Looking for the best treadmill value? The treadmill market is growing more and more crowded each year, with new models, new brands and new advances in treadmill technology. It’s confusing to sift through all your options.

How do you find the treadmill that offers you the best value? By knowing what to look for.

This article will give you 4 key attributes of high value treadmills so you can make an informed decision and find the best treadmill value for you.

#1 High Powered Well Built Motor - The motor is the heart of your treadmill. You need to have a treadmill with sufficient motor power or else you’ll quickly burn the motor out (and start paying through the nose to fix it).

Motor power is measured by Horsepower (or HP for short). Most treadmills range from 1.5 HP to 3.0 HP. You want at least a 2.0 HP Continuous duty motor - preferably higher. Remember that the more strenuously you plan to use the treadmill, the more power you’re going to need.

#2 Excellent Cushioning - Cushioning is the ability of the treadmill to absorb the force of your step. Cushioning is extremely important because it protects your knees, hips, ankles and back.

Cheap cushioning means possible injury or muscle strains - especially if you’re a runner. Look for a good cushioning system built into your treadmill. It’s also important to make sure you wear proper, high quality running shoes for even more protection.

#3 Lengthy Warranty - An excellent warranty is a great indicator of the best treadmill values. It gives you an indication of the quality of parts used in construction.

So for example the 90 day warranty that covers your cheap department store treadmill does not indicate high value. A treadmill that comes with a lifetime frame, 10+ years on the motor, 2+ years on parts and 1 year on labor does indicate a higher value machine.

#4 High Stability - According to Runner’s World, stability is the most important factor when choosing a treadmill. You don’t want a treadmill that shakes or wobbles when you pick up your pace.

What factors make up a highly stable treadmill? Unit Weight - the higher weight the machine, the more anchoring you’ve got and in general, the more stable a treadmill.

Construction also contributes to stability. A highly regarded treadmill brand will often make more stable treadmills than a brand known for making cheaper units.

User weight capacity is another indicator of stability. For example a treadmill with a 300 lb user weight capacity is usually more stable than a treadmill with a 250 lb user weight capacity.

So those are 4 key factors that make up high value treadmills. Other factors you might want to look at are:

Belt size - make sure it’s long enough to accommodate your stride. Average height users will be fine with a regular size belt (up to 52″ long). However runners or taller users may want to get a longer belt (55-60″).

Workout programs and other extras - if you get bored easily you might want a treadmill with lots of workout programs. Some treadmills even offer built in TV’s, iPod stations and built-in speakers. It really depends on what you want.

And while you generally get what you pay for with treadmills - higher end machines are usually built much better than economy models - you can still get a great deal on a high value treadmill. With more competition and experience, many treadmill manufacturers are building more value into their treadmills. By knowing what to look for - and what you personally need - you’re assured of getting the best treadmill value for you.



Thanks to Vienna Miller for contributing this article to our Treadmill blog:

Treadmill Tips

An elliptical trainer is one of the most efficient ways of burning calories. On an elliptical trainer you can burn more calories than in just about any form of exercise. This is what makes them one of the most popular forms of fitness equipment.

You will find elliptical trainers at the gym or fitness center and you can buy them for home use. Whether you make them part of your exercise routine at the gym or you are looking for a single piece of equipment for the home then the elliptical trainer is ideal.

The elliptical trainer offers a low impact work out that will not damage joints, cause shin splints or any other injuries associated with high impact exercises like running. Your feet never leave the foot paddles so you are not causing shocks to your feet, ankles or knees. This is much better than pounding the concrete by road running.

Their low impact character makes them ideal for people who are new to exercise or have suffered injuries in the past. If you have arthritis and want to exercise then an elliptical trainer may be answer. If you are recovering from an injury then working out on an elliptical trainer may help to get back in action with exacerbating your original injury,

If you have limited time for exercise then an elliptical trainer is probably the single most efficient fitness machine for you to use. It will burn more calories in a shorter time than any other piece of equipment. They are ideal for those who are trying to lose weight.

The amazing thing about an elliptical trainer is that you feel as though you are doing less work than you really are. There is far less perceived effort than on other kinds of fitness equipment. The elliptical trainer is easy and comfortable to use.

You are more likely to make use of an elliptical trainer than other kinds of fitness equipment because the experience is pleasant and because you have the satisfaction of achieving your goals more quickly. You keep coming back to it again and again.

The reason why an elliptical trainer is so easy to use is that it mimics the natural action of the body. When you run your feet should move in an elliptical shape. In practice most of us don’t run like that so it is hard work. The elliptical trainer makes us do the action properly.

Many elliptical trainers have levers that work the arms at the same time. This kind of elliptical trainers gives the whole body a work out and is therefore the best choice if an elliptical trainer is the only piece of equipment you are buying for the home. At the gym or fitness center you can mix and match to get a full body work out on different machines.

When you first begin to exercise on an elliptical trainer you can set the machine on a easy program. A fat burning program will keep your heart rate to within about 50 to 60% of its maximum. As you progress you can move on to interval training that wil push your heart rate higher. As your cardiovascular fitness improves you can try more challenging programs.

The advantage of an elliptical trainer is that it has scope for a wide range of fitness levels. You do not need to be super fit to use it but even those who are already fit can benefit from an elliptical trainer.



Thanks to Abhishek Agarwal for contributing this article to our Treadmill blog:

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