- There are many good treadmills available on the market today ranging from those that cost a few hundred dollars to those that cost a few thousand dollars, so it is a good idea to do some research on treadmill prices. You can check prices at the fitness store or you can also surf the net for further price information. Keep in mind that a high-performance treadmill doesn’t have to be expensive.

- Study the treadmill options such as programming, heart monitor, pulse rate and speed meter etc so that you choose a treadmill with only the features you want. Pick the treadmill that fits your exercise needs and fitness goals.

- Once you decide on the treadmill that you think most fits your needs, make sure to test it out. Do not go for a treadmill that looks good but doesn’t work well.

- The treadmill should run smoothly and should not give you knee pain.

Here are some further questions to help you make your purchase decision:

- How much do I want to spend?

Treadmills can cost a good deal of money. Before purchasing your treadmill you need to decide on your budget as your budget determines the quality of the treadmill you purchase.

A lower-priced treadmill could cost around $1000 and a better-quality treadmill around $2500 up to $4500. You could also look into used treadmills as they are much cheaper compared to brand new treadmills.

- What kind of motor do you want?

Most treadmills have two motor controls: the first motor drives the belt and the other one raises and lowers the bed for inclines.

Make sure the belt motor is a continuous duty motor with a speed of at least 1.7 horsepower. But if the motor is not continuous you will have to exert more effort and time when exercising on the treadmill.

Also, make sure that the treadmill does not shake especially when running.

The greater the incline angle on the treadmill the more muscle activity, greater body motion and more exertion. This is the principle of the incline treadmill which brings in fat loss, good body sculpting results and loss of calories results. People desire to achieve these as to maintain healthy bodies that look great.The more the incline on the treadmill, the greater the calories will be burned on the treadmill simply because walking at an incline on the treadmill causes more muscle activity and greater range of motion. Incline treadmill engages the lower body muscle group, forces people to incline at each step, exert themselves and significantly burn more calories than walking on a flat surface of the treadmill. With the incline treadmill people can enhance their total body sculpting as never before.

Objectives of fat loss, burn calories and better heart health can be achieved using the incline angle of the treadmill. Incline treadmill workouts can be done while watching TV and there is no need to go outdoors for walking. People can get a healthy cardio workout with walking at a brisk pace on a treadmill and then increase the incline with no side effects. This will reduce lower back injury problems and knee problems incurred while running or walking on outdoor concrete.

Adjustable resistance cardio cables during exercise increases the calorie burning potential by providing total upper-body resistance workout as people walk or run on the incline treadmill. Treadmill at an inclined angle operates smoothly with no effects or problems and enables individual to walk or run on it and achieve workout results.

Treadmill stress starts with individuals walking on a treadmill at an easy walking pace and then increasing the incline angle after every few minutes. This makes the individual do more work and is similar to walking up a gradual inclined hill.

With increase in the treadmill incline, larger steps are compensated by leaning forward from the waist which puts the center of gravity forward more and increases the use of muscles to maintain the forward lean of the upper torso. This burns more calories and provides a good workout. Beginners on a treadmill are advised to initially walk on the flat surface of the treadmill and over time they can increase the speed and incline several times higher than what they began with on the treadmill.

Workouts over the incline treadmill all the time can generate negative effects on ankles and tendons. People should avoid and restrict themselves to 10% inclination on the treadmill. People should take care that they don’t overdo themselves while using the treadmill at incline angle and stress themselves. People should stop the workout on the incline treadmill if the speed and the incline start causing problems to shins, calves or even heart.

Incline treadmill is an effective and ideal solution to lose fat, burn calories and achieve body sculpting results. However, individuals should take care so as to avoid over stressing or over working on the inclined treadmill which may create problems for them.

So where can you go to find huge discounts on brand name treadmills?  There are several legitimate ways to get a discount treadmill which I’ll outline in this article.

Please note however that I’m not saying: ‘buy a cheap treadmill’.  With treadmills, you definitely don’t want to skimp on quality. 

A cheap, unstable treadmill with improper cushioning and low quality parts will not only cost you in repairs but in health. You can ruin your joints and cause long term health damage.

So I’m not saying ‘Go cheap’ with your treadmill.  What I am saying is that there ARE several ways to get a high quality treadmill for a discount price. Here they are:

#1) Buy From An Online Fitness Store

There are several online fitness stores that sell a large variety of brand name treadmills directly to you.  Because they are not paying the overhead costs of a store, these savings get passed on to you and you can often save hundreds of dollars on a brand name treadmill.

