How to choose a Treadmill

If you are looking for a treadmill for the first time it can be quite a difficult choice – there are many to choose from and they all look the pretty much the same! To help you decide we’re going to discuss each parameter to look at below – by the time you’ve finished this article you’ll be an expert!

Magnetic 0r Motorised

Magnetic treadmills

These are the two main categories of treadmill. Magnetic treadmills are by far the cheapest – however, in our opinion they are only really suitable for use if you are intending to use one for walking rather then running, they tend to have few of the prefered features discussed below. They rely on the incline of the deck to work and use magnets as the ‘friction’ to maintin an even speed.

Motorised treadmills

Motorised are the most popular type of treadmill and there are hundreds to choose from. If you are serious about your exercise equipment this is the type to go for. The deck on a motorised treadmill is powered by an electric motor which maintains a set speed, which you set on a control panel. More expensive treadmills also feature powered incline adjustment an faster running speeds, along with a wide range of programs.

Inclines & workouts/programs

This applies mainly to motorised treadmills. Magnetic treadmills allow you to adjust the magnetic ‘friction’ and may have an adjustable incline, but don’t usually have the flexibility of a powered treadmill.

Inclines

All motorised treadmills allow you to adjust the speed of the deck up to the maximum speed the particular model will run at. You are usually able to adjust the incline as well – the incline is the angle of the treadmill compared to the floor/horizontal – the more incline, the harder it is to run ( i.e. it’s like running up hill). More expensive treadmills my have a maximum incline of 15 degrees or more, and many have motorised inclines, meaning you can change the incline as you run. If you want to improve strength and stamina then an adjustable incline is a must!

It is helpful to have as many programs as possible as this will allow you to vary your workout and make the trining more interesting. More elaborate treadmills will have programs which help you attain different goals, e.g. improve speed, stamina, burn fat etc. A good quality powered treadmill with motorised incline will have programs which allow you to key in what you want to do, how long a workout you want and do everything for you.

Body weight

All treadmills specify a maximum body weight – this is the maximum weight a person using it should be. You should always ensure you don’t exeed this maximum weight as doing so may cause damage to the machine, especially the motor, which is an expensive item to replace. Your warranty may also be invalidated as you are not using it for the purpose for which is is intended. Generally the more you spend the greater the body weight the treadmill can cater for.

Size – Folded and in use

For home use size is often an important criteria when choosing a treadmill. Treadmills a quite a large item when in use – the more expensive treadmills tend to be quite large due to their sturdier construction and larger running deck – although we recommend a treadmill with a large deck, you need to make sure it will fit the area in which you intend to use it – even a garage dedicated to a home gym can suddenly appear quite small when a large treadmill is installed! Also check the folded size will fit where you want to store it – mid-range treadmills have clever folding mechanisms which make them quite small when folded compared to cheaper models.

Maximum speed

Always check the maximum speed of a treadmill meets your requirements – and note that most maximum speeds are quoted in Kilometers per hour and not miles and hours, so make sure you understand the difference – max speeds start at 12 KPH, which is approximately 7.5 miles an hour – that is fast enough for jogging and casual runners/keep fit, but if you want to do a complete work out or train for short distance(i.e. faster) running then you will probably need something a little faster.

If you are serious about running then we would recommend a max speed of 18KPH or more, which will make it suitable for anyone who wants to use it.

Power rating

All motorised treadmills have a power rating, which is the power of the electric motor which drive the belt run run on – this is usually expressed in HP ( i.e. HorsePower) and generally the more the better. The treadmill you choose  should have a rating of at least 1.5 HP continuous. Some manufacturers quote the power rating as peak power – this is often around twice the continuous rating, so make sure you compare like with like – if only peak power is quoted then half it to get continuous power.

The power rating is important because higher power rating will mean the treadmill will keep a more even speed and the motor should last longer because it is not made to work as hard – a low power motor will have to work harder to acheive the same speed, other things being equal.

Heartrate monitor

Most Treadmills come with a built in heart rate monitor, usually the sensors are built into the hand rails. To use these you need to hold both rails to get a reading – this can be make running difficult and awkward. Better treadmills will take readings from a heartrate monitor which you attach to yourself (i.e. using wireless transmitter) – these are much easier to use and you can obtain a constant readout to keep you in the required zone.

High end treadmills allow you to enter you age, gender and/or weight and will adjust the workout to keep you within your target heartrate.

Size of running platform

The size of running platform (also known as the ‘deck’) is another import thing to consider when choosing your treadmill. Generally, the bigger the better. A larger deck is easier and more pleasant ┬áto run on. If you want to watch TV when running then a large platform is a must because you will tend to wander across the deck a little and it will be difficult to stay on without looking down.

120cm x 40cm is generally the minimum size of a the deck on a motorised treadmill, but 150cm x 50cm or greater would be a better choice for all-round performance.

Joint problems – less impact

Look out for a cushioned running platform – Most treadmills incorporate a cussioned deck which greatly reduces the impact on your joints when running. The more expensive models tend to have the better cushioning.