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.
Treadmill 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.
Exercise Treadmill "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.
Treadmill 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!
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