Manual or Electronic Treadmill – Which Is Best For You?

Should you choose an electric or manual treadmill for your workouts?

Until recently the answer would be electronic. However, many of the celebrity trainers have been training their clients on manual treadmills and they feel that the user gets a harder workout with a manual treadmill.

But with the electronic models you can see your stats, have your speed and incline changed instantly and if your treadmill comes with iFit compatibility you can expand your workouts. 

So which would be best for you?

First of all, before you buy anything, you should always take a look at reviews of the products you’re interested in. Amazon.com has plenty of user reviews, and you can check there to find out about the experiences people have had with electronic and manual treadmills. People generally don’t hold back on that site, and tell it like it is. Reviews will give you a better idea of what you can expect after purchasing a product.

You may be surprised to find out that many of the reviews for electronic treadmills are not always positive. People find many of the models too complex to use, and they just end up gathering dust in the basement. While there are some people who love the multiple functions of an electronic version, a large number of people just find the multiple functions to be too confusing to make the machine practical.

After I moved from the upscale seats to the bleachers, I started looking at manual treadmills. It’s been awhile since I looked at treadmills, so I was even a little surprised that they still made manual treadmills. But, why not? Manual treadmills are really the ideal cardiovascular fitness equipment. The models I looked at have weighted flywheels so that once you get the thing going the motion is very smooth and rhythmic.

Manual treadmills tend to get consistently better reviews than other models. They’re certainly easier to use. They also do the job their meant to do, by improving your cardiovascular health and endurance as if you were walking on the real earth. A manual machine will also tone your calf muscles in the same way an electronic version will. With some manual versions, you can even increase and decrease the level of incline for added resistance and strength training.

Best of all, manual models are cheap. You can often get them for around $100. You won’t have anything to plug in, no functions or modes to set, or anything complicated to figure out. Instead, you’ll get an excellent, natural workout at a great price. Before you spend a fortune on an electronic treadmill, consider the benefits of owning a manual one and see if it might be a good fit for you.

Top Rated Treadmills and Treadmill Tips