Thinking of getting a treadmill to help you with your fitness goals? It can be a daunting task finalizing a product since there are a lot of options available in the market with attractive prices and specs. As with any expensive decision, it’s wise to do your homework before finalizing on your treadmill.
These are the things that you should consider before buying a treadmill:
Power
The power of motors is denoted in horsepower (hp). So if a treadmill says that it has a 2hp motor, it means that 2hp is the maximum power it can output. This is also known as the peak output. The motor will be able to run at this peak power only for a limited time. That’s why it’s better to invest in a treadmill that comes with a motor with a continuous duty power rating (denoted in chp). Continuous duty motors will maintain the stipulated power throughout the operation. A 2chp motor is actually more powerful than a 2hp one.
So what power treadmill should you go for? Get a treadmill of at least 1.5chp or 2hp. But if the person using the treadmill is on the heavier side, you should go for a higher chp rating.
Belt size
Belt size is the… size of the belt 🙂 , which is where you will be running. The belt should be at least 48 inches long and 18 inches wide. The taller you are, the longer the belt size you’ll need. If you are 6 feet tall, you should go for at least a 55-inch long belt. If you are taller than that, you should probably go for 60 inches or more, but these will cost much more than the smaller belt-size ones. The width should be at least 18 inches.
Speed
If you plan on running, make sure that the treadmill has a speed of at least 15km/h (10mph).
Weight capacity
This is the maximum weight that the treadmill can support. If you plan on running on it, the rule of thumb is that you should pick a treadmill that has a capacity of at least 20kg more than your current weight. So if you weigh 80kg right now, you should go for a treadmill with at least 100kg weight capacity.
Graceful halt
Many people overlook this but I feel that this is really important when buying a motorized treadmill. When the treadmill is turned off or when the power is lost, it should slow down and come to a graceful stop rather than stopping abruptly which can put you off balance and could result in your falling. This is especially important if you plan on running on your treadmill.
Warranty & service
Treadmill warranty is usually mentioned separately for the 1) frame, 2) motor and 3) other components. Go for a treadmill that provides a lifetime warranty on the frame and at least 3 years warranty on the motor. Other parts should have at least one year warranty.
Also, ideally you should go for a brand that has doorstep service. That is, if there is a complaint, their technician should come to your place to repair it. Many brands provide doorstep service across the country now, so there’s no reason to go for a brand that doesn’t provide hassle-free service coverage.
Other
While the aspects mentioned above are the things you shouldn’t compromise on when getting a treadmill, the following might also be of importance to some of you.
Treadmill size
If you have space constraints in your apartment, make sure the treadmill dimensions fit your space. Also if you live in a temporary apartment and wish to take the treadmill with you when you move, there are treadmills that are foldable that are easier to transport. Some even have wheels for moving around easily
Inclination
This is a feature in many treadmills and it lets you incline the treadmill belt to simulate the experience of running or walking uphill. There are treadmills that have automatic incline where you press a button to incline and decline and manual incline where you usually turn a lever or something to adjust the inclination. Automatic is easier to operate and can be done so even in the middle of running, but manual is pretty fine too if you don’t mind the extra fiddling. So if you are so, um, inclined, this is another thing you need to consider before buying a treadmill.
Music player et al
Most medium budget and higher treadmills now provide fancy features such as built-in music player, heart-rate monitor, etc. But, personally, I feel that these aren’t really that important for a treadmill. If you want to listen to music, you can always buy a Bluetooth headset or something of the sort. And it’s much easier to measure your heart-rate by wearing one of those fitness tracking wrist bands than using the treadmill’s handle.
Try it out
You might get treadmills at a discounted price online rather than if you were buying it from a showroom close to your home. But since you are shelling out a significant amount of money into one, it’s wise to try one out before buying it. Even if you are buying a treadmill online, make sure you visit a local showroom where you can see, try out and feel the various models available and see how they fit your purpose and comfort.
And when you try a treadmill out, run on it instead of walking as just walking is not enough to properly judge a treadmill.
Things to look for are:
- Power – is it running effortlessly with you on it?
- Size – will it fit your apartment?
- Belt size – is it long enough for you to run on it comfortably?
- Speed – can it go fast enough to accommodate your running?
- Graceful halt – does it come to a stop gracefully if the power is switched off?
- Stability – does it feel sturdy and stable when you run?
- Shock-absorption – does it take the force of your foot-strike gracefully?
Happy working out 🙂
