Treadmills Buyers Guide

How to shop for a treadmill

There can be no doubt that the treadmill has become the most purchased piece of fitness equipment, and for good reason.

Treadmills are simple to use, require no new skills to be learnt and most of all they are actually enjoyable to go on. There are now many places to buy your treadmill from, some will offer a good range at all price points, and others will only offer products within a particular price band.

We suggest that you buy from a specialist fitness company as opposed to a department or sports store or particularly those internet companies which don''t have retail premises. It is also best to avoid high street catalogue stores who, whilst they can supply you with the product, are unlikely to be able to offer advice or any after sales facilities. They will also be little educated in the product, the market, and fitness in general and will therefore be less likely to help you make the right choice. Because this is a major purchase, and an important decision both financially and physically, you will need as much information as possible-not just about treadmills in particular but also about meeting your own personal, and fitness goals. A specialty sales person will be able, and inclined to spend more time in helping you make the right decision and also to encourage you in successfully getting started on a fitness programme.

It is also important to have professional technical support, which includes the delivery and installation, but more importantly in-home service and repair both during and after the warranty period.

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Horsepower

Unless a treadmill has a strong motor, at least a 1.5 continuous duty horsepower, you''ll easily wear it out, even if you only walk moderately. Check for the "continuous-duty" rating for the motor''s true horsepower and watch out for misleading terms such as "treadmill duty" and "peak horsepower" which are terms used to unrealistically raise the horsepower. If unsure, then ask the salesperson to give you a look under the motor cover to see for yourself the continuous duty HP rating stamped on a metal plate on the DC motor. We recommend a continuous-duty horsepower rating of at least 1.5 hp. The larger the motor the cooler it will run and the longer it should last.

Continuous-duty is the horsepower rating for steady, continual, 24 hour motor usage.

Peak horsepower is the motors'' maximum potential at various moments in usage, but cannot be maintained for a considerable length of time.

Note: A treadmill motor will work harder at slower speeds consequently if you are a heavier user ie over 200lbs who will be using the treadmill for walking we recommend a minimum motor size of 2HP. top of the page

Motor Electronics

Horsepower alone doesn''t guarantee a smooth running treadmill. Good electronics will allow a motor with fewer horsepower to run better than a much larger motor with poor electronics. A good motor uses a microprocessor to maintain a steady pace, this is circuitry that senses belt load and communicates with the motor to make necessary adjustments to assure smooth operation.

Quality machines sense resistance in your step and send dozens of electronic pulses per second to eliminate hesitation and keep the belt turning at a constant speed. You can''t assess the electronics by looking at them, but when you compare treadmills pay attention to the smoothness of the belt as you walk. You can tell the difference by both feel and by watching to see if the speed readout fluctuates. A simple test you can do is to set the treadmill at a low speed, grasp the handrails, and give the belt a little resistance with your foot as though trying to slow the belt. A weak motor will allow the belt to slow easily; indicating that it won''t be a smooth operator and last very long under use. A good motor and electronics combination will increase the power to overcome this resistance indicating its ability to perform properly. top of the page

Motor Torque

Torque is force applied to a lever so as to make an object rotate. Wrenches apply torque. Motors also apply torque to rotate a shaft to do work against a resistive load. Power is the time rate at which work gets done.

Motors differ greatly depending on intended use. One might do modest work, but slowly...yet both could be rated at the same power if they do the same amount of work per unit time. We don''t harness a racehorse to plough a field, nor do we expect a plough horse to win races.

In general, a motor that spins quickly to high revs fares poorly at low revs under a heavy load. It''s the same with electronic motors. One designed for a high-speed drill, or fan, would not be ideal to run your treadmill, especially with you walking on it. The heavy-duty motor in your treadmill should deliver high torque at low speed, like the bulldozer engine. You can test this by walking on it and see how well it performs at less than 1mph. A high h.p. rating can be a deceptive hoax if the treadmill manufacturer has not gone to the expense of using the right kind of motor for the job. What you want is both high continuous-duty horsepower and high torque at low revolutions. Less power is required at higher speeds, therefore more power is needed at start-up and walking speeds.

