Choosing a Treadmill
By Kay Cross, MEd, CSCS
You have just decided a good electric treadmill is exactly
what you need to maintain your commitment to regular aerobic exercise.
But you find there are dozens of different treadmills, ranging in price
from $399 to over $3,000. What accounts for the huge difference in price?
What do you look for when buying?
Don't Leave Home . . .
First, before going anywhere, decide where you will put
your new treadmill--and measure the space. You'll need some free space
around the machine itself--and some head room if you're going to get
a machine that inclines.
Second, dress in loose, comfortable clothing and workout
shoes. You'll want to try out several machines before you buy. Finally,
head off to a specialty fitness retail store.
Construction
The deciding factor in the life of a treadmill is the motor.
If you want your treadmill to last, look for the larger, heavier motors.
"Horsepower" is applied to two different ratings--"peak
duty rating" and "continuous duty rating." The peak duty
rating is advertised on a treadmill tag. The continuous duty rating
is stamped directly on the motor and is the rating that determines its
quality and duration.
In general, the larger and heavier the motor is, the cooler
it will run and the longer it will last. Penn State Sports Medicine
Newsletter recommends purchasing a machine with at least 1.5 continuous
duty horsepower--higher if you weigh more than 185 pounds or plan to
run on the treadmill. (But be sure to check the voltage. Some treadmills
with heavy motors are 220, which won't work in most homes.)
The thickness of the walking deck and the size of the walking
track should also be high on your list of priorities. The thickness
of the deck affects the comfort of the legs and feet with prolonged
use. Choose a treadmill that has a deck thickness of at least 3/4 inch,
or one inch if you plan to do both walking and jogging.
The walking track needs enough length (at least 48 inches)
and width (at least 17 inches) for you to walk comfortably without stepping
off the track. If you plan to run on your new treadmill, you may want
a longer track. Test it while you are in the store.
The "buzz" feature these days is definitely shock
absorption. To provide effective cushioning for the legs, feet and back,
the treadmill's suspension must be directly under the walking deck.
(Some treadmills may have "shock absorbers" on the legs of
the treadmill so you can see the frame bounce while you are walking.
This is not effective shock absorption!) The padding can be made of
foam or rubber. Foam is softer and more compressible than rubber, but
requires more time to return to its original thickness after impact.
Rubber instantly recovers to full thickness and is better able to maintain
its energy absorption level. Again, test the machine yourself.
"Perks"
After you've checked out the physical construction, you
can look at a treadmill's electronic board. Here's where you can economize,
if necessary. The less expensive treadmills have the basics: speed,
distance, incline, time and calories. The more expensive treadmills
also have a range of special preset exercise programs that automatically
alter speed and incline, varying high-intensity effort with lower-intensity
effort. Some treadmills even measure your heart rate! Ask yourself,
will electronic programs and feedback motivate you to keep exercising?
If not, and/or you're on a limited budget, you can buy a less expensive
machine and a separate heart rate monitor, and develop your own programs.
Service and Warranties
Ask the dealer about delivery and setup. Sometimes this
is included in the price--and other times, it's not. Also, check out
the service and warranty policies.
The minimum warranty on a fairly good treadmill is 90 days
parts and service. The better treadmills will carry a three-year warranty
on the motor and two years on the drive train. As for who will be responsible
for servicing a treadmill when it has problems--the store you purchased
it from. So if the store offers a good guarantee, chances are the machine
won't need servicing very often!
If you choose a quality electric treadmill, it will
last for years and provide great versatility for your cardiovascular
program. Find a good specialty equipment store in your area that can
help you find the treadmill you need. And then by all means, use it!
This article was provided by Kay Cross, MEd, CSCS and GHF.
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here to visit their site for customized exercise and nutrition programs,
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