Before you begin shopping online for your treadmill, you’ll want to have a clear picture of the various features that will be available to you depending on your budget and the brand of equipment you are looking at.
Here are the specific things that you will want to consider:
- treadmill motor: Most of the treadmills that you purchase for home use will have a DC motor which tends to be quieter than the AC motor that is typically found in a gym. (commercial treadmills could have either DC or AC motors) The big difference between the two would be that typically AC treadmills would need to have its own power line as it does draw more power than the DC treadmills.
- min and max speed of the treadmill: Depending on whether you will be walking or running on the treadmill this might be very important to you. Many treadmill that are mainly for the use of walking only go up to 6 mph while good running treadmills will cap out at around 10-12 mph.
- percent of incline: The general rule would be the bigger the include, the better and most range from 2-15%. If you are looking for a higher % incline, many commercial treadmills can go up to 25%, so this might be a better option for you.
- how the incline is adjusted on the treadmill: Many of the lower to mid-range treadmills have either a manual or electronic incline button that can be adjusted as the user sees fit. One benefit to the higher end and more techie treadmills would be the inclusion of an automatic incline that works according to the users heart rate.
- the running belt thickness: This is an important feature to consider because it help maintain a runner’s sense of balance as it is difficult for most people to run in a straight line. Also, to avoid curling at the sides, you may want to consider buying a treadmill that has a two-ply belt as opposed to only a one-ply belt.
- the running surface length: Your height will be the determining factor with this feature. Taller people with long strides would need a longer running surface for their workouts. Its possible that you may like a shorter length though if you want to challenge yourself with shorter more brisk strides.
- the treadmill feedback display: This is an important feature because it is what you will use to track your workouts as your go. A standard electronic display would show the time, distance and speed. Quite a few treadmills also have options such as tracking your calories burned and the heart rate of the user. You may also prefer to check out treadmills that have programming capabilities whereby you can customize your own routines and workout programs.
- an emergency power button: This can be especially important if you have children or pets in the home. If this is the case you would want to consider having an option to turn off your power instantly with a yank or push of a button. This is also very important if you ever lose balance or get into some sort of trouble while on the treadmill.
- hand rails: In general, you probably would not be holding on to hand rails while working out on the treadmill but if you struggle with your balance you may want to consider this as an option.
- cushioning: This would be based purely on the individual comfort preferences. The more cushion you have the less impact on your feet as they strike the belt.
- safety switch or lock: This would mostly pertain to if you have children and want to keep them from accidentally starting the treadmill. We would highly advise this option to avoid potential injury to children.
- warranties: Most companies today offer pretty extensive warranties on a purchase such as a treadmill. Be sure to read and understand before you purchase so you know exactly what is covered under the warranty and for how long.
This should be a great list to get you started on your shopping! Figure out and make note of the features that are the most important to YOU and your workouts!
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