What To Know When Buying A Treadmill [UPDATED]
The motor's continuous horsepower (CHP) may be more important for walkers than runners. "When you're running, there are moments in time when you're off the belt. But walking, for the most part, your body and the soles of your feet are [always] in contact," says Colleen Logan, VP of marketing at Icon Fitness, the parent company of NordicTrack. This can create more resistance on the belt, which can drag on the motor and potentially slow it down or wear it out more quickly. Walking workouts may also last longer than running ones, which is another reason to look for a decently powerful motor. "When you're working for an hour on the treadmill, that's a lot of continuous strain on the motor," says Logan.
what to know when buying a treadmill
If you're planning on using the treadmill for running, your first consideration should be belt size. You'll be happiest with a longer, wider belt, as your stride is longer when you run than when you walk, so your legs need more room than you think. You may also be moving from side to side without noticing. "Some people naturally sway a little bit [when they run], especially beginner runners, and when you have more room, it's a lot more comfortable," says Logan. The belt should be at least 18 inches wide and 48 to 54 inches long, though taller runners may want to look for something that's about 22 inches wide and 60 inches long.
A few factors to consider when shopping for a treadmill are budget, space, and your workout goals. If you are tight on space, you may want to consider a smaller sized treadmill deck, and folding capabilities. It is also important to look at features such as motor capacity, weight capacity, incline/decline settings, deck cushioning, and workout programs.
Given that most of the best treadmills for runners cost upwards of $1000 or more, buying a treadmill for your home is a sizable investment, which puts that much more pressure on the buying process.
In this guide, we will provide tips on how to buy a treadmill for your home, including what factors to consider and what specifications runners should look for when buying a treadmill to use at home.
Although there are plenty of additional factors to consider when buying a treadmill, which will be discussed later, these are some of the basic but essential questions to consider in the preliminary stages of buying a treadmill.
If you are only planning to occasionally run on it when the weather is particularly bad or you have a packed schedule with just a small window of time to train, you might not need the most robust treadmill nor the longest warranty.
Many home treadmills are advertised as being transportable, meaning that they have wheels on the bottom of them and they may fold up when not in use, but they still take up a significant amount of room and are not particularly easy to move around.
Some walking treadmills do foldl down completely flat and can be stored under a bed or couch. Either way, you should look at the dimensions of the treadmill one fold it up if you are looking for a machine that takes up little room when not in use.
If you are planning to do a lot of your training on a treadmill, particularly if you are training for races that have notable downhill portions, such as the Boston Marathon, this may be an important feature and a valuable investment when it comes to buying your treadmill.
A manual treadmill, as the name suggests, will only move when you start to run. It is powered only by the energy created by you, so the faster you go, the faster it goes. While the benefits include not having to plug the treadmill in and being a lot cheaper, you also need to consider the fact that there will be no emergency stop or workout programs.
Folding treadmills are becoming more and more popular due to the space saving perk. When you want to workout, simply press a release button or hatch. The treadmill will fold down. You do your workout and fold back up to store away. In fact folding treadmills are becoming the norm when it comes to domestic equipment.
The frame is another aspect of the treadmill that should be looked into more closely. You will notice that the more expensive the treadmill, the sturdier the frame that supports it is. This is a common compromise that budget treadmill manufacturers make in order to sell at a lower price. A poor frame creates a feeling of instability and increases the noise when in use. Therefore, make sure that the treadmill you select has a strong and durable frame.
In relation to safety features, the average treadmill should include a safety key, hand rails and the option to emergency stop. The safety key is used to ensure the machine stops if the user gets too close to the end of the running belt. This reduces the risk of falling of the treadmill. The handrails offer support in the event of a loss of balance. An emergency stop button give the user the freedom to push their limits with confidence that when they are ready to stop they can stop.
If you don't want the weather to be an excuse for putting off your workout, a treadmill is an ideal piece of home fitness equipment. You can run and walk regularly without worrying about rain, snow, or extreme heat. But buying a treadmill is a serious investment, and with so many options available, the process can be overwhelming. The key is to focus on your specific fitness needs, so you wind up with the right treadmill for you.
When shopping for a treadmill, it's important to consider several features to ensure you get the best value for your money. In this video, Jake from Bandit Fitness Equipment discusses what to keep in mind when buying a treadmill.
Overall, the quality of the machine should increase as you increase in price and model. Keep these tips in mind when shopping for a treadmill to ensure you get the most out of your purchase. And when you're ready to try some out and get a hands-on perspective, don't forget to swing by our Showroom in Clearwater, FL!
In the absence of Ms. Winfrey making dreams come true handing out free fitness equipment, you are probably wondering when is the best time to buy a treadmill? In short, whenever you are ready! No matter the time of year, there is usually a great deal on home gym equipment around the corner. However, we can identify a few key periods where we often see the best prices.
Folding treadmills will help if you need to use the floor space when the treadmill is at rest, but remember to give yourself enough space to maneuver around the machine in order to fold it up. You might also find some under-desk treadmills that are meant to be stowed under furniture.
The best treadmill is the one that fits your needs when it comes to price, features, programming and safety features. We have summed up the best treadmills for home for most kinds of runners and walkers. This will help you find the best brand/model for your intended use.
Naturally, you can expect a certain amount of noise when working out on a treadmill. However, there are certain models that produce far less noise than others, largely due to their motor type. DC motors are typically quieter than AC ones and can help to reduce the amount of sound produced while running or jogging.
Having a cushioned deck can be a great asset when it comes to exercising on a treadmill. Not only does this reduce the impact your strides have on the machine, but it also makes for a more comfortable running experience by providing extra support and cushioning.
When looking for an ergonomically designed treadmill, you should look out for models with adjustable foot pads and shock-absorbing systems. These are often found in mid to high-end machines and can make a big difference when it comes to your performance.
When you have a safety key in place, this means that if you were to slip off the treadmill or trip over it at any point, the machine will automatically stop. This is a valuable feature which can save your life in some cases and should be checked for when deciding on a model.
Treadmills take up a lot of room, so make sure you have adequate space in your home. The footprint and necessary buffer zone of most treadmills measures about 7 feet by 5 feet. You might want to place your treadmill near a window to get fresh air. (If you put your treadmill in a garage, keep in mind that dust and grime can lessen its performance and expedite the need for maintenance.) Collapsible treadmills can be temporarily stored against a wall, in a closet or even under a bed when not in use, but not all fold-up models are suited for high-performance running.
We paid attention to noise. Though all of the treadmills were loud, some were whinier or produced louder footfall noises than others. Some also made annoyingly shrill or loud recorded sounds, which we could often turn down or off, when they were turning on or gearing up.
The XTERRA TRX 3500 is a great option if you're looking for a more affordable treadmill and tight on space. It's built with a durable steel frame, has a max speed of 12 MPH and max incline of 12%, the motor is quiet, and it's foldable. With Lift Assist and Safe Drop features that make it easy and practical to fold up and set up between uses, it can be easily stored in an upright position when it isn't in use. Built-in wheels make for easy transport, too.
A treadmill is a versatile and effective fitness machine, though buying a new treadmill can be an expensive option. However if you understand what you're looking for and you do your research on second hand treadmills, you can minimize the risk and save a good deal of money.
The benefit of buying a new treadmill, compared to buying a secondhand one, is that you get a warranty, the parts are less likely to wear out too quickly, and you will get the latest features (see more on buying a new treadmill). However, you can save a lot of money buying a secondhand treadmill, though there is a risk involved whenever we purchase second-hand products of any kind. The following are some key things to be aware of when looking to buy one second hand. 041b061a72