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!
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:
Intended Treadmill Use
– walking or running exercise?
It’s important to choose the right type of treadmill for your intended
use. Some treadmills are designed specifically
for basic walking while others are designed for more intensive running.
Generally speaking, the lower-priced treadmills tend to have a
low-powered motor and a smaller running deck which is ok for walking exercise
but would be no good for taking the impact or the stride length required for
running.
If you intend to use the treadmill more for running exercise, then you
would need a heavier-duty treadmill with a more powerful motor that’s capable
of taking the extra pounding and one with a longer running belt/deck to accommodate
the longer stride length.
Treadmill Motor
Power
A higher-powered motor is generally considered to be more reliable than
a lower-powered one as it doesn’t have to work as hard to produce the same
results.
A low-powered motor is ok for walking exercise but a higher-powered one
is needed to cope with the more heavy-duty use of running exercise.
Also it’s best to choose a treadmill with a higher-powered motor if the
treadmill is likely to be used for intensive use or by a heavier person as the
motor will be able to cope better with the heavier load.
Treadmill HP / CHP
Motor Power
Treadmill motors are measured in HP (horsepower). Some manufacturers label the motor power
differently, i.e. either in HP (peak horsepower) or CHP (continuous
horsepower). Let’s explain the
difference between HP and CHP so you don’t confuse one for the other when you’re
looking at buying a treadmill:
·
HP (Peak horsepower)
=
the top output limit that a motor can reach
·
CHP (Continuous horsepower) = the power a motor
can comfortable sustain over a prolonged period of continuous use
Looking at the above explanation of the difference between HP and CHP,
you can now understand why a given horsepower rating on the same treadmill
could be labelled differently. For
example, the same treadmill could be given a motor rating of 6 HP (peak
horsepower) and also a rating of 4 CHP (continuous horsepower).
As you would expect, the lower-priced treadmills tend to have a
lower-powered HP motor rating, typically around 1-2 HP and are best suited to
walking exercise and light use.
If you’re looking to buy a treadmill for more intensive use and running
exercise, then it stands to reason that you’ll need a treadmill with a higher HP
motor rating.
Treadmill Running
Belt / Deck Size
A small-sized running belt/deck is ok for walking but you’ll need a
longer treadmill belt/deck for running exercise.
Along with the length of the running deck, it’s also worth checking the
width of the deck as you’ll be surprised how different treadmills can vary in
the space provided. Bear in mind how
much space you need not just to accommodate your stride length but also how
much space you need between you and the treadmill’s handrails etc.
Treadmill Running
Belt Thickness & Cushioning
 |
| Treadmill deck with shock absorbing cushioning system |
Treadmill belt thickness is generally measured in “ply” with the
lower-priced treadmills have a thinner belt measuring 1 or 2 ply whereas the
higher-range treadmills tend to have a thicker belt of 3 ply or more.
Some of the lower-priced treadmills don’t have any cushioning system at
all whereas the higher-range treadmills tend to have improved cushioning
systems that help to absorb the impact of your workout.
Your feet, ankles, knees and other joints will thank you for buying a
treadmill with a cushioning system as there will be less jolting impact and
discomfort on your body while still getting an effective workout!
Treadmill Speed
Range
Be sure to check out a treadmill’s speed range before buying a treadmill
as you’ll be surprised at how the speed range can vary widely on different
treadmills.
Some of the lower-priced treadmills only operate at a maximum speed
range of up to 4 or 5 mph which is ok for walking. Other treadmills offer speed ranges up to
around 6 or 7 mph for light jogging while the higher-end treadmills can go up
to 10 or 12 mph or higher for more intensive running.
It’s also worth checking a treadmill’s starting speed level and the
speed increment level changes. For example,
some treadmills may enable you to increase the speed at 0.5 mph increments whereas
other treadmills may have higher increment levels at 1 mph.
Treadmill Incline
Range
 |
| Handrail controls for electronically adjusting incline & speed range |
Before buying a treadmill, check out the range of incline levels and the
degrees at which the incline changes as it can vary widely between different
models.
