In order to end up with the treadmill best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of treadmills are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a treadmill.
Research the market: Treadmill essentials
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the treadmill market. The range of options can seem overwhelming, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Powered or Manual: Treadmills can be powered electrically with a motor or work manually by the pressure and momentum of the user's feet pushing the belt as they walk or jog. Usually with manual treadmills you can't change the resistance during a workout but some more modern machines use magnets to make your workout harder. Manual treadmills are also much cheaper than powered treadmills and usually can be folded away for storage.
A couple of the disadvantages of manual treadmills are that the incline can't be changed during the workout unless you stop and get off the treadmill. And as the intensity of the workout is up to how hard you push yourself rather than what speed you set the machine to you may not get as good a workout as on a powered treadmill.
Machine Speed: Some treadmills are only built for a walking or jogging pace and can't go fast enough for a person to run on them. Make sure the treadmill can operate fast enough for your requirements.
Quality: This can be broken down into three levels: Department store (lowest); Crossover/Hybrid (intermediate); Commercial or Fitness grade (high end). If you intend to run on the machine ensure it is sturdy and stable enough to handle the impact of your landing. The higher the quality of the machine the more punishment it should be able to take.
Motor: Look for the horse power rating. There will be one of three numbers here: continuous horsepower, peak horsepower or treadmill duty. The continuous HP is much more important because it refers to the power the motor will always produce. The stronger the motor, the quieter and longer-lasting the treadmill will be.
Belt: Basically, the wider and longer, the better. You need room to move without falling off the back or tripping on the sides. Again, if you intend to run, the belt needs to be longer. A wider belt will also be much safer to use.
Electronics: We're talking about the console. Basic features include distance, speed, and incline. The more often you use the treadmill, the more important extra features will be.
Safety Features: If you have children, you will want a way to lock the treadmill. At minimum, you want the treadmill to stop if you trip and fall.
Weight Limit: Different treadmills are designed with different limits. When in doubt, buy a treadmill with a higher weight tolerance.
Foldable or Non-foldable: This is a good feature if you live in a tiny space. Be aware that they can be difficult to move (especially over carpet) and hard to fold.
Warranty: The more expensive the machine, the better the warranty. They can range from 30 days to lifetime. The minimum you will want to consider is one year.
Cost: Treadmills are not cheap. You can save money by buying used, but be careful - warranties may not be transferable. You can often do better by buying a new treadmill whose model is about to be superseded, a refurbished treadmill, or simply by negotiating.
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a treadmill. For example, will you be running on the treadmill several times per week or just walking on it when the weather is bad?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| What do you want to achieve with a treadmill? |
| | Are you trying to lose weight? Improve your fitness? Cross train for a sport? Actually train for running? |
| How large is your budget? |
| | Is there any wiggle-room if the right treadmill presents itself? |
| How much room do you have in your home? |
| | Actually measure the space you have and remember you need room to get on and off the treadmill. |
| How much weight will be on the machine? |
| | Will there be multiple users? Each treadmill is built to handle a particular maximum weight. Use the weight of the heaviest person when working out what weight capacity you need. |
| If there are multiple users, will they be using the treadmill back to back? |
| | If they are, do you need to make any adjustments on the machine for different people? How quickly and easily can you make these adjustments? |
| How tall are you? |
| | How long is your stride? How big are your feet? Again, use the measurements of the tallest, largest person. |
| How many times a week will you use the treadmill? |
| | How long will you be on at each workout? If you are only using the treadmill a couple of times per week for light workouts, you may not need a more expensive heavy-duty treadmill. |
| Do you have any health conditions that must be considered when making this purchase? |
| | Do you have a heart condition? Do you wear a pacemaker? Do you have any joint injuries? Be particularly wary of ankle, knee and hip injuries. It may be worthwhile seeing your doctor to ensure using a treadmill is safe and appropriate for you. |
| What is your current fitness level? |
| | If you are currently unfit and only intending to walk on your treadmill then you won't need a machine that is designed to take the high impact of a runner. |
| Have you used a treadmill before? |
| | If you have, what did you like or dislike about using the machine? If you haven't, get down to your local gym and try their machines a couple of times. Pay to do so if you have to. It could save you a lot of money in the long run if you decide you don't like using them. |
| Do you need an onboard computer with preset programs such as 'Hill Climbing' or 'Fat Burning'? |
| | Or will you make up your own workout routines? Do you need the machine to track your workouts or will you record your progress yourself? |
| How do you know you will use this machine? |
| | Have you successfully maintained an exercise routine at home in the past? For some people, their treadmill is a very expensive coat rack. |
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of treadmills and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
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