Treadmill Comparison: 3 Things You Need To Know

If you’re purchasing a treadmill you’ll probably be making several treadmill comparisons when doing your research. Here are 3 things you must know when comparing treadmills in order to find the best one for you.

#1 Compare Apples To Apples

Don’t compare prices between treadmills online and treadmills sold at a store. They are two different marketplaces, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

When I was selling a Proform treadmill many years ago, the gentleman buying it had gone online and seen the same model for less. I had to explain to him that this price was an online price only. Buying a treadmill online can sometimes be considerably cheaper, depending on the manufacturer, sales, closeouts, etc.

So when comparing treadmill prices side by side, make sure you compare online treadmills to online treadmills and store treadmills to store treadmills.

Also make sure you’re comparing the same treadmill models. It sounds obvious but some brands have so many similar sounding models in their line-up it’s easy to get confused!

#2 Know the Key Ingredients to a High Quality treadmill

Make sure you know the top 4 key ingredients to a quality treadmill:

- Motor Power

- Stability

- Warranty

- Cushioning

The motor is the heart of your treadmill and adequate motor power is extremely important. Most experts recommend at least a 1.5 HP motor although I prefer a 2.0 HP or higher to ensure you don’t burn the motor out (and then have to pay costly repair fees).

Stability ensures that your treadmill will not shake or wobble when you start to use it. (Why buy something you’re too scared to use?)

The treadmill warranty will protect your investment and quality treadmills will include a warranty. (You shouldn’t have to pay extra for a warranty - unless you want to, of course!)

Cushioning is the ability of the treadmill to absorb the force of your step. Better cushioning means lower impact on your joints and ligaments. Cushioning is extremely important as poor cushioning can cause injury and muscle strain

#3) Know What YOU Need Before Comparing Treadmills

Many people get sold on all of the ‘cool’ features of the treadmill - but never consider if they’ll really use them.

For example we’d all love to own a commercial-grade, luxury treadmill - but for many people, it’s MORE than they need. On the other hand, a serious runner might actually need that kind of stability and cushioning in a treadmill.

If you don’t really care about a heart rate monitor, why pay extra for it? If you know your 6′2″ son will be running on the treadmill, remember to look for one with a longer running area and adequate user weight capacity.

By knowing what you you need before comparing treadmills, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and frustration.

So there you have it - keep these 3 points in mind when comparing treadmills and you’ll be well on your way to making an excellent treadmill purchase! Enjoy and have fun!

About the Author

Kathryn O’Neill is the chief editor for treadmill Review

For more buying tips, treadmill brand reviews, and best buys visit http://www.treadmillreview.net

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