Exercise treadmills have been the biggest selling type of cardio products for more than two decades. SmoothFitness.com is a volume seller of quality home exercise treadmills and has actually been accredited with being the #1 retailer of domestic treadmills online for over a decade. So what makes Smooth Fitness #1 in home treadmill equipment?

Well with over 20 yrs in the exercise equipment industry they are able to offer factory direct pricing together with next day shipping. Additionally all of their products are backed with a 30-day money back guarantee which removes most of the risk of buying equipment online. Couple this with extended service support and some of the best warranties in the business and it is clear to see why they are the market leader. 

Looking at customer reviews of Smooth Fitness treadmills features the adjectives that are frequently used to describe them are:Stability, solidity, quietness and durability. Smoothfitness build treadmills that are virtually maintenance free and designed to last the course. But why are Smooth Fitness treadmills so durable?

They achieve this by constructing their treadmills from quality components and materials that have been carefully engineered for their intended task.

At the heart of any treadmill lies the motor. A treadmill of any quality should have at least a 2.5 HP continuous duty motor. The phrase”continuous duty” refers to the fact that the motor is able to deliver the stated horsepower continuously without overheating rather than just for a brief period. Smooth treadmills have as a minimum a 2.5 HP continuous duty motor on all treadmills across their range and back them up with a lifetime warranty.

Any serious treadmill should have a 20 inch wide tread belt so that you have sufficient space in order to walk or run without your natural gait being restricted. All smooth Fitness treadmills across their range are fitted with 20″ wide tread belts.

A component of the treadmill which is very often overlooked is the flywheel. The flywheel acts to smooth out the power supplied from the motor to the tread belt and contributes greatly to the smooth running of a treadmill. The flywheels on Smooth treadmills are carefully balanced by being spun at high speed and checked to make sure they are running true. By taking care to ensure the flywheel is balanced allows the motor to run efficiently and results in treadmill that is silky smooth in operation.

Another important component of the treadmill is the tread belt. This should be of  two-ply construction with a polyurethane top layer and base layer constructed from nylon polyester weave. The belt is formed from a single strip of material which has to be joined together in order to form the endless loop of the tread belt. This can be joined as a simple lap joint but the preferred method is to use a diagonal join. Smooth Fitness use this method in their belts which not longer results in a stronger join but helps reduce noise.

The component that under pins the tread belt and is responsible for the feel of the treadmill is the “deck”. A good quality treadmill such as the ones made by Smooth Fitness use solid wooden decks of appx. 1″ thickness. The deck is typically supported by rubber grommets and helps to absorb the pounding the deck takes when the treadmill is being used.

In order to move the tread belt has to run over rollers. This is another component that most potential buyers of treadmills are unaware of but which are important to the smooth running of the treadmill. Ideally these should be 2″- 3″ in diameter but the type and quality of the roller bearing is a more important consideration. Top end treadmills are usually fitted with crowned rollers and Smooth Fitness fit these even to their entry level (5.45) machine.

The control systems that regulate the treadmill and facilitate such features such as heart rate control, custom programs, and user profiles require some fairly complicated electronics. Unfortunately the some what hostile environment that these electronic circuit boards reside in means that they are more likely to fail than other components. The electronics in Smooth Fitness treadmills are covered by a 3 yrs warranty against failure. This is the standard of cover you should expect to see in other treadmills but unfortunately not all manufacturers offer this sort of cover.

By using quality components, and over engineering their products to meet the needs of the most demanding users, Smooth Fitness continue to meet consumer’s demand for a reliable, high quality, home treadmill.

Colder weather is approaching rapidly for those of who live in the northern regions of the United States. This is a good time to start thinking about alternatives to outdoor exercise. Perhaps it is time to invest in a treadmill, elliptical trainer, or exercise bike. I have not forgotten than many folks in all parts of the country simple prefer to exercise in the comfort of their own home.

To assist in your decision the blog will carry a series of articles on exercise equipment. The first of the series will provide a review of treadmills. The following is a synthesis of reviews by Consumer Search from reviews by Consumer Reports, Runners World, Prevention magazine and TreadmillDoctor.com.

There’s a wide range of prices and quality among treadmills, with cheap models available in discount stores for as little as $300. But there’s a world of difference between these cheap treadmills and the $1,000-and-up models recommended most often in professional reviews. The difference is aptly represented by the manufacturer’s warranty. Treadmills costing less than $1,000, including the Epic 450MX and Image 19.0 (*est. $600) often come with just a 90-day warranty on parts and labor. Spending more gets you much better warranty coverage. The Sole F80 (est $1500) has a service warranty that covers the deck, frame and motor for a lifetime, other parts for five years and labor for two years.

