By Muscle Media
For most people, running or walking is the best type of exercise. For this reason, exercise equipment treadmills are still the most popular home exercise equipment currently in the market.
However, exercise equipment treadmills can be expensive and finding one that fits your budget is hard to do. If this is your first time to invest in an exercise equipment treadmill, you may find the following tips helpful:
PRICE: You Get What You Pay For
When it comes to price of exercise equipment treadmills, the general rule of thumb is that you get what you pay for. Here’s the breakdown:
- Budget exercise equipment treadmills are generally around $500 to $1500.
- Mid-range exercise equipment treadmills have price tags of $1500 to $3000.
- Quality exercise equipment treadmills are the most expensive, starting from $3000 up.
It is not enough to look for the treadmill with the lowest price. For the most competitive product, you need to consider other factors besides the price.
MOTOR: Horsepower Says it All
If there is one part of an exercise equipment treadmill that gets the heaviest workout, it is the motor. The power of a treadmill motor is usually measured in horsepower. So when you find numbers immediately followed by the initials HP in a treadmill’s product specs, these represent the total max power of that particular equipment.
The figure to look for is one that has “continuous duty rating.” Specifically, look for motor that has 1.5 to 2.5 HP of “continuous duty” as opposed to “peak duty.” The former refers to the average power capacity of your motor while the latter is less valuable since the motor will not be able to sustain that “peak duty” for long.
TEST: Stability and Smooth Ride
Before deciding on an exercise equipment treadmill, it is important that you test it for stability and smooth ride. During such test, it is recommended that you wear workout shoes and clothes. That way, you can simulate how it really feels to workout on the treadmill.
If the treadmill offers a shaky or jerky ride, don’t buy it. The equipment should be stable and sturdy. Shaky frames are unacceptable and serve only to show that the equipment is faulty.
In addition, the hand rails should be sturdy enough to be able to support you and your weight. They should also be in a good position so you can grip them easily and not block your arm motion as you walk or run.
Check the belt. This is the part of the exercise equipment treadmill where you place your feet when you run or walk. The belt should be wide enough and long enough to allow you to walk or run like you normally would.
