Fitness Equipment and Home Gyms

The treadmill revolutionized health and fitness when it first appeared in the late 1960s at the urging of the late Dr. Kenneth Cooper, the running expert. Treadmills brought running off the street and into the gym, and later, as the home fitness machine industry took off, into the home. Today, they are still the most popular home exercise machine.

The exercise treadmill is so popular because it gives you a very simple workout: walking or running. It doesn’t make you learn any new, complicated skills in order to get a fitness workout. Treadmill workouts are very effective and available to a wide range of people, from marathon runners to people with disabilities who can only walk very slowly. You can vary your workout intensity two ways: by varying the speed at which the treadmill belt travels, or by varying the incline. The best treadmills have a small hydraulic piston that raises or lowers the front end in graduated increments. This “incline” feature allows you to simulate hill climbing and increase your exertion without changing your speed.

The parts of a treadmill consist of a deck to provide a walking surface, a flywheel attached to an electric motor, a wide, loop-shaped, flexible belt, a set of roller bearings to rotate the belt, and a frame to support the handlebars and control console. The electric treadmill is more common than the manual treadmill because the electric motor makes the belt speed consistent. A manual treadmill is controlled by the speed that you walk or run, while the electric treadmill is controlled by the digital display unit that you can use to fine-tune your workout.

Runners appreciate the cushioning provided by the treadmill workout. The belt is thick enough to provide some cushioning by itself, plus more and more manufacturers are adding in additional cushioning on the deck itself. Treadmill running is estimated to be anywhere from 12 to 25 percent softer than running on pavement. This translates into less stress on the knees, back, and other joints.

Some of the major treadmill brands include Proform, Life Fitness, York, Nordictrack, Horizon, Weslo, Image, Epic, True, Trimline, Sportcraft, Landice, and Pacemaster.

The best treadmills are the commercial models. These fitness machines are built to take punishment hour after hour, day after day. For more home fitness enthusiasts, a commercial treadmill is overkill, but if you weigh over 200 pounds, have multiple family members who use the machine, work out for more than one hour, or use the unit every day, you’ll want to get the best treadmill you can afford. A high-end home treadmill will need fewer repairs and you won’t have to throw it out when all of its components break down.

If you don’t weigh much, work out infrequently, and don’t spend a long time at your workout, you can consider buying a cheap treadmill. One way to save money is to buy one with a smaller belt. The smaller the belt, the less the cost, not only initially, but later. Wider, long belts take a lot more motor power to drive them, so the motor will wear out faster. Walkers won’t have a problem with a smaller belt, but if you’re a runner, buying a treadmill should include getting the biggest belt available in your price range, so you don’t have to change your running stride when you use it.

Treadmill motors are rated two ways: standard horsepower (hp), and continuous horsepower (chp). HP is the highest output the motor will reach, but this isn’t the speed it’s rated to run at for hours—if it did, it would burn out. CHP is the speed the motor can sustain under continuous use. A motor rated at 2 CHP is usually more powerful than a motor rated at 2.75 HP.

You should buy a treadmill mat to place under your treadmill. The mat will protect your floor from scuffing and sweat, keep dirt and abrasives away from the underside of the treadmill, and absorb static electricity so it won’t short out your control console.

Folding treadmills are in high demand by people who live in smaller spaces and need to the their home treadmill out of the way when they’re not using it. Choose a fold up treadmill that you can close with one hand and lock securely with a safety lock.

Treadmills aren’t cheap, and many people look for used treadmills to save on the initial cost. This isn’t always a good strategy. Home exercise machines fall into two categories: not used at all, or used hard. You might be able to find a bargain in a used treadmill that someone bought and then didn’t use, but more often, the price reflects the condition of the unit, and you’ll end up paying almost full price but without the benefit of a warranty. A refurbished treadmill is your best bet if you want to save money. These will normally have a short-term warranty of 30 days to make sure nobody made any mistakes during the refurbishment process and sent a defective unit out the door.

Treadmill warranties can be tricky. At the very least, look for a long-term warranty on the motor, at a minimum of 10 years, because this is the most expensive component to replace, and it takes a lot of abuse in daily usage. Not many treadmill companies will warranty the belt because it’s going to need periodic replacement, just like a set of tires. Some stores offer extended warranties for a fee. If you choose to buy one of these, be sure to read the fine print with a critical eye.

Is it possible to find a discount treadmill? Absolutely. In fact, you’re more likely to find treadmills on sale at a specialty fitness equipment shop than at a big-box store, which only discounts one or two models—usually not the one you want. Go shopping for discount treadmills around New Year’s and you’ll find plenty of selection that’s ready for closeout so the next year’s models can be moved in. Many specialty stores will price match your best deal, so don’t be afraid to make an offer.

Before you get too enthusiastic about your treadmill, consider the fact that the concept was invented in England in the 1800s to punish prisoners. Convicts were forced to march on a spinning wheel type of mill for six hours a day as punishment for various crimes.

The best home treadmill is one that gives you the features you need, fits neatly in your home, and is fun to work out on. You’ll find treadmill reviews here so you can choose the model that’s right for you.