Choosing the Right Treadmill
By James
Smythe
Editor's Summary: The article discusses treadmills and
a couple of factors that should be considered prior to selecting
one for purchase. The factors are horsepower and construction. A
brief guideline horsepower relative to the user's body weight is
provided.
Home treadmills are becoming a common feature in many homes. Prices
can be as low as $399 it is no surprise that many people decide
to purchase one. It provides a great form of exercise, you don’t
have to pay monthly fees for a gym or have to work out in front
of vain bodybuilders. However when buying a treadmill the prices
can range from $399 up to thousands of dollars. So what is the difference
between a treadmill that costs a few hundred or one that costs a
few thousand? This articles aims to answer some of the questions
you may have before buying a treadmill and give you the confidence
to go out and know what you are buying.
Horsepower
One of the main factors in buying a treadmill is what horsepower
to go for. "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.)
A brief guideline of what horsepower to aim for is below.
Your workout Your workout Recommended horsepower
<180 lbs Walking/light jogging 1.5 + hp (1.25 minimum)
Up to 220 lbs Walking/light jogging 2.0 hp
Above 220 lbs Walking/light jogging 2.5 hp
Any weight Speed training 2.5 hp
Construction.
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.
Extras.
These are less important features of a treadmill and really only
depend one what your budget is. 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!
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.
Article written by James Smythe
Find out some the latest information on treadmills at JustTreadmill.com
http://www.justtreadmill.com
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