Sunday, February 1, 2009

How to buy a treadmill? Things to look out for..

By Manuelle Fergus

As we are living in the speed era, very few people manage to go to a health club and follow an exercising routine, although most of them have become aware of the benefits that exercising can have for their health. Therefore most people choose to follow an exercising routine in their own home using, of course, home fitness equipment.

As this issue becomes general, lately the demand for home fitness equipment(and especially treadmills), has greatly increased. Experts consider a treadmill one of the best buys that a person could make in his/her fitness efforts, as it doesn't get old or lose popularity, since it's based on running, and that came a long way back in our history. Making a treadmill purchase is not a very difficult task, but there are a few things to make sure you know when making the decision; you should be very careful with your needs that you want satisfied and buy a model that fits them entirely.

First and the most important thing you should do when buying a treadmill is to try it out, as it is suggested to buy a known and tested one out the way you intend to use it at home. There are a few things you should consider when purchasing one, some of the most important being those regarding the machine's features:

* stability is important, as much as the running belt is important (at least 18-20" wide and 48" long) * the running surface should be a low impact one, since it protects your joints, knees or back from potential damage by a special technology * reachable emergency shut-off, side rails and safety bars, these are also essential options * another important sign of quality is the warranty(and don't forget maintainance and service) * continuous rated motor - 2.5 to 3.0 hp * the reachable speed is also an important factor, since it should meet your goals (from 0.1 to 8 mph should be enough - this includes both walking and running)

Above all those important specifications, there are a few more that would sure make your life a lot easier: a fold-up design would make the storage much easier for you; I'm sure that a heart rate monitor would be of much help; and a computer console that would include a number of workout routines would be very important also.

In conclusion, a home treadmill is a very good acquisition, but you should consider many aspects before making a purchase; in the end, you are the one making the decision, so be sure you make the optimal choice based on your needs. - 15266

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