complicated exercises, however, they are not without their
downsides.
To start off with, treadmills can be very expensive, especially if you
buy one with all the luxurious special features. By the time you add
in sales taxes, delivery charges and all the rest, you’re looking at a
pretty significant chunk of change. Of course, there’s nothing
saying that you need to get one with absolutely every feature
around – if it’s your first treadmill, you’ll be absolutely fine with a
more basic model, whatever the salesman might tell you.
The next problem is that treadmills can be very large, and there
might not be space in your house. Again, this problem is quite
easily solved, as long as you keep your wits about you and realise
exactly how big the treadmill you’re buying is, instead of just
blindly choosing one that takes your fancy and hoping for the best.
There are surprisingly small treadmills on the market for smaller
homes – all you have to do is look for them.
Some people complain of loud motors on some cheaper treadmills,
and it can be annoying if you’re not used to it.
A good solution is to put on the TV or listen to some music, which also helps with the
boredom that many people experience when they just run on a
treadmill and do nothing else at the same time.
The final point is one that is important to people who are training
for actual races. As treadmills have no wind resistance, they are
quite unsuitable for training for real outdoor running – you should
be getting out there and doing it on a track instead. While a
treadmill can come close to simulating wind resistance if you adjust
its slope gradient, it’s not good enough for serious training, and you
might injure yourself if you run a race after only training on a
treadmill.
Treadmill Buying Basics :
Treadmills are a large investment financially and in your fitness,
therefore much thought and preparation should go into the
purchase of your new treadmill.
Having your treadmill motor blow up or your belt warp severely
after only a few months use is not something you want, so here are
a few basic treadmill buying tips.
Warranty - Any treadmill brand worth its weight will offer a nice
warranty on their product. Usually the motor, parts, and labor will
be covered under different warranties. Make sure you get at least a
5 year warranty on you motor. After the treadmill purchase make
sure you abide by the warranty and send in any user registrations if
required.
Walking Surface - How big is the surface you actually walk or run
on? My first treadmill had a 16 inch width that seemed fine in the
store, however after further usage I found myself always aware of
where the sides were and extra careful not to "step off the edge".
Make sure the width of your treadmill will be comfortable for
everyone in your household (I prefer 20 inch widths) and also the
length is long enough for the long legged members of your family.
Weight Limit - Most treadmills have a weight limit. Too much weight
can put a strain on the frame, belt, and especially motor of the
treadmill. Make sure your potential treadmill has a weight limit to
accommodate all of its potential users to avoid putting undue wear
and tear on your new treadmill.
Test Things Out - Get on your treadmill and give it a test drive.
Does everything work as the advertisement states? Try the heart
monitor if it's a feature, does it appear to be working properly? Is
the treadmill quiet to your liking, or will it be an annoyance when
home? Are the displays big enough for you to see easily?
Safety - Make sure your new treadmill has an emergency stop
mechanism. This can help prevent serious injuries during
malfunction or accidents.
Additional Features - Treadmills come in many shapes and sizes
with various features. Some additional features you may look for
are a water bottle holder, calorie counter, book stand, incline, and
preset and programmable workout routines.
Once you've made your final treadmill buying decision, make sure
you shop around for the best price for your new treadmill. Getting
all the features you want at the price you want makes for happy
treadmilling!
3 Things You Must Know Before Buying
Buying a treadmill? You'll probably be making several treadmill
Buying a treadmill? You'll probably be making several treadmill
comparisons when doing your research.
Here are 3 things you must know when making treadmill
comparisons in order to find the best one for you.
#1 Compare Apples To Apples
Don't compare prices between treadmills online and treadmills sold
at a store. They are two different marketplaces, each with their
own advantages and disadvantages.
When I was selling a Proform treadmill many years ago, the
gentleman buying it had gone online and seen the same model for
less. I had to explain to him that this price was an online price only.
Buying a treadmill online can sometimes be considerably cheaper,
depending on the manufacturer, sales, closeouts, etc.
So when comparing treadmill prices side by side, make sure you
compare online treadmills to online treadmills and store treadmills
to store treadmills.
Also make sure you're comparing the same models. It sounds
obvious but some treadmill brands have so many similar sounding
treadmills in their line-up it's easy to get confused!
#2 Know the Key Ingredients to a Quality Treadmill
Make sure you know the top 4 key ingredients to a quality
treadmill:
- Motor Power
- Stability
- Warranty
- Cushioning
Your motor is the heart of your treadmill and adequate motor
power is extremely important. Most experts recommend at least a
1.5 HP motor although I prefer a 2.0 HP or higher to ensure you
don't burn the motor out (and then have to pay costly repair fees).
Stability ensures that your treadmill will not shake or wobble when
you start to run on it.
Your warranty will protect your investment and quality treadmills
will include a warranty. (You shouldn't have to pay extra for a
treadmill warranty - unless you want to, of course!)
Cushioning is the ability of the treadmill to absorb the force of your
step. Higher cushioning means lower impact on your joints and
ligaments. Cushioning is extremely important as poor cushioning
can cause injury and muscle strain
#3) Know What YOU Need When Reviewing Treadmills
Many people get sold on all of the 'neat' features of the treadmill -
but don't ever consider if they'll really use them.
For example we'd all love to own a commercial-grade, luxury
treadmill - but for many people, it's MORE than they need. On the
other hand, a serious runner might actually need that kind of
stability and cushioning in a treadmill.
If you don't really care about 30 workout programs, why
pay extra
for them? If you know your 6'2" son will be running on the
treadmill, remember to look for one with a longer running area and
adequate user weight capacity.
By knowing what you you need before comparing treadmills, you'll
save yourself a lot of time and frustration.
So there you have it - keep these 3 points in mind when making
treadmill comparisons and you'll be well on your way to making an
excellent treadmill purchase! Enjoy and have fun!
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