Treadmill Buying Guide

First page of the treadmill buying guide / Second page of the treadmill buying guide

Quality

Everyone says they want a quality product, but when comes time to shell out the money, the question often becomes, "how much quality do I really need?" The answer is, "when it comes to a treadmill, as much quality as you can afford!" A higher quality treadmill will cost more, but it is almost always worth the extra expense, once factoring how much more use you will get from your purchase.

But which measures of quality should you be looking for? Comfort and low noise are a good place to start. The frame of the treadmill should be welded to insure continued stability.

Comfort is a huge factor when considering the level of quality to choose. This includes a two-ply tread belt, which is more comfortable, more durable, and less likely to curl at the ends. The deck (standing platform) should feel firm, with a little give if the unit has built in shock absorbers, but not flimsy.

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Electronics

Nearly all treadmills come with a variety of electronic features. The question to ask is which features will help you achieve the best possible workout.

The standard features include electronic feedback displays that clock walking speed, your workout time, and distance. Others display calories burned or your workout heart rate. Working up the scale, there are other treadmills that allow you to design your own program from as many as 10 preset programs. Others allow you to save these programs and even create an electronic log of your success by recording your workout and history.

Too many features are not always a good thing. A confusing, cluttered console can actually by discouraging. Select a treadmill that is easy to understand, has a console that is easy to navigate and helps you meet your workout goals.

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Safety

The low-impact functionality of a treadmill makes it the perfect workout tool for the widest variety of people. However, used improperly, a treadmill can be very dangerous. Make sure your treadmill contains standard safety features such as safety key or magnet on/off (to stop a treadmill in its tracks with one simple jerk and also prevent small children for starting the treadmill unsupervised), tread belt speed/stop speeds that are gradual and smooth, and make sure the treadmill has handrails or console grips that are comfortable and easy to grasp.

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Heart-Rate Monitors

Many next-generation treadmills come with a sophisticated electronic heart-rate monitor that lets you know whether or not your heart rate is beating at a rate for optimal weight loss or aerobic training. The best treadmills are able to adjust speed while measuring your heart rate to make sure that you stay within the desired range.

Heart rate monitors display information on the electronic console of the unit. Many models including the 150t from Ironman come with a grip-style EKG that allows users to track heart rate by gripping the guard rails. Some top-of-the-line treadmills including the T54hr from Horizon Fitness, comes with a telemetric heart monitor and a transmitter belt, which allows you to continually monitor your heart rate while leaving your hands free. All Tunturi treadmills come with the ability to work with Polar heart rate monitors, but the transmitter belt is not included.
To see our heart rate monitors, click here.

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Making your workout more effective

Walking in place on a treadmill, despite all the health benefits it allows, often seems boring and monotonous. Don't give up. Instead, review these pointers about making your workout more engaging and, ultimately, more rewarding.

Many people enjoy watching TV while on the treadmill. Make sure to watch what keeps you interested. If need be, record your favorite shows and wait for your time on the treadmill to watch. You'll be looking forward to your workout for more than one reason. Also, if noise from the treadmill makes it hard to hear what you're watching, turn on the closed-captioning function on your television.

Add more workout power by using hand or wrist weights while you walk. Works great to tone the rest of your body and makes you feel twice as exhilarated when you conclude your treadmill workout.

If you prefer to read, but haven't figured out how to read while using you the treadmill, look into buying a treadmill bookrack. They're inexpensive and could become an invaluable feature to make working out fun and interesting. Also consider books on tape to keep your mind occupied during your workout.

Don't underestimate the motivational effects of the feedback readouts and computerized features many treadmills offer. If you can afford to pay more, you'll be glad to have readouts that tell you how far you've walked, heart and pulse rate, how many calories you're burning, plus electronically controlled workouts, and many other ways to help you track your progress and keep you engaged.

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