provide.

But there really aren't any specs that can accurately measure cushioning. The store may let you give it a test run, but even if you go for a half an hour, that's not enough time to make a truely accurate assessment. And if you're buying your treadmill on the internet, well then you just have no way of knowing how well cushioned the machine is. The answer lies in the money back guarantee. Any treadmill description is limited. Once you get it home and test the treamill out, that's when you find out if the cushioning is adequate or if there simply isn't enough.

The other thing that you again need to consider is "does it fold". As we mentioned, this type of treadmill will likely cost serious moolah, but having one that folds up and out of the way is awesome. How much space do you have in your house? Mine is packed. And don't even mention putting the thing in the yard. You know that won't work. So unless you have plenty of space in your basement or garage, a folding treadmill might just we worth it.

Check out all the Other Specs

You'll be amazed at all the additions to treadmills now. But when it comes right down to it, do you really want to pay extra for them. The drink holder on the treadmill is pretty cool, but is it worth an extra hundred? Do you have an end table? Use it. Sure you can make do without all the additional frills (there's drink holders, arm rests, walkman holders and more), don't place all other "unnecessary" specs into that catagory. They may not be as unnecessary as you believe.

The heart rate monitor, for instance, is a nice feature. True you probably don't "need" it. But if you want to make sure you are running at the right pace, then you'll want to run with something that checks your heart rate. Detachable ones can be used indoors or out. Some home treadmills put your heart rate on the main display. Now you can watch it constantly while you run. Necessary? Probably not. But not exactly a wild idea either.

Although it varies from treadmill to treadmill, generally it works like this. The treadmill will pickup a signal from a Polar monitor or a chest strap that's provided. Some treadmills monitor through hand grips. These are less practical because not everyone used the handrails, especially if you are running. Still other treadmills really get slick by automatically adjusting the belt speed so your heart rate stays within a predefined range.

Another nice feature to have is a treadmill that has programmable workouts. Again this would be one of those options that's not an absolute must, but if you have a favorite set of repitition, interval or hill workouts, the programmable workout feature of your home treadmill will save them. Then you can just push a button and use the programmed workouts on a regular basis.

Do Not Shake Rattle and Roll This one is pretty obvious. Not too many people like to run or walk in an earthquake so why would you want your home treadmill to give you that same experience? Clearly you don't. So any treadmill that gives you the sensation of lying on one of those motel beds with the quarter machine nearby for a massage should never leave the store. Or if you bought it online, it's back in the package and back to the manufacturer. Make sure the frame of your home treadmill is evenly supported and stable.

And don't believe anyone who says a heavy treadmill is a steady treadmill. This is not always the case. Double check. Look at the feet and how the deck is built. Here's a little trick. For a clue as to how stable a treadmill will be, look at the maximum user weight. It should at least give you an idea as to how solid and stable the treadmill is.

Avoid Too Much Incline

A typical home treadmill will have a top incline of about 10 to 15%. That's more than enough. Anything more could be a safety issue. Just to be safe, don't overdo it.

Ask why you are running. If you are training, also take into account the course for which you are training. If it's a hilly course, then clearly you need to train on a hilly course. But a 10% incline shoud do the trick. It gives you the feel of pushing your body uphill. No amount of treadmill incline will match the feel of an actual run up a hilly course.

If by chance you are getting ready for the Boston Marathon (which has a lot of down hill slopes), then honestly a treadmill won't help much. Maybe you could stick a couple of 2 x 4's under the back legs, but again we come back to the safety issue. Check with the manufacturer before doing anything like that.

Red Means Stop

Safety is and should be the most important issue to consider when buying a home treadmill. Even more so than the motor. Double that if you live in a home with children. Two things you should check on any home treadmill before you buy are the emergency off button and the safety key.

Some home treadmills come with a safety key. Some treadmills offer both a safety key and an emergency button. If possible, get a home treadmill that has both. If you can't, then decide which treadmill you will get based on the merits of each system.

A home treadmill with a safety key requires that the key be in place to turn the treadmill on. Generally the key attaches to the person using it. If that person falls or gets too far away, the key pulls out and the treadmill stops.

On the other hand, a home treadmill with an emergency button is pretty self explanitary. It's simply a red button that you can push to shut the machine off immediately.

There's definately a lot of things to consider when buying a home treadmill. A home treadmill with all of these features could quickly get out of your price range. Just determine which ones are most important to you and you are on your way to getting exactly the treadmill you need.