How Much Should You Spend On A Treadmill
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The article "How Much Should You Spend on a Treadmill" talks about fitness, it has been released by Fred Waters.
This time of year treadmill sales soar for primarily two reasons:
1) People commit to a New Years resolution to get back into
shape.
2) Fanatic runners are faced with sucky winter weather and have
to move their workouts outdoors.
But buying a treadmill can be complex and confusing. Like cars,
there are countless models, and the question is, do you buy the
equivalent of a Yugo or a Mercedes.
There are several important factors to consider when you compare
treadmills:
- Match your budget with your fitness level
- Your weight and height
- Desired treadmill features
What Should You Budget
Like most items you purchase, the model you prefer will probably
cost more than you imagined. If you go to a mass retailer like
Walmart or Costco you will notice a number of treamdills in the
$200-$500.
Some are not even motorized. Thsee are what I
consider throw away treadmills. The come with a short-lived 90
day wararnty. That's cuase most of them will not function more
than 90 days.
If you want a treadmill that will last for the duration, and
provide you with a challenigng workout, that is my
recommendations. For walking you want to spend a minimum of
approximately $1,000.
This will buy you a solid and stable model
that will come with a one year service warranty, a minimum 2
years prats and 10 year motor warranty.
If you're a jogger or runner then I recommend you start at the
$1,500 range. A model at that cost will icnlude a 20" wide
belt, a minimum 2.5 continuous duty horsepower motor and is
overall built with quality components.
For serious runners satrt at the $2,000 range. You will get a
treadmill that has a lonegr deck for sprinting and interval
training.
The motor is powerful enough to handle continaul use
at a high level.
The deck and the belt are deisgned for constant
pounding.
Models over $2,000 generally have a generous warratny.
Your Weight and Height
Both the weight and height of a treadmill user should determine
the model you're considering.
For example, heavier users will
require a more powerufl motor and a reasonably thick deck. I
worked for a company that compromised on the thickness of the
decks on their low-end models and guess what? Some cracekd.
The
deck should be a minimum of ¾".
The extraordinary motor for a treadmill is one that does not strain.
It should work effortlessly, otherwise it will eventually burn
out and generally be noisy.
And you do not want to replace a
motor, especially after the service warranty has run out.
When comparing treadmill motors you want to go by the horsepower
of the continuous duty, not peak horsepower. Peak horsepower is
the maxmium horsepower a treadmill can reach.
Continuous-duty
horsepower is a measure of sustained power during regular use.
The continuous motor power is what is conisstently delivered
during heavy usage over an extended period of time.
Since peak horsepower is usually significantly higher than a
motor's continuous capability, continuous horsepower better
helps you deetrmine which treadmill will accommodate your
intended exercise use. Generally speaking, the larger the motor
the more powerful it can operate at a continuous rate.
Below is our recommendation for treadmill motors.
If you are
extremely overweight you should consider adding anohter .5
horsepower per category.
Walking 2.0 continuous duty HP +
Jogging 2.5 continuous duty HP +
Running 3.0 continuous duty HP +
Your height is another important factor. You'll find budget
treadmills built with really short walking/running surfaces. If
you are tall you will literally be running off the end.
For average size wlakers we advise a treadmill with a minimum
50" long surface, if you're over 6'3", you my want to consider
56" surface.
For tall runners you want to consider models that
have 58" long rnuning surfaces. Nothing is more discomforting
then when you feel you're runinng off the end of a treadmill.
Realize that many manufacutrers measure the length by the extent
of the deck.
That is not a true measurement, for part of the
deck is coveerd by plastic shrouds.
You want to know the actual
length of the belt surface that you can walk or run on.
Desired Treadmill Features
Folding Treadmill - Treadmills are spcae hogs, so if you want to
conserve on space, a folding treadmill makes sense. Several
years ago a fold-up was equivalent to instability.
Since then
designs and innovations have made the better folding treadmill
almost compatible to non-folding models.
You'll find bradns like
Smooth and Sole that have folding treadmill weighing in excess
to 250 lbs. These models have a really solid feel when you walk or
run on them, and yet they can save space.
Electronics - The manufacturers are all triyng to out do each
other with innovative programs. The ledaer in that arena is Icon
Fitness and their iFit programming found on ProForm, Weslo,
Nordic Track and their various other brands. Some brands will
woe you with fancy electronics and compromise on the quality of
the components.
Personally I prefer to manually adjust the speed and incline,
but for many having a variety of challenging progarm adds
motivation to their workout.
Don't let the bells and whistle of
the programming be a detremining factor when purchasing a
treadmill.
For most, you will manually contorl your workout, for
others they will use 2-3 programs at the most. The one program
you probbaly want is hill training. Interval training is very
effective in burning more calories and losing weight.
Heart Rate Contorl - Using your heart rate to control your
workout is not for everyone.
But many treadmill ownres are
addicted to it. The lgoic is simple, your heart rate determines
the level of your exertion.
The HRC will increase or decrease
the intensity of your exercise and keep it within your
predetermined heart rate lveel. Some experts advise this
technique is the optimum methods for getting in shape. If you
are inetrested in HRC make certain you get a treadmill with a
wireless heart rate strap.
These are just a couple of recommendations to consider.
Also crucial
is the manufacturer's service reputation, and overall ratings
and reviews of the individual models. So start your new year
with a treamdill that will impact your health and well-being.
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How Much Should You Spend on a Treadmill
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