Treadmills: Feature Article
A treadmill is a wonderful way to get your body into shape. Treadmills are easy to use and provide an effective workout. Walking it the most natural process your body can do next to sleeping and eating. New pieces of exercise equipment hit the market all the time, but the treadmill is the one piece of exercise equipment that has remained the same throughout the years.
How do you begin shopping for a treadmill?
There are many factors that you need to consider when you decide to purchase a treadmill. Do you know what belt size you need, how much horsepower your treadmill will need, and what about deck cushioning? Let's go over the basic aspects of a treadmill:
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Horsepower - When you begin testing treadmills, you need to pay close attention to the transfer of power from walking to running. The transition should feel smooth and easily shift. There are a few other things you need to take into consideration. First, how heavy are the users going to be? A person who weighs over 200 lbs. will create a heavier impact on the belt. A heavier individual causes the motor to work harder to maintain a consistent speed. You should look for a motor that says "continuous-duty" rating; this will tell you the true capacity of the motor of a treadmill. A good treadmill should have a continuous duty rating over 1.5 horsepower.
Helpful Resources: Key Treadmill Information This web site provides great information on how to shop for a treadmill. It discusses key information you need to know about buying a treadmill such as the frame, belt, incline, and speed. Treadmill How to Shop for a Treadmill Treadmill Components Quality Treadmills Treadmill Workouts Pros and Cons of Motorized Treadmills Benefits of Treadmills |
Belt - A good treadmill will have a walking belt of 18-19 inches wide and 48-52 inches in length. The bigger the belt, the more walking surface it creates and the harder your motor will have to work. Do not buy a treadmill that has a belt of less than 16 inches wide. A good belt won't need a lot of maintenance and should allow you to walk without stepping on the motor housing or falling off the end. When you are testing treadmills, make sure you can adjust the tension and tracking on your own and make sure you learn how to properly lubricate the belt.
Deck Cushioning - The deck is one of the most important pieces of a quality treadmill. Most treadmills fail because they overheat. A quality deck will operate at a lower temperature, allowing the treadmill to stay cooler and last longer. The only thing you should ever need to do with the deck of your treadmill is to wipe off the dust. Any deck that is a layer of plastic over wood is terrible, a good deck with have multiple layers that are designed for heat-resistance. This will make the deck durable and last longer.
Noise - Any piece of exercise equipment that makes loud or obnoxious noise will not be used. It would be a shame to spend all that money, use the treadmill once only to discover a loud squeak. A treadmill should be expected to make a small noise, but not enough that you can hear it two rooms away. The first sign of a poorly constructed treadmill is one that is overly noisy. A quieter treadmill will mean you will have less wear and less friction on the treadmill.
Speed - Another decision you need to make when you shop for a treadmill is the speed of the treadmill. Standard treadmills run from 0 to 10 m.p.h. Before you buy the treadmill, test out all the speeds and find one that will match your pace. The starting speed of a treadmill should be 0.5 m.p.h. or lower so the user doesn't get jerked off the treadmill when it is started.
Warranty - The standard warranty on a treadmill is lifetime on the frame, 3 years on the parts and one year on labor. Look for a treadmill that will guarantee 2 years on moving parts like the belts and roller. Some companies will offer you an extended warranty plan on labor, which is a good investment in case something happens to the machine in 2 years. A cheaper treadmill will have a cheaper warranty plan, usually 90 days. Unfortunately you won't get a lot of use out of your treadmill in 90 days so it is pretty hard to decide if you have purchased a quality machine or not.
Incline - Depending upon the type of treadmill you purchase, there are a number of different incline options. When you are evaluating the type of incline you want, determine what is most convenient for you. Some treadmills have electric inclines, worm screws, gas shocks, or manual cranks. Whatever one you pick, make sure it is quiet and doesn't cause the treadmill to shake or wobble when it is at its peak incline. Some treadmills have personal training programs that include electric incline. The electric incline is the best because it comes with its own separate motor. A quality treadmill will have an incline of at least 10%.
Resilience - The impact of walking usually affects your knees and other joints directly. Treadmills are now coming with shock absorbers to help limit the impact on your knees, ankles, and feet. The lower the impact, the better it is for your body. Some treadmills include cushioned deck construction while others include shock absorbers. When you are walking on a treadmill, it should yield to the impact of your stride but it shouldn't be too bouncy or cushioned.
Heart Rate Monitor - Most treadmills come with a standard heart rate monitor, but if you are a patient with a heart problem, you need to have a heart rate monitor that interacts with the treadmill automatically. A good monitor will be able to automatically control the incline for your target heart rate and help you maintain control of your workout. The common heart rate monitor obtains your pulse through some hand grips while others may have a finger or ear clip. The best heart rate monitor is one that has a chest strap. The chest strap will electronically monitor your pulse and send electronic signals to the treadmill. You will be provided with an accurate E.C.G.
Additional Features - Depending upon the type of user you are, you may want to look into the different options you have. Some treadmills come with a built in television or DVD player, while others have an iPod docking station and a cooling fan. The control panel on the treadmill should be computerized and allow for personalized workouts. The high-end treadmill will allow you to adjust the speed, incline, distance, time, and your heart rate. All treadmills should come with an emergency shutoff that attaches to you and will be pulled out by a string if something happens. The control panel should be bright enough to read, but simple enough to use by anyone. The more money you spend, the more features you will get. A high-end treadmill will have a console that tells you if there is a mechanical problem with the treadmill.
Price - This is another important option you need to consider when you purchase a treadmill. The price ranges generally break down to budget ($500 to $1,500), mid-range ($1,500 to $3,000) and quality ($, 3000 and up). You need to plan on spending at least $1,000 if you expect to get a quality treadmill.
Needs - When you are testing all the different treadmills, you really need to ask yourself if the treadmills are meeting your needs. For example, you are a middle-aged individual who plans on exercising 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week. Since you just want to tone up a little and get healthier, you don't need to purchase the $2,500 treadmill that is built for a marathon runner. Instead, select a treadmill that can go up to at least 6 m.p.h. and has all the extra features (like a cooling fan) that you need. If you have a set budget, stay within your budget by only testing the treadmills that fit in the budget. If you start out on the $4,000 treadmill with personal training programs and interactive menus, you will only be disappointed in the "standard" treadmill that you can afford. Best advice you can take is "if you can't buy it, don't even look at it."
Users - One important option you need to look at with the treadmill is the number of regular users it can support. If a single user that weighs 110lbs uses the treadmill, they will need a much different treadmill from a family of 4 that has people weighing over 200 pounds. Normal use of a treadmill is considered using it up to 30 minutes per day, every day of the week. If you plan to use your treadmill more than this, you need to move up to a higher grade treadmill. For every 30 minutes extra you plan to use the treadmill, you need to step up to a higher grade. A user weighing 100 pounds and a user weighing 200 pounds make a difference to how well the treadmill will run. For every 50 pounds of weight over 200 pounds, you need to go up one level in treadmill quality.
If you weigh around 200 or 250 pounds expect to pay $1,000 to $1,500 for a treadmill. Many treadmills have problems with a user who is over 200 pounds who runs on a daily basis, so be sure to budget a little more money. Another factor you need to consider is the workout time. Again, a normal workout is considered to be 30 minutes per day per person. If you plan on using the treadmill more than this, go up one level for each extra 30 minutes of use.