You may find that some of the lower-priced treadmills don’t offer an
incline range at all but most do albeit in a limited way on the cheaper models.
So with the lower-priced treadmills you are more likely to have to
adjust the incline manually whereas with the higher-end treadmills the incline
is more likely to be electronically controlled and you can change the incline
with a simple push of a button.
Treadmill User
Weight Capacity
Be sure to take note of the stated user weight capacity of a treadmill
before buying. The user weight limit is
important to adhere to for the effective running and long-term durability of
your treadmill and its motor.
Generally speaking, the lower-priced and smaller treadmills have a lower
user weight limit than the higher-end treadmills.
If you’re over the recommended user weight limit for a treadmill, you
will put excess strain on both the motor and the treadmill belt and it will
struggle to work effectively, resulting in possible squeaky and jolty action
with the likelihood of breaking down completely.
Bearing this in mind, if you’re close to the edge of a recommended user
weight limit on a treadmill, it may be wise to upgrade to a treadmill in a
higher category.
 |
| Treadmill Folding Deck |
If you don’t have much space in your home, it may be worth considering
buying a treadmill with a folding deck system.
These are a great space-saving idea for when the treadmill is not in
use!
Treadmills with folding decks are available across the spectrum but the
way the deck folds up may vary depending on the price category your treadmill
sits in, i.e. with a lower-priced treadmill you may have to lift the deck up
manually whereas in the higher-end categories the folding deck is likely to be
electronically operated for ease of use.
Manual or Electric
Treadmill
Electric or motorized treadmills generally tend to offer more fluid
smooth motion compared to a manually operated treadmill and are available
across all the price categories.
Manual treadmills tend to fall into the lower-priced categories but they
do have an advantage in that you don’t have to worry about trying to find a
space to place them near a wall power socket!
Treadmill Console,
Programs, Heart-rate Monitors, Bluetooth & Other Features
 |
| LCD Console with tablet holder |
The display screen can vary between consoles with some having a plain
grey/black/white screen while others will have a blue backlit LCD type screen
that’s easier on the eyes. Most screens
will display at least all the basic stats you need such as time, speed,
distance, calories and heart-rate (if the treadmill offers heart-rate
monitoring).
Some of the lower-priced treadmills don’t offer heart-rate monitoring
but many do. The cheaper treadmills may
only offer pulse-grip heart-rate monitoring while the higher-end treadmills may
offer telemetry monitoring for more accurate heart-rate monitoring.
Becoming more popular, many of the higher-end treadmills now offer
Bluetooth connectivity so you can connect your own mobile device to online
fitness tracking apps. Some of the more
expensive treadmills also offer iFit technology (subscription required) for
additional workouts by qualified trainers and Google Maps training routes
around the world.
Other features typically found on the higher-end treadmills may include
sound systems with speakers and MP3 input, cooling fans, USB charging ports,
tablet holders and more.
The higher-end treadmills are also more likely to have quick-touch
control buttons in the handrails for quick and easy speed and incline level changes
instead of having to go into the console.
Overall Treadmill
Size
Make sure you take note of the dimensions of a treadmill before
buying. Consider the footprint it will take
up – treadmills can look much smaller in a store than they will in your own
home! It’s always worth getting the
treadmill dimensions and measuring the space where you want to put it in your
home to make sure it fits with enough space around it for you to use the
treadmill safely.
Treadmill
Maintenance
Bear in mind that in order to keep your treadmill working in tip-top
condition it may require a little maintenance from time to time such as lubrication
etc as instructed in the manufacturer’s manual.
To help keep the treadmill in good working condition, it’s best to place
it in an area of your home that is free from high amounts of dust, dirt or damp. High moisture levels and debris often
associated with garages for example could affect a treadmill’s electronics and
eventually stop it from working.
N.B.: It’s always advisable to
consult your doctor or health care professional before undertaking any new exercise
regime.
*Prices/discounts/shipping
indicated correct at time of writing/publishing and may be subject to change
anytime.
Related articles:
- 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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- Bowflex TreadClimber TC200, Review
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