What Are the Best Treadmills to Buy for Home Use?

Rather than forking over the dough for that monthly gym membership fee, it may be a bit more cost effective to just buy your own treadmill. Besides the cost savings, you eliminate all the little hassles that seem to accompany a trip to the club: filling the tank, finding a parking spot, waiting for a machine and whatever else may come with your daily trek. But, actually committing to a single treadmill can be quite a task.

Significance

Treadmills are best judged on a few central components--budget, space, noise, features and horsepower. All five of these factors should really be taken into consideration, both separately and in relation to one another, before you select a machine. Once you've established each and weighed them against each other, you can confidently select the treadmill that is best for you. It's like buying a car; if it's lacking an important feature, you probably shouldn't buy the car. The same can be said about a treadmill.

Considerations

The most obvious piece to your purchase puzzle is your budget, which pretty much dictates what kind of treadmill you should and can buy. Generally, you'll be able to find one for as little as $500 up to well over $5,000, so take some time to set a price point that is comfortable for you. After setting your budget, you'll need to look at the room in which you have to put it and use it. If you've got ample room, you can pretty much buy any machine. When space is limited, you'll be facing a definite constraint in your selection. Make sure that it not only fits the space, but gives you enough room to work out comfortably. Nothing ruins a workout more than feeling closed in. After you've determined budget and space in relation to one another, you're going to need to consider the features of those treadmills that meet your criteria.

Features

With the myriad of models available today, there should be a treadmill that can vary your workout while giving you a few bells and whistles that are essential to an enjoyable walk or run. Find a treadmill that has enough pre-set routines as well as programmable features that can not only change the pace but the incline (if that's ideal to your exercise regimen) of your workout. You may also want a model that has a heart monitor or a magazine rack or a bottle holder. They may seem like little things, but can really make or break a workout. Now that you've determined the budget, size and features that best fit your needs, look at the horsepower of the treadmills. This is important, as the motor will dictate the intensity of your workout. You only really need to select a model that has anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 horsepower of "continuous duty." Remember, it's continuous duty you're looking at, not peak.

Identification

To get you started on your selection process, there are a few models that top the list of "best." The Nordic Track T9 is a budget buy at around $1,000. It has a 2.5 horsepower motor with a lifetime warranty and a number of "one touch" settings to vary the speed and incline of your workout. There's also an iPod dock and room enough to prop a book or magazine. Another great model on a budget is the Smooth 5.45 Folding Treadmill at $1,000. This also has a 2.5 horsepower motor for "continuous duty" with a number of pre-set workouts, including a heart rate monitor. If space is an issue, this treadmill can fold up for easy storage. Neither are ideal for training runners, but can easily handle walking and running for the fitness enthusiast. A mid-range model that is a great buy for the price is the Sole F83 at $1,800. This is a quiet machine with a 3.0 horsepower "continuous duty" motor. It offers a low-impact track with a number of pre-set workouts and programmable settings. It has a heart rate monitor and is a folding treadmill that is far more stable than any other folding model. This is probably one of the best machines on the market.

Warning

Never purchase a treadmill "sight unseen." You'll want to test the machine out before purchasing it, making sure it runs well and fits your stride. There are models out there that aren't a very smooth ride, which is not only annoying, but can be unsafe--just think of your knees and hips. Also, you'll want to hear it run. If you're planning on watching television while exercising, you'll need a model that is relatively quiet. When you do decide to give a treadmill a test run, make sure to bring your shoes and exercise apparel. Having everything in place to mimic an actual workout is always advisable, giving you practical knowledge of a walk or run.