Home treadmills offer many features of those you'll find in a gym or fitness center. You can purchase them motorized, with electronic consoles to create pre-programmed workouts and track workout data, and with entertainment options. Depending on your exercise goals, you may or may not need all the features. Learn what's available in home treadmills to guide your shopping.
Commercial vs. Home Treadmills
Treadmills are so popular that demand for them has pushed prices down, making models with most of the bells and whistles you see in a fitness center available on home models. The main difference between commercial and home treadmills is that commercial treadmills are sturdier, because they'll need to withstand many hours of use. Just because a home treadmill has a thinner treadmill or smaller motor doesn't mean it's cheap -- a four-ply vs. two-ply belt, or tread, shouldn't affect your workout.
Considerations
If you are using a treadmill as just a part of your regular fitness or weight-loss regimen, you may not need as many features. If this will be your only piece of equipment, you may get bored with fewer features. A manual treadmill comes with no motor and few features. This might be fine if you will be using it infrequently. A treadmill that creates different workouts, lets you plug in your iPod or watch TV, or has walking poles, will be less boring and may keep you working out longer.
Exercise Features
As you compare home treadmills, look at the features that affect your exercise. The incline of a treadmill makes the workout more or less difficult, depending on the angle. Check to see if you can change the incline automatically or if you need to stop the machine to do so. Compare models to see if they offer different programs, which might include a warm-up, hills, fat-burning and aerobic workouts, sprints and a cool-down. Measure the size of the deck -- the Consumer Reports website states that most people will find a 60-inch-by-20-inch deck adequate.
Data
Some treadmills provide information about your workout, including miles walked, jogged or run, average heart rate, real-time heart rate and calories burned. Compare treadmills to see if they provide general data, or if they let you input your age, weight, height, gender, target heart rate or other personal data.
Warranties
Treadmills may be difficult or impossible to fix yourself if something goes wrong. Check the warranty of the different models you compare. See if they cover parts, labor, the frame, motor and electronic console. Check the length of the warranty, whether the manufacturer offers an extended warranty, and whether the warranty covers shipping, parts, repair or replacement.
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