Plus, most of these stores will give you free shipping (which can save you up to $150).  And you can even save on sales tax in some areas.

One note of caution: Not all fitness stores are alike.  Make sure you buy from an online store that offers proven experience shipping treadmills, secure online ordering and a solid money-back guarantee (a 30 – 60 day money back guarantee is standard with treadmills).

#2) Buy Directly From The Treadmill Manufacturer

Some treadmill manufacturers will sell their treadmills directly to the consumer.  By skipping the middleman (the store) you also save on the mark up price that the store has to add to make a profit.

This can, again, save you hundreds of dollars and get you a brand name treadmill for a discount price.  Like online stores, when you buy directly online from the treadmill manufacturer, you also can usually get free shipping and even save on sales tax.

Again, remember to buy from a manufacturer that offers secure ordering and a 30 – 60 day money back guarantee.

#3) Buy A Used Treadmill

While I don’t really recommend this, some people save money by purchasing a used treadmill.

The main drawback to this option is that there is no warranty to protect your investment.  If your treadmill breaks down you’re either out the money to fix it or out the money you spent to buy it (if you choose not to repair the treadmill).

If you do decide to go this route, make sure you know the make and model of the treadmill and that you’ve checked the store price of the treadmill. This will give you more bargaining power and ensure you don’t overpay for the treadmill.

So those are several ways to get a legitimate discount on your treadmill.  For a list of treadmill manufacturers visit:

http://www.treadmillreview.net/TreadmillStores.html

Enjoy and have fun!

But where can you look?

There are in general 3 places you can buy your tread mill. This article will outline what you should know about each. You’ll learn the advantages and disadvantages – to help you find the best treadmill buy.

#1 Department Stores

Department stores like Walmart, Sears, and Target sell a variety of name brand treadmills in their sports and fitness departments.

What you should know: Although these stores may appear to offer several different brand names they are almost always produced by one manufacturer – Icon Health and Fitness.

Icon is one of the largest treadmill manufacturers on the market today and produces such brands as Proform, Weslo, Epic, Image, Nordic Track, Free Spirit and Reebok.

These treadmills have lots of neat gadgets like CD players, TV’s, iFit compatibility and more. However, they are not necessarily known for high quality cushioning, stability or durability.

They also typically offer short warranties. For many of the cheaper treadmills, 90 days on parts and labor is all you get. If you want a longer warranty you’ll have to pay extra for it.

Salespeople at these department stores are often not very knowledgeable about treadmills, fitness or how to choose the right treadmill based on your personal needs. So if you need to buy from a department store make sure you do your homework before you go.

Also, at a department store, you’ll usually have to pay extra for shipping and delivery of your treadmill (around $150 – $200) so that’s also an extra cost to consider.

#2 Specialty Sports and Fitness Stores

These are stores like Fitness Depot, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sport Chalet etc.

What you should know: These stores typically offer you higher end treadmill brands like Precor, Landice, Trimline, Star Trac, Keys and more.

You technically get a larger selection at these stores because the treadmill brands are made by more than 1 giant treadmill manufacturing company.

Sales people are typically more knowledgeable at these stores and can tell you more about the treadmill models, what you need, etc. However be careful as these salespeople are often on commission and may try to pressure you into buying a higher priced machine than you actually need.

You’ll also typically have to pay for shipping and delivery of your treadmill when you buy at one of these stores (which could cost you $150-200 depending on the size of your treadmill). However if you hit these stores on a sale, you may be able to get a discount or free shipping.

#3 Online – Direct From the Manufacturer

Buying a treadmill online is an option that is growing in popularity with buyers. There are both online fitness stores and online treadmill manufacturers.

What you should know: Online manufacturers sell direct to the consumer, in effect skipping the middleman of the store. Consequently customers can save up to $800 on a brand name treadmill.

Buying online is also easy and convenient since you can research treadmill brands and prices from the comfort of your living room. You have a much larger selection of treadmill brands than either option above and can thus make a better buying decision.

Another bonus is that online distributors typically offer free shipping which can also save you a couple hundred dollars. There are no pushy salespeople to deal with so you can take your time to decide without any pressure.

The downside of buying a treadmill online is that you don’t get to walk on the treadmill first. Many people get around this by trying them out at stores first and then buying the treadmill online (if possible).

Or you could do the research and invest in a high end treadmill brand with high ratings from experts and users. (Several treadmill websites will list any expert awards or user reviews for you to read.)

So those are 3 main places to buy your treadmill. Regardless of where you buy your tread mill, remember to take your time, have fun and consider your own personal workout needs before buying.