Spending more for a treadmill like this will get you better insurance against breakdowns. This is important when you’re considering fitness equipment that weighs 200 pounds or more, where a technician will need to come to your home for repairs.

Cheaper treadmills costing less than $1,000 not only carry shorter warranties, but most also don’t perform as well in tests. While they may be lighter in weight, inexpensive treadmills can also be less stable, offer fewer features and have smaller and narrower belts. The Weslo Cadence G-25 (*est. $300), for example, is an ultra-compact treadmill. Its belt is just 43″ x 13″, compared to the 55″ x 20″ (or longer) belts found on other models. This means the outsides of your feet can never be more than 13 inches apart or you’ll step on the side rails, and the 43-inch length will barely accommodate a walking stride. TreadmillDoctor.com editors say that treadmills in this price range have “cheap, cheap parts.” They say the following about the Weslo G-25: “If you can keep this working for more than a workout or two at the 6 MPH top speed, contact us because we’ll try to get your machine in the Smithsonian.” While reviews say the Image 19.0 (*est. $600), another compact treadmill, should only be used for walking, at least it has a wider 19-inch belt. The Epic 450MX has a 20-inch belt. Even so, the warranty for both of these is only for 90 days, and there’s a 300-pound weight limit on these machines, so they are inappropriate for heavier walkers.

Reviews say that with treadmills, you generally get what you pay for. Fitness experts recommend that serious runners start shopping for treadmills at the $2,000 mark, although less expensive treadmills are fine for walking. Editors at Runner’s World agree; the best treadmills for running are priced over $2,000. For our report, we paid close attention to what reviews are recommending in the range of $1,000 to $2,000. That money should get you a good warranty with at least a full year of in-home labor coverage, plus better construction and more features than you’ll find on cheap treadmills. Reviews suggest that frequent runners or households with more than one runner should consider spending even more.

Best treadmills, $1,000 to $2,000:  In years past, we’ve seen good reviews for Smooth treadmills. Although we did not see as many reviews for them this year, we didn’t find any evidence that their treadmills are not still good choices. This company’s treadmills are sold mainly online, so one drawback is that you can’t try them out in person. TreadmillDoctor.com says that since this company has grown so large so quickly, customer service has suffered. We did read a small number of complaints about unresponsive service at Epinions, but overall, owners seem happy with their treadmills.

The Smooth 5.25 (est $1000) is a standout in its price range. The display panel is highly readable, and it folds up to save space. The Smooth treadmill has six programs and a heart-rate monitor on the handgrip. At 52″ x 20″, the Smooth’s belt is shorter than those on more expensive models, and it has a comparatively low 275-pound capacity. However, this treadmill is backed by a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor, and five years on all other parts, with one-year in-home labor coverage. Reviews say this is a good-quality treadmill mainly for walking. Heavier individuals will need a treadmill with a higher weight limit, and taller people may need a longer belt.

The upgraded Smooth 6.25 (est $1600 is a better choice for occasional runners. This treadmill is a step up from the Smooth 5.25 (above) and has both a longer 54″ x 20″ belt and slightly more power, with a 2.75-hp motor. Like the Smooth 5.25, it folds for storage and has a handgrip heart-rate monitor (with optional chest strap), but it also has two more preset programs, for a total of eight. The relatively low weight capacity of 275 pounds makes this treadmill more appropriate for lighter runners.

TreadmillDoctor.com says the Sole F80 (est $1500) is “The best treadmill under $1,500″ although we had a hard time finding it in stores for that price. The Sole F80 has a 55″ x 20″ belt, a bit longer than both Smooth treadmills above, and a higher 335-pound weight capacity. The Sole treadmill also folds for storage, and it has the useful feature of speed and incline controls on the side rails. It has a lifetime warranty on the frame, deck and motor, along with five years on other parts and an impressive two years on labor. It has six preset programs, a 2.5-hp motor and handgrip heart-rate monitor, with included chest strap. If you’ve stayed in a Hilton hotel recently, you might have used a Sole treadmill; Hilton now has in-room Sole treadmills in many of its hotels. This Sole treadmill has the best warranty in its price range.We found some good reviews for Vision Fitness treadmills, but this manufacturer has been subject to a recent recall for some of its console panels, which could speed up unexpectedly.

