If you are looking to buy a treadmill, you will be joining two thirds of Americans that work out at home. Here are some tips to help you pick the right one.
Things To Consider
Outline Your Expectations
The only way you purchase a top treadmill is if you outline your fitness expectations in advance. Outline how you expect to use this treadmill and the results you want and you will be able to narrow down the options.
Pay Attention To Treadmill Size
Verify that your treadmill is going to fit in the space that you plan to place it in. There will likely be a treadmill that fits any of your space constraints.
Ergonomics Are Also Important
Find an appropriately sized treadmill deck that fits your running style and your stride.
Pour Concrete Around Your Budget
When you set a budget stick to it like glue. It’s very easy to purchase much more expensive treadmills then you have the money for when you focus on bells and whistles.
Media Hookups Are Essential
Top treadmills include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, USB connectivity, and charging ports for the media that gets you through every workout.
Adjustability Is A Game Changing Feature
The best treadmills available can be adjusted to meet your fitness goals and your workout style. Adjustability is worth paying extra for.
Picking The Right Model
Budget Folding Treadmills
The cheapest of all the treadmill options, these units fold up for easy storage and usually feature a shorter running deck.
Folding Treadmills
Often times the “sweet spot” between price and performance, these treadmills are a little larger, a little more feature-rich, just as easy to fold and store.
Non-Folding treadmills
The kinds of treadmills you will find at high-end fitness centers that these treadmills are the most expensive but also the most feature-rich. For serious athletes and those that want to dramatically improve their health.
Features To Look For
Built-In Exercise Programs Speed Things Up
Preprogrammed exercise programs help you speed up your training and improve your results. The ability to program your own workout programs is a big bonus.
Heart Rate Monitors Are Essential
If you use this cardio equipment for weight loss you will need a heart rate monitor to tell you when you’re in the fat burning zone.
Easy To Manipulate Controls
A treadmill shouldn’t require a degree to operate. Simplified controls are the way to go.
Comfortable Hand And Foot Rails
Especially important for those that plan on pushing their physical limits. The want to jump off of your treadmill at times, in these make this safe to do.
Kill Switches Should Be Mandatory
A tethered safety switch that shuts your treadmill off if you walk away should be a mandatory feature and is well worth paying extra for.
Inclining/Declining Deck
A treadmill deck that can incline or decline will help you challenge your body more effectively.
Best Brands
Horizon Fitness
This company provides quality ellipticals, exercise bikes, and treadmills to fitness centers all over the world as well as a line of affordable treadmills for home gyms.
Landice
Manufacturers of expensive but performance focused treadmills, their products usually cost between $2500 and $6000.
Life Fitness
Another manufacturer of expensive but feature-rich treadmills, these fitness machines are even more expensive with prices between $2000 and almost $8000.
NordicTrack
A brand owned by the Icon Fitness Group (one of the largest manufacturers of fitness equipment on the planet), they offer a broad range of treadmills across most every price point.
Proform
Another Icon Fitness Group brand, this is the entry-level manufacturer of quality fitness treadmills and they are usually priced between 1000 and $2000.