Choosing a Treadmill

Treadmill is considered to be the best cardio workout equipment. There are so many varieties, makes and models of treadmills available in the market today, with different price range. Before you spend money to purchase a treadmill, you have to consider a few elements.

Before stepping out:

Before you step out to buy a treadmill, first make sure you have enough space in your house to keep it. Treadmills are big in size, so your room should have enough space to fit it, with enough space to walk around it. Since a treadmill is big and heavy, once you put it in a place, you can’t move it from there, so make sure you select the right place to keep your treadmill. You can place a carpet beneath it, if your flooring is done with expensive tiles.

Wear very comfortable clothes which are not very tight, and also wear your workout shoes, before you leave the house to the fitness store. You will have to try out a variety of treadmills, before you select one.

Motor:

The first thing you have to take into consideration when you are choosing a treadmill is its motor. The motor is the most important element. The durability of the treadmill depends on its motor.

The motor of the treadmills are very expensive, so you need a treadmill with a powerful motor, or your motor might burn out and you will have to spend a lot of money to fix it.

The treadmill motor is measured by HP or horsepower. The HP of the motor ranges from 1.5 HP to 3.0 HP. There are two different horsepower ratings, ‘Peak duty rating’ and ‘Continuous duty rating’. The peak duty power is the highest power rate that a treadmill can work, but this power can sustain only for short period.

And the continuous duty rate is the power that the treadmill can work without slowing, for 24 hours. The continuous duty power is what you should take into consideration when selecting the treadmill, because this is the accurate power of the motor, and the quality and durability of the treadmill is based on this rating.

Deck and Cushioning:

The walking deck should be about ¾ inch to 1 inch thick to give comfort to your legs, and the walking track should be 48 inches length and 17 inches thick.

Another feature you should consider is the cushioning. Better cushioning gives more protection to your feet, joints and ligaments. The padding can be either rubber, or foam, though rubber padding is better.

Price:

The price of the treadmill varies according to the facilities on the treadmill economic board. Basic facilities like distance, speed, calories, time etc are available on less expensive treadmills, while the more expensive ones contain, more exercise program facilities. You can select the treadmill according to your budget.

Warranty:

Enquire about the warranty. Usually a quality warranty lasts for 5 years. The motor should have a warranty for minimum two years.

So consider the elements mentioned above before you purchase the treadmill, use it, and stay healthy.

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