Evaluate how well a Treadmill meets your needs and compares to competing products
If you've completed step one you've identified what you need in a treadmill and you've learned about the different features of treadmills. While you were doing your research, you probably started the process of determining which features - and thus which type of treadmill - will best meet your needs. Now you are going to continue that process, but in greater detail.
In this step you will evaluate the treadmills available on the market to determine how well they meet your personal needs and establish, by a process of elimination, an initial short-list of contenders. Then you will compare these short-listed treadmills to find out which ones stand out from the competition.
Evaluate how well a Treadmill meets your needs
Your priority at this point in your evaluation is to find the available treadmills in the market that best meet your needs. You can save a lot of time during this activity by quickly eliminating any treadmills that are unsuitable because they don't meet your key requirements. For example, if you have a limited budget for this purchase then you can ignore any treadmills that clearly exceed your price limit.
If you are an occasional exerciser who only walks on your treadmill once or twice a week, then a manual budget treadmill with a plastic fame may suffice. If you walk more frequently you will want to consider better constructed machines with frames made from steel or aircraft quality aluminum.
Generally, the larger the belt on a treadmill the better, but a walker can get away with a smaller belt due to their smaller stride. For a jogger a belt width of 16+ inches and a length of 52+ inches is usually recommended. Keep in mind, however, that the larger the belt you choose the harder the motor needs to work and the faster it will wear out.
Tip: The length of the actual running surface may be different to the advertised belt length. This is because the casing can extend over the belt, reducing the actual space you have to walk on.
If you want a motorized treadmill then look for a motor that has a continuous horse power (CHP) rating of 1.0hp to 1.5hp. The CHP rating is what the motor can run at for 24 hours without slowing down. Some treadmills are advertised with either a peak horse power (PHP) rating or a treadmill duty (TD) rating. This is the maximum horse power they produce but the motor will burn out quickly. When comparing machines, as a general guide use 60% of PHP or TD to get a conservative CHP rating.
If you run on a treadmill then comfort and safety become critical. You will need a stronger frame, a wider and longer belt and a more powerful motor (CHP of 2.0hp+).
Tip: Motors with a CHP of 3hp+ are overkill and as the motor works harder the belt will wear out faster.
For runners the thickness of the belt and the running deck are important. For home use a 2ply belt will be sufficient; more commercial models are 4ply. The running deck should be of an inch, minimum. Some decks have shock absorbency to reduce impact. When running, your joints can bear up to 2.5 times your body weight as you land, so shock absorbency is significant if you have ankle, knee, hip or back problems.
The running belt is turned by rollers, which should be at least 2 inches in diameter. The larger the rollers the less they have to turn and the longer they will last.
Both walkers and runners may want a treadmill that inclines. A powered treadmill has its own incline motor which should lift you with ease. If the incline is essential to your training there are treadmills which are classed as incliners and can incline to 30 degrees+.
Tip: Generally the less noise all these parts of a treadmill make the better the overall quality is.
Safety is always important. The treadmill should be built to handle your weight and there should be enough room to get on and off safely. In use there should be room to swing your arms, side handles to catch yourself if you trip and a large stop button within easy reach.
Look at the warranty. Different parts of the machine will have different length warranty periods. The longer the better but look for any exemptions in the fine print.
The computer and accessories are where most people spend too much money. Do you really need a fan or sound system? Or dozens of exercise programs and dumbbells? It may be more economical to buy some of these items separately.
When you were considering your requirements in a treadmill it's likely that you singled out certain factors such as motor power, belt size, quality and cost as being of major significance. As with so many other products, the more features offered, the higher the price.
Buyz123 has created a checklist containing examples of major features; you can work from this checklist when evaluating how well various treadmills meet your personal needs:
Features Checklist
Operation
Powered or manual
Speed 0 to12mph (19.3kph)
Walker 2.8 to 5.9mph (4.5 to 9.5kph), Runner 5.9 to 10mph (9.5 to 16+kph)
Incline 0 to 16% (usually up to 16% - commercial 25%+)
Motor power (belt)
CHP 1.75 to 3.0hp, PHP/TD 2.0 to 2.25hp
CHP for walkers 1.0 to1.5hp, for runners 1.5hp+
Belt
Width - 13 to 22 inch >16 recommended
Length - 33 to 63 inch >52 recommended
Belt cushioning or low impact deck
Belt - 2-ply (home), 4-ply (gym)
Reversible in direction
Deck/running board
0.5 to 1 inches thick (no less than inch for running)
Console
Inbuilt fans, inbuilt TV, sound system with high grade speakers and subwoofer, music port for MP3 player with shelf for player to rest on.
