A Guide to Choose the Best Treadmill
Workouts have become a daily routine these days. Each and everyone loves to have a healthy and fit body. But many are unable to go to a gym regularly. Busy lifestyles make it unable to find time for the gym, at least for some people. Such people look forward to setting up a gym at home so that they can do workouts whenever they have time.
When it comes to a gym at home, the first equipment that comes to mind is a treadmill. Yes, treadmills are a certain thing if you plan to do workouts at home. Even for those who want to have only some mild exercises choose a treadmill.
Treadmills are a common thing these days at every home. Having one at home will be very useful for every member of the house. Everybody can do some workouts on their own comfortable time. This is the most significant benefit of having a treadmill at home.
But buying a treadmill has to be taken seriously. If there is no enough research, you may end up buying a product that may be useless for you. So, buying a treadmill is not the thing; buying the perfect one for you is the task. This article will help you in completing this task. By the end of this article, you will get a clear idea of which is the perfect treadmill for you. So let’s start.
Plan Your Requirements
Before buying a product, say it for anything; you should have a clear cut idea of your requirements. Only then can you choose a product that can satisfy all your needs. Do good research on your requirements and note it down if you can. This will help you a great deal. Here are the things you should plan while researching your needs.
1. Workouts
Think about the workouts you plan to do with your treadmill. What would you do on your treadmill? Long easy walks, intense running, or jogging? Finding an answer to this question will help you to choose the treadmill considering motor power. If you plan to do heavier exercises, you will have to choose a treadmill with high motor power. The exercises you plan to do will also help to decide the track size of the treadmill. If you just plan to walk on the treadmill, it is better to choose treadmills with shorter tracks.
2. Fitness Goals
This might be clear. When you decide to buy a treadmill, you will be very clear as to what is to be achieved.This will also help to choose the treadmill for you. On a general note, it may be to lose weight or to burn some calories. For these goals, you will not want a treadmill with an HD screen or high motor power. But if your goal is for a regular workout session where you would be doing different workouts with a trainer, you will need a treadmill with more specifications.
3. Budget
This is a significant point in deciding your treadmill. Treadmill is not a piece of cheap equipment. So you should have a good idea of our budget. The goal has to get the best treadmill that you can afford. A treadmill will be comfortable, quiet, and easy to use only if it is a high-quality one. You will get treadmills under AED 1500. But those are low-end ones. They might not have extended warranties or wide workout areas. They are suitable only for occasional use.
For a treadmill that will last longer, you will have to pay at least AED 3000. We would suggest you buy something between AED 3000 and AED 5000. Those treadmills will offer more stability, better motor power, and other features. If you are purchasing a treadmill for more than one person to use, buy one at least costing AED 3000.
For those on a low budget can opt for a used treadmill too. Many owners sell the treadmills once they find the product left out without being used. In such cases, you may get the one you look for in your budget. Make sure you check the product in detail before buying it.
4. Available Space
It will be great if you measure the space you choose for your treadmill before buying one. A treadmill will take some space in your house. Compare this with the treadmill dimensions before purchasing. If you are in a limited space, a foldable one will be the best. It, too, takes some storage space. You should have a measurement of the storage space, even if you are planning to buy a foldable one. You will get a foldable one for all the quality levels.
Know More About a Treadmill
Do you know what a treadmill is? Yes, you may know. But do you know everything about a treadmill? Now you may ask us, is it necessary to see everything to own one? Our answer would be yes. There should be at least some basic knowledge about treadmills before buying one. This will help a lot in finding the perfect treadmill.
Treadmills are stationary cardio machines on which you can walk, jog or run indoors. They are an excellent option to begin a new exercise routine. It provides a straightforward, efficient aerobic workout. Usually, they come with adjustable speeds and inclines to vary your workout.
Mostly. Treadmills are used for running workouts. If you love running workouts or jogging, but unable to go out because of busy timings or hot weather, you should surely invest in treadmills. You can use it for running practice also. For example, you are participating in a race. But you could not find a place to practice. Go for a treadmill so that you can practice as much as you want.
Some people believe that treadmill training is inferior to outdoor training. This is wrong. Treadmills can help elite athletes to train more precisely. They can help runners better perform specific types of training drills like tempo and interval runs. You can set your speed and ensure you are maintaining it for the duration you desire, which is very beneficial.
Now, let us move on to some of the basic features of a treadmill. These are the features all the treadmills possess. You must know them to understand a treadmill in deep. If you are a fitness enthusiast, you may probably know it. But if you are not, you may not know it. So here are some of the key features of a treadmill.
1. Motor Power
The motor on a treadmill is to power the track. It is measured in continuous horsepower (CHP). Most home treadmill motors have somewhere between 2.25 and 4.25 CHP. The treadmill power you need depends on the type of exercise and your body weight. People up to 200 pounds of weight can need 2.0CHP or higher for walking, 2.5CHP, or higher for jogging and 3.0 or higher CHP for running. For those with weight, more than 200pounds should add a 0.5CHP more.
Most of the treadmills today offer a lifetime warranty. Even the cheaper treadmills offer warranty Up to 5 years.
2. Speed
One of the highest benefits of a treadmill is that you can set your speed and continue it until you wish. This will be great for those who want to maintain speed consistency. Many beginners get confused as to what speed they should start. Any speed above 0 can be for walking. 0.1mph to 4mph can be considered as walking speed. Jogging is something that is in between walking and running. Anything between 4mph and 6mph can be used for jogging purposes. Remember, speed is not what determines your result. You can determine the speed which is comfortable for you and which works for you. For example, people who are tall and have a long stride will be jogging at 6mph, while short people will go somewhere above 6mph. Runners usually go above 6mph. Unless you are practicing for a race, speed should not be vital for you. Beginners can set a comfortable speed and continue with it until you get used to the exercise and the machine.
