Fitness Equipment Treadmills
Treadmills vs. Elliptical Trainers vs. Exercise Bikes
fitness equipment treadmills
Fitness is on the minds of everybody today. People want to remain healthy to live longer, to enjoy most of the things that can be done only when your body is healthy. Catering to this aspect, manufacturers have flooded the market with never ending options in the field of fitness regime.
Consumers have been given a plethora of options that help them in achieving their fitness goals. This sometimes lands up the consumer in a confused state of mind in deciding, which equipment will suit him the best. The recent buzz created in the fitness equipment market calls for treadmills, exercise bikes and elliptical trainers. All these machines are capable of providing instant and consistent benefit to your health. But which one is best for you? Here is your guide on these 3 basic fitness equipments.
Treadmills
They are the most widely used fitness equipments in the market. Tread machines are mostly used to increase your cardiovascular activity, to maintain an appropriate bone density and to loose weight. As per studies, while comparing it with the other two machines, it was found that it is better than the other two equipments. It was established in the study that treadmills help in burning more calories.
Besides this, it also offers you the best opportunity to tone each and every muscle of your body. A treadmill exercising session can help you burn around 50-250 calories in an hour.
The best about a treadmills structure is: they are built to absorb all the pounding that is generating while you are running or walking on the machine. Most treadmills have electronic settings that help you customize your workout programs. Treadmills are built such that they can be programmed according to individualistic needs.
Due to all these reasons, treadmills have been rated as the best training options to attain impeccable fitness.
Elliptical Trainers
They are built to offer you a unique range of fitness benefits. Elliptical trainers provide you with low-impact workout programs that are very easy on your joints and lower body. The only disadvantage that this machine carries is that it burns fewer calories as compared to a treadmill.
The in-built workout programs that elliptical trainers’ carries have such an affect on your body that you will lose weight without affecting much of your knees, hips and back. It also helps you build an appropriate bone density. The machine can be programmed with the help of its in-built electronic setup. All in all, elliptical trainers are full body exercisers that help in toning your leg, thigh muscles to giving strength to your hands. And, all this can be done without stress and pounding.
Exercise Bikes
This machine has been rightly termed as a machine with low impact yet high performance. The workout programs that it carries are of easy intensity that works affectively on the joints and the body parts. The best part about exercise bikes is that they are the most economically priced fitness equipments. And the bad part is that they have a very low calorie burning ratio. Thus if you are planning to use a bike to lose weight then you must put in some extra hard work.
Exercise bikes are the most ancient in the fitness industry. But with technological innovations, their dying numbers have consequently geared up in the market. The machine caters to the aspect of fitness by allowing the user to maintain their heart rates without putting stress on knees, feet, hips and ankles. The exercise bikes come with built-in resistance features that help you achieve your desired goals. Now a days, there are several models that offer you electronic setups.
Comparing your health needs with the above mentioned features of treadmills, elliptical trainers and exercise bikes, you can make your health equipment pick. And enjoy your workouts for a healthy life!
How To Buy The Best Treadmill
Before going into the specifics of how to choose a treadmill, you need to sit down and think about the following questions:
1. What is the reason for getting a treadmill? If you want something to do your daily walks at a pace that raises your heart rate, you can opt for a treadmill with a low maximum speed and no incline. However, if you are planning to get in shape for a vacation where you will be hiking and biking, then you should opt for something with higher maximum speed and incline functions.
2. What is your budget? There are many good models you can purchase for $2000 or less. I suggest $2000 because most people cannot afford $3000+ for a treadmill and I know you can get a good treadmill for less. There are great deals online so shop around.
Once you have decided on the reason and budget, you have to do the following before you go shopping for your treadmill.
- Measure the floor area you have to position your treadmill.
- If you want a treadmill that folds, measure the storage area you have for the folded treadmill.
- Measure the weight of the heaviest person that will be using the treadmill. Each treadmill has a maximum weight limit. If you weigh between 45kg – 90kg (99lbs – 198lbs), a treadmill with 100kg (220lbs) weight limit will be sufficient.
Standard features that should come in a treadmill for your home. These are features that will be important to you.
1. Foldable – As a home user, you never know if one day, you will have visitors to your house or need to move house. A foldable treadmill on wheels will make repositioning the treadmill a breeze.
2. Electronics – Heart Rate monitor, Time read-out, Distance read-out, Speed read-out, Calories burned. An electronic “track” lighting up to show my progress. At least 5 preset programmes and 3 more programmable slots for you to define your own workout routine.
3. Belt – Try out your shortlisted treadmills. Take note of how long and wide it is. Bottom line: you must be able to run comfortably on it.
4. Horse Power – Most people do not pay attention to the horse power of the motor. Look for the term continuous duty rating. Look for something between 1.5 to 2.5 horsepower. Some have horsepower of 3. You do not need one that powerful but if you do not mind the extra cost you pay for a model with a horsepower of 3, that is fine.
5. Make sure the treadmill counts down when starting and the speed increases progressively when you start it. I have been on treadmills that start at the speed I set without counting down and have to immediately lower the speed manually. All treadmills should allow you to change your speed at any time using the arrow keys. Do not buy it if it does not allow you to do that.