Computer display
speed, distance, incline, calories burnt, heart rate, training programs, memory for workout stats, quick speed or incline controls, carb counter, laps counter
multiple user profiles, chest strap heart rate monitor, auto adjust difficulty for your heart rate target
Accessories & Extras features
dumbbells, water bottles, workout music or videos, reading rack, accessories holder, water bottle holder
handles for upper body exercise
Safety
child lock (key), auto stop, hand rails, large stop button, anti sliding break (manual treadmill only)
Weight limit - 245 to 500 pounds
Convenience
foldable, wheels, self locking storage latch, self unfolding
Warranty
parts (2 years to lifetime), labor (90 days to 1 year), motor (3 to 20 years), belt (usually 1 year), frame (15 years to lifetime)
in-home service warranty (maybe dependant on location)
lifetime warranties can have limitations (read the fine print)
Construction
High alloy steel frame or aircraft-quality aluminum over wood or plastic
Welded not bolted or glued
Hand grips - padded, plastic or metal
Rollers - 2 inches in diameter or larger
Painted or power coated (rust proof)
Other considerations
Footprint/size - width 22-38” x length 44-85.5” x height 44-61.5”
Pre assembled/not assembled
Plugs into mains/runs off batteries
There are a lot of features listed here, and many of them may not be relevant to your particular requirements. So, work your way through the list and assess how each of these features impact on your treadmill needs. You can then create a personalized checklist of the features you really require in a treadmill.
Once you have finished evaluating the treadmills available for sale in the light of your personal needs and arrived at a short-list of 'possibles' you are ready to progress to the next stage. This involves comparing the treadmills one-on-one in order to find those that really stand out from the others.
Evaluate how well a Treadmill compares to competing products
Comparing the items on your interim short-list, one to another, is an important part of the purchasing process - we all want to buy the best product we possibly can. So once you have established a short-list of treadmills that meet your needs it is time to evaluate how well they compare in fine detail. This way you can assemble a select list of treadmills that stand out from the crowd.
Questions to ask yourself:
Which treadmills on my short-list have all the features I want ?
Which of the treadmills has the best warranty?
Which of my short-listed treadmills has the most solid construction?
Which treadmill is the easiest to use?
Which treadmill seems of the highest quality?
Which treadmills have the best safety features?
By answering these simple questions, you are actually eliminating treadmills that aren't absolutely right for you. This is an excellent time - if you haven't done so already - to evaluate how well your short listed products measure up in two areas: Physical Quality and Warranty Conditions.
Physical Quality
Regardless of the method you use when purchasing the treadmill, you need to find an opportunity to examine the product to evaluate how well it is made, and to check that it is truly suitable for you and your purpose. This is the time to examine the quality of the materials, and how well the item is put together. It's also important to examine the item from the perspective of ease of use. How easy is the machine to clean and maintain? Are the controls easy to reach and use?
Physical Inspection Checklist:
Materials - quality, appearance
Assembly - all parts held together securely, good quality fittings
Solidly constructed - stable, no loose components
Proper fit of removable parts - easy to remove and replace, fit snugly
Controls - visible, easy to use, accessible, clearly labelled
Size - appropriate for surroundings and purpose
Appearance - well finished, appropriate color, neat fittings etc
Easy and intuitive to use
Warranty Conditions
Similar products may be available with significantly different terms and conditions, and you want to get the best deal you can. Parts and labor are often covered under separate warranties, for different time periods; sometimes there can be a significant difference in the warranty offered with one model compared to that offered with the next model up. It is particularly important to investigate any conditions that might void a warranty, such as if you install the treadmill using different fittings than recommended.
Warranty Checklist:
Duration - check the specifics
Parts, Labour, Mechanical, Electrical
Exactly what is covered
Exactly what is excluded
Conditions or actions that may void the warranty
Once you've worked through the Evaluation step you will have a final short-list of treadmills that meet your needs and stand out from competing products on the market. It's time then to move on to the third and final step: Purchase.
Video Links
Buyz123.com Research Links:Treadmill Reviews and ComparisonsReviews of treadmillsReviews & ratingsBrands of treadmills and their performanceTreadmill comparisons and how to get the best buy - focuses on Smooth & True treadmillsTreadmill review and ratings site - specifically between Smooth & True treadmills