Treadmill Buyers
Guide

Treadmill buyers guide - are you ready? Because armed with this treadmill buyers guide we're going shopping.

Treadmills have become the hottest home exercise choice. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, treadmill sales in the 1990s have exceeded those of all other home exercise equipment.

It's easy to understand why. Next to good shoes, a Treadmill may be a runner's best friend. Practically anything your training demands - hills, intervals, tempo, long distance, you can do on a treadmill.

And you can log those miles while watching Seinfeld or keeping an eye on your kids, without worrying about heat, cold, wind, ice, cars, darkness, potholes, mean dogs or scary people.

Treadmill running also offers a specificity that cross-training activities can't match. For instance, if you're training for the Boston Marathon, you can hop on a treadmill and simulate the exact grade and speed of your charge up Heartbreak Hill.

And while you're at it, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, you'll be burning more calories per hour than users of rowing machines, stairclimbers, stationary bicycles or cross-country ski machines.

Now let's take your treadmill buyers guide and go treadmill shopping. Before we set out, though, a word of caution: Treadmills are expensive, and they're complex.

A bad buying decision could leave you with one more inactive exercise hulk languishing in that musty corner of your basement. So tread carefully as you follow our treadmill buyers guide.

Shopping First off, remember this fact of Treadmill shopping:-

You get what you pay for. A $1,000 Treadmill may serve you well, but a $3,000 machine is likely to perform better for a longer time.

What are the most important considerations? These are what we consider should be included in our treadmill buyers guide:

How important are the treadmill's electronic features--readouts, programmable workouts, heart-rate training capability--to your satisfaction with the Treadmill?

Can the Treadmill's speed and incline ranges challenge you without the need to constantly run the machine at full power?

How frequently are you going to use your Treadmill? (A factor in how much money you can justify spending.)

What's the Treadmill's life expectancy, and what are the details of the warranty? How is repair service provided, and what routine maintenance are you expected to do?

Fine Print and Treadmill Tech Following are some more specifics to absorb before you buy.

How long should a home Treadmill last? Retailers tell us the range is seven to 12 years, with 10 years about average. Of course, with proper care, some Treadmills far exceed the average. With neglect, even the expensive ones die young. Dust is the primary early killer of Treadmills, therefore once a week, take a dry cloth and wipe up any dust between the belt and deck. Also keep the floor around your Treadmill clean and free of dust.

What about the warranty? Generally, the longer the warranty, the higher the Treadmill's quality and price. We recommend a warranty of three years for parts and one year for labor, with dealer-provided in-home service for the first year. Most problems, if they occur at all, will crop up in the first 90 days. Mostly this will be relatively minor stuff, such as adjustment or replacement of a component.

Other dealers suggest a minimum warranty of two years on parts and labor. Take note: A warranty can be voided if you haven't kept up your end of the purchase agreement, which may include regular treadmill cleaning and lubricating, or scheduled servicing by your dealer.

What's the difference between a "home" Treadmill and a "club" model? Manufacturers often separate treadmills into two categories: "home" or "residential," and "club" or "commercial." Good home Treadmills are essentially smaller versions of club treadmills. "The high-end home Treadmill can easily withstand regular daily use and features extensive programming options, often more than are found in the club treadmills. Club Treadmills come with a superior warranty and a bigger motor that can take round-the-clock beatings. They also carry significantly higher price tags.

What do horsepower ratings mean? Horsepower (h.p.) is a measure of motor power, and runners will want a 1.5 h.p. or higher "continuous duty" rating for their home Treadmill, say most retailers. While higher ratings (2.0 h.p. or higher are common) do indicate a more powerful Treadmill, your overall aim should be a machine that efficiently integrates the workings of the motor, belt and deck to give you a steady ride, which some 1.5 h.p. Treadmills accomplish.

Continuous duty means that the Treadmill will run at its listed h.p. rating with a significant workload over extended periods of time--an important consideration. Rusty Rainer of the Exercise Equipment of Nevada retail chain says consumers should be wary of manufacturers who list "peak-performance" h.p. ratings. "It sounds impressive, but all peak performance indicates is a motor's maximum power, not its sustained output."

What's the best belt size? To handle the long stride and natural side-to-side movement of runners, Treadmill belts are expanding in width and length. Twenty-inch-wide belts are becoming common, and no belt should be narrower than 17 or 18 inches. The length of the running area should be at least 50 inches, with 55 to 60 inches preferable for taller runners.

How important is the construction of the deck? Often overlooked by consumers (perhaps because it's hidden beneath the belt) is the Treadmill's deck, or bed. Better-quality decks are usually made of thin layers of laminated wood, coated with lubricants to minimize friction between the belt and deck, which in turn reduces strain on the motor. The smoother the deck coating, the less friction between the belt and deck.

Deck construction, more than the belt, influences how smooth or hard your treadmill feels to run on and how well it absorbs shock. You want a surface that gives a bit but doesn't bounce.

Better decks are reversible, meaning they can be turned over--thereby (in theory, at least) doubling the life of the deck. Some decks require owner maintenance without which they may succumb in a year. Proper care, however, can extend a deck's life for the lifetime of the Treadmill.

AC or DC? Direct-current-driven (DC) motors power most home treadmills. DC motors start slowly, provide a more consistent response to speed, incline and weight demands, and tend to run quieter than alternating-current (AC) motors. With DC, you're dealing with fewer internal parts, which may cut down on repair.

AC motors, which tend to be found in club Treadmills, start the belt at a faster speed. But you should be safe plugging either an AC or a DC motor into your wall outlet at home.

