Ultimate Treadmill Buying Guide - Part 1
Treadmills are the most popular piece of home gym equipment sold today.
The popularity of treadmills probably stems from the versatility they offer users.
Just about anyone can use a treadmill and walking and running are the most natural form of exercise.
The only drawback for some people looking to buy a treadmill is that they can be pretty expensive; however, there are low-budget treadmills available.
Again, you just have to decide what you want to get out of your home gym.
Check out the information below to determine if a treadmill is the right choice for you and what features to look for to get the most bang for your buck.
1.
Price As I already said, treadmills are among the priciest choices in home gym equipment.
Unlike a lot of other equipment, the saying, "you get what you pay for" holds true when buying a treadmill.
Typically, treadmills fall into three categories; budget, mid-range and high-end.
Consumer Reports gives the following guidelines for these three categories.
Motor The motor is the most important thing to consider when you're evaluating treadmills.
The motor is the component of the treadmill that controls the belt.
The bigger and heavier the motor is, the more of a beating it can withstand, and the longer it will last.
Treadmill motors are generally rated by the amount of horsepower they produce.
You'll find that there are two categories of horsepower, continuous duty and peak power.
Continuous duty - This is the important number to look at.
Continuous duty horsepower is the amount of power the motor will generate for sustained periods of intense use.
It doesn't accurately reflect treadmill usage, which requires sustained power, not a one time power surge.
The popularity of treadmills probably stems from the versatility they offer users.
Just about anyone can use a treadmill and walking and running are the most natural form of exercise.
The only drawback for some people looking to buy a treadmill is that they can be pretty expensive; however, there are low-budget treadmills available.
Again, you just have to decide what you want to get out of your home gym.
Check out the information below to determine if a treadmill is the right choice for you and what features to look for to get the most bang for your buck.
1.
Price As I already said, treadmills are among the priciest choices in home gym equipment.
Unlike a lot of other equipment, the saying, "you get what you pay for" holds true when buying a treadmill.
Typically, treadmills fall into three categories; budget, mid-range and high-end.
Consumer Reports gives the following guidelines for these three categories.
- Budget treadmills: Usually cost anywhere from $300 to $700 and should be used for walking only.
- Mid-range treadmills: These are priced between $800 and $1,800 and are used for a combination of walking and light running.
- High-end treadmills: Priced at anywhere from $1,900 to $3,500, these machines are designed for serious runners and can generally withstand the wear and tear of daily use.
Motor The motor is the most important thing to consider when you're evaluating treadmills.
The motor is the component of the treadmill that controls the belt.
The bigger and heavier the motor is, the more of a beating it can withstand, and the longer it will last.
Treadmill motors are generally rated by the amount of horsepower they produce.
You'll find that there are two categories of horsepower, continuous duty and peak power.
Continuous duty - This is the important number to look at.
Continuous duty horsepower is the amount of power the motor will generate for sustained periods of intense use.
- Walkers should get a 2.
0 continuous duty horsepower rating - Joggers should look for a 2.
5 rating - Serious runners should look for 3.
0 rating or above.
It doesn't accurately reflect treadmill usage, which requires sustained power, not a one time power surge.
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