Treadmill Reviews

I understand both as a retired personal trainer and a consistent user of treadmills how difficult it is to buy the right kind of treadmill. The key word here is the right treadmill for you.

The Pyramid of Hope website is a great resource to see all the available treadmill options. It lists about 25 different brands of treadmills for your home from which to choose. Some top-rated brands you will see include ProForm treadmills, Icon Health Fitness treadmills, Healthrider, Nordic track treadmills, Landice, Precor treadmills, Life Fitness treadmills, Smooth treadmills, and Sole treadmills. But, wading through all the information can be overwhelming.

To help you make sense of it all, I have put together a treadmill buying guide. I will help you think through the major questions you should ask before buying a treadmill, help you assess what features are important to you, as well as review what some expert and consumer sources say are the best treadmills on the market.  

Questions to answer before starting your treadmill search 

What treadmill will fit into your life? When I ask that question I am thinking about space, money and goals.  

Space:   How much room do you have? If your workout area is 70 inches long then you cannot buy a machine that is 73 inches long. Make sure you have enough room in width as well. You want to be able to comfortably get on the treadmill and have room to swing your arms freely. Do you want folding treadmill? If so is the size it folds to an issue? Then measure that. Remember that the treadmill may fold and roll but if your storage area is carpeted then rolling it may be difficult.  According to Treadmill Sensei Website, The Smooth 4.25 Treadmill is the best treadmill for people without a lot of room.

Money:   How much money are you willing to pay? I will always recommend spending as much as you can because usually, though not always, you will get more for your money. Having said that there are some high end treadmills such as Life Fitness treadmills or Precor treadmills that may not have that one feature you just have to have (a fan, for example).

Goals:  Will you be running, walking or a combination of both? Do you usually walk/run outside on concrete but want a treadmill in case of inclement weather or a day that is too hot? Most treadmills now are cushioned in some way. You will hear terms such as flex or some type of shock absorption system. If you usually run outside then a treadmill that is too flexible will feel strange on your joints and could possibly cause injury. Your goals will determine how much cushioning you want.

Now, think about the treadmill features 

Layout of the Machine. What is the layout of the treadmill? Does the treadmill have handles that are comfortable to hold? Are there treads on the sides so you can step off easily? Is it user friendly with integrated bottle and magazine holders? 

Heart Rate Monitor. Do you want sensors in the treadmill handles that will automatically take your heart rate? Not all machines have heart rate sensors and not all people care about their heart rate number.  
 
The Size of the Belt. The belt on the treadmill is a very important feature.  Notice how long it is and how wide. If a treadmill is not long enough, your feet hit will the front which is not only uncomfortable but can be dangerous.  The taller you are the longer the belt should be. A good rule of thumb is a belt of at least 50 inches long and 17 inches wide.  

Treadmill Usage. How will you be using the treadmill? Will you be running, walking or a combination of both? Do you usually walk/run outside on concrete but want a treadmill in case of inclement weather or a day that is too hot? Most treadmills now are cushioned in some way. You will hear terms such as flex or some type of shock absorption system. If you usually run outside then a treadmill that is too flexible will feel strange on your joints and could possibly cause injury. Your goals will determine how much cushioning you want.   

Treadmill Console. What do you want on the console? Is a fan important? Do you want a place for a magazine and water bottle? If your goal is to just get moving and you fear technology then a simple console with perhaps 4 programs will be enough. It is important to be able to read the display. Check to make sure that the numbers are large and clear.

Treadmill Horsepower. Most people do not pay any attention to the horsepower of the motor. You will see the term continuous duty rating and that is the rating you want. A 1.5 to 2.5 horsepower is enough for the average user.

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Best Bets: What are the best treadmills? (as of March 2008) 

I have been writing reviews of treadmills for many years. And, as a retired personal trainer, I have direct experience with many brands including: Precor treadmills, LifeFitness, Landice, Proform treadmills, Star Trac, Bowflex, NordicTrack treadmills, Cybex, Vision Fitness, Smooth and Sole. I still; however, seek the knowledge of others because there are so many variables. I have combed through all the major treadmill review websites online- consumer reviews and expert reviews-- and read all the treadmill ratings. I found the highest rated treadmills to aid you in your search. Here's to finding the best treadmill for you. 

