A-Z Glossary of Treadmill Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 3 (Q-Z)

Quick keys

Quick keys on the treadmill’s console typically allow you to change the speed level without having to delve into the console’s menu system.   Quick controls may also be found on some treadmills’ handrails for quick and easy speed and incline level changes.

Running Belt

The running belt of a treadmill is what you run, jog or walk on.  Different treadmills may have different sized running belts, i.e. some may be shorter and narrower while others may be longer and wider.  The shorter running belts are better suited to walking exercise and are typically found on the lower-end treadmills, whereas the longer running belts are typically found on the mid-range and higher-end treadmills to accommodate the longer stride of running exercise.

RunSocial app

Some of the mid-range to higher-end treadmills offer compatibility with the RunSocial app with which you can sync your own mobile device (phone or tablet) to run alongside other people from all over the world in real time, with a wide range of locations and routes to choose from.

Self-generating power

A treadmill with self-generating power utilizes the energy of your workout as you exercise to keep the treadmill’s batteries charged up so you don’t need to continue to replace batteries or plug the treadmill into an electrical power socket.

A-Z Glossary of Treadmill Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 2 (H-P)

Handrail controls

Some of the higher-end treadmills may have in-reach handrail controls from where you can change the speed or incline level with the simple press of a button instead of having to go into the console.

Heart monitor

The heart-monitor measures your heart-rate as you exercise to help you stay within your target heart-rate zone.  There are two different methods of heart-rate monitoring used on treadmills – either pulse grip sensors integrated into the treadmill’s handrails or via telemetric /Bluetooth wireless chest strap.  Heart-rate monitoring may not be available on some of the lower-end treadmills, whereas the mid-range to high-end treadmills may offer one or both of the stated options.

HEX cushioning

Some treadmills feature HEX cushioning (hexagonally shaped cell cushioning) under the running belt which helps to absorb the impact of your workout for a more comfortable run.  The more HEX-cells there are, the better the cushioning will be.

Horsepower (HP)

A treadmill’s motor energy is measured in horsepower (HP), i.e. a treadmill’s motor is rated by the amount of horsepower it can provide.  Therefore, the larger and more powerful motors will have a higher HP rating.  The more high-powered the motor is, the more reliable it is likely to be as it doesn’t have to work as hard to produce the same results as a lower-powered motor.

HP (Peak horsepower)

HP or Peak Horsepower is the top output limit that a treadmill’s motor can reach.

A-Z Glossary of Treadmill Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 1 (A-G)

AC adaptor

The AC adaptor enables you to connect the treadmill to an electrical power outlet.  Some of the lower-end treadmills are not electric powered, i.e. they are manually operated and use batteries to operate the console.

Belt

The belt of a treadmill is what you run, jog or walk on.  Different treadmills may have different sized belts, i.e. some may be shorter and narrower while others may be longer and wider.  The shorter belts are better suited to walking exercise and are typically found on the lower-end treadmills, whereas the longer belts are typically found on the mid-range and higher-end treadmills to accommodate the longer stride of running exercise.

Belt Thickness

A treadmill’s belt thickness is usually measured in what is known as “ply thickness”.  The lower-end treadmills typically have thinner belts of maybe 1 or 2 ply compared to the mid-range to higher-end treadmills which tend to have thicker belts of maybe 3 or 4 ply or more.  The thicker the belt, the more comfortable it will to run on.

Bluetooth connectivity

Bluetooth connectivity on a treadmill can be used by different manufacturers for one or both of the following:  wireless chest-strap heart-rate monitoring, or wirelessly connecting to your own mobile device (tablet or phone) for data transfer and/or access to online fitness apps.

CHP (Continuous Horsepower)

CHP or Continuous Horsepower is the power a treadmill’s motor can comfortably sustain over a prolonged period of continuous use.

Treadmill Price Range Guide

As you would expect, generally speaking the more you pay for a treadmill, the better quality and more features you get, but don’t be fooled by manufacturers’ jargon – why pay more for a treadmill with features you don’t need and won’t use?!

Obviously you want to buy a treadmill that is up to the task of keeping you active at your desired fitness level, whether it’s walking, jogging or running (different sized treadmill decks are designed to accommodate different stride lengths with the cheaper treadmills generally having the shorter deck lengths more suited to walking and the more expensive treadmills having a longer deck more suited for running).

Additionally your treadmill choice could be dependent on a number of options that are important to you and your fitness goals such as program/speed range and amount of incline levels to keep you challenged.

