Throughout the years, the quest to achieve a healthier body, mind and spirit has extended to the kind of exercise equipment you use. Why drag yourself to the local gym for a workout when you can bring the same convenience and results of Bally’s or Gold’s Gym to the comforts of your own home? A treadmill makes a great addition to a household, one that the entire family can get use from. It not only gets the heart pumping, tones and strengthens the body, but also is a great tool for weight loss.
Different Types of Treadmills
There are several different kinds of treadmills to choose from on the market. Numerous brands and manufacturers are available, providing a wide range of convenient features for your treadmill experience. There are also a variety of price tags that allows almost anyone, regardless of budget to save up for a home treadmill. Some used treadmill options can cost about $50, while a newer inexpensive model may cost between $85-$100. The higher-end treadmill brands (often loaded with advanced features) cost well over $1000.
While a commercial treadmill is mostly used for doctor offices and heavy-duty gyms, it often has a motor with higher power capacity than a treadmill marketed for home use. Commercial treadmills also weigh a considerable amount more than a home treadmill and are not created for easy storage. Many home treadmill options can fold so they do not take up as much space in a house setting.
Sometimes the reason why you want a treadmill will influence a purchase. If you plan on doing a lot of intense running or cross training, you may want to select a treadmill with higher speed options. Usually, frequent runners choose a treadmill that can reach speeds of 10mph. There are treadmill models that also offer an incline feature. An 8% to 10% incline is suggested for those looking to get into better shape.
Would you rather have a manual or a motorized treadmill? Manual treadmill selections are light and don’t cost as much. Easy storage is also a plus with this option. The friction from your feet upon a running belt turns the rollers of the machine. The more popular motorized treadmill option provides a better overall workout. This is because consumers can adjust the speed of the belt to encourage walking, jogging or running. This is usually accomplished through the tap of a digital control pad.
What To Look For In a Treadmill Purchase
Over the years, treadmill choices have evolved into an all-inclusive health monitoring system, featuring some of the latest technology regarding exercise equipment. Depending on your budget and exercise needs, you may test for the following features: durability, ease of use, adequate foot rails, nice-sized belt, cushioned handrails, quality of motor, easily understandable control pad, present and customizable workout programs. Many treadmill options also offer convenient extras, such as trays, stands and holder for water bottles or sweat towels.
Health Benefits
Besides lowering cholesterol levels, increasing heart health, toning muscles, improving circulation and maintaining weight, the treadmill also boosts the immune system to better fight off infection and germs. Pregnant women can get the exercise they need through a slow walk. Senior citizens can increase bone mass and muscles through several different treadmill workouts. A home treadmill can also help with in-home therapies and rehabbing body parts.
Treadmill Maintenance
To ensure the shelf life of your treadmill, you should keep your machine dirt- and dust-free. A treadmill should be wiped clean of dirt once a week with the help of a damp cloth. Consumers should vacuum the dirt and dust that tends to accumulate between the frame and the belt. Make it a practice to adjust and align the treadmill belt. If a fuse has blown, make sure a proper replacement is used. Oil squeaky treadmill parts for optimal performance. If you keep up on the maintenance of your treadmill and you will have an efficient machine that will stand the test of time.

There won’t be many who would think that there are different types of treadmills in the market. The fact is that there actually exist different types of treadmills. Most of us are familiar with the home treadmill, which is by far the most popular treadmill. Then there is the commercial treadmill that you would find in most of the gyms. If you want to buy a treadmill, the best option would be getting a home treadmill.
There are also different types of home treadmill. So, you can opt for a cheap, manual treadmill or you can opt for a high quality treadmill. But you should buy a high quality treadmill if you are thinking workouts with extensive running and cross training. The market for treadmills is very competitive and there are virtually hundreds of different brands selling you different types of treadmills. It would really be a tough task deciding on any one type from any one company.
Almost all of us feel a space crunch in our homes and that is why folding home treadmills are much preferred. You can easily fold it up and put it in a closet or under the bed. But you would find that such treadmill doesn’t have the same solid feel as other treadmills. As discussed earlier, there are the commercial treadmills that are generally found in gyms or at doctor’s clinics.
Commercial treadmills generally have comparatively higher-powered motors and also have more horsepower as compared to home treadmills. As for looks, commercial treadmills look very bulky and very rugged. It also looks very stable. More often than not, opting for commercial treadmills is generally not the best option.
Since the commercial treadmill is generally put to very extreme of usage, that is why its warranty is generally up to 3 to 4 years. It is very much advised that if you are thinking of any commercial usage of your treadmill, you should always opt for commercial treadmills. But you can always find some home treadmills that could be put to light commercial use, such as small hotel gyms. But you should always have a look at the warranty papers.
Any decision that you would make regarding treadmills would depend on your requirements. So, if you are just intending to use it for walking yourself, you can always opt for cheaper as well as smaller treadmills. That would suit you fine. But if you are someone who could be termed as an avid runner, it is always better to opt for high quality and relatively expensive home treadmills with longer warranties.
The only difference between these home treadmills is the length of warranty that is being provided and the usage that you could put it to. With high quality treadmills, you get a longer duration warranty and even if you put it to extensive use, you would find that the treadmill works just as well. So, finally, it all depends on your own requirements.