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-term 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:

Also, you may want to consider a model that stores user profiles for multiple users. You can call up your profile and any programs you have previously stored.

These are just a few guidelines that are important when purchasing a home treadmill. Buying right now will prevent you from have to buy again in the near future.