6. Water Bottle holder – This should be a standard feature on most models. This is especially important if you do long walks or runs lasting 30 minutes or longer on your treadmill.
7. Speed Range – Look for one that goes up to 15km/h (9mph). An average person will not need more speed than that. A power walker walks at 7km/h to 8km/h (4.3mph to 5 mph). You will be jogging above 8km/h (5mph) and at 12km/h (7.5mph), you will be running.
8. Safety Key – This is a feature that will allow you to stop the treadmill immediately in the case of an emergency.
9. Warranty period – Look for a treadmill with 1 year or longer warranty periods. Do not purchase if the warranty period is less than 1 year. Do not be deceived by “X years warranty on frame”. Ask about the warranty on ALL parts, such as belts and electronics.
Optional Features you may want. These are features that will cost you more but if you feel that they are important to you, please go ahead and choose a model with these features.
1. Incline – Running at an incline, even at 1 degree, allows you to burn more calories as compared to running with no incline. Look for one that inclines at least 10 degrees and if you can afford, go for one that can incline 15 degrees or more.
2. Speakers – New treadmill models now have speakers where you can plug in your Ipod or MP3 player to play music from the built-in speakers while you run.
3. Fan – A few treadmills have a built-in fan. This will limit your choice of treadmills as there are not many models around with this feature. Read more
Fitness Treadmill
Treadmill Review And Recommendations
fitness treadmills
Colder weather is approaching rapidly for those of who live in the northern regions of the United States. This is a good time to start thinking about alternatives to outdoor exercise. Perhaps it is time to invest in a treadmill, elliptical trainer, or exercise bike. I have not forgotten than many folks in all parts of the country simple prefer to exercise in the comfort of their own home.
To assist in your decision the blog will carry a series of articles on exercise equipment. The first of the series will provide a review of treadmills. The following is a synthesis of reviews by Consumer Search from reviews by Consumer Reports, Runners World, Prevention magazine and TreadmillDoctor.com.
There’s a wide range of prices and quality among treadmills, with cheap models available in discount stores for as little as $300. But there’s a world of difference between these cheap treadmills and the $1,000-and-up models recommended most often in professional reviews. The difference is aptly represented by the manufacturer’s warranty. Treadmills costing less than $1,000, including the Epic 450MX and Image 19.0 (*est. $600) often come with just a 90-day warranty on parts and labor. Spending more gets you much better warranty coverage. The Sole F80 (est $1500) has a service warranty that covers the deck, frame and motor for a lifetime, other parts for five years and labor for two years.
Spending more for a treadmill like this will get you better insurance against breakdowns. This is important when you’re considering fitness equipment that weighs 200 pounds or more, where a technician will need to come to your home for repairs.
Cheaper treadmills costing less than $1,000 not only carry shorter warranties, but most also don’t perform as well in tests. While they may be lighter in weight, inexpensive treadmills can also be less stable, offer fewer features and have smaller and narrower belts. The Weslo Cadence G-25 (*est. $300), for example, is an ultra-compact treadmill. Its belt is just 43″ x 13″, compared to the 55″ x 20″ (or longer) belts found on other models. This means the outsides of your feet can never be more than 13 inches apart or you’ll step on the side rails, and the 43-inch length will barely accommodate a walking stride. TreadmillDoctor.com editors say that treadmills in this price range have “cheap, cheap parts.” They say the following about the Weslo G-25: “If you can keep this working for more than a workout or two at the 6 MPH top speed, contact us because we’ll try to get your machine in the Smithsonian.” While reviews say the Image 19.0 (*est. $600), another compact treadmill, should only be used for walking, at least it has a wider 19-inch belt. The Epic 450MX has a 20-inch belt. Even so, the warranty for both of these is only for 90 days, and there’s a 300-pound weight limit on these machines, so they are inappropriate for heavier walkers.
Reviews say that with treadmills, you generally get what you pay for. Fitness experts recommend that serious runners start shopping for treadmills at the $2,000 mark, although less expensive treadmills are fine for walking. Editors at Runner’s World agree; the best treadmills for running are priced over $2,000. For our report, we paid close attention to what reviews are recommending in the range of $1,000 to $2,000. That money should get you a good warranty with at least a full year of in-home labor coverage, plus better construction and more features than you’ll find on cheap treadmills. Reviews suggest that frequent runners or households with more than one runner should consider spending even more.
Best treadmills, $1,000 to $2,000: In years past, we’ve seen good reviews for Smooth treadmills. Although we did not see as many reviews for them this year, we didn’t find any evidence that their treadmills are not still good choices. This company’s treadmills are sold mainly online, so one drawback is that you can’t try them out in person. TreadmillDoctor.com says that since this company has grown so large so quickly, customer service has suffered. We did read a small number of complaints about unresponsive service at Epinions, but overall, owners seem happy with their treadmills.
