Treadmills: How to Choose the Best Treadmill to Blast Calories Fast!
by John Carter
Filed under Featured, Featured Exercise Equipment, Most Popular Featured Articles
I took up running about 5 years ago as part of my fitness routine and never imagined I’d someday look for the best treadmill to keep me in shape. Rain or shine (I’ll be honest: there weren’t many rainy days in Southern California) I’d hit the pavement and log miles while listening to a new playlist or just mulling over my thoughts.
When I moved to a small resort town in Colorado, I hit a barrier; hard. I had come for the snow; yet I was entirely unprepared for the way it could keep me inside for days at a time. In a place where “winter” lasts a solid six months (if not longer), running outside every day wasn’t very often an option.
As I wasted time, made excuses, and lost much of the lower body strength and endurance that had taken me years to gain, I knew I had to figure something out. I decided to make an investment in my health and sanity, and bought myself a treadmill. Im this article, I’ll tell you more about how to how about choosing the best treadmill for you and we’ll give you our recommendations too!
Our Current Recommended Treadmills:
Convenience and Ease of Use
Treadmills are the No 1 Exercise Machine in the US Today!
Treadmills are the No 1 Exercise Machine in the US Today!
The ease and convenience of working out at home—any time at all—is better than I ever thought it could be. You know that having a quality cardio machine at your disposal can do amazing things for your fitness level and exercise resolve. Now all you need to do is find the right one.
Size, Space, and Other Considerations
Believe it or not, all treadmills are not created equal. Depending on your size, exercise goals, and available workout space, you will find that some machines are far more or less suitable than others. The good news is that by paying attention to manufacturers’ specifications, you can easily find the perfect fit.
Size Matters
Remember that home gym equipment doesn’t have to be one size fits all. But it does have to fit you. Consider the parameters of the deck (the part beneath your feat) and the length of the track. As with any workout machine, your body weight will also be a contributing factor in deciding which treadmill is best. Lighter machines usually work best for lighter people and less intense workouts. If you plan to be running sprint intervals on an incline, you’ll want something a fair bit sturdier.
To make sizing simple, just look for information like recommended user height and weight, maximum power output, and more on good retailers’ web sites.
A Folding Treadmill is a Great Choice if You Are Limited on Space - and You'll Still Get a Fantastic Workout!
A Folding Treadmill is a Great Choice if You Are Limited on Space - and You'll Still Get a Fantastic Workout!
Space Considerations
Unless you have an entire extra room designated as your home workout area (in which case, lucky you!), size and space will probably be important considerations when choosing a treadmill.
If you have the room to get a free-standing treadmill and leave it set up, I say do it! (All right, you can move it during the Christmas party, but then it goes right back!) Put it somewhere with good ventilation: windows and a fan are pretty much workout room essentials in my book. If you like watching television while you work out, or listening to music, choose a location with audio and visual accessories in place, or look for a machine with these options built in.
Your treadmill will be the heart of your home gym; so take some time to ensure that you’re going to enjoy working out in the space you choose for it.
But, if space is at a premium, there is a great range of folding treadmills to choose from so there really is every reason to fit one of these in to your home gym.
Options, Choices, and Decisions
Now that you have some things to think about, let’s focus on the features that will make this treadmill your new favorite workout partner.
The Basics
Treadmill basics include a deck or track with a moving belt, and some sort of control panel. Many versions also have hand rails along the sides, which can be helpful if you’re not used to the feel of the belt moving underfoot. (Just remember: you don’t get to hold on the whole time!)
The Must Haves
Many indoor running machines will keep track of your speed and incline; as well as time and distance covered, and calories burned. Some have built in heart rate monitors, or will show a readout measured by an external monitor that you wear on your body.
Even a visual readout of something as simple as your speed and incline will make it simple to see how you’re doing in a given workout. You can track your cardiovascular progress over time by checking your heart rate at a certain point within each workout (for example, just after a sprint interval), and note whether it peaks lower or comes down faster. The capability to easily monitor these aspects of your workout—both within a single training session and over time—is priceless for exercisers at every level.
Treadmill Options Are Endless With Some Offering Programs Designed By Celebrities
Treadmill Options Are Endless With Some Offering Programs Designed By Celebrities
Pre-set Programs
Moving up from the most basic indoor walking machines, you’ll encounter all kinds of choices. Digital features often include pre-set programs, which can add some variety to your workouts and keep your body from getting bored. Hill climbs and high intensity intervals are great ways to add some variety to your standard treadmill workout. Some models even let you create your own programs; so you can maximize calorie burn or train for speed with the perfect custom workout.
Bonus Features
If you don’t settle for the basics in other aspects of your life, you certainly don’t have to skimp when it comes to choosing a treadmill. Features like built in magazine or book racks, water bottle holders, and headphone jacks will all be available on the right model. You can even get a treadmill with a TV screen in the display! The options are nearly endless, so have fun shopping for bonus features.
Think of your new treadmill as an investment in your own health. Look for the kind of lasting quality that will be with you for years to come. Most importantly, make time to use your treadmill, and you won’t be able to help but see results. A leaner, fitter, faster you is just steps away, and you don’t need to let anything keep you from your workout!
Our Recommendations
1. Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill
Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill
Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill
The Bowflex Series 7 Treadmill
Its quality is reflected in it being consistently in the top 10 treadmill bestsellers and that’s not really surprising when you read the number of satsfied customers who leave comments on Amazon. It was also selected as a top fitness product by a leading consumer magazine.
The Series 7 has a very high build quality – from the running deck which has Bowflex’s unique Strike Zone deck cushioning system so it’s easier on your joints, through to its fold-up design which will give you more space in your home gym when you want it.
The range of programs (15 including 2 custom) and the easy-to-use controls make this one of the most popular treadmills and when you see that the frame comes with an amazing 15 year guarantee you know you’re talking about real quality here.
We check prices regularly and have always found the best price at Amazon
Check out the full details and read the reviews at Amazon now!
2. Horizon Fitness T91 Treadmill
Horizon Fitness T91 Treadmill
The Horizon Fitness T91
Now, what we find truly amazing for a treadmill at this price is that it comes with a lifetime warranty on both the frame and the motor!
One reviewer rated the Fitness T91 as a “6-star on 5-star scale”!
For more details, including videos from Horizon about their product, click here to go to Amazon
3. Merit Fitness 725T Treadmill
Merit Fitness 725T Treadmill
But don’t be fooled by its price. With a great 4-star rating and regular appearances in the top-10 at Amazon
Whilst it doesn’t have all the features of the more expensive models it certainly has all you’d need especially if you’re just starting out on your fitness program. And, of course, it can fold away for your convenience too.
With a lifetime warranty on the frame and a 2 year warranty on the motor, you can feel confident that you’re still buying a quality machine – even at this price!
As one satisfied customer put it: “I’ve been in the fitness industry for over 10 years and have always been leary about buying a “cheap” home machine. This treadmill works great for home use. I was thoroughly impressed. I’m 230lbs and I can run on it with no problems! Great machine for the money!”
As with all our recommendations, when you take into account the free delivery option and reliable service, Amazon comes out top for us when considering where to buy this from.
Check out the full Merit Fitness 725T Treadmill at Amazon now!