Pricing A good home Treadmill can cost up to $5,000 and will likely be the most expensive piece of exercise equipment you'll ever buy. Why so much money to run in place? Companies that make the best Treadmills install the highest grade of parts and components available, including expensive motors, safety and comfort features and long-lasting decks. Your Treadmill's components have to be able to withstand a terrific beating - more than 1,000 footstrikes per mile of running. With the price of a high-end Treadmill, you should get a machine that is absolutely durable, with a longer, more complete warranty that reflects its superior quality.

How low can you go? Generally $1,000 the line of demarcation between good and poor quality in a home Treadmill. Below $1,000 you're getting a 'disposable' Treadmill, meaning if it breaks down, it's not worth fixing. Most independent reports we've read and retailers we've talked to agree with the $1,000 cutoff.

To help you make your choice from the various models on the market we have listed below all the treadmills we have recently reviewed, presented in order of ascending price.

Click on the links to go to the individual review page for that model.

up to $500

 $99  Weslo Cardio Stride Plus Treadmill

$199 Weslo Cadence G-25 Treadmill

$399 Healthrider H150i Treadmill

$399 Proform 350 Treadmill

$399 Weslo Cadence C44 Treadmill

$499 Proform C500 Treadmill

$499 Trimline T340 Treadmill

$499 Weslo Cadence 50SE Treadmill

$599 Healthrider Pro H450i Treadmill

$599 Image 16.0 Q Treadmill

$599 Proform XP 615 Treadmill

$599 Proform 675 Cross Trainer Treadmill

$649 Healthrider T600i Treadmill

$649 ProForm Front Runner Treadmill

$699 Image 15.0R Treadmill

$699 Nordic Track C 2200 Treadmill

$699 Proform CrossTrainer VX Treadmill

$749 Trimline T345 Folding Treadmill

$799 Healthrider Pro H500i Treadmill

$799 Horizon T73 Treadmill

$799 Image Advanced 1400 Treadmill

$849 Trimline T350 HRC Treadmill

$888 Spirit Z8 Treadmill

$948 Horizon T63 Treadmill

$999 Reebok 8400 C Treadmill

$999 Image 17.0 R Treadmill

$999 ProForm Perspective 1.0 LX Treadmill 

$999 Smooth 5.25 Treadmill 

$999 Spirit XT8 Treadmill

$999 Spirit Z88 Treadmill

$1199 Spirit XT9 Treadmill

$1298 Horizon Fitness T64HR Treadmill

$1299 Reebok Vista Treadmill

$1399 Healthrider Outlook Treadmill

$1399 Spirit X10 Treadmill

$1499 Reebok 9500 ES Treadmill

$1499 Healthrider R60 Treadmill

$1499 Sole F80 Treadmill

$1518 Spirit Z100 Treadmill

$1598 Trimline T370 HRC Treadmill

$1599 Image Advanced 3000 Treadmill

$1599 Nordic Track X5 Incline Trainer

$1699 Sole S73 Treadmill

$1699 Smooth 6.25 Treadmill 

$1699 Smooth 7.1HR PRO Treadmill 

$1699 Spirit Z500 Treadmill

$1699 Spirit XT200 Treadmill

$1799 Sole F83 Treadmill

$1899 Sole S77 Treadmill

$1899 Spirit XT600 Treadmill

$1999 Nordic Track Viewpoint 2800 Treadmill

$1999 Sole F85 Treadmill

$1999 Smooth 9.25HR Treadmill

$2148 Spirit Z900 Treadmill 

$2299 Sole TT8 Treadmill

$2399 Spirit XT800 Treadmill

$2399 Smooth 9.17HRO Treadmill

$2495 Trimline T380 Light Commercial Treadmill

$3098 Precor M9.31 Treadmill

$3295 Landice L770 LTD Sport Trainer Treadmill

$3499 Smooth 9.25X Treadmill 

$3598 Precor M9.33 Treadmill

$3600 Landice L770 Home Pro Sports Trainer Treadmill

$3689 Star Trac Sport Treadmill

$3695 Landice L770 LTD ProSports Trainer

$3795 Landice L7 Club Pro Sports Trainer Treadmill

$4000 Landice L770 Home Cardio Trainer Treadmill

$4095 Landice L770 LTD Cardio Trainer

$4195 Landice L870 LTD Sport Trainer Treadmill

$4295 Landice L7 Club Cardio Trainer Treadmill

$4490 Star Trac TR4500 Treadmill

$4495 Landice L970 Club Sports Trainer

$4595 Landice L870 LTD ProSports Trainer

$4689 Star Trac Pro S Treadmill

$4695 Landice L770 Home Executive Trainer Treadmill

$4695 Landice L770 LTD Executive Trainer Treadmill

$4695 Landice L970 Club ProSports Trainer Treadmill

$4695 Landice L770 Home Executive Trainer Treadmill

$4748 Star Trac Pro Treadmill

$4795 Landice L7 Club Executive Trainer Treadmill

$4995 Landice L870 LTD Cardio Trainer

$5095 Landice L970 Club Cardio Trainer Treadmill

$5595 Landice L870 LTD Executive Trainer

$5695 Landice L970 Club Executive Trainer Treadmill

We are constantly comparing treadmill prices. The link at the bottom of each Review page will take you to the supplier offering the best deal in order to save you time and money!

This feature Treadmill Buyers Guide is one of many informative fitness equipment articles to be found at www.treadmilladviser.com.

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