The Smooth 5.25 (est $1000) is a standout in its price range. The display panel is highly readable, and it folds up to save space. The Smooth treadmill has six programs and a heart-rate monitor on the handgrip. At 52″ x 20″, the Smooth’s belt is shorter than those on more expensive models, and it has a comparatively low 275-pound capacity. However, this treadmill is backed by a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor, and five years on all other parts, with one-year in-home labor coverage. Reviews say this is a good-quality treadmill mainly for walking. Heavier individuals will need a treadmill with a higher weight limit, and taller people may need a longer belt.
The upgraded Smooth 6.25 (est $1600 is a better choice for occasional runners. This treadmill is a step up from the Smooth 5.25 (above) and has both a longer 54″ x 20″ belt and slightly more power, with a 2.75-hp motor. Like the Smooth 5.25, it folds for storage and has a handgrip heart-rate monitor (with optional chest strap), but it also has two more preset programs, for a total of eight. The relatively low weight capacity of 275 pounds makes this treadmill more appropriate for lighter runners.
TreadmillDoctor.com says the Sole F80 (est $1500) is “The best treadmill under $1,500″ although we had a hard time finding it in stores for that price. The Sole F80 has a 55″ x 20″ belt, a bit longer than both Smooth treadmills above, and a higher 335-pound weight capacity. The Sole treadmill also folds for storage, and it has the useful feature of speed and incline controls on the side rails. It has a lifetime warranty on the frame, deck and motor, along with five years on other parts and an impressive two years on labor. It has six preset programs, a 2.5-hp motor and handgrip heart-rate monitor, with included chest strap. If you’ve stayed in a Hilton hotel recently, you might have used a Sole treadmill; Hilton now has in-room Sole treadmills in many of its hotels. This Sole treadmill has the best warranty in its price range.We found some good reviews for Vision Fitness treadmills, but this manufacturer has been subject to a recent recall for some of its console panels, which could speed up unexpectedly.
The Vision Fitness T9200 Simple (*est. $1,400) doesn’t have a heart-rate monitor or any preset programs to help vary your workout. Vision Fitness does offer a lifetime warranty on the frame (with one-year labor), and the treadmill has a 325-pound weight limit. TreadmillDoctor.com says the T9200 is a good “starter” treadmill. One reviewer also recommends the step-up Vision Fitness T9500 Deluxe (*est. $2,000), which has an orthopedic belt to cushion your run. The Bodyguard T240 (*est. $1,900) is cited as the best treadmill in the $1,500 to $2,000 range by TreadmillDoctor.com, though we did not see this brand tested elsewhere.
The Bodyguard T240 has a 57″ x 20″ belt, a 350-pound weight limit and six programs, with an optional chest-strap heart-rate monitor. This treadmill’s greatest strength, according to reviews, is its quality construction, which is backed by a superb warranty for this price range — lifetime on the motor, ten years on parts and three years labor. This company also makes Polar heart-rate monitors.
We found a good review for the Keys Ironman 320t (est $1000) . TreadmillDoctor.com says the list price of $1,500 isn’t very competitive, but we found this model pretty substantially discounted in stores. The folding Ironman treadmill has a 2.5-hp motor, an included chest-strap heart-rate monitor, handgrip pulse sensors and a 350-pound weight limit. The belt measures 56″ x 20.” The frame carries a lifetime warranty along with ten years on the motor, two years on other parts and a one-year labor warranty. The Bowflex 7 series(est $1500) is made by Nautilus. Here again, TreadmillDoctor.com says this treadmill isn’t much of a deal at its $2,000 list price, but we found it in several stores for about $500 less, making it a lot more appealing. We also found a couple dozen good reviews for this model at Amazon.com.
The Bowflex has a large 60″ x 20″ belt. This folding treadmill has handgrip pulse sensors plus a heart-rate monitor, along with a 3-hp motor (good for this price range) and 300-pound user weight capacity. The frame has a 15-year warranty, along with ten years on the motor, two years on other parts and one year labor. If you can find it on sale, the Bowflex treadmill competes with the Sole F80. The Sole has a longer warranty period and slightly higher 335-pound weight limit, along with a 15 percent incline. The Bowflex has a larger 3-hp motor (2.5-hp on the Sole) and 5-inch longer belt, but a shorter warranty and 12 percent incline adjustment.
Budget Treadmills for Walking: The image 19.0R, along with other inexpensive treadmills, has only a 90 day parts and labor warranty, the shortest in the industry. Even so, reviews say the Image treadmill is fine if your fitness plans only include walking. This treadmill has a wider 19 inch belt and a stronger motor (2.8 horsepower) than some other budget models. Even so, regular runners and walkers will need a more durable treadmill. It folds up for storage and comes with a handgrip heart-rate sensor. The Image treadmill has a user weight limit of 300 pounds.
Best mid-range folding treadmill: According to treadmill reviews, the Sole F80 is the best in this price range, with a strong warranty (20 years on the motor, five years on parts and two years labor), as well as options that are comparable to more expensive treadmills. The Sole has a 335-pound weight capacity, and its 55″ x 20″ running surface is longer than other treadmills in its price class. It has six programs, plus speed and incline controls on the armrests, and both handgrip and chest-strap pulse sensors. The Sole treadmill folds up for storage. The Sole F80 is best for walkers who want to try the occasional run, but it won’t take the same pounding as a more expensive treadmill. Read more
