Buying A Treadmill? Let Ratings On Treadmills Do The Work For You

If you're considering buying a treadmill, then it makes sense to look through some unbiased ratings on treadmills before parting with hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars. There are two types of ratings on treadmills available. One is professional ratings, the other is based on information given by people who have actually bought and used the machines.

Professional ratings on treadmills, such as reviews found in magazines, are put together by fitness experts, who have the background and knowledge to evaluate different makes and models. They also have the expertise to test the individual machines for their stability, performance and safety.

The fitness industry is vast, and working out on a treadmill is becoming increasingly popular. In fact, most Americans prefer working out on a treadmill than any other piece of exercise equipment. In 2003, the latest year for which such figures were available, a staggering 11.6 million Americans exercise using a treadmill.

No wonder then that there is such a large variety of treadmills available to consumers these days. In addition, the effort to make exercising as interesting and comfortable as possible has lead to an array of extra features such as computer compatibility, automatic workout intensity adjustment, even a special cubby hole for your TV remote control.

With this increased variety comes an unprecedented confusion to potential treadmill buyers. How do you know which treadmill is best for you?

This is why reports and ratings on treadmills are so useful. They present the price, various features and pros and cons of different treadmill models in an easy-to-digest list, providing comparisons on different machines so that you can begin to make an informed choice. In January 2005, Consumer Reports compared 22 home treadmills made by 16 manufacturers including True, Horizon, Proform, Nordic Track, Weslo, Image, Life Fitness, Landice and others. Runner's World has also recently conducted its own study on treadmills designed more for professional runners and athletes.

For consumer ratings, TreadmillDoctor.com and Epinions.com are good sources and cover reviews for hundreds of treadmill models.

The following are some of the elements you should consider when browsing through treadmill ratings:

Price

Treadmills are usually categorized into 3 price ranges: entry-level (below $800), mid-price ($800 - $2000) and premium (over $2000). Which category you choose from will depend mostly on your budget and exercise requirements.

Motor Power

If you're going to be using your treadmill heavily for running, then choose one with a higher continuous duty motor, which will give you many more years of service.

Foldability

If you're short of space at home, you may want to consider a foldable treadmill. Some models have a power fold feature, which allows you to press a button and watch the treadmill fold up by itself.

Extra Features

Don't be tempted by features you will rarely or never use. Concentrate on features that are genuinely beneficial to your needs. For example, if preset programs make exercising less boring to you and help to motivate you, then it's a feature you should try to include.

Warranty

For example, if your treadmill will be in heavy use, then try to choose a model with a long warranty on motor, or consider buying extended warranty from the dealer.