Overall: Best Treadmill Value

• Consumer Reports treadmill report has given high marks for the best buys in treadmills to Vision Fitness Treadmill T9200 ($1,300) and Epic View 550 Treadmill ($1,300) as of February 2008.The Vision Fitness T9200 is a simple non-folding treadmill. It has a high user weight limit at 325 and a belt that measures 54 inches by 20 inches. The Epic View 550 is easy to use and is made well. You'll get a lot for your money including a 60 inch by 20 inch belt which is great for tall people and those who run. You'll get a flat screen television and 28 workout programs.

Best Treadmills for Walkers

• The best budget treadmill for walking according to ConsumerSearch is the Image 19.0R Treadmill for about $600. Although, understand you get what you pay for. The warranty is terrible which shouldn't surprise you at that price. Its weight limit is 300 pounds. I see this machine as one for the beginner who isn't looking for a lot of programs and won't be power walking (walking very fast). The belt is only 19inches.
  
  
• The best mid-range treadmill for walkers according to ConsumerSearch is the Sole Fitness F80 Treadmill for $1500. It has an excellent warranty and a 335- pound weight capacity. Its belt is an acceptable 55 inches by 22 inches and it has six programs. The Sole F80 is cited as best for walkers who occasionally run. This best in this category has been echoed by Treadmill online. It was also rated #6 by About.com in the best folding treadmill category.

Best Treadmills for Runners

• Consumer Reports treadmill report has given high marks for budget "cheap" runner treadmills to NordickTrack C2255 Treadmill ($800), New Balance Treadmill ($900) and ProForm Treadmill ($600).
  
• The best mid-range price treadmill for everyone is the Smooth 5.25 Treadmill- $900. It folds and has a 53 inch running surface. The Smooth 5.25 measures 73 inches by 36 inches making it appropriate for an apartment. The Smooth brand was the 2006 winner of Runner's World Top Ten Treadmills.

Best Treadmill for Serious Runners

• ConsumerSearch says the Life Fitness Treadmill T3-0 in the $2,000 range, "is a favorite of professional runners for its shock-absorbing deck and customizable controls." It will save user data; has a 58 inch by 20 inch belt; a 400 pound user weight and a great warranty. It has a 58 inch by 20 inch belt which, if you look above is a nice size. It also has a great warranty.
  
  
• Consumer Reports Treadmill report has rated the following brands in the February 2008 issue as the best running treadmills: SportsArt ($3,500), Landice ($3,000), Nordic Track ($2,700), and True ($2,400) all in the $3,000 range.

Best Treadmill for those with challenges

• If a senior who is new to treadmills is going to use the treadmill, I suggest that you find a machine with long handles along the sides of the treadmill. Landice makes what I consider the best machines for those with some challenges. Many machines have a strap that you can put around your wrist or a similar safety measure. It is usually attached to the machine with a magnet. If you fall, the strap will detach from the machine shutting the belt down
  
  
• Star Trac also makes nice treadmills. These are quite large; however, coming in at 85.5 inches by 34 inches and a whopping 62 inch long running surface.

"Commercial Treadmills"- for those who can splurge!

• The high-end upscale treadmill is the Platinum Club Series Treadmills made by Life Fitness for walkers and runners but if you cannot afford $7,000 then you will step down a notch. If you can afford that kind of money you'll have an entertainment console and one of the best machines in my view on the market. When you get into this price range these machines can be considered commercial quality or close to it. On the Life Fitness website residential and commercial machines are listed separately but you'll find the residential top-shelf machines great for a small fitness room.

No matter which one you choose, be a smart consumer. Always, always ask these questions before you make your treadmill purchase 

What is the warranty?  Buying a treadmill from Sears may give you a very different warranty than from Costco which may give you a very different warranty than from the company that makes the treadmill. Read the fine print before you purchase a treadmill. If you are spending $500 which is the low end you still want a warranty but do not expect the same one that you will get if you spend $3000. The warranty though should be around 3 years. If you love a treadmill and get it at a great price but it only has a 1-year warranty I would not let that stop me from buying it.

What is the maximum user weight of the treadmill at which you are looking? Some machines can handle as much as 400 pounds. If you weight 325 pounds you do not want a machine that has a user weight of only 300 pounds.

What is assembly like? People tell me all the time that assembling their treadmill took three days. I tell people that unless they put machines together for a living pay the extra money if it's available and have someone else put the machine together.

Sources
Countless sites and articles were read to determine the best treadmills on the market. The best treadmills in various categories were culled by the sources below: ConsumerSearch.com, Treadmilldoctor, TreadmillAdvisor.com, Consumer Reports, February 2008, RunnersWorld, Treadmill-online, Exercise-equiptment-Review.com and Precor. 

Jo Levy is a retired personal trainer.