User weight shouldn''t matter on a treadmill that uses a motor capable of high torque at lower speeds. A good treadmill will dead-start well over 1000 pounds. Some treadmills will actually use higher torque at higher speeds to raise the horsepower (over 6mph where the user actually starts helping the belt along with foot motion), but good engineering puts torque where it is needed most, around 0-4 mph. More power means a smoother walk or run without hesitations and motor resistance. In fact, there is a much smaller amp draw on the motor when utilising torque, as compared to a higher consumption of wattage when a motor is working harder to maintain faster speeds - or it''s maximum use of horsepower potential. This results in a longer lasting and cooler running motor top of the page

Motor Controller

The treadmill motor will be controlled by an electronic power board which regulates the positive and negative electrical currents to the motor. Most use either a PWM board (Pulse Width Modulated) or an SCR Board (Solid State Control Rectifier).

Due to the technical language used in explaining what each does, we suggest asking a salesperson responsible for your treadmill of interest about this important feature.

Simply put, a PWM board will provide much more DC voltage than an SCR board by rectifying an alternating current (AC) into pure direct current (DC) voltage. SCR chops a 50 cycle alternating current 50 times per second, whilst a PWM will chop it about 16,000 times. (AC voltage is a constant change of positive/negative current 50 times per second, which is a cycle) PWM boards result in a much quieter motor due to less electrical hum, and less service because they do not require chokes and filters. Higher pure DC voltage in PWM boards means a stronger current and about half the amp draw, resulting in a higher tolerance to heavier users and lower electrical costs. PWM makes for less heat and therefore leads to: extended motor performance and longer brush life; easier torque boost adjustment; the use of heavier flywheels; and enough power to dead-start a heavier user weight. PWM boards are the industry''s standard in quality motor controllers. top of the page

Speed

Most treadmills run from 0 to 10mph, lower top speeds tend to indicate cheaper models. The right treadmill for you will match your own pace, whether fast or slow. Starting speed is a more important issue, and we recommend a safe starting speed of 0.5mph or less. It''s not that you will be walking that slowly, but starting speeds of a mile per hour or more are often too fast for most users and may result in a sudden jerk when the belt is started.

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Belt

Make sure from walking on a treadmill that there is more than enough room on the belt for your longest stride. Narrow or short belts are symptomatic of a high-friction bed. Your average good size belt will be around 18 by 51 inches. Make sure that you can reach and read the monitor without walking onto the motor housing. Be careful of stepping off the end as well. top of the page

Deck

It has been argued by many that a quality deck is the single most important component of a quality treadmill. Treadmills fail due to heat, and better decks operate at low temperatures.

Quality treadmills have decks requiring very little maintenance other than wiping off dust once in a while and an occasional lubrication. In general terms a deck which requires routine lubrication will perform better than one which is said to be ''maintenance free''. Listen for a deck that makes little noise against the belt when exercising. Avoid decks comprised of simply plastic over wood or particleboard painted black.

A good deck will be made from layers of different speciality material for durability and longevity. It is important to follow the manufacturers instructions and use the correct lubrication. top of the page

Resilience

Resilience is the absorption by the treadmill of the force from the impact of your feet, which helps to relieve the stress on your knees and ankles. Generally, the lower the impact, the better.

Different treadmills employ different means of resilience, whether flexible or cushioned deck construction, or shock absorption suspension systems. Most will have a built-in give, allowing it to yield to the impact of your stride. Whatever the feature, a treadmill shouldn''t be too cushioned or bouncy. The majority of treadmills have better resiliency than asphalt, and a good pair of shoes will provide enough shock absorption. top of the page

Rollers

Roller size is better if about 2 or more inches in diameter. Solid rollers are much better than hollow rollers. The reason for this is that the belt is able run with less tension due to contact with a larger surface area, which results in a longer life to both the belt and the roller bearings.

Larger rollers mean the use of larger bearings that can hold a larger load capacity. There is less stress on the belt when forced around larger rollers, and less flex stress results in cooler temperatures on the polyester fibres of the belt - in turn, leading to less wear than small rollers with more belt flex, higher temperatures, and tighter belt tension.

At cooler temperatures the belt coatings last longer thus prevents excess friction. There is also more overall strength to the treadmill with larger rollers simply because they require larger axles. Steel rollers are preferable to aluminium because aluminium rollers can oxide and may form a grinding material that acts as sandpaper on the belt. Some premium treadmills have a special grip coating applied to the roller surface so allowing a reduced belt tension this improves belt tracking and also reduces wear on both the belt and the roller bearings. top of the page

Incline

Several incline mechanisms are used in different treadmills, such as electric motors, worm screws, pneumatic or gas shocks, and manual levers.

