by: Aaron Co
Treadmills, nowadays, could cost you thousands of dollars so purchasing an unreliable one would prove costly. But hopefully, through this article, you'll learn how to differentiate a high quality treadmill from a poor one.
This article is perfect for people shopping for a treadmill but doesn’t know much about it. With this guide, you will learn about all the important components of a treadmill that would ultimately lead you into purchasing a quality treadmill.
Motor
I’m going to start this guide with the motor because it is the most important (and most expensive) part of a treadmill. I consider this as the heart of a treadmill. It is the one that powers the whole machine so without it, the treadmill is useless. When choosing a motor, always focus on the size (bigger is better) and quality of the motor before anything else.
There are 2 types of motor, an AC and a DC motor. Unlike commercial treadmills which offer AC or DC units, home treadmills are usually just DC units. An AC motor is more powerful than a DC motor but it’s also noisier and usually requires a dedicated power line.
Horsepower
The horsepower or HP is considered as the treadmill’s motor power. There are 2 ways to measure the HP of a motor, through “peak duty” or “continuous duty”. Continuous duty horsepower means that the motor can maintain a certain horsepower for the whole workout. Peak duty horsepower means the treadmill may be able to reach that horsepower briefly, but won’t be able to sustain it.
If you’re a serious runner I suggest you buy a treadmill with a continuous duty motor of 2.5HP or a minimum of at least 2.0HP (both continuous duty). But if you plan on just walking on your treadmill, then a 1.75HP continuous duty motor would be enough.
Speed
Most treadmills would give you a speed range of 0 to 10mph. This range is enough for ordinary runners. However, hardcore runners might need more intensity to have a productive workout.
Belt
Also known as the running surface of a treadmill, the belt should be big enough to accommodate you. If you’re a big man, choose a wide belt. If you have long legs try to look for a long tread belt. The important thing here is that whatever size you choose, be sure you can run comfortably on it.
As a guide, the minimum running surface length should be 45 inches while the width should never be less than 16 inches. Most people find this space enough for running.
Incline
Exercise equipments today are so advanced that you’ll rarely see a treadmill that inclines manually. Majority now offer push-button incline or automatic incline. Some are even offering heart rate incline, where the machine adjusts your elevation according to your heart rate.
The incline feature of a treadmill is one way to increase the intensity of your workout. Most units offer an elevation of up to 10%, which should be adequate for most runners.
Also, before you buy, be sure to have the treadmill elevate your body first. If you feel like the machine can't lift your weight with ease, avoid that unit. It is showing signs that the machine is not for you and that you need to look for a better treadmill.
Control Panel
Almost all treadmills nowadays have computerized control panels. Some only have a simple control panel with the console providing just basic feedbacks and only a few programmed workouts. While some (the more expensive models) offer you the most advance electronics with loads of feedbacks and dozens of pre-programmed workouts.
Whatever control panel you choose, just be sure that that's what you really need because the extra cash could be better spent in other more useful features.
Warranty
You’ll immediately know if a machine is of good quality or not with the length of its warranties. The longer the warranty the better the quality! An acceptable warranty should cover the motor, frames, and parts. It must also cover all labor charges for at least a year.
Price
Before purchasing a treadmill, always remember “you get what you pay for”. So don’t expect entry level treadmills to be problem-free even if experts consider it as the best in its price range. Plus, cheap treadmills are not known for being durable, so if you plan on buying one, make sure to put aside some money for future repairs and/or replacement.
I highly recommend you invest around $1,500 for your treadmill. You’ll get excellent value for your money and would actually save you more in the long run (with all the repair cost associated with cheap units). But if you really can't afford that much, at least settle for nothing less than $1,000. Anything below that, won't be useful for very long.
Conclusion...
Well, there you have it. That’s my treadmill buyers guide for people shopping for treadmills. Hopefully, you would use this information when purchasing a treadmill.