The Gymworld Treadmills Buying Guide
Choosing the Store to Buy a Treadmill or Running Machine
We are a long established fitness retail company specialising in the better known brands of exercise and gym equipment, for both home and commercial customers. These days, apart from independent specialists like ourselves, there are numerous other places to buy a treadmill, such as department stores, sports chain stores, mail order catalogue companies and online-only stores who do not have a bricks and mortar presence. When dealing with this type of company you may be speaking to someone who is a general employee and who does not have specific knowledge of the exercise machines they are selling. We suggest that you purchase from a specialist fitness store where the staff will be fully trained and have the knowledge of gym equipment, plus the inclination and time to give relevant information and offer advice relating to the customers individual fitness needs. Some fitness stores are more knowledgeable than others, so making a quick call and asking a few questions usually helps you find the more experienced and professional stores, and this should give you the confidence that you are dealing with a fitness company you would be happy to buy your treadmill or running machine from.
Delivery and Installation of Treadmills and Running Machines
Once you have chosen the treadmill or running machine you want, the next most important thing is the delivery. Treadmills are usually large and heavy items, so please ensure that you use a fitness company that can provide the delivery service you need. Standard delivery usually entails a 1 man kerbside delivery, you are then responsible for getting the treadmill or running machine into the house; a 2 man delivery means that they will carry the treadmill in to the house (ground floor only) but they do not build it for you. A few companies can offer an installation service.
At Gymworld we offer our own installation service on most of our home fitness treadmills. We will deliver the treadmill to the room of choice (safety permitting) and fully install, plus remove any unwanted packaging for safe disposal, saving you a trip to the tip. Being in charge of our installation teams means we can be more flexible on delivery dates and times, able to install treadmills from as early as 5am on weekdays, to help fit in with your busy lifestyle.
Treadmill Motors
This is sometimes a confusing area for many buyers because power output may be quoted differently. Currently the most commonly quoted ratings by producers of treadmills and running machine are peak horsepower and continuous duty, so we will just cover these in this instance.
Peak Horsepower - this is the maximum output of the treadmills motor; however, using a treadmill at peak output for long periods will burn out the motor fairly quickly, shortening the machine`s life considerably.
Continuous Duty - this is the steady output from the motor when in continuous use for a 24 hour period. When a motor is capable of this performance the treadmill itself can be used for an extended period without overheating the motor.
Decent quality treadmills should have at least 1.75hp continuous duty motors. For regular use or several users we would suggest that you use a motor with a minimum of 2.5hp continuous duty output.
Also bear in mind that the make of the motor itself is an important factor. Treadmills and running machines are no different to other products – manufacturers will select cheaper components in order to achieve certain price points. Its a fact of life. Some motors will be better than others even though they claim to have the same or even higher rating.
Incline Motors on Treadmills and Running Machines
The majority of manufacturers use a worm screw to incline the treadmill, and a separate incline motor is used for this function. An incline mechanism should not wobble when in use. As a test of the motors capability it should not struggle to incline when 2 adults stand on the treadmill. Most standard treadmills and running machines use a 750lb thrust motor, but expect to see top quality machines using a 1000lb thrust motors for the incline.
Speed
Most treadmills and running machines have a top speed of 10mph/16kph, this more than adequate for the majority of runners, average jogging speeds are around 5mph-6.5mph, average running speeds are around 6mph – 8.5mph.
Please note that when running on a treadmill you will not run as fast as you do on a static surface, as some energy is lost due to the belt moving beneath you.
Running Belts on Treadmills
It is rare for a treadmill running belt to wear out within the first few years of use in a home environment. You should not have problems with a running belt if it is looked after correctly.
The size of the treadmill running belt is important. Ideally the average size running area should be at least 18" x 52" but a taller user may need a belt size of 20" x 55". These areas will give enough room to ensure that the user is comfortable when using the running machine.
The Treadmill Deck
This is the board underneath the belt. The deck can be made from different materials depending on the quality of the machine.
Entry level treadmills - tend to have Chip/Fibre board decks
Mid range treadmills - MDF boards are the average standard, and usually have a smooth coating applied to the surface to assist with easy gliding of the belt.
Top end treadmills - a high quality engineered board is used with several layers of a speciality material (fenolic coating), and the deck thickness is increased from 3/4 of an inch to 1 inch thickness.
Lubricating Your Treadmill
For most standard treadmills a silicone lubricant is used, this can be purchased from the manufacturer or a silicone lubricant can usually be obtained from a high street car parts stores. The top range running machines use a wax lubricant, which is in most cases is impregnated into the deck it self and is released as the deck temperature increases. This lubricant is usually obtained from the manufacturer.
Always follow the manufacturers instructions when lubricating your treadmill and follow their guide lines to the frequency of lubrication.
Impact Absorption on Treadmills
A treadmill should have some sort of device or mechanism that reduces the impact of the foot hitting the deck when walking and running. The best absorption systems disperse the energy of the foot impacting the deck but also provide a firm surface to push off from. A treadmill deck that is too soft will drain your energy very quickly and you will not enjoy the run because you find it too hard (a bit like running on soft sand). Always speak to a specialist to ask their advice on a particular treadmills absorption system.
Treadmill Rollers
The diameter of the rollers on treadmills can vary from as little as 1" to as large as 3". The larger the roller the greater the area that running belt is in contact with it, which reduces the stress and tension on the running belt itself as well as the drive belt, thus giving the treadmill greater longevity. We suggest that you look at treadmills with at least 2" rollers.
Frames on Treadmills and Running Machines
Another important component of a treadmill is the frame, which gives the machine its stability. Generally, a heavier frame translates to a more solid running machine.
The stability of a treadmill helps to provide a pleasant running experience. If your treadmill does not feel stable when running, you are less likely to use it. Also a important feature to remember is the type of material used to make the frame. Most manufacturers use either steel or aluminium on their treadmills. Aluminium frames are particularly recommended for treadmills which may be located in an or near high moisture areas such as pool rooms; even if you sweat a lot whilst running on a machine with an aluminium frame may be better as the treadmill frame will not rust.
PLEASE NOTE: Before starting a new fitness programme we recommend that you consult your GP or medical adviser