A quality incline should be quiet and shouldn''t cause the treadmill to wobble at high elevations. Electric incline with rack and pinion is ideal, though because it uses a separate motor the price is then affected by another couple of hundred pounds. If you do prefer electric incline then make sure the motor doesn''t strain with one or two people on the treadmill, which would indicate a weak motor. You will generally find manual adjustments on the lower-end treadmills to keep production costs down. Most quality treadmills will incline to 10%, and though you want maximum incline to help attain to your target heart rate, too much incline may easily lead to injury. Most users don''t go above 10% themselves. top of the page

Control Panels

Your treadmill should have a computerised control panel, no matter how simple it is.

The most common are LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and LED (Light Emitting Diode). You will often find LCD displays on less expensive equipment to keep prices down. LED displays are used in mid to high-end treadmills and are much more easy to read because they are lighted, though more expensive to produce.

Other kinds of displays found on expensive equipment include Digital and Gas Plasma, which we feel are seldom better than LED. Most high-end treadmills will be fully programmable for speed, electric incline, distance, time, heart rate and emergency shut off - but you can save money by purchasing a treadmill that offers the basics.

The control panel, more than anything, should be simple to use and easy to read with buttons that have simple commands and readouts that are large and easy to find. Most monitors offer a set of pre-programmed exercise levels and allow for you to program your own routine of exercise, which is desirable when attaining to your target heart rate. Where high-end treadmills are considered, you should choose a console that provides error messages when problems or malfunctions occur to help diagnose the symptoms of failing or damaged internal parts.

Price has a lot to do with monitor options, so you may save money by choosing only those control panel features which are of personal interest to you. top of the page

Heart rate control

If a heart rate monitor is desired, and is often required for patients with heart problems or persons needing to regulate their heart rate, then it''s best to have one that is interactive with the treadmill to automatically control incline for the targeted heart rate.

The best heart rate monitors also utilise a chest strap that electronically signals the monitor with an accurate heart rate providing E.C.G. precision. We advise against ear and finger clip pulse monitors because they are not as accurate as heart rate chest monitors, and often get in the way whilst exercising.

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Frame

Frames constructed of high alloy steel are generally more stable and durable than aluminium, although aluminium frames are considerably lighter. Aluminium, however, won''t rust, so make sure that a steel frame is well coated to prevent rust corrosion.

If a treadmill looks and feels flimsy then it is. If a treadmill is heavy, then it should also have wheels at the heaviest end to make it easier to relocate or reposition.

Frame construction often determines user weight limits, though a heavier frame doesn''t necessarily mean a heavier user weight. Welded frames are preferable to bolted. top of the page

Handrails

Handrail location is up to the user. Whether you opt for one or two side rails or a handlebar on the front, they should be sturdy and out of the way of swinging arms. top of the page

Safety

Because motorised treadmills are a moving machine, certain safety precautions must be included as standard features, including; an emergency shut-off that is easily accessible, the ability to limit incline and speed, a gradual start and stop, and accessible hand rails for both runners and walkers.

A safe starting speed is 0.5mph or less. It is also a good thing for the treadmill to have its own circuit breaker in case of power problems. top of the page

Warranty

Quality treadmills should have a lifetime warranty on the frame, but look for one that also guarantees 2 or more years on moving parts, especially the belt and rollers, and 2 or more years on the motor and electronic components as well.

Make sure the model you are interested in won''t become obsolete in the near future and it''s parts discontinued, so ask if the parts will be readily available for a long time to come.

Labour is usually one year, meaning that after a year of warranty coverage the manufacturer may still replace a defective part at their cost, but you will pay the service charge for the replacement. Some stores may offer to extend a short warranty period.

If you buy a treadmill from a source that is later unable to service it, you will have a problem. Be sure to check out claim procedures after the warranty has expired before you buy the treadmill! top of the page

Price

Remember, you get what you pay for, cheap treadmills do not meet most of the recommended guidelines we''ve suggested. You may have also noticed that high-end treadmills average around £2000 and up, but the competitiveness of the market has produced some excellent value treadmills at around £1000-£1200. top of the page