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Runners Treadmills: Look Carefully Before You Buy a
Treadmill
Treadmill runners beware... if you buy just any treadmill
you could blow it big time and be very dissatisfied. It is
highly unlikely that you will find a new high-quality treadmill
for under $1000. Thankfully, most people can find a treadmill
sufficient for their needs for under $1500.
If this is out of your range, you may want to consider buying a
used treadmill. It is best to find one being sold by someone who
just doesn't use it, as opposed to buying from a gym (where it
probably has been used into oblivion). It is not recommended to
buy a used treadmill that is more than one year old or does not
hold up to the standards in the rest of this article.
Treadmill Electronics:
The Motor
Don't buy a treadmill that doesn't have at least 1.5 continuous
duty peak performance. (Don't believe any numbers listed as
"treadmill duty" or "peak horsepower", and lookout for numbers
listed as intermediate duty, as well. These aren't useful to you
and are listed to confuse people.) If you want to save money on
service calls and new motors in the future, get a PWM (Pulse
Width Modulated) motor instead of a SCR(Solid State Control
Rectifier) motor. Also, look for high torque at low revs
(revolutions).
Control Console
At a minimum, make sure that it displays speed, distance, time,
and pace. Consider if you want to spend extra for preprogrammed
workouts.
Treadmill Body and Extras
Deck
Be sure to look for a long deck to accomodate your full running
stride. 52 inches of length is too small for most people. 16
inches of width is too small for most people to be comfortable,
as well.
Frame
It is best to buy a treadmill with a high alloy steel frame.
These are much more durable than aluminum frames. Stay away from
plastic covered wood or painted particle board; look near the
belt to decide. Obviously these are not durable at all.
Rollers
Look for rollers that are 2 inches or larger in diameter. Solid
rollers are better than hollow rollers.
The Extras to Look for in a Runner's Treadmill:
Incline
Incline is most important if you are using the treadmill to
train for outdoors running or racing. You will need an incline
to simulate outside forces. Most quality treadmills come
equipped with incline. Be sure to use the incline before buying
the treadmill to make sure you are comfortable with its use.
Safety
This is especially important in households with children. There
are two main safety features available on treadmills: the safety
key and the emergency off buttons. A safety key treadmill
requires that the key be in place to turn the treadmill on; it
usually also has a way to attach the key to the runner so that
if the runner falls or gets too far away the key will pull out
and stop the treadmill. The emergency off button is just a
button you push that turns the treadmill off immediately.
Warranty
High quality treadmills usually come with longer warranties than
their cheaper counterparts.
Heart Rate Monitors
Heart rate monitors come in several forms: a chest strap, finger
or ear clips, or hand contact. Chest straps are the most
effective, but all of them are fairly easy-to-use.
Runner’s Treadmill Don’t Buy Rules
Don't buy it if...
* the motor is not quiet and smooth while running at your top
speed
* the motor is not quiet and smooth when walking very slowly
* the belt does not move smoothly at all speeds or it skips,
slips, or slides off the center of the treadmill
* the belt and/or deck do not accommodate your size or stride
(both running and walking)comfortably
* it does not feel stable, including when inclined
* the controls are not easy-to-use while running.
.
Read more...
Buying Treadmills Locally class green
Local suppliers offer some advantages over buying online, but low price is usually not one of them.
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