Top 7 Tips For Buying a Treadmill

Tips for Buying A Treadmill

Buying a treadmill? There are so many new brands and features on the market these days, it's hard to know just what to look for. This article lists the top 7 tips for buying a treadmill so you can find the best buy for you.

1) Motor - This is the heart of your treadmill. Try to look for a high powered motor of at least 2.0 Continuous Duty HP or more. Even if you just plan on walking.

Treadmill motors usually range from 1.25 HP up to 3.5 HP. Remember that a 1.25 HP motor will have to work twice as hard as a 2.5 HP motor - so it probably won't last as long.

You also want to consider the quality of the motor construction. While many brands claim to have high quality built motors, one way you can actually judge is to look at the length of motor warranty.

In all likelihood, the longer the warranty the better the quality of motor. If you think about it, this makes sense, manufacturers are not going to slap a 30 year warranty on a motor that they know is poorly made.

More motor tips for buying a treadmill: Make sure you're looking at the continuous duty motor power of the treadmill (the power at which the treadmill can run for 24 hours without slowing down).

Some manufacturers will try to impress you by listing the peak duty motor power (the highest power at which the treadmill can operate - but it can only sustain this for a short time) since this is higher than the continuous duty power. However this is not a true measure of motor power.

2) Belt - There are really two things to look at here. Belt thickness and size. Most home treadmills come with a 2 ply belt although a few only offer a 1 ply belt. Obviously 2 ply belts are better and will last longer. To give you more perspective on this, commercial treadmills (gym quality) usually come with a 4 ply belt since they have to stand up under more rigorous use.

Belt sizes range. Widths range from 16 - 22" wide. You probably want to avoid the 16" as it will feel very narrow. Eighteen to 20" wide belts are fine for most people.

Lengths range from 48" to 62" long. Again, the shorter belt sizes are probably not the best choice. If you're over 5'8" or plan on running, you'll probably prefer a 55" - 62" belt. This way you can pick up the pace without feeling like you're falling off the treadmill.

3) Stability - You want a treadmill that feels stable - even when you pick up the pace. There's no point buying a machine that shakes and wobbles when you speed up. There are a number of factors that contribute to high stability including quality of construction, unit weight and user weight capacity.

The heavier a machine is, the more stable it's going to feel. A higher user weight capacity is also a good indicator of higher stability.

4) Console - While this is largely up to you (for example, what workout stats do you want to see when exercising), there is a range of console options to choose from. Many people prefer consoles that show all their workout stats at once - as opposed to those that scroll through them as you work out.

More console tips for buying a treadmill: Pay attention to console brightness. For example, depending on the lighting in your home, some consoles can be hard to see. Backlit consoles make reading your stats much easier - so if your area lighting isn't the best, consider choosing a treadmill with a backlit console.

5) Cushioning - This is a must-have feature. Poor cushioning can damage your joints very quickly - especially if you're a runner. Cushioning is usually a function of price (the higher end models usually have much better cushioning than lower end models).

However there are exceptions. Most treadmills have their own type of cushioning that you can learn about from their literature or website, so you can judge the best one for you.

6) Folding - Most home treadmills will fold up. The advantage of a folding treadmill is that it's easier to move the treadmill for storage or for cleaning. The disadvantage is that a folding treadmill may compromise on stability (ever notice that none of the gym treadmills fold up?).

7) Extras - These are all the little things that make working out fun (or at least distracting). There are lots of options here including workout programs, heart rate monitors, Mp3 ports with built-in speakers, tools to track your fitness progress over time, built-in TVs and even weight loss programs.

Deciding what you want in extra features ahead of time can help you single out the right machine when you see it.

So those are the top 7 tips for buying a treadmill. Hopefully they'll help you find the machine that is best for you. One final tip: Look for a treadmill that ultimately gets you excited. Because the real value of a treadmill - when it comes right down to it - is how much you actually use it.