5 Things to Consider When Shopping for the Best Home Treadmill
Treadmills can be one of the most expensive pieces of fitness equipment in any home gym. Before you even start to think about what model or brand to buy there are several key factors that you should think about before you make your purchasing decision. That way you are insured to buy the best home treadmill you can for your budget.
1. How much space do you have for the treadmill?
When your using your treadmill you want to make sure that you have plenty of empty space behind you. I’ve heard many stories of people dropping an ipod onto the belt while running or walking. They stop to pick it up only to be propelled off the back of the machine. By making sure that you have enough clearance behind you will not only prevent you from breaking other furnishing, but will also reduce your chance of injury.
2. Where will you store your treadmill when it’s not being used?
If you don’t have a lot of space available, you might want to consider purchasing a folding treadmill that can be folded up and rolled away to store. Just keep in mind how heavy some treadmill mills are and how easily that is going to be accomplished. Also consider the type of flooring under the treadmill. If you have hard wood floors you might not want to scratch them up moving the treadmill around. When you have a storage area picked out, measure this area and have the figures with you when you go to purchase your treadmill. That way you can make sure it will fit.
3. Do you plan on using your treadmill for running or walking?
Walking or running on a treadmill actually puts different demands on the treadmill. When you walk on a treadmill you put more pressure on the treadmill’s belt then when you run. This is because your feet are on the belt more when you walk. This makes the treadmill’s motor work harder. When shopping for a treadmill you need to look at the continuous duty rating for the motor. Make sure that this figure falls somewhere between 1.5 to 2.5 horsepower.
If you are planning to use your treadmill mostly for running, you’ll want to make sure that the length of the treadmill’s running deck is long enough to accommodate your running stride. You should feel comfortable and secure that you have enough room. You’ll want to bring a friend along with you when you go to the store. Have them stand behind you as you run to see if there is enough free space between you and the end of the belt.
4. Decide on your budget before you go to the store.
This way you wouldn’t have to worry about being pressured into buying a treadmill that is out of your range. It also might help to determine the store that you go to. Treadmill prices generally break down into three price ranges. Budget models usually fall somewhere between $500 and $1,500. For midrange models you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to up to $3,000. High quality machines for the elite athlete can be purchase for $3,000 and above. Treadmills come in a wide range of prices. You’ll want to find the best home treadmill for you that falls within your budget range.
5. Be prepared to shop around.
I would strongly recommend that you go to a physical store and try out every model that you are considering. Don’t forget to bring your tape measure with you to check the size of the machine open and folded to make sure it will fit in the space you’ve planned in step one. After you have narrowed it down to 2 or 3 specific machines, shop online. Treadmills are the purchase where it doesn’t matter if you buy from a store or online because the cost of home delivery or shipping from an online dealer cancels each other out. This way you can make sure that you are paying the lowest price for the best machine that you can find.
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