Complete Treadmill Buying Guide

Exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your body and even your mind. It can be hard to find the time to exercise and when the weather is bad, all too often, it is used as an excuse not to exercise. If you have a busy family, it is hard to take time away from them to go to the gym. Using a treadmill can help keep you moving when the rain is falling, when it is too cold to be outside or even when you don’t have the time to drive to the gym to workout.

Treadmill Buying Table of Contents

A few quick Do’s and Don’ts of Buying a Treadmill:

  • ​DO: Consider the size of your space.  If you have a small apartment or house, you may want to get a folding treadmill to save room when it is not in use.  Test out treadmills before committing to one so judge the comfort of walking or running on them.
  • ​DON'T: Decide on a treadmill just based on price.  You’ll want to make sure it has all of the features you’ll use.  Don’t forget to buy one that will comfortably work for everyone in your family who might be using the treadmill. 

​So, where to start?

It is more confusing than you think to buy a treadmill.  You will find that there are several models with many options and features to decide on.  To make your decision easier, determine which features you want and will need to achieve the results you want.

Think about your budget.

One of the first decisions you will need to make is about your budget.  You’ll want to determine how much you can and want to spend on a treadmill.  Setting a budget will keep you from overspending and regretting your purchasing decision later.  It will also tell you which price range you should be looking at for your treadmill.

There is a wide price range for this piece of exercise equipment.  Depending on the features you want, as well as your budget, you can find them for as little as a $100 in some of the big retail chains.  You can easily pay up to $6,000 for a treadmill designed for in home use.

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Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill
Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill
$359.00
3 new from $358.98
Read More
Amazon.com
ProForm Performance 400i Treadmill
ProForm Performance 400i Treadmill
$631.50
2 new from $599.99
1 used from $578.51
Read More
Amazon.com
Free shipping
Last updated on June 4, 2020 2:27 am

Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill
Weslo Cadence G 5.9 Treadmill
$359.00
3 new from $358.98
Read More
Amazon.com
ProForm Performance 400i Treadmill
ProForm Performance 400i Treadmill
$631.50
2 new from $599.99
1 used from $578.51
Read More
Amazon.com
Free shipping
Last updated on June 4, 2020 2:27 am

​What Special Features Do You Need?

When you start researching treadmills, you will find a plethora of options available.  Many of these features are designed to help you get the maximum benefit from your workout, while others are built-on as a convenience.  You will have to decide which features you would like to have before purchasing your treadmill.

You will find some treadmills incline, and even decline, to help you get the most out of your cardio workout, whether you’re walking or running.  You can also find treadmills to help keep track of your heart rate, either with sensors you need to attach to yourself or sensors built into the arms of the treadmill.

Other treadmills will offer programs that you can use to design a workout routine and monitor your progress.  Still other programs will allow you to pick a path to use for your workout.  The best way to determine if you need some of these features is to try out the treadmills you’re interested in once you’ve narrowed down your list by budget and features that you know you want.

So Many Brands To Choose From!

When you start researching treadmills, you will find several brands on the market from which to choose.  If you are interested in a more budget friendly treadmill, Weslo, Horizon and Sole treadmills are brands you should consider.  For more heavy duty treadmills with all the options you can choose from, Precor and Proform are both good brands to look at.

​Continue On To Read More from our Buyer’s Guide:

  • Who, Where and How

    Three of the most important considerations when buying a treadmill are who is going to use it, where is the treadmill going to go in your home and how will it be used.  Buying a treadmill for yourself is different than buying one the whole family will use.  You will also need to consider the size of the space it is going into and how often and how much the treadmill will be used.

    Personal Use – These consist mainly of Commercial and Semi-Pro pressure washers. They have an optimum output in terms of PSI of around 2000 PSI and a GPM of around 1.2. These are great to have around the house for the most common applications.
  • ​In Depth Guide to Treadmill Components

    There are many components to a treadmill and you will want to take some of them into consideration as well.  From the monitor to the handrails, you will want to try out and find which is more comfortable and easier for you to work with.  The size of the motor, if you want a motorized treadmill, and the size of the deck you will be working or running on are important to consider as well.

    Business Use – Be it a storehouse, workshop, store or an office space, having a large pressure washer with a decent output is always beneficial. Semi-Pro and Professional pressure washers are best suited for business use since they have a high PSI rating and GPM with heavy duty motors, pumps and accessories. The key here for business application is durability and dependability.
  • Optional Features to Look For Wh​en Buying a Treadmill

    There are optional features to decide upon as well.  Many treadmills incline to make your workout more challenging, a few even decline.  Treadmills also come with programs that allow you to monitor your progress each time you use the equipment and some even have paths you can work or run already preprogrammed into them.  These programs are designed to help you maximize your time on the treadmill and get the best workout you can.

  • ​Safety, Maintenance and Warranty Tips

    Lastly, when you go to test treadmills, consider your safety while walking or running.  Are their handrails on the treadmill, does the belt keep moving when you stumble?  Also, determine how easy it is for you to maintain your treadmill and how often it needs to be done.  Finally, look carefully at the warranty.  Often the electronic components and the motorized parts have a separate warranty and you need to look at each one carefully.