When choosing a treadmill, there are a number of factors that must be taken into consideration, including your level of fitness, cost, and comfort.
A treadmill offers a great alternative to running outside. We all know that purchasing a treadmill will cost you money up front, but you have too keep in mind, a treadmill is far less expensive than a gym membership. If it is price you are concerned about, you can buy a good-quality treadmill for around $499.00 – $999.00. The two most important factors that should concern you about buying a treadmill is that the treadmill will suit your fitness and health needs and that the treadmill will not break down on you. Take a look at our treadmill buying guide for some helpful tips.
Our first suggestion to consider before buying a treadmill is where you want to place your treadmill. This information will determine how small or how big the treadmill you want too buy should be and whether you need a folding treadmill for easy storage. If you have a smaller apartment, you will likely want to purchase a compact treadmill or folding treadmill that you can fold and place in a closet or underneath a bed. Of course, if you have a larger apartment you may want to choose a larger treadmill. And of course if money is really an issue, you can always buy a manual treadmill. Manual treadmills do not have motors, you have to manually get on it and walk to move the deck. Manual treadmills are not suggested for running on.
If you are a larger individual who may worry about falling off the side of the treadmill, you may want to buy a treadmill with a wider running deck and side handles. If so, consider purchasing a treadmill with a running deck longer than 50 inches. If you are a taller individual, also consider a treadmill with a 50″ running deck because taller people take longer strides. Taller individuals need more running space to work with.
Learning about the treadmill motor before purchasing is another important factor. You should know the peak rate and continuous rate of the treadmill motor. The peak rate is the highest percent of power the treadmill motor can generate and the continuous rate describes how hard the treadmill motor will work on average during your exercise. You most likely will not need a motor with anything more than a 5 horsepower peak rate. If other people will be using your treadmill as well, the motor you will need should have over a 2 hp continuous rate. For home use (a non commercial treadmill), a motor with 1.5 hp continuous rate should be fine.
Also consider your health goals before purchasing a treadmill. If your goal is too burn calories or lose some weight, a standard treadmill should be fine. However, those looking for a more intense workout should consider purchasing a treadmill with some extra features. Treadmills with extra features will allow you to adjust the incline of the running deck, which will make your workout more intense. Other treadmill features will allow you to set goals for your workout, such as how many calories you hope to burn or how far you want to run. There are many other bells and whistles on treadmills like fans and fancy gadgets. Decide how much you want too spend and what if any extras you may want