What to Look for in Treadmills

Size

Try out a treadmill before purchasing it to check for sizing. The surface of the belt should be large enough to accommodate your walking and running stride. Grasp the handrails while exercising to make sure they are placed at a distance that is comfortable for you. While running, notice how sturdy the treadmill feels. The treadmill should feel stable, not shaky, and the motor should sound strong, not whiny and overworked.

If your home space is limited, look for a treadmill that folds up, so that you can store it in a closet or under your bed.

Check the programming features of the treadmill, and think about how you want to use the treadmill when looking at them. Generally, the more programming features the treadmill has, the higher the price. Purchase a treadmill that has the preprogrammed workout modes that you want to use. Also, look at how easy the programming control panel is to use. Make sure the display is easy for you to see and the programming features are easy to navigate.

One feature that the treadmill should definitely have is a safety shutoff feature. Some have an emergency shutoff button or a key, while others have a strap that you place around your wrist and pull when you want to quickly stop the treadmill.

Consider how you want to use your treadmill. Are you only going to walk on it, or do you want to run on it as well? If you only intend to use the treadmill for slow walking, you can save money by buying one without a motor. For fast walking and running, however, a motor will make the treadmill much easier to use. If you want to use the treadmill for running, choose one with a higher horsepower motor, which will make the belt run smoother and last longer under heavy use. The Mayo Clinic recommends a 1.5 horsepower motor for walking and a 2.0 horsepower motor for running.

Protect your investment by purchasing a treadmill with a good warranty. Read the warranty carefully to determine which parts are covered and for how long. For example, some warranties cover the motor and others do not. Ask the sales associate if the store handles warranty repairs or if you will have to ship the treadmill to the manufacturer. Ideally, the store you purchase the treadmill from will handle the repairs or ship the treadmill to the manufacturer for you so that you will not have to pay expensive shipping fees.