The best treadmills- For the race of your life
Shopping for a treadmill? There’s a good reason why treadmills are the king of the home gym. They are functional, easy to use and provide an ideal way to burn calories, manage weight, and strengthen your cardiovascular system.
Why we love treadmills ?
With many private gyms closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, more people than ever before are now working out in the comfort of their own lounge. While running laps around your sofa is still an option, it doesn’t compare to the workout you’ll get on a treadmill. Walking or running on a treadmill puts less stress on the body than running on a flat surface outdoors. Modern versions of treadmills also come with shock absorption, which means that your joints take even less of a knock. Plus, they're flat, without the potholes, rocks, and wild ferrets that may trip you up on trails. Another pro of treadmills is that you are completely in control of your own workout. Depending on your fitness levels, you may want to have a light workout or you might be an experienced runner wanting an intense workout. Perhaps the biggest draw point of owning a treadmill, however, is the feeling you get when you’re on it. If you haven’t heard of something called “the runner’s high” then you’re missing out. Running on a treadmill boosts a sensation of elated euphoria because of the naturally occurring endorphins induced by running. In a nutshell, running on a treadmill makes you feel happy (insert smiley face here).
How To Choose The Best Treadmill
A home treadmill can be a great investment, but they are costly. This is why it’s very important to consider a few things when choosing a treadmill. We’re here to help you take the first step toward finding the right treadmill for you.
Your budget: If you want a quality indoor ride, be prepared to shell out the big bucks, with the average price for a well-made, well-equipped new treadmill model between $1000 to $3,000 range. Anything under this and experts agree, you probably won’t get more than a year’s usage out of it. Why the high price tag, you may ask? When it comes to treadmills, the size of the machine’s motor is important. More powerful motors are more expensive, and this drives up the prices. Underpowered motors, on the other hand, are forced to work at max capacity, which means they end up burning off the insulation on the internal wiring. In short, imminent machine death awaits.
Manual versus motorized treadmills: You’d be forgiven for thinking that all treadmills are motorized but alas, this isn’t so. While it’s true that most modern treadmills have a motor, some are actually manual, which means you will have to power the belt through the action of your feet. Manual treadmills require more effort from runners than motorized treadmills, they tend to have fewer features, are less sturdy, and you also have to manually change the incline. If that already seems like too much work to you, then opt for a motorized treadmill instead. A motorized treadmill is powered electrically with continuous horsepower or CHP. The CHP measures how much power the motor maintains throughout the workout. Motorized treadmills include more features and are suitable for longer training sessions. With various settings for speed and incline, they allow for more varied workouts.
Take your time: A good treadmill is a major investment so don’t rush this buy. If you choose to purchase online, do your homework first. Not having a chance to test the treadmill, you’ll have to be extra cautious when it comes to reading between the lines.
Electronic features: Many treadmills have a digital display that tells you all sorts of things from how many calories you’ve burnt, to elapsed time, distance, speed, and incline. While digital displays are great when working out, they also push the price of a treadmill up. If a digital display isn’t an important feature for you then you can save a pretty penny by choosing a treadmill without all the added bells and whistles. We do, however, recommend a treadmill that measures your heart rate, as heart rate is the surest indicator of progress and proper intensity. The best treadmills will actually adjust speed while measuring your heart rate to make sure that you stay within the rate range. You simply punch in the desired HR and the machine will respond accordingly throughout the workout.
Safe to use: Safety should always be top of mind when choosing a treadmill. Yes, all treadmills have an emergency stop (big green button means go, big red button means stop) but not all have an emergency stop that’s well labeled. Also, look for basics like a safety key and belt speed that starts and stops in small, gradual increments. Make sure the treadmill has handrails or console grips that are well positioned on the machine and won’t interfere with your workout.
Maintenance: No one wants to spend more time maintaining a treadmill than time spent on it. A good treadmill won’t need lubricating and servicing following every workout. This should only have to be done after several weeks of use. Also, look for a reversible deck. In other words, you can flip the deck over when normal wear takes its course on the running surface. A reversible deck essentially doubles the life of your treadmill surface.
Consider the deck size: Your treadmill’s running surface (deck size) is a key component. Lengths of treadmill decks range from 45 inches to 60 inches. Treadmills with a short length work well for walkers, while those with long surfaces are better for running. The width of treadmill decks ranges from 16 inches to 22 inches. Treadmill users with wider frames may prefer a wider deck, while those with smaller frames may opt for a narrow deck to be closer to the side handrails.
The weight of the treadmill: As a general rule of thumb, when choosing a treadmill, it’s a good idea to select a treadmill with a maximum user weight of 50 pounds greater than the heaviest user. This will help you get the most out of your investment.
A word on warranty: It goes without saying that you should choose a treadmill that comes with a good guarantee. Most quality treadmills will offer a lifetime warranty on the frame. When it comes to other components, look for a warranty that provides for at least 12 months of labor and a minimum of three years coverage on parts.