Why Treadmills?

There are many reasons why treadmills are one of the best exercise machines you can get for your personal fitness workout routine. First, they allow you to walk, power-walk, or jog in the privacy of your own home whenever you have a moment to spare. This will save you from having to work out in public, deal with weather conditions, and be conscious of traffic while you are exercising.

Second, treadmills do more than just work out your legs. Because treadmills are an aerobic workout, they are very good for strengthening your heart and lungs, in addition to helping you lose weight fast. Finally, because treadmills have been around for so long, treadmill technology is very advanced.

Companies like NordicTrack have made treadmills that feature options like adjusting your machine to various speeds, getting an automatic shut off function in case you fall, or having a monitor so you can keep track of your heart rate. All of this combines to make a treadmill workout one of the easiest and most beneficial workouts you can perform in your own home.

Why Not Weight Lifting?

If you are new to home fitness and home fitness equipment, you may be thinking that weightlifting or weight training is the best way to get in shape and stay in shape. However, though lifting weights is great for bodybuilding, it does not improve your heart and lungs as much as an aerobic activity will. Because it does not help your cardiovascular system as much, it does not activate metabolic activity as much; this is the best way to lose weight and stay in shape. However, you should not totally discount weight lifting, as it is a great thing to add to an interval workout with aerobic workouts.

What about Other Machines?

There are many other types of devices available for home fitness. Some examples are a rowing machine, exercise bike, elliptical trainer, or a stair master. While all of these machines carry their own merits, treadmills remain the most practical workout machine available, as walking and running is a much more common activity for most people than rowing or cycling. This means that the benefits of a treadmill will crossover more into your daily life than will any of the other workout devices available on the marker today. While purchasing a treadmill is a major decision, it is one that you will not regret.

Things for Buyers To Consider

There are a number of different things to consider before you make your treadmill purchase. The first treadmill buying guide component is the type of motor on the model you are looking at. Treadmills come with either an AC or DC motor. Most consumer home units run on DC current. Most commercial models come with the option of either. AC motors are usually much louder, and they will require a dedicated power line. As a result, if you decide to buy a commercial model to use in your home, be sure you can run it with DC power.

The next treadmill buying guide component is the running belt. You want to consider the level of thickness in the belt with any model you buy. Models with one-ply belts tend to be cheaper, but models with two-ply belts are much stronger. The belts are a bit tougher, and they are far less likely to experience curling at the sides over the course of time.

An additional treadmill buying guide component is the type of incline adjustment. Adjusting the incline of your treadmill can change the intensity level of your workout. Some are electronic, and some are manual. The more expensive the model, the more electronic incline adjustment features you get. For example, on the most expensive models, the incline adjusts according to your target heart rate. On the least expensive models, you don’t have electronic adjustment. You have to manually adjust the incline with a knob before you begin your workout.

The final treadmill buying guide component is the minimum and maximum speed of the machine. Most low end models go to around five miles per hour. Higher end models can go up to twelve miles per hour. You need to choose a model that fits your treadmill needs. For example, if you intend to use your treadmill for running, you want something that has faster speeds.

Considering all of these components is essential before you make your treadmill purchase.

Consumer Reports grades on an overall score to determine its
Best treadmill and also suggests four treadmill Best Buy models
that combine good value with quality.

The Best Treadmill For You

With product information, tips on buying, and a discussion on
testing results, Consumer Reports most recent treadmill rating
in January 2005 tested 22 treadmills from about 16
manufacturers, including Proform, Nordic Track, Weslo, and
Image, all Icon Health and Fitness Companies, as well as
Landice, True, Precor, Horizon, Life Fitness, Vision Fitness,
Schwinn, Smooth Fitness, Keys Fitness, Trimline, Spirit, and
Nautilus.

Consumer Reports does not break down its treadmill reports by
price range, as is often the case in other organizations’
reviews, so their Best treadmill, at almost $3000, is not likely
to be the best treadmill for you, but they do suggest four Best
Buys, all in the $1300-1800 price range. Ratings are provided
for all tested models, however, and that’s where you should
begin.

A cautionary note: Consumer Reports was disappointed in the
number of machines that had problems in this treadmill
rating–an ominous change from their last treadmill reports in
February 2004. With the exception of higher-priced models with
the kind of warranties you should expect, they recommend an
extended warranty. That’s something they almost never do.