Buy Treadmill?
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Don't Go for a Cheapo!
To buy treadmill, you can't simply go for a cheap one as a treadmill's cost directly relates to its quality.
So what to look for when you want to buy a treadmill?
Not a lot of nitties gritties that'll drive you up the wall and confuse you, I suppose......
How about some real simple basic facts on buying treadmill that'll help you get one that's not only price-competitive but also quality-proven?
I take it that when you decide to buy treadmill, you're already serious about committing to a home exercise program that involves treadmill and you're sure you like treadmill workouts?
Your answer had better be a resounding positive "Yes" because a treadmill is a costly investment (even if we're talking about a price-competitive one), hence your decision to buy should be a sound one based on careful, rational judgment.
You don't want to buy one and then later on realize that you don't have the space to accommodate the equipment, or you don't have the time to exercise on it or you don't even like it.....
And then you just let your treadmill lie idle.....
What a waste of money!
The first basic simple facts when you buy treadmill.
- Make sure you've sufficient space in your home gym or home to place the treadmill. On average, a treadmill measures 64 inches long and 28 inches wide. There're also foldable treadmills which can be stored under a bed or in a closet
- You're sure you want to commit to an home exercise program that's treadmill-based
- You like to do treadmill-based exercises (i.e. walking and running on a treadmill)
When you buy treadmill, this is the one important feature you want to look out for.
The motor size is measured in horsepower (HP) and determines it's longevity.
Be careful on this because some manufacturers measure horsepower at continuous-duty (i.e. the motor's ability under a load for an extended period of time) and some at peak-duty.
Get one with minimum motor size of 2.0 continuous-duty HP which can accommodate for an exerciser weighing over 180 pounds.
The next thing is, don't be excited by a treadmill that priced at $600 and claims to have a 2.0 HP motor!
The reality is if you compare its actual motor size with one that's priced at the $2,000 range, you may find that it's 50% smaller......
You wonder how does the claim of 2.0 HP motor come about when it's actually smaller than this size?
Simple really. There's no standard for rating treadmill motors. Manufactures can claim whatever motor sizes they want to claim and get away with it!
So beware of this.
There's a whole riot of treadmills out there in the market with prices ranging from $299 to more than $4,000.
The hard fact is you can't simply go for a cheap one because you want to save money. You'll have to face the fact that you pay for quality. The higher the price, the better the quality.
I don't advocate you buy an expensive treadmill but a cheap treadmill that costs say $299 not only may have over-inflated HP motor size, its components are of lower quality as well.
If you don't have the budget for more expensive treadmill, then don't buy at all. Wait until you've the budget, then buy. In the meantime, just walk or jog or run on the track, field or trail!
This is because the higher end treadmill (priced between $1500 to more than $4000) has the quality and durability to withstand the rigors of a regular workout from a dedicated exerciser like you(and I)!
The cheap $299 treadmill will not hold up over time.
Trust me. I've learned the lesson.
I've got one $600 treadmill which after some usage, yielded to bent frames and a loud quirky sound. It's shaky as well when I stepped on it!
I then bought a $3500 treadmill, it has lasted for 5 years now.....
Just remember that you get what you pay for. If you spend more money on a treadmill, this means the manufacturer spends more money on important areas of the equipment (such as the motor size) and less on how it looks or how many bells and whistles it has.
Your hard-earned money is at stake here. So carefully weigh it out when you buy treadmill.
The treadmill's belt should be at least two-ply, 17 inches wide and 49 inches long. The board thickness should measure at least an inch.
The treadmill's deck acts as a cushion for your joints, legs, back and feet. Look for a treadmill that has low-impact decks that flex under your foot plant to absorb the shock without giving you additional jarring.
A good treadmill should also have a sturdy frame to support the belt and deck system.
You must be wondering here: "I should bring along someone who's good in construction on my next "buy treadmill shopping trip!"
Hey, relax.
You don't need an expert to figure out these things.....
Often, in your buy treadmill "mission", you'll be assailed with programming features that'll make your head spin!
But do you know?
The quality of the programming features (like preset programs that automatically vary workout intensity by enhancing or reducing elevation and increasing or decreasing speed; heart-rate control programs that feed in your age and weight to keep you at an intensity to achieve maximum fat-burning or cardiovascular benefits) increases with price of a treadmill?
Often, a lower-priced treadmill offers basic programming features suh as variable speed, time, distance and calories. However, it seldom utilizes user information, and the calorie counter, sad to say, is often not that accurate.
So watch out for this as well.
There're many types of warranties manufacturers offer.
You should know their differences.
- Most manufacturers offer warranty against a treadmill's manufacturing defects only, not its normal wear and tear
- Most manufacturers offer lifetime warranties on the treadmills' frames
- Warranties on features and components usually range from 90 days to 3 years, depending on quality of treadmills
- For higher-end treadmills, manufacturers often offer a 1-year in-home labor contract
- If you weigh more than the treadmill's specifications, a warranty may be voided
Heck! You thought your decision to buy treadmill is easy, you know, you just go out and buy one.
You don't know that it's a "deep" subject to tackle......
What other things you're particular about in a treadmill?
These "other things" could make or break your decision to buy treadmill.....
I don't know about you but I'm quite particular that a treadmill shouldn't be noisy (i.e. having loud sound when you exercise on it).
Other things I'm particular about: does it offer a smooth ride? Is it easy to operate? How about the look of a treadmill?
That too.
This is important since this piece of machine is going to be around for a long, long time.....
If you hate the sight of it, it's not gonna be the greatest inspirational piece in your home or home gym. An eyesore, even....
A treadmill may be a bit expensive, but it sure can help you to duplicate what you might want to do on the track, road or trail. And you can exercise on it at any time of the day or night, with no concern for weather, traffic or other inconveniences.
A piece of good news here.
As expensive as they go, treadmills are better than ever as manufacturers have to keep improving their products to stay competitive.
So you get quality treadmill that meets your needs in return!
After all the above "hassles", your decision to buy treadmill still stands, I hope?
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