Electric Treadmill Review

There are dozens and dozens (if not hundreds) of electric treadmills available for purchase on the market today. From huge, feature-rich models with loads of functions and capabilities (such as Proform treadmills), to simple, track-only styles, there really is something for everyone. So how do you decide what you need, and what you don’t? Since a treadmill can cost quite a bit, you want to make sure you’re paying for the quality and features that really do suit your needs, without paying for more of a machine than you need, or paying more than the machine is actually worth.

Here are a few pointers in picking out an electric treadmill to run on in your home:

1. Try it out first. Regardless of price, features, name brand, size, or style, there’s no point in getting an electric treadmill that you don’t like: that’s the surest way to waste your money. So try anything before you buy it to make sure you’re going to take full advantage of your machine once you get it home.
2. Research features. Look into the different features that are available, and have an idea of what you want (and what you don’t) before you go into the store (whether that’s a physical or virtual store is, of course, up to you). Say you know you want a heart rate monitor, a calorie counter, and a few different pre-set workout ‘courses’; make sure you get those. But don’t pay for something that measures much more than you’ll ever want. That’s not a good use of your money!
3. Quality counts. Of course, if you’re going to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars, you want to know you’re getting something that will last. While a smaller motor may be more visually appealing, generally a larger, solid motor is both more capable and more enduring. Look for something that has a reputation for a long life-span. And you know that with electric treadmills that come with long warrantees, the company builds them well enough to have faith in them for years to come. That’s a good sign.

Are you a regular (or semi-regular) runner who usually runs outdoors? If you’re considering buying an electric treadmill to use in your garage, basement, spare bedroom, or even family room area, here are some pointers you can consider to help you get the most out of your workout.

First of all, one of the most convenient things about a treadmill is that you can use it any time, for however long you like. While it’s true that if you plan to do some serious running, you will probably need to don some work out clothes, and you may need to shower afterward. These things take time. But the treadmill still saves time because you don’t need to go outside, down the block, or even across town to a track or running path. You can just hop on when you’re ready, and hop off when you’re out of time.

This means that transitioning from outdoor running to indoor running may present a change to your workout schedule. For example, do you usually run after work, but only on nights when you get home by a certain time? Consider getting up just 10 minutes earlier in the morning, doing a 10 minute jog on the treadmill before you start your day, and then 10 minutes less at night. You feel like you save time, but you still do the same amount of running, so jogging is less of an inconvenience on days when you get home later.

Consider multi-tasking. When you are busy with work, family, and any other number of commitments, an electric treadmill makes it easier to get something else done while you exercise. If you run intensely on the treadmill, of course, this will be harder to do, as you’ll need to focus on your breathing and footing.

But if you use your electric treadmill for a light jog or a brisk walk, you can do things like watch the news, get caught up with your most recent book or magazine, or even chat with your kids or spouse when you all get home from work or school. Be creative. The electric treadmill makes it easy to jog more and more frequently. So do what makes sense in your own life, and you’ll be more in shape without having to go out of your way to do so!