The Vision Fitness T9200 Simple (*est. $1,400) doesn’t have a heart-rate monitor or any preset programs to help vary your workout. Vision Fitness does offer a lifetime warranty on the frame (with one-year labor), and the treadmill has a 325-pound weight limit. TreadmillDoctor.com says the T9200 is a good “starter” treadmill. One reviewer also recommends the step-up Vision Fitness T9500 Deluxe (*est. $2,000), which has an orthopedic belt to cushion your run. The Bodyguard T240 (*est. $1,900) is cited as the best treadmill in the $1,500 to $2,000 range by TreadmillDoctor.com, though we did not see this brand tested elsewhere.

The Bodyguard T240 has a 57″ x 20″ belt, a 350-pound weight limit and six programs, with an optional chest-strap heart-rate monitor. This treadmill’s greatest strength, according to reviews, is its quality construction, which is backed by a superb warranty for this price range — lifetime on the motor, ten years on parts and three years labor. This company also makes Polar heart-rate monitors.

We found a good review for the Keys Ironman 320t (est $1000) . TreadmillDoctor.com says the list price of $1,500 isn’t very competitive, but we found this model pretty substantially discounted in stores. The folding Ironman treadmill has a 2.5-hp motor, an included chest-strap heart-rate monitor, handgrip pulse sensors and a 350-pound weight limit. The belt measures 56″ x 20.” The frame carries a lifetime warranty along with ten years on the motor, two years on other parts and a one-year labor warranty. The Bowflex 7 series(est $1500) is made by Nautilus. Here again, TreadmillDoctor.com says this treadmill isn’t much of a deal at its $2,000 list price, but we found it in several stores for about $500 less, making it a lot more appealing. We also found a couple dozen good reviews for this model at Amazon.com.

The Bowflex has a large 60″ x 20″ belt. This folding treadmill has handgrip pulse sensors plus a heart-rate monitor, along with a 3-hp motor (good for this price range) and 300-pound user weight capacity. The frame has a 15-year warranty, along with ten years on the motor, two years on other parts and one year labor. If you can find it on sale, the Bowflex treadmill competes with the Sole F80. The Sole has a longer warranty period and slightly higher 335-pound weight limit, along with a 15 percent incline. The Bowflex has a larger 3-hp motor (2.5-hp on the Sole) and 5-inch longer belt, but a shorter warranty and 12 percent incline adjustment.

Budget Treadmills for Walking:  The image 19.0R, along with other inexpensive treadmills, has only a 90 day parts and labor warranty, the shortest in the industry. Even so, reviews say the Image treadmill is fine if your fitness plans only include walking. This treadmill has a wider 19 inch belt and a stronger motor (2.8 horsepower) than some other budget models. Even so, regular runners and walkers will need a more durable treadmill. It folds up for storage and comes with a handgrip heart-rate sensor. The Image treadmill has a user weight limit of 300 pounds.

Best mid-range folding treadmill:  According to treadmill reviews, the Sole F80 is the best in this price range, with a strong warranty (20 years on the motor, five years on parts and two years labor), as well as options that are comparable to more expensive treadmills. The Sole has a 335-pound weight capacity, and its 55″ x 20″ running surface is longer than other treadmills in its price class. It has six programs, plus speed and incline controls on the armrests, and both handgrip and chest-strap pulse sensors. The Sole treadmill folds up for storage. The Sole F80 is best for walkers who want to try the occasional run, but it won’t take the same pounding as a more expensive treadmill.

Best treadmill for running:  The Life Fitness is a favorite of professional runners for its shock-absorbing deck and customizable controls. This treadmill can also save user data and favorite workouts for several family members. Its 58″ x 20″ running surface is long enough and wide enough for most runners and its 3.0-hp motor is smooth and quiet. An included heart-rate monitor works in conjunction with special programs to keep you in your heart-rate zone. It has a high 400-pound user weight limit, and is backed by a lifetime frame warranty with ten years on the motor, five years on other parts and one year labor.

Runner’s treadmill with negative incline:  Reviews say the PaceMaster Platimum Pro VR is unique in that it has a negative incline (down to a -3.0 grade) — helpful for runners who want to strengthen the fronts of their legs by simulating downhill running. Some testers say this treadmill is helpful in preparing for hilly races like the Boston Marathon. The PaceMaster’s Constant Effort Compensation mode adjusts speed to keep your exertion level constant. It has a 3.0-hp motor, a long 60″ x 20″ belt and a 400-pound weight limit. The PaceMaster Platinum Pro VR is one of the few treadmills still made in the U.S.