Treadmills

 

Treadmill Buying Guide

Why Use a Treadmill?

Most of us are familiar with treadmills, as they are the staple equipment of most commercial gyms. They are popular for a number of reasons, one of the main factors being their flexibility. They are a great way for example to do a cardiovascular workout and burn calories, train for your next marathon, carry out a light aerobic routine, rehabilitation, even just gentle walking. This variety has led to their continued popularity, plus the fact that you can easily use them at home in conjunction with watching your favourite TV programme!

Types of Treadmills

Treadmills fall in the main into two key groups - self powered (Curved treadmills) and motorised.

Here you will very quickly see that you get what you pay for. We will offer you buying tips later but it is essential that you really consider your needs before investing in a treadmill. So what's the difference between a Curved  and a Motorised Running Machine.

A Curved Treadmill

With various curved treadmill options for running, sprinting or interval options or maybe sled style pushing  firstly they don't have a motor to drive the belt. Instead, the user powers the belt by running or walking on it. Secondly the curved surface of the treadmill allows for a more natural running or walking motion, mimicking outdoor conditions.

What are the benefits of using a curved treadmill?

1. Increased calorie burn: Studies have shown that running on a curved treadmill can burn up to 30% more calories compared to running on a traditional flat treadmill.

2. Improved running form: The curved surface of the treadmill encourages users to maintain proper running form, leading to reduced impact on joints and muscles.

3. Enhanced strength training: Running on a curved treadmill engages more muscles, including the core and lower body, resulting in a more effective strength training workout.

4. Better cardiovascular workout: The curved design of the treadmill challenges users to work harder, leading to improved cardiovascular fitness over time.

 

The Motorised Treadmill

A motorised treadmill on the other hand allows you to adjust the speed and difficulty during your workout and availableither folding or fixed bed, so here are some foldable treadmill ideas if space is a premium. It may be worth bearing in mind that boredom is one very big reason why people don't use their gym equipment or stop working out altogether so a machine that offers you features and variety may well be worth taking into account.

What to Consider When Buying a Treadmill

Before you rush out and buy a treadmill there are a number of considerations to make, this will ensure that you spend wisely. Here we list what we consider to be some of the key considerations

What's Your Budget?

Treadmills vary hugely in how much they cost. It could be very easy to get carried away, so be clear before you set out what you want to pay.

What Do You Want to Use The Treadmill For?

This is important as it will help you decide which treadmill features you require. If you are looking for gentle walking and rehab work then your needs will be very different from someone who wants to hone their hill running skills or train for a marathon.

Who Will Be Using the Treadmill?

The answer to this question will determine the quality of treadmill you need. For example you may be the sole user of the treadmill and may want to use it twice a week, your needs will then be very different from a family of four using the treadmill every day.

Where Will the Treadmill Be?

You may have the space for a large commercial style treadmill or your space may necessitate a fold away treadmill. Also think about the weight of the treadmill if you have to place it upstairs in a house or flat.

Weight of the User

This is really important as some treadmills really struggle when user weight goes over 200lbs, so do check the details of the treadmill as to its weight strength. If you are overweight and you choose  a treadmill that is not suitable for your weight and your treadmill breaks your warranty will be voided, so ignore this at your peril!

Size of Motor

This is often referred to as the drive system behind the treadmill. It will have a hp rating-its horsepower. The higher the horsepower the longer the motor will be able to support your weight. Put crudely 1hp will be fine for walking, 1.5 hp will be fine for moderate running and 2hp will be required for a fast runner. But beware here as there is no accepted standard for these ratings so one manufacturers 2.5 could be anothers 1! Essentially when you are on the treadmill you don't want to hear the motor having to work really hard to accommodate what you are doing, all should sound smooth and easy.

Belt

Ensure that the belt of your treadmill is long and wide enough to absorb the pressure you will put on it. But beware-oversized and thick belts  will have a greater surface area and put more pressure on the motor system to work.

Noise

Some manufacturers have worked hard to make their treadmill quiet-this can be important if you don't want to annoy your neighbours. If this is important to you then check for manufacturers who use foam to absorb noise or put steel around the motor area. Direct Current(DC) motors tend to be the quietest.

Great Features to Look For

We could go on all day about the features of a treadmill so here we have highlighted some of the key ones that you may want to consider-they include a feature which tells you how many calories you have burned, heart rate monitors can also be useful here. If music matters to you look for a treadmill which allows you to connect to your mp3 player and if running on an incline matters check out the incline control your treadmill allows you to have.