Thursday, June 11, 2009

What To Look For In A New Treadmill

By Nick Gellar

Treadmills outsell any other form of exercise equipment on the market. That's because running is a workout that everyone knows, and knows is a great way to get that burn.

Those looking into buying a treadmill might notice that there is an abundance of models to choose from. Starting at approximately $700 and up to almost $3500, it is not a small purchase by any means. That is why you will do research before buying. But after you've determined what your demands are, there are a few things to look at when you start shopping.

The treadmill motor is probably the main focus of your research and if you do nothing else at least buy a motor that fits your demands. If you plan on using the treadmill regularly, like daily, most people agree 2.5 horsepower is a minimum.

The next thing to look at will determine whether you enjoy running on your treadmill. Take a look at the deck. It is the part that you will be pounding on and sits just underneath the belt. Ideally, there should be rubber or polymer cushions under the deck. More shock absorption will make your running easier.

For a range of workouts, and to increase the intensity, most treadmills come with an incline feature. Look out for this when shopping because the range of the inclination depends on the model of the treadmill. For more strenuous workouts, the incline simulates running uphill.

People love numbers as much as they love to know that they are making effort and progress. To measure effort most treadmills come with a heart rate monitor built into the machine. It works by reading your pulse off your hands when you grab the rail in front of you. Of course this isn't a natural way to run so only do this occasionally to check your heart rate and otherwise let your hands swing naturally as they should.

Some have calorie calculators so you can see the number of calories you're burning, some people find it encouraging to see their calories burned. Although, I've heard some trainer who are versed in these things claim the calorie burned numbers are grossly optimistic to keep the consumers happy.

The number one thing to look for in a treadmill is the warranty. Since not all treadmills are built equal, at least the warranty can protect you from any nasty surprises. Expect 10 years on the motor and 3 years for replacement parts on standard machines. Buy an extension if you think you need it.

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1 comment:

Paz123 said...

I too think the most important, and expensive, part of the treadmill is going to be the motor.