Walking and running are among the best exercises that we can do. By now, just about everyone is aware of their cardiovascular benefits. And, they also benefit you by helping you to keep your weight under control. When the weather is bad, however, you can find walking or running through the streets difficult. Especially in inclement weather such as major snowfalls, heavy rains, and the like. That is probably a big part of why treadmills have become so popular. Today, they are one of the biggest sellers of all types of exercise equipment.
A treadmill is among the more expensive type of exercise machines. Therefore, to avoid wasting your money, you want to get a good quality one.
So what do you look for in a treadmill? Well, by far, a good, powerful treadmill motor should be first on your list. What you want is a heavy motor, one that can easily withstand continuous usage. Look for one with a horsepower of over 2. If it is less than that, you can be pretty sure that it will wear out long before you are done with it. Also, ensure the that horsepower rating for the machine is the horsepower for continuous use, and not peak usage. Peak usage is always higher and does not represent the ongoing horsepower once the treadmill has started and is actually being used.
When you see a treadmill at a suspiciously low price, check out its horsepower. It will probably be low. When manufacturers try to reduce the retail prices on the treadmills they sell, to save on productions costs, one of the things that they first cut is the quality of the motor.
Inclines are a very popular feature among those who use treadmills regularly. Using them gives you a better workout. And, the majority of mid and top of the line treadmills have adjustable incline ramps. They will, most likely, come with a lift motor that can adjust the running bed to whatever degree you need. But, an incline is a luxury item, for most people. It is a convenient feature, but not a requirement. So, if money is tight and cost is an issue, you can decrease your cost by buying a treadmill minus the incline ramp. However, if you really feel you need one, you can purchase one with one that can be raised and lowered by hand.
One thing that you will want, however, is above average cushioning on the treadmill deck. This cushioning absorbs much of the impact as you are walking and/or running which will save quite a bit of wear and tear on your joints, ankles, and feet. In addition, the treadmill deck should be solid enough to hold your weight comfortably without bouncing or wobbling.
And the last major thing that you want your treadmill to have is an emergency shut off switch. One that will deactivate and halt the machine in the event that you fall off.
Once you have narrowed down the choice of machines to those that have the minimum requirements above, then you can look for additional features that you might want such as timers, distance trackers, heart rate monitors, and the like.
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