What the consumer reports say about treadmills
Consumer reports suggest that the controls are an important aspect of the treadmill. They suggest a "user friendly" control panel. That means that the controls make sense and they are easy to use. For example, some models (like the EVO 2) have light sensitive controls that all you have to do is wave your fingers over the control panel to change speed, modes, or programs. Consumer reports also suggest that heart rate is displayed on the control panel. They say that the chest straps are more accurate than the finger monitors or the monitors in the hand-grip.
Other features that consumer reports recommend that you look for in a treadmill include the following. Handrails to hold onto while your run or walk. A running belt that is long enough for your stride and an area on either side of the belt where you can step off the machine while it is running. They also suggest that you check the warranty and purchase the extended warranty if the coverage is less than you want.
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Buying advice offered by consumer reports includes the bad news that a runner will need to pay at least $2000 for a treadmill that is going to do the job. They say that cheaper models can't handle the impact of running and often suffer from mechanical problems. They suggest that when choosing a treadmill, you do several things. You want to consider the space you have available for the treadmill, which features you are going to use, and how you are going to use it. Once you have narrowed down your choices, or think you have selected the brand and model you want, they recommend that you go to a store and try it out. They say that every model is a little different so you should try each one out before making your final decision on what to buy.
If you are looking for ratings and reviews but don't want to purchase Consumer Reports proper, you will find that there are plenty of places where you can get them. If you go to the Treadmill Doctor at treadmilldoctor.com, you will find a handy review and rating system. This website offers most brand names and plenty of models for each brand. The layout is a description of each brand and company and then ratings of the treadmills on a 10 point scale. If you have selected a couple of different brands that seem equitable on paper, you might want to see what the Treadmill Doctor reviewers have to say. This site is recommended as having an accurate and comprehensive review of different treadmills and it is not a site that is sponsored by any particular treadmill company so the reviews are probably unbiased.
There are other consumer resources online besides Consumer Reports. Check out Consumer Search and follow link to the treadmill reviews. These reviews are free and there are write-ups on plenty of machines. They offer links to other review sites and articles on treadmills. Their "best of" write-ups include best treadmill for walking, best treadmill for pros, and best treadmill with negative incline. You can also find reviews from running and fitness sources such as Runner's World and Prevention magazine. Doing a Google search for Treadmills and reviews will turn up plenty of resources for consumer reviews.
