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| Exercise Equipment Purchasing Guidelines: Treadmills |
| Written by Rob Ramey Jr., CPT-NASM | |
 The dreaded, hectic holiday shopping season is well upon us now, and the quest is on for the perfect gift for that special someone. Selecting a gift of health such as a treadmill can be considered a thoughtful choice, as it is a gift that keeps on giving and one that will also help to burn off the remnants of grandma’s calorie-crammed fruit cake. For fitness retailers, December is typically the second-most lucrative month in revenue behind resolution-packed January. With that said, a substantial percentage of their gross income comes from the sales of treadmills. The reason for the treadmill’s popularity is that it provides a more natural and comfortable form of exercise that we, as a bi-pedal society, are most familiar with. As a result, people tend to push themselves harder on a treadmill when compared to other devices and therefore achieve better results. Here are some key points to consider when shopping for a treadmill: 1) Type of Use. The more usage per week; the heavier the user; whether or not you’ll be walking or running on the machine; and how long you want it to last are important questions to ask yourself when determining how durable of a machine you will require and how much you will need to spend. Be prepared to spend an average of $1,500 to $4,000 for a new, high quality, long lasting treadmill. 2) User Weight Capacity and Warranty. If you want to get a head start on determining the quality of a treadmill, it’s advisable to consider what the maximum user weight capacity and warranty coverage is. Every home treadmill has a maximum user weight capacity rating, ranging from a low-end 250 lb. to a high-end 400 lb. rating. (Commercial treadmills generally have higher than a 400 lb. weight capacity rating in order to accommodate excessive usage and larger exercisers.) It’s recommended to select a treadmill that is rated at least 100 lbs. more than the heaviest user if you want your treadmill to perform for more than a few years of regular use, especially if you plan on doing a lot of running. When you run, the force from your body weight is dramatically increased the faster you go, thus creating more impact on the deck and adding more vibration and stress to the machine. Treadmills with a higher user weight capacity typically have a longer lifespan as well as offer higher performance and satisfaction than the lower rated models.  As mentioned earlier, treadmills take a lot of pounding, more than any other conventional exercise apparatus. As a result, parts are expected to wear out after a certain amount of time and can be very expensive to replace and repair. Manufacturers have a good idea how long their machines will hold up before breaking down and therefore only provide warranty coverage up to this point in order to prevent profits from being lost on warranty parts and service. Looking at warranty coverage is a great tool to help estimate the quality and longevity of the treadmill and the manufacturer’s confidence in their product. At a minimum, a quality manufacturer should provide a lifetime warranty on the frame, five years on the motor, two years on parts and electronics, and at least one year on service and labor. Final note, it’s always a good idea to research the history of the manufacturer to make sure they’ll be around to cover the full term of the warranty, otherwise you could be left with a very expensive coat hanger.3) Motor Horsepower. This is an area of the treadmill shopping experience where people become easily fooled. First of all, it’s important to understand the difference between continuous-duty and peak horsepower (Hp). Continuous-duty horsepower is the amount of power the motor is able to generate continuously under normal operation. Peak horsepower is the maximum amount of power the motor can generate for a very brief amount of time. You’ll rarely use the treadmill at maximum load so focus more on continuous-duty ratings. Also, be aware that some low quality motors boast a 2.5 Hp or higher rating but have to operate at higher RPMs to produce it. As a result, more noise, vibration and heat are produced, causing accelerated wear and tear on the motor. A more efficient and better-built motor will handle the same workload with less effort and thus be quieter, smoother, have minimal vibration, use less electricity, and will last significantly longer. Again, pay close attention to the maximum user weight capacity rating and manufacturer’s warranty. All parts on the machine have to abide by that maximum rating and warranty. 4) Stable Running Surface. Surface stability is one of the critical aspects of a quality walking or running experience. Avoid choosing a deck that is excessively springy, as this is one of the most common mistakes people make when shopping for a treadmill. Decks that have too much spring are dubbed the “springboard effect,” and tend to have unnecessary lateral movement. Having lateral instability can create more strain on the joints and is one of the primary reasons injuries occur. A quality treadmill deck should absorb the impact by flexing slightly while still providing a solid and stable running surface. 5) Features. It’s important to pick a treadmill that appeals to you and has the features you want so that you’ll be motivated to put more time and effort into it. As a suggestion, it’s always wise to put your money into the quality and performance of the machine first, and then pay for the extras. Too many people get baited into buying cheaply made treadmills with fancy programs and features, only to have it break down a few months down the road. Remember, an exercise device that doesn’t work is one that won’t help you get the results you want. If you are on a tight budget, skip the bells and whistles and learn ways on how to keep yourself motivated and interactive by designing your own programs and making adjustments manually. If you do happen to have room in your budget, look for a model that has an accurate heart rate monitoring device or heart rate control programming. Monitoring your heart rate will provide many benefits by ensuring that you are exercising at the most safe and efficient levels, no matter what your specific individual goals might be. In closing, keep in mind that the more you use your treadmill, the better your results and the better your investment becomes. Rob Ramey Jr. is a NASM-certified personal trainer with over 20 years experience as a personal trainer, fitness director, and fitness retail business owner. He’s currently the owner of SYNRG Fitness Training and may be contacted by visiting synrgfitness.com. |