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.