You want to stick with a regular walking or jogging program, but the weather makes you miss too many days or your neighborhood just is not suitable. You do not want to join a gym. So what do you do? Buy a treadmill. Treadmills are the most popular piece of cardio equipment on the market, and they come in a variety of models to suit any lifestyle. With so many choices available, it is difficult to determine which is the most bang for your buck.
Options to Consider
Treadmills are available in both folding and non-folding models. Folding treadmills are a logical choice for small spaces, apartments or offices, as they can easily be stored while not in use. Belt size is an option that runners need to consider. Long strides require more length in the belt platform, and wider belts are safer to limit the chance of stepping off the side. Most commercial grade treadmills have a 20-inch by 60-inch belt size, and more home models are starting to offer that size.
Speed adjustments vary between treadmills. If you are elderly or recovering from an injury, get a treadmill with a minimum speed of no greater than 0.5 mph. Maximum speeds depend on what you will be performing on the treadmill. Runners who will also do sprint work should look for maximum speeds of 12 mph. Otherwise, the standard 10 mph will suffice.
Incline is another important factor to consider. Standard treadmills come with a 10 percent incline, but if you plan for intense training you may prefer a 15 percent grade. Cushioning systems that have received high ratings, motors with at least 2.5 horsepower and higher user weight limits for stability are also options to consider when purchasing a treadmill.
Brands
Just as clothes, shoes, cars and most other consumer products are available in lower-end and higher-end brands, so are treadmills. Quality will affect price, though sometimes bargains can be found if a brand is not well known. One entry-level brand, Image, is among the higher ranked of the less expensive types. Entry level pricing may start as low as $400 to $500. Proform is another high ranked, less expensive brand with prices ranging from $400 to $2,000 per machine. Reebok, Smooth, Livestrong and Sole also produce quality models for under $2,000. Spirit, Landice and Cybex brands are among the highest priced and may run up to $4,500 for home models.
Treadmills for Walkers
Walkers have a greater variety of treadmills available because they do not require the level of stability that runners need. Six hundred dollars will buy a Horizon Evolve SG model with a 250-pound weight capacity, which folds to a height of 10 inches for those with little space and is suitable for walkers. If you expect to throw in a little jogging every now and then, you need a more stable machine. You may expect to pay around $1,000 for treadmills such as the Sole F63 with a higher weight capacity of 325 pounds.
Treadmills for Runners
Daily runners need a treadmill that can take more of a beating. The Landice L7 Cardio Trainer is a heavy duty model that consumersearch.com suggests for daily runners. You can expect to dish out $3,775 for this machine. Although they do not have as many bells and whistles, less expensive treadmills are also available for this purpose. For example, the Livestrong LS12.9T has a weight capacity of 350 pounds, belt size of 20 inches by 60 inches, speed range of 0 to 12 mph, incline range of 0 to 14 percent, high rated cushioning system and sells for only $1,300.
Overall
All of the prices listed in this article are the average cost of each machine when it is new. Buying used equipment may save you a considerable amount of money. However, warranties often are not available with used treadmills, so you may have to pay more to fix anything that fails to work correctly. As a whole, suitable treadmills can be found from the low end of the price range to the higher end. Once you have considered the technical aspects and know what will best suit your needs, the remainder of the decision will depend on how many extras you want. For example, do you want a television on the treadmill, or do you just need the basics? The options are endless.
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