Having a treadmill is a great way of getting back into shape, not forgetting improving your general fitness.
Manufacturers often separate treadmills into two categories: "home" or "residential," and "club" or "commercial." Good home treadmills are essentially smaller versions of club treadmills. The high-end home treadmill can easily withstand regular daily use and features extensive programming options, often more than are found in the club mills. Club treadmills come with a superior warranty and a bigger motor that can take round-the-clock beatings. They also carry significantly higher price tags.
Horsepower (h.p.) is a measure of motor power, and runners will want a 1.5 h.p. or higher "continuous duty" rating for their home treadmill, say most retailers. While higher ratings (2.0 h.p. or higher are common) do indicate a more powerful treadmill, your overall aim should be a machine that efficiently integrates the workings of the motor, belt and deck to give you a steady ride, which some 1.5 h.p. treadmills accomplish.
Continuous duty means that the treadmill will run at its listed h.p. rating with a significant workload over extended periods of timean important consideration. Be wary of manufacturers who list "peak-performance" h.p. ratings. It sounds impressive, but all peak performance indicates is a motors maximum power, not its sustained output.
To handle the long stride and natural side-to-side movement of runners, treadmill belts are expanding in width and length. Twenty-inch-wide belts are becoming common, and no belt should be narrower than 17 or 18 inches. The length of the running area should be at least 50 inches, with 55 to 60 inches preferable for taller runners.
Often overlooked by consumers (perhaps because its hidden beneath the belt) is the treadmills deck, or bed. Better-quality decks are usually made of thin layers of laminated wood, coated with lubricants to minimize friction between the belt and deck, which in turn reduces strain on the motor. The smoother the deck coating, the less friction between the belt and deck.
Deck construction, more than the belt, influences how smooth or hard your treadmill feels to run on and how well it absorbs shock. You want a surface that gives a bit but doesnt bounce.
Better decks are reversible, meaning they can be turned overthereby (in theory, at least) doubling the life of the deck. Some decks require owner maintenance without which they may succumb in a year. Proper care, however, can extend a decks life for the lifetime of the treadmill.
Direct-current-driven (DC) motors power most home treadmills. DC motors start slowly, provide a more consistent response to speed, incline and weight demands, and tend to
A good home treadmill can cost up to $5,000 and will likely be the most expensive piece of exercise equipment youll ever buy.
Companies that make the best treadmills install the highest grade of parts and components available, including expensive motors, safety and comfort features and long-lasting decks. Your treadmills components have to be able to withstand a terrific beatingmore than 1,000 footstrikes per mile of running. With the price of a high-end treadmill, you should get a machine that is absolutely durable, with a longer, more complete warranty that reflects its superior quality.
About the author
Paul Gallagher has been a personal trainer for over 10 years and competed in numerous Iron man competitions throughout the world. For further information on choosing a tread mill, be sure to check out the following site..
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