Before purchasing a treadmill, you also need to make sure that you are well within the manufacturer’s stated user weight limit to ensure it operates smoothly and efficiently without struggling, otherwise it could result in jerky jolty movements and ultimately break down.  Going hand-in-hand with user weight limit is the power of the motor – generally speaking, the more powerful the motor is, the more pounding it can handle!

Having taken the above considerations into account, one of the most important things to look at is your intended usage of the treadmill, i.e. activity intensity (walking, jogging or running) and amount of time spent working out, as this will dictate the overall quality of the treadmill you need and this is what we are going to look at with regards to our Price Range Guide.

Logically, if you’re intending to use a treadmill for frequent heavy running / intensive workouts then the lower priced treadmills will not stand up to the pounding you’ll give it!  On the other hand, if your intention is to use a treadmill for occasional walking or light jogging workouts then you’d be wasting your hard-earned cash paying out for a treadmill in the higher-end categories.

So based on your intended workout usage, let’s take a look at the table below to see which treadmills typically fall into which price range to help you decide on which category you should be looking at for your individual workout needs: 

Treadmill Buying Tips, What to Look for in a Treadmill

If you’re thinking of buying a treadmill, but not sure what you should be looking for, this article will give you some pointers as to what’s important and what’s not depending on your needs!

With such a wide range of treadmills from basic to advanced machines available on the market today, it can be confusing deciding on which one to choose.

Initial considerations may include how much space you have in your home or gym, your intended use of the treadmill (i.e. light walking or more intense running) and of course how much money you have to spend.  Knowing what you need and what to look for ensures you get the best treadmill for you and your budget!

It’s easy to be taken in by manufacturer’s jargon and so-called feature-rich treadmills but the overall build quality of a treadmill is not to be overlooked and is of course important for long-lasting durability.  When looking at features, you need to make sure you will actually use all the stated features otherwise you could be wasting money which could have been spent on a better built treadmill.

The most important things to look at when buying a treadmill include the motor (HP power), running deck size, belt thickness and cushioning, speed and incline range, and user weight capacity.  We’ll look at these individual points in more detail and explain why they are important below.

Other features to consider depending on your needs may include program variety, console and display screen type, heart-rate monitoring options, Bluetooth connectivity, and folding deck options.  We will also look at these and other features in more detail below.

So let’s take a more in-depth look at all of the above considerations and more to help you decide on the best type of treadmill to buy for your personal needs:

About Treadmill Mag

Welcome to my Treadmill Mag blog.  I hope you find my reviews and articles on a great range of treadmills helpful and interesting.

I aim to cover a wide range of treadmills across the entry-level, mid-range and high-end categories for both home use and the commercial gym.  There are many different types of treadmills to choose from across the spectrum, each with varying features which will be explained as we go along.

There's something for everyone ranging from basic treadmills for walking exercise up to the advanced heavy-duty treadmills for more intensive running workouts!  Many treadmills feature folding decks to save space when not in use - ideal for home use.

I aim to cover information on both new and older treadmills, comparing differences where possible so you can see what's new and updated as well as features and specifications on stand-alone models.  I hope my research, tips and advice will help you to choose the best treadmill for your needs and your budget!

With such a wide range of treadmills and features to choose from, my articles on "Treadmill buying tips, what to look for in a treadmill" and "A-Z of treadmill jargon and features" should also prove valuable in your quest to get the perfect treadmill for your individual needs.

Treadmills can give a super effective workout in the comfort of your own home, saving you both time and costly gym fees.  And if you normally like to walk, jog or run outdoors then a treadmill offers you a way of keeping active if the weather prevents you from exercising outside, especially useful in the winter months!

Here's a motivating fitness tip for you - just a 30 minute jog on a treadmill could burn around 465 calories for women or around 566 calories for men, depending on the intensity of the workout.  To push yourself further, consider a treadmill with a bigger incline range that simulates running up steeper hills to keep you even more challenged!

You can keep up-to-date with all my latest Treadmill Mag articles by subscribing to my posts or by following me in one of the following ways (just click on or tick the relevant box in the left-hand panel of this blog):

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I trust you find my articles and reviews on Treadmill Mag helpful and enjoy reading my posts.  Thank you for your interest!



N.B.  It’s always advisable to consult your doctor or health care professional before undertaking any new exercise regime.


Related articles:

• Treadmill BuyingTips, What to Look for in a Treadmill
• Treadmill Price Range Guide
• A-Z Glossary of Treadmill Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 1 (A-G)
• A-Z Glossary of Treadmill Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 2 (H-P)
• A-Z Glossary of Treadmill Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 3 (Q-Z)

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