Consumer Report
Treadmill

Consumer Report Treadmill - concluding our survey in December 2006 and compiling our data from such sources as TreadmillDoctor.com making this not only the most thoughtful, consumer report treadmill but also the most up-to-date.

If you’re considering a treadmill, there are many factors to think about before bringing one home. Belt size, speed, horsepower, displays, deck cushioning—all of these aspects can make a difference in whether you’ll keep walking or running on the machine.

There's a wide range of prices and product quality amongst treadmills; you can find cheaply made models in discount stores for as little as $350. While some of these bargain-basement treadmills are merely uncomfortable, unreliable and noisy, others are downright dangerous.

Consumer report treadmill advises that recalls have been issued for Horizon Fitness Paragon, Quantum, and Omega products from 2000 and 2001 for a rapid acceleration malfunction. The company received 15 reports of users losing their balance and falling off.

Fortunately, there are much better product choices now available, with features and prices to suit most budgets.

If you are a serious indoor runner, and anticipate your treadmill will take a real pounding, consumer report treadmill and other reviewers such as Runners World top-rate the heavy-duty Precor M9.33 Teadmill.

Its sturdy construction makes it feel like a health-club treadmill, experts say, earning this model high marks for ergonomics, an oversized running surface, and an array of features that includes a heart-rate program.

The Precor has an inch-thick deck and no weight limit, as well as controls that are so touch-sensitive that you don’t have to push on them. In our survey It's worth noting that some testers found its dot-matrix display panel challenging to read.

The Precor’s maximum speed is 11 mph, and its frame has a lifetime warranty, with a ten-year warranty on all parts and a one-year warranty on labor.

You may blanch at the thought of paying so much for a treadmill. There are some well-received models that cost less, but consumer report treadmill is less enthusiastic about these, especially when it comes to durability.

If you have a limited budget, TreadmillDoctor.com recommends the Smooth 5.25 which they is outstanding value for the price. Its display panel is highly readable, and it folds up to save space. Prevention magazine says this Smooth model is “a great starter treadmill.”

Incline and speed controls are on the hand grips, which makes adjustments safe and easy, said one tester. As you’d expect in a cheaper model, the Smooth treadmills running surface is smaller than the Precor, and it has a 275-pound weight capacity.

However, its 10-year motor warranty is twice as long as the motor warranty on those two models. Smooth’s Web site tells us that the Smooth 5.25 is its top-selling model.

Landice are another well-known manufacturer of high quality treadmills. Their Landice L7 Club Pro Sports Trainer earned two nominations in our Consensus Report, and also appears in Runners World list of Top Ten treadmills.



Important Features:

If you plan to run, not just walk, on your treadmill, or if you weigh more than 180 pounds, don't settle for less than 2hp. A DC-driven motor (as opposed to AC) gobbles less power, and is less expensive to repair should trouble arise. Experts say you should avoid manual treadmills altogether.

The two-ply belt should be no less than 18 inches wide and 48 inches long. According to Prevention Magazine walking editor Maggie Spilner, a smaller belt forces the average walker to shorten his or her stride.

If you have long legs, you must have a belt longer than 48 inches. The American Council on Exercise recommends a 49-inch belt. All the models in Fast Answers include belts that are at least 20" x 54".

The deck should be at least a quarter-inch thick. The best decks are low-impact structures that absorb shock by flexing under your foot when it strikes the belt. If you have injuries like shin splints or recurring back/foot problems, this feature is a must.

The display panel should show all the necessary information at once, preferably in large, easy-to-read numbers. A scanning display, which rotates the readouts through one window, can produce a feeling of disorientation because you have to keep your eyes on the panel while you work out. Make sure the display shows speed, distance covered, incline and time elapsed.

Push-button controls are better than dials or switches. Sliding switches can be imprecise and stubborn to move. You should be able to push control buttons while you're running.

Welded frames are sturdier than bolted frames. The less jarring and jiggling, the better. Although frames are generally made of steel, treadmills costing $2000 and up (for example, the PaceMaster ProElite) are sometimes constructed of aircraft aluminum. These models absorb shock, are light and easy to move, and don't rust.

Some exercisers think handrails are a nuisance because they impede arm movement, but experts say they're necessary for safety. Rails should be long enough for you to reach without having to walk too close to the front of the treadmill. Note that some models, like the Life Fitness T3, don't have side handrails at all.

Beginners should look for an incline of at least 10%. A treadmill's maximum incline should suit your fitness level. According to the American Council on Exercise, beginners will do fine with an incline of up to 10%, but advanced exercisers may want a treadmill capable of 15%. Test the machine's stability during incline mode before you buy.

Walkers need a speed capability of 5 mph, runners need 8 to 11mph. The starting speed should be slow (0.1 to 0.5 mph) to avoid injury.
Look for a safety key if you have kids. Children and pets should not be able to start the machine by accident. Experts say refrigerator magnets can start some machines that use a magnetic key.

Go for a model with a panic button or automatic shutoff. If you slip or get into trouble, the power should cut off instantly by means of a button you push or a tether attached to your clothes.

Read the fine print on the warranty. If you're heavier than the warranty specifies, the contract may be void. The frame should have a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.

Other components should come with a warranty of one to three years for parts and labor. Avoid 90-day warranties. Finally, make sure you can return the treadmill if it doesn't suit you.

A much-touted report on dieting in "Consumer Reports" includes a survey of people who lost weight and kept it off. The survey found that exercising at least three times a week—rather than dieting—was their most successful weight-loss strategy.

Maybe that's why half of American adults have some sort of exercise equipment in their homes. Treadmills are the best-selling home fitness equipment in the U.S.

The Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association says that in 2000, more than 40 million Americans owned one.



A few facts about the current market may help you in your purchasing decision. Icon Health & Fitness now produces HealthRider, Image, NordicTrack, ProForm, and Reebok treadmills. Icon also developed iFIT.com technology, which streams workouts from its fitness training Web site, iFIT.com, to the company’s Internet-compatible treadmills.



Consensus Report:

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks Model
3 Smooth 5.25
3 Smooth 6.25
2 Smooth 9.25HR
2 Sole F80
2 Landice L7 Club Pro Sports Trainer

1 each HealthRider R60, Image 15.0R, Precor M9.31, Sole F63,
Smooth 7.1 HR PRO



Alternative Considerations:

If you live in an apartment, you may want to choose a folding treadmill that can be easily put away. In general, most inexpensive treadmills, such as the Smooth 5.25 offer this feature.

If you can't afford to pay even $800 for a treadmill, there are other options, but experts say you will sacrifice quality. Some inexpensive Weslo models receive good mentions in the reviews we read.

The Weslo Cadence 50SE is the sub-$500 pick which is the best Weslo this year in terms of value for money.

Finally, consumer report treadmill says if you're only going to walk, not run, on your treadmill, you can sacrifice some of the gadgetry of the fancier machines, and settle for a less powerful motor and lower speed capability.



New innovations :

Consumer Report Treadmill says controlling the intensity of your workout with heart-rate monitoring is the latest rage in treadmill workouts.

This usually works by means of a chest strap, headband, handlebar grip, or thumb sensor (experts don't recommend the last method). You may have to pay a bit more for models with this capability. Most reviewers, including Runner's World, say this is a worthwhile investment for serious exercisers.





This feature Consumer Report Treadmill is one of many to be found in our series of exercise treadmill articles at Treadmill Adviser.

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