Things to Consider When Buying a Treadmill

By Manuelle Fergus

As recent studies have shown, people are getting busier and busier each day. Other studies have shown that more and more people realize the benefits that exercising can have on their health. Not being able to go to a gym, because that would be a schedule modifier, people turn to home fitness machines(such as treadmills) to solve their problem.

Today this is a pretty general issue, so the demand for such equipment has increased exponentially - and amongst these, treadmills enjoy a lot of popularity. Even the experts consider that a treadmill is an excellent purchase for such a purpose, since it satisfies the need for exercising, it's never going to be old-fashioned or lose popularity. When you make a treadmill purchase decision, it should be an informed one - it's not that difficult, but generally you should know what you expect from such a machine and adapt the preferred features to your needs.

It's important to try it out prior to making the purchase - see how you feel it, how much it fits "you". If you aren't able to do that(like when making a purchase through the Internet), just read out some reviews and see what others are saying about it. Here are a few important things that should count in your purchase decision:

* it should be a stable machine with a running belt as wide as possible - of at least 18 to 20" wide and 48" long * a low impact running surface should be an essential feature as it protects your joints, knees and back from strain or damage by a special technology * an emergency shut-off and side rails or safety bars - reachable, sturdy - are also important * the warranty and the expected maintenance and service represent an important sign for the machine's quality * the treadmill should have a continuous rated motor of at least 2.5 to 3.0 horsepower * the speed it can reach should be proper for your fitness goals, adequate for your intended use (0.1 to 8 miles per hour - for walking and running) * an incline range of 0 % to at least 10 % would also make you workout more comfortable etc.

Besides all these essential specifications, there would be some useful treadmill features you should also consider, such as: a folding up design which would make the storage much easier, a heart rate monitor which would help you to get the maximum benefit from your workout or a computer console that would feature a number of workout routines.

As a conclusion, when making a treadmill purchase, you should consider all the mentioned aspects and any other one that you can think of to optimize your workout; only you know what's best for you and what's closer to your needs. - 30552

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here