Treadmill Buyers Guide and Tips

What to think about before buying a treadmill

It’s the New Year and we all want to to start it with a bang, and many of us will purchase a treadmill

Yep it seems as though we all plan on losing weight, getting fit, getting out of debt and spending more time with family, friends and loved ones. It all sounds good but how come in just a few short weeks we seem to give up on our resolutions?

But what does this have to do with purchasing a treadmill?

Well that’s easy – by purchasing the right treadmill you can

• Lose weight
• Get fit
• Spend more time with loved ones
• And while a treadmill won’t help you get out of debt, it can offset a gym membership and you can save both time and money by not having to drive to the gym.

How to find the right treadmill for your needs

• With dozens and dozens of treadmill brands and models to choose your first step in choosing a treadmill is  deciding on where you will put it. There is no sense looking at any treadmills until you know where you will be using it.  Treadmills are quite large and even compact size treadmills can over power a small room. When you read the dimensions of the treadmill actually take a tape measure and measure out the floor space needed. Then add another 12 inches or more around this area. This will allow for movement in the treadmill over time and also will give room for arms and elbows while you workout.
  Your treadmill will also need an electrical outlet unless you choose a manual treadmill.
• Now that you have your space planned out, decide on whether you can leave your treadmill in that area all the time or if you need your space for something else while you are not working out. If you find that you need your space while you are not working out, then a folding treadmill should be the type of treadmill that you will want. If you have a space that you can dedicate for your workouts, then you can either choose a folding or a stationary treadmill.
• Cost. Be sure to set the amount that you can spend upfront. Once you start looking at treadmills and see some for $3500, a $2000 treadmill might not seem expensive, but can you really afford $2,000?  If you have your budget planned ahead of time you won’t get distracted by expensive treadmills that you may not be able to afford. With the economy in a downturn the last few years and competition in the home fitness field getting stronger, prices have dropped on fitness equipment and you will find that you money will go much further now than it did just a few years ago. Even budget priced treadmills have some of the same features that top of the line ones had a few short years ago – so don’t be discouraged if your budget is small.

Now that you know the size of your treadmill, whether it should be folding or stationary and how much we want to spend the next step is to decide on some of the features.

• Do you get workout boredom?  If you are one who tends to get bored with doing the same workouts month after month you will want to look for a treadmill that has iFit or iFit Live.  With iFit you can purchase additional workouts as you need them. Many treadmills that have iFit already come with several workouts that can keep you busy for weeks and months but with iFit you can continually add new programs as you progress.
  iFit live is the ultimate in fitness workouts. With iFit Live in addition to adding more workouts to your routine you can race against online friends, track your progress, customize your fitness plan, do workout that you create by using Google Maps, and you can even have your treadmill simulate virtually any course. Once you decide on your course, your treadmill wlil take care of the rest. Some treadmills are iFit Live compatible while others have the iFit Live device attached.
  To learn more about iFit and iFit Live just visit –> iFit Live

• Are you a runner, jogger or a walker?  If you plan on using your treadmill just for walking then the length of the walking surface is not as important as it would be if you planned on using your treadmill to run or jog.  If you do plan on running you should look for a treadmill that can accommodate your running stride.  Most runners will want a running surface of about 55″.  If you have long legs or a long stride you’ll want to find a treadmill with a 60″ running surface.  If you plan on using your treadmill to walk into shape, then then length of the running surface is not as important.
• Cushioning of the running surface has come a long way over the years and you will find that almost every treadmill now has a cushioned surface.  If you plan on running on your treadmill look for adjustable cushioning that you can customize for your stride.
• Incline and Speed.  Being able to change the incline and the speed of your treadmill is a great way to continually push your body forward. Almost all treadmills now-a-days have variable speed and incline modes with most giving you the option to adjust manually in addition to adjusting automatically with your workout program. Most treadmills incline to about 12% and have speeds up to 10 MPH. If you want a steeper incline or faster speeds you’ll probably pay a premium.  If you have a choice of two treadmills and the main difference is whether your treadmill can incline higher or go faster ask yourself if you will really run more than 10 MPH or want to walk a steep incline. 10MPH is pretty fast for most of us.
• Workout Programs. This is one feature of newer treadmills that have really improved over the years.  In years past a treadmill would come with 5 or so workout programs ans that is what you go – just 5 different workouts. Now most treadmills have several programs and inside each program are adjustments that can be made to customize them even more. This gives you a wider range of workout options.
• ShippingYour Treadmill. Is shipping included in the price of your treadmill? Even if you plan on purchasing your treadmill from a local merchant getting your treadmill home can be a hassle. Unless you have a pick up truck and at least 2 people, you’ll find that getting your treadmill home is best done by having it shipped.
  Then when it is shipped you have a few choices.
  • You can have curbside delivery where you treadmill will be delivered to the front of your residence by the curb and then you will have to bring it in.
  • Inside delivery. Inside delivery will cost a bit more but if you have a bad back, no one to help you move the treadmill or live in an apartment and you have to climb stars then inside delivery is worth the additional charge. The price ranges for $75 to about $99 and you may even find that there is a sale and inside delivery is free.
  • Room delivery. This is where the treadmill is brought directly to the room of your choice. The cost for room delivery is often $125 or so.
  • Delivery and set up. Many treadmill manufacturers offer delivery and set up as an option. This is the costliest but is often well worth the charge. Expect to pay $150 or more but you will have the experts deliver your treadmill and put it together for you. On your own putting together a treadmill isn’t difficult and you can normally do it in under two hours but if you are not mechanically inclined or have a hard time reading instructions then this is your best bet.
• Warranty. This is one of the most important features of your treadmill! The longer the warranty the longer you are protected against defects, but you also should see how your treadmill is covered by the warranty. Does the treadmill have in-home service? If it doesn’t, it does mean that you will either have to pay extra to have a repair person come to your home or will have to ship your treadmill back to the manufacturer. When ever possible try to look for in-home service. While you may need a repair person it will give you peace of mind knowing that you won’t have to box your treadmill up. Most major brands do have in-home service.
  You will also find that major brands also have a longer warranty and cover more of your treadmill than an off-the-wall brand.
  Brands such as Proform, Sole Treadmills, Smooth Fitness and LiveStrong Fitness have comprehensive warranties and are known for their quality.

So which brand of treadmill is the best?  As mentioned right above there are several excellent brands to choose from and this guide isn’t meant to convince you to buy one over the other. Each manufacturer has done their best to give you a great selection of quality treadmills to choose from.
What really matters is you. What you do want from your treadmill?  If you have gone through the above information and have taken little notes when you read through each section then you are now ready to go treadmill shopping.

Take your time. Look at your choices and match them up against your budget, living space, wants and needs. Then one by one eliminate treadmills until you have found one that fits your criteria. Once you do this you will find that you will be more satisfied with your purchase and will be more apt to stick to your workouts and reach your fitness goals.

While there are many treadmill brands to choose from you will more than likely not have to look any further than these great choices. Proform, Sole Treadmills, Smooth Fitness and LiveStrong Fitness

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