Buying A Treadmill? Let Treadmill Consumer Ratings Help You Decide

With so many makes and models out there, deciding which treadmill to buy can be a daunting and frustrating experience. Visiting manufacturers' websites is not necessarily helpful, since no manufacturer is going to point out the disadvantages in owning any of their products. This is why treadmill consumer ratings are so useful to the potential treadmill buyer. Treadmill consumer ratings are unbiased opinions collected from people who have actually bought and used a particular treadmill.

Looking through treadmill consumer ratings online is a quick and easy way to compare different treadmills, especially if you have narrowed down your choices to just a few models. Beware of customer testimonies and reports found on manufacturers' websites though, since only positive feedbacks would have been put on the site.

Epinions.com contains reviews from hundreds of treadmill owners. These reviews reflect the overall continued experiece in using a particular treadmill. You can be sure that any negative feature not reported on the manufacturer's website will be listed by the treadmill owner.

So what can you expect to see in a consumer ratings report?

Motor Power

Look for continuous duty (power under continuous load) rather than peak load, as this gives a more accurate measure of motor power. i.e. a 2.5 HP peak load motor is not necessarily better than a 2.0 HP continuous duty one. You need to compare like with like.

Deck Size

If you intend to jog or run on the treadmill, then go for a model with a longer deck size. On the other hand, a shorter deck size will suffice if you are a walker or light jogger.

Frame Construction

This is an important element to consider. You want to choose a treadmill which has been built to last, and which feels solid while in use. In general, treadmills with a heavier unit weight will provide more stability than a lighter version. Also check the user weight capacity, especially if you're of a heavy built.

Foldable vs. Non-foldable

If you have limited space at home, you may want to consider buying a foldable treadmill, which can be folded up and stored away while not in use. Some models have a power-folding feature, which allows you to press a button, stand back and watch the treadmill fold up.

Electronic Parts

Most treadmills have an electronic console providing feedback to your workout: heart rate, calories burned, distance traveled, etc. Examples of extra features include power incline, pre-programmed workouts, and the ability to connect the treadmill to a computer.

Value for Money

Does the treadmill represent good value for its price? Cheaper treadmills are not necessarily better value, as some of them are made of poor-quality parts. You need to weigh up the cost of the machine with your budget, your fitness goals, the number of features you will be using, and the overall quality of the treadmill.

Warranty

With careful research, you should have narrowed down you choices of treadmills to those which have been built to last and do not break down easily. However, if you have decided on an entry-level model, which usually comes with a weak warranty anyway, you may want to consider buying extended warranty from the dealer.