Treadmills are particularly popular during the winter months, when running outside in cold or wet weather may seem unappealing. Throughout the year, a treadmill allows you to exercise at home or in the gym, in a safe and climate-controlled atmosphere. The American College of Sports Medicine emphasizes the importance of trying out different treadmills, considering the pros and cons of the different types before you purchase a home treadmill.
Pro: Cost
A manual treadmill is typically cheaper to purchase than an electronic machine, and additionally the running costs of a manual treadmill are lower because it does not plug into the electricity supply --- you power a manual treadmill with muscle power. As of December 2010, a new manual treadmill can be bought for less than $200, but even the cheapest electronic treadmill costs more than this new. High-end electronic treadmills can cost several thousand dollars.
Con: Motivation
Because you power a manual treadmill with your own muscles, you can only go as fast on a manual treadmill as you are able to push yourself. This may cause your workouts to be relatively slow, and you may lose motivation. Additionally, it is not possible to change the incline on a manual treadmill during a workout --- if you want to change the slope you are walking on, you have to stop, get off the treadmill and adjust the incline.
Pro: Safety
In comparison with an electronic treadmill, a manual treadmill may be physically safer for you to use during a workout. On an electronic treadmill, the belt does not stop moving immediately if you slow down, stumble or fall. Even when the emergency stop button or cord is activated on an electronic treadmill, there is a time lapse before the belt slows down and stops. On a manual treadmill, however, the belt stops moving as soon as you stop pushing and pulling.
Con: Display and Functions
Manual treadmills do not tend to have many of the display and function options that are offered by electronic treadmills. This can make it difficult to estimate your speed and distance covered on a manual treadmill, and makes it impossible to do any of the special workout programs offered by many electronic treadmills. The website The Treadmill Running Machine reports that such programs can help your motivation as a runner --- with an electronic treadmill, you have to keep up with the program you have selected.
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