Nordic Track Treadmill

Treadmills come in many different shapes and size and more than anything, price seems to be the determining factor when most people buy. A treadmill is a great piece of exercise equipment and running indoors is a great way to stay fit without paying expensive gym fees or be a slave to the weather outside. When it comes to buying a treadmill, there are a couple of important things you need to look out for…

1. The Motor
The most important (and most expensive) component of treadmills are the motor. If its too weak it will burn out, but the stronger it is the more expensive the machine becomes. For home use you should buy something that has at least a 2.5-3 Horsepower (HP) motor. Also, make sure that it’s the HP for continuous duty and NOT the HP for peak duty. Cheap machines like to display only the peak duty HP of the motor which is not an accurate indication of the motor capacity.

2. The Frame
The actual frame of the machine can be either steel or aluminum. Steel is heavier (more stable machine) and cheaper but it tends to corrode easier. Aluminum is lighter but more expensive. Make sure your machine has a good specification for anti corrosion and better yet, make sure that there’s a warranty on the frame.

3. The Belt
The belt provides the surface on which you run and the 2 main considerations are the width and the length. I would recommend a width or at least 17’’  and a length of at least 54’’. Make sure that its long enough to accommodate your stride.

4. Cushioning
One of the things that make modern treadmills great exercise equipment is the fact that its much safer than running outside. The best machines have cushioning built in and what this does is to absorb the shock while you run. It greatly reduces the impact on your legs, knees and joints. Cheap machines don’t have this.

5. Monitors
Every treadmill these days have a monitor that is capable of displaying various stats while you work out. Some machines even have TV screens built in so that you can watch your favorite TV show while you work out, BUT lets focus on the exercise foe now. More advanced machines are capable of connecting to heart rate monitors and can record your workout data. It even allows you to download it to your computer to do some clever stuff – so depending on your level of training the monitor can help you work out much more effectively.

6. Warranty
Anytime you spend a significant amount of money on a machine that’s going to withstand a lot of wear and tear you need to make sure that there’s a warranty. It differs greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer and although the better machines are much more robust, they still break down.

7. Where To Buy
You can buy a new treadmill online or in a shop. In a shop you can see it, feel it and try it out, but buying online can save you as much as 20%. Buying online gives you more choice and most online retailers will give you free shipping which means they will even deliver it to your front door on top of the saving. If you are unsure about a machine, go and look at it in the shop and then go back and shop around online to make sure you get the best deal.

As a rule of thumb you get what you pay for. Cheap treadmills tends to be wobbly, unstable and break all the time. More expensive treadmills are durable, smooth to run on and makes exercise fun and painless. Its important that you buy something with a recognizable name and I would not recommend you buy anything under $900. Its just not worth it and the component of these cheap machines simply don’t last. Quality treadmills are in the $1000 range and if you cant afford it, then its probably better to look at payment plans than to buy something cheap.