Questions You Must Answer Before Buying a Treadmill

Who is using the treadmill?

It is important to know the number of people using the treadmill, the weight of the heaviest person and how everyone will exercise using the treadmill.

The number of people using the treadmill will directly affect the durability that you will need in the treadmill. If two people are using it on a regular basis it will wear out twice as quickly as if only one person is using it. If three people are using it, it will wear out three times as quickly, and so on. Durability is loosely related to price, the more durable a model you need, the more you must be prepared to spend for it.

The weight of the heaviest person using the treadmill fits into a spec that most of the treadmills have, the maximum user weight. If you exceed the maximum user weight for the treadmill, you can expect to have problems much sooner than you normally would.

How everyone will use the treadmill is also important. Treadmills are generally designed to fit one of three types of users: walkers, walkers/joggers, and serious runners. As you move from walker to serious runner the treadmills will become more expensive.

What features do you need?

As you select a treadmill you should consider the following features: Maximum speed, running area length, track cushioning, and horsepower.

Maximum speed is very similar to user type. People usually walk between 2 and 4 miles per hour. Joggers will often jog between 5 and 7 ½ miles per hour. Serious runners may run from 8 to 12 miles per hour. As the speed you need goes up the price of the treadmill will go up, so not overbuying on the speed of the treadmill will allow you to reduce the cost of the treadmill.

The running area length needed is a combination of how you will use the treadmill and how long your stride is. As you move from walking to running your stride gets longer and you need a longer running length. Also, taller users will tend to have a longer stride and will want a longer running area.

I would always recommend cushioning for the treadmill track. It takes strain off of the knees and back. That being said, cushioning becomes more important as you move faster on the treadmill. It is much more important for runners than for walkers.

Horsepower is the trickiest feature. Bigger is generally better; a more powerful motor will tend to last longer. However, the construction style and quality of the motor is also important, so a bigger motor will not always outlast a smaller motor. Because of the difference in motor quality you may have to rely on the reputation of the manufacturer to put an appropriate motor in the treadmill.

How much can you afford to pay?

If you are strictly going to use the treadmill for walking you should be able to find something appropriate for under $1,000. If you are going to use it for walking and jogging the price will probably be between $1,000 and $2,000. If you are a serious runner you will probably need to pay more than $2,000.

Greg Carleu is the founder of Treadmill Select.

---

Image Treadmills Are Designed for the Average Person in Mind

Image treadmills are distributed by Icon Health and Fitness, a large retail company that produces Reebok and Nordic Track. Although the Image name may not be as... Read More

Elliptical Exercise Machines Provide Low Impact, Total Body Workouts While Improving Cardiovascular

Elliptical Exercise Machines Provide Low Impact, Total Body Workouts While Improving Cardiovascular Health Ever since their introduction on the fitness scene several years ago, elliptical exercise... Read More

Aerobic Equipment - Find The Best Deals On The Best Equipment

The benefits of aerobic exercise are well documented. Aerobic exercise is defined as any number of activities that use the large muscle groups and force the heart... Read More

Blood Pressure Monitor - Is Youre Blood Pressure OK?

The focus on reducing high blood pressure in today's society is more so then ever now we now know that living with a high blood pressure can... Read More

Top Treadmills Reviewed - A Comparison of Price And Performance

A treadmill can be an excellent exercise machine, providing a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to stay fit. But with over a dozen different manufacturers out there,... Read More

Handy Consumer Guide Best Buy Treadmill Evaluators

Consumer Search is an online forum that basically reviews the consumer guide best buy treadmill reviewers. The site takes a look at each treadmill reviewer and evaluates... Read More

The Importance of Treadmill Mats?

One important accessory that you will want to get with your new treadmill is a good treadmill mat. If you are not sure of what a treadmill... Read More

Treadmill Reviews - Top 3 Things to Keep in Mind When Reading Treadmill Reviews

So you're excited about buying a treadmill. You're looking forward to having a premium piece of fat-burning equipment available to you 24-7 at your convenience.Rain, snow, sleet... Read More

What to Look for When Shopping for an Elliptical Trainer

When shopping for an elliptical trainer, it can be confusing to know which brands are the best. The best elliptical trainers contain a number a features and... Read More

7 Essential Reasons You Should Have a Home Gym

The home gym is an amazing resource that you should be taking advantage of. Between hectic schedules to the non-sense going on in commercial gyms, home gym... Read More

Types of Exercise Equipment

Depending on the kind of exercise you want to do, there are many types of exercise equipment from which to choose. You no longer have to join... Read More

Boost Your Health by Choosing the Perfect Treadmill

Treadmills are very popular methods of exercise. These exercise machines have been helping people lose weight and get in shape for many years now. Buying a treadmill... Read More

What Are The Main Benefits Of Trampoline Exercise?

Many people might look at someone bouncing on a trampoline and wonder what all the excitement is about. But the truth is, trampolines are great for physical... Read More

Your Health is Important Get Fit For Life

Choosing fitness equipment for your personal use can be a rather daunting task. You can't turn on the TV without seeing ads that promise or imply that... Read More

An Informative Home Gym Review

There are several well-known manufacturers of home gyms worth mentioning. While all have their advantages and disadvantages, the following home fitness gyms are particularly noteworthy. The reviews... Read More

Durable Medical Equipment

Durable medical equipment and MedicareWith costs of the most common durable medical equipment reaching upwards of $1,200, the need for payment by Medicare is substantial. This increased... Read More

Tenderizing Meat and Other Uses For Home Exercise Equipment

Almost everyone has bought home exercise equipment at some point in their life, be it a few rusty dumbells at a garage sale all the way to... Read More

Ironman Treadmills

Ironman Treadmills - For The Guy Who Does The IroningIronman Treadmills are produced by Keys Fitness Products, which also produces Keys, Alliance, Discovery, Healthtrainer, and Encore treadmills.... Read More

Elliptical Trainer Ratings - Of Rants and Ratings

A large selection of elliptical trainer ratings can be found in every website upon pressing the keywords on a search engine. But what exactly is a credible... Read More

Treadmill Consumer Guide

When looking for a treadmill consumer guide, you won't have to look much farther than the Internet, or the nearest bookstore's magazine display. Just a quick online... Read More

Tips To Help You Find The Right Gym

Taking those first few steps towards establishing a Fitness Lifestyle can very well be intimidating, especially if the decision is made to sign-up for a gym membership.... Read More

Proform - The Highly Recognized Name in Treadmills

Proform is a highly recognized name in treadmills. Proform has been around for many years and is a subsidiary of the same company that manufactures Nordic Track... Read More

Want To Compare Treadmills? Have You Done Your Homework First?

Buying a treadmill can be daunting experience. Aren't there a lot of them out there? And if you need to compare treadmills to work out which one... Read More

Find the Best Home Tanning Bed Package

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could find a cheap used tanning bed for your home. Have you ever wondered how to buy tanning beds and what... Read More

What You Should Know About Epic Treadmills

Epic is a well-known manufacturer of budget priced treadmills. Epic treadmills are competitive in the lower priced treadmills that can be purchased from various manufacturers. Epic provides... Read More

Machines vs Free Weights

I am often asked, what is the best machine for me?, what is the best machine for this or that body part?. The answer that I always... Read More