3. Incline
Setting an incline can be beneficial for beginners as well as marathon runners. If you are a beginner starting to use the treadmill for walking, try a 1 or 2 percent incline. When you become comfortable with your treadmill and have achieved a basic fitness level to walk for 20-30 minutes at a time regularly, you can increase the incline to 2-4 percent to benefit from it.
Running on an incline is harder even though the pace is slower than a flat surface. The thing is that little effort adds to an effective workout. If you are not dialing up the incline, you are running downhill practically. To replicate the energy requirements of running on an outdoor track, a 1 percent incline is needed.
Buy a treadmill that can go up to 10 and above. A treadmill with decline options is also beneficial. This will give a better simulation of outdoor running conditions.
4. Cushioning
Cushions on anything provides extra comfort. The same is the case with treadmills too. Cushions provide a running, walking or jogging experience that’s easier on the joints. Cushions on the track will absorb much of the impact your joints experience with each step. The extra cushioning on a treadmill provides you with the added protection to keep your joints free of pain.
5. Belt Size
While determining the size of a treadmill, the two things to consider are your size and how you plan to use the treadmill. To determine the size of a treadmill, belt, and motor are crucial things.
Belts are available from 13 to 22 inches wide and 40 to 60 inches long. Treadmills with large belts are costlier. Do not try to go for bigger belt size treadmills, instead find the right-sized ones. Find something above 16 inches or else, and it would be difficult to walk or run on it. If you are purchasing a treadmill just for walking, an 18-inch belt will do. For runners, 20 inches or wider is advisable. Considering the length, a 48-inch long belt will be apt for the walkers. If you plan to run more than jogging, consider buying a 54 9nch treadmill. People taller than 6 feet should go for longer ones. Keep in mind that a machine wider than 18 inches will be difficult to move through a door.
6. Programs
Almost all the treadmills today come with preset programs. They support the different goals of users like weight loss training and endurance training. These programs will control the speed of the treadmill and the incline/decline automatically.
Many of the home treadmills come with immersive workout technologies. For example, iFit is a standard option on most of the treadmills today, which gives unlimited interactive Google Maps workouts. Passport Virtual Active Technology is also trending these days, which offers scenic Passport treadmill workouts on your home TV and automatically adjusts to the speed and intensity of your exercise.
7. Weight Capacity
The user weight capacities of a treadmill generally range from 250 to 400 pounds (approx. 113 to 181 Kg). I would suggest you buy a treadmill that can officially handle at least 50 pounds (approx. 23 Kg) more than your body weight. Thus, you can avoid the strain on the motor. You will need to invest in a higher-end product if you weigh more than this. You can quickly get treadmill that is capable of handling up to 500 pounds if you are ready to pay more.
8. Advanced Features
The above mentioned features are common to most of the treadmills available today. With the cost going up, you can get many advanced features on your treadmill like console fans, water bottle holders, Bluetooth speakers, USB connectivity, HD screen, web browsers, tablet holders, TV, etc. There are even treadmills that help you to workout with live interactive sessions of celebrity trainers.
Remember, the treadmill is something you buy to workout. You can include these features in the one you buy if that motivates you to work out regularly. If not, then don’t go behind expensive things just for the sake of having it on your treadmill.
What to look for in a Treadmill for home use?
Many people have thought that workouts from home mean compromising on the quality of exercises. But if you choose the right treadmill, you get the same result the professional gym gives you. Remember, to get better results, and you must select durable, sturdy, and easy to use treadmill machines. Here are some points you should consider while choosing a treadmill machine for your home.
1 The design has to be space-saving.
When you workout at your home, you may not be able to dedicate a whole room for your treadmill. Most of the apartments may not have such a free space for your workouts. So try to buy a treadmill that has a space-saving design. A foldable one can be the best choice because you can fold it and keep it in a safer place when you do not use it. Treadmills with wheels are also helpful in this regard. You will be able to move it away when not in use easily.
2 Good Technological features
While you workout from home, there is a tendency to escape from the exercises quite often because you may feel bored or less motivated. Programming and entertainment can help you with this problem. Treadmills with wifi connectivity and downloadable workout sessions will encourage you to workout daily. Even though you are not able to afford many technological features, you can choose one with wifi and Bluetooth connectivity.
3 Roomy running deck
If you are a runner, you would need a 55-by-20-inch belt surface area. But for walking, you will not need such a wide area. So, for runners and people with long legs, choosing a running deck that has room for smooth movements will be the right choice. Choose something around 60 by 20 inches.
4. Strong Motor
While choosing the motor power, look for the level of energy it can sustain for the long haul. Look for a treadmill that will be able to match you stride for stride when you go long. This is very important if you are considering workouts seriously. Standard motor power can be 2.0 CHP for walking, 2.5 CHP for jogging, and 3 CHP for running.
5 Good Warranty
Many people have thought that workouts from home mean compromising on the quality of exercises. But if you choose the right treadmill, you get the same result the professional gym gives you. Remember, to get better results, and you must select durable, sturdy, and easy to use treadmill machines. Here are some points you should consider while choosing a treadmill machine for your home.
6 Positive User Reviews
It is always advisable to check user reviews before buying a product. The users who have already purchased the product might give you a clear picture of the performance of the product. Never go for a product that has more negative reviews than positives. Look for the one with high ratings.
There are a massive number of treadmills in the market. Selecting one among them is a challenging task. Getting to know every one of the products in the market can take a very long time. I can make your job much more straightforward. Here are the reviews of the top treadmill machines in the market. Go through them and decide for yourself, which is the best for you.