So...you're thinking of buying a treadmill. It's just as well that you've found our 'Treadmill Buying Guide' to help you decide what model is right for you.
When you look at a typical specification of a running machine you'll find lots of information about sizes, power, programmes and loads of other categories and specifications that are aimed to convince you about how good a particular treadmill is. We're here to dispell a few myths about what's really important and to help you cut through the jargon so that you buy a treadmill that's right for your needs.
Let's start by being clear about what most people actually need. It can be summarised as:
"I need a treadmill to help me get fit - something that feels good to run on, something that keeps me interested and motivated, and something that suits my budget".
If this sounds familiar then our guide is what you need. We can't tell you a specific model to buy because that's often down to personal tastes. However, what we can do is to make sure that when you do buy a treadmill you buy one which is the right size, has the right features and will give you good value for money for many years to come.
Choosing the Size of Your Treadmill There are a few factors to consider when considering what size treadmill is right for you. Firstly, you have to think about where it's going to be positioned in your house and secondly you need to think about the size of running deck in relation to your height and the type of exercise that you will be doing.
Taking the point about where you'll be positioning the treadmill in your house, you'll need to take measurements of the area (length and width) where you're thinking of putting your treadmill. You then need to add a few centimetres to the width of the area (or it will feel very claustrophobic when you're using the treadmill). Ideally, you also need to add about 1m to the length of the area that you're thinking of using. This is for safety reasons, and will prevent you from hitting anything if you happen to stumble and fall when you're using the treadmill - you'll fall off the back of the machine into the gap and not against a wall, table or something equally as hard. Having considered these factors you'll have an area into which you can position your treadmill.
Now we have to consider the size of the running deck, which should be determined by a combination of how tall you are and how fast you'll be running. Generally speaking, the larger the running deck on the treadmill the better because you have more area to walk/run on and you'll feel more comfortable. However, here's our simple guide: - If you intend to walk then look for a treadmill that's at least 40cm wide - If you're under 6ft tall and intend to run then look for a treadmill that's at least 45cm wide - If you're 6ft and over and intend to run then look for a treadmill that's at least 50cm wide Choosing the Features that You Need It's easy to get bamboozled by the features, gizmos and gadgets that are on modern treadmills. It's also very easy to pay for features that you'll never use. If we go back to the start and think about a treadmill "that keeps me interested and motivated" then we need to think about those features that really make a difference to how you use your treadmill:
A Good Console We recommend that you pick a treadmill that's easy to use and primarily that means a treadmill with a clear, intuitive console. You're trying to get fit, not fly to the moon, so avoid anything that looks too complicated. A nice, clear display showing how far you've ran and how long you've been running for will do nicely. Quick keys, allowing you to select an incline position and speed with a single button press are also excellent features, and finally pick a treadmill that has pictures of the program profiles printed on the console - you don't want to have to keep referring to the manual when you want to try a new program.
Heart Rate Control Heart rate control programs allow you to train to your target heart rate. To make use of these programs you need a compatible chest strap that will automatically tell the treadmill your heart rate. The treadmill will then automatically increase or decrease the speed (and incline depending upon the model of treadmill) so that you don't exceed your target heart rate. This is really useful for anyone with a cardiac condition but also for everyone else it ensures that you're training safely and that you work harder only when your fitness allows.
Controls on the Handrails A handy feature (no pun intended) is to have speed and incline buttons on the handrails. This means that it's easier to control the speed and incline because you don't have to reach to the console, you just press the button on the appropriate handrail and your speed and incline can be altered. This is especially true when walking or running at low speeds - it takes a bit of practice to master using handrail controls if you're running fast.
Easy to Build Your new treadmill has been delivered...your training can now start...let's get going!! Oh no, wait a minute...it's arrived in pieces and you've got to build it. No problem - get your toolbox, find an assistant and start building. Hmmm...where does this bit go?...Why won't the bolt fit through that hole? I think you get the point that we're trying to make. The Plug and Run treadmills that are available do away with the need for spanners and bolts and scraped knuckles - simply lift the console into position and start running. That what we call easy to build.
Brand We promote the BH Fitness brand of treadmills on this site - they've been around as a company for over 100 years, have excellent after sales here in the UK, offer a great warranty on their products and have an excellent range of products.
Your Budget It would be easy for us to advise that you spend as much as you can afford because you get what you pay for. To some extent that it true but we live in the real world and we recognise that you have to a realistic budget. Our advice is simple - if you can't afford a treadmill with the features that you need, or most importantly the right size running deck, then keep saving your money until you can. Buying a cheap treadmill is a false economy - it will be too small or feel flimsy and you won't use it. The quality of any treadmill that is advertised for less than £400 is questionable. We suggest a minimum budget of about £500 for which can get you a good, small treadmill. As you start to pay more you'll get a bigger machine and more of the features that we've highlighted above. A machine for about £1000 with all of the features described will be a cracker.
