Best Recommended
Treadmill

Best Recommended Treadmill - finding the best recommended treadmill is getting more difficult. The best exercise treadmills have better stability and more sophisticated controls.They also offer an amazing diversity of features for the fitness enthusiast.

Surveys place treadmills at the top of home fitness equipment sales, the major players have to keep making improvements in order to stay in the market.

The current crop of high end exercise treadmills can duplicate almost anything you might do on the track, road or trail.You have the convenience of being able to run at any time of the day without any thought for weather, traffic or other factors.

The following is our Best Recommended Treadmill listings based on ease of use, build quality and value for money. We have nominated a Best Recommended Treadmill for each of four different categories depending on use.



Walking

The best recommended treadmill if you intend to use your exercise treadmill predominately for walking is the Smooth 5.25. This is a folding treadmill and has been rated as a best treadmill by Treadmill Doctor for three consecutive years.

The new Smooth 5.25 takes the best and makes it even better with exciting new upgrades you won't expect to find at such a great discount. Treadmill quality is also improved without compromising affordability. About.com rates the 5.25 a "Top 10 Budget Treadmill."

Ideally suited for Walking, the Smooth 5.25 folding treadmill follows in the footsteps of other Smooth models designed to deliver quality at a discount. Treadmill features available on the 5.25 are rarely found on other models with a "best treadmill" designation.

Fitness experts say the Smooth 5.25 is the best exercise treadmill if your home fitness plans include walking. This treadmill has a wider belt than others (20 inches) and a stronger motor (2.5 hp) than other budget models. Even so, more regular walkers and runners may need a more durable machine, such as below.

Smooth 5.25    




Mostly walking

The best recommended treadmill mostly for walking is the Sole F80. This folding treadmill is available for under $1,500 and is built for serious walking.

The Sole F80 exercise treadmill delivers some mighty features at an unbelievable price. Because it has the heart of a walking treadmill, it is acclaimed for its quality and excellent performance.

Treadmill Doctor agrees! "Sole has focused on making their treadmills feature heavy… it is hard to get on a Sole treadmill and not be impressed."

The Sole F80 treadmill has a heritage of innovation and proven reliability. You'll find distinctive attributes rarely found on other folding treadmills for the serious walker or fitness enthusiast.

Sole F80    




Walking/ Light running

The best recommended treadmill for walking and light? Well the running Editors at TreadmillDoctor.com say the Smooth 9.25HR is the best choice in this price range for those who want an exercise treadmill for both walking and running.

The Smooth 9.25HR is a monster of a treadmill at a very moderate price. Built on a welded steel fame (20" x 62" tread belt) the Smooth 9.25HR also comes with an upgraded twin dot-matrix computer offering separate speed and incline fitness workout profiles.

There's a lifetime warranty on all parts with one years labor support. A bonus is an included chest-strap heart-rate monitor to help keep you working in the right fitness zone.

Smooth 9.25HR    





Heavy runners/Pros

Experts agree that the best recommended treadmill for heavy runners and professional athletes is the Landice L7 Club Pro Sports Trainer.

This sturdy, well-built Landice feels like a fitness club treadmill and can take a real pounding from serious runners. It also gets high marks for ergonomics, an oversized running surface, and build quality, backed by a lifetime warranty on all parts.

Fitness experts say the 3hp motor is smooth and quiet. A good candidate for Best Treadmill This machine is a monster, with a large footprint, making it very stable—but you'll need plenty of floor space for the L7.

Landice L7 Club Pro Sports Trainer    





What to look for in a treadmill

When making your assesment of a suitable exercise treadmill from the various models, here are some points to consider:

 Frame: High alloy steel is more robust than aluminum, however they are heavy and must be treated to stop rust. Select a welded frame over a bolted one and avoid all plastic frames.

 Hand Rails: The location of the hand rails is a matter of choice. Whether you get a treadmill with a handlebar in front or two side rails, they need to be sturdy but should not impeded arm movement.

 AC or DC Motor: Home units are usually DC, but commercial exercise treadmills may be AC or DC. AC motors tend to make more noise and may need a dedicated power line.

 Horsepower: The continuous-duty rating reflects the motor's true horsepower of a treadmill. An exercise treadmill with less than 1.5 continuous-duty horsepower may not last too long.

 Speed: A good exercise treadmill will match the pace you feel comfortable walking or running. Most run from 0.5 mph up to 10 mph. A safe start speed of 0.5 mph or less is vital for safety.

 Belt: The treadmill belt length should be able to accommodate your longest stride. The belt should be no less than 16" to enable adequate striding. Be sure you can easily reach the controls without difficulty.

 Deck: The running deck is a vital component of the treadmill. A good deck should operate at a low temperature and require little maintenance.

 Impact Resilience: The exercise treadmill's ability to absorb the force transmitted from your foot when walking/running. The lower the impact the less damage you will do to your joints.

 Incline Adjustment: The incline of a treadmill, can be adjusted in a variety of ways from the automatic incline which changes depending upon your heart rate, to pushing a bottom, to the manual hand crank or adjusting pins. Quality electronic incline adjustment should be quite.

 Control Panel: Most exercise treadmills have computerized panels. They vary from basic to the complex and fully programmable. Price is influenced by the control panel options, so buy only what you will regularly use.

 Heart Rate Monitors: These are usually optional. The accuracy of heart rate monitors can vary widely. The ear and finger clips are generally less accurate than the chest strap monitors.

 Warranty: A quality treadmill will usually have a lifetime warranty on the frame and a guarantee of 2 or more years on mechanicals.

 Price: As with most things in life you get what you pay for! Look to paying $1,000 for an exercise treadmill of reasonable quality.

This feature Best Recommended Treadmill is one of many to be found in our series of informative and motivational exercise treadmill articles.

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