With the ever growing demand for exercise and fitness training equipment you have an unprecedented range of machinery to choose from and that includes running machines or treadmills. Along with demand for cheaper treadmills has come the requirement for better and more sophisticated treadmills and so even the less expensive pieces of equipment now have variable speeds, heart monitors and performance calculators.

The choice is yours, so what treadmill should you be looking for? This