There
is a stark difference between the treadmills you use at the health club and the
treadmills for home use. A treadmill for commercial use needs to be built like
a tank. It must stand constant daily usage. Generally they are built like a tank.
A
treadmill for home use is a whole different story. Rather then running for
10 hours a day, it may only get used several hours a week. Or it may be used to
hang clothes. There are several considerations if you are buying a treadmill for
the home.
How
much do I want to spend?
Probably
not enough. Sorry, a good treadmill is not cheap. Most people do not know what
a home treadmill cost. They may have seen the Icon treadmills in Wal-Mart for
several hundreds dollars and have the conception that is what is a starting price.
Wrong!
Treadmills
are machines that if used regularly, take an excessive beating. That's why if
you want a home treadmill that will last, you're going to need to shovel out a
few bucks. I would recommend for a good walking treadmill that withstand regular
use, you start somewhere in the $1,000 range.
On
the other hand, you don't need to spend $3,000 on a home treadmill that you will
use occasionally for walking. Unless you have an obsession for big, expensive
toys.
What
will I use the home treadmill for?
Are
you training for a marathon, or do you like to casually walk? The difference can
mean a couple of thousand dollars in cost.
Individuals
training for a marathon will need a treadmill that has a longer deck, powerful
motor and in general is built for abuse. They may also want a variety of challenging
programs to motivate and enhance their performance.
Meanwhile
a person that occasionally walks can get by with a treadmill that is shorter,
has an 18" wide belt, a medium size motor and an overall design that accommodates
moderate use.
What
are my short-term and potentially long-germ goals?
If
you are currently out of shape and your plans are to get back to your old healthy
self, if there was an old healthy self, you may initially plan to only use your
home treadmill to walk several times a week, but who knows where you may go from
there.
As
you progress you could start jogging 5 or 6 times a week. Will the model you plan
to purchase now holed up under that constant strain? It's easier to spend a few
hundred extra dollars now, then to have to get rid of your current model and purchase
a home treadmill that can withstand your future fitness goals.
What
is the weight and height of the user?
When
you run on a treadmill the impact is 2 ½ times your body weight. The impact
from walking is considerably less. Therefore individuals who weigh in over 200
lbs need to consider a treadmill that can withstand the additional impact. Most
treadmill manufacturers overstate their weight limit by as much as 50-75 lbs.
If you are in the 250 range you better find a model that claims to at least handle
a 300 lbs user. But just think, after constant treadmill use you will have that
weight down substantially. Look for models that have a deck that is around and
1" thick. A 1/2" deck may break from users that are hefty.
Taller
users need a home treadmill with a longer running surface. If you are a walker
and over 6' you would probably want a treadmill that has a minimum 52" walking
surface. Running, you should have at least 54". If you are over 6' consider
some of the stretch models that at in the 60'-62' range.
It
should be noted some manufacturers rate the length of their treadmills by the
deck. What is not factored in is part of the deck is usually covered by plastic
shrouds, and in reality the actual walking surface may be a couple of inches shorter.
You want to go by the actual walking surface for an exact length.
How
many people will use the home treadmill?
If
more then one person is going to use the treadmill that means at least double
the usage. Think about the abuse a treadmill must go through when it is used regularly.
That is why cheap treadmill do not last, and that is why they are backed with
short-term warranties.
These
are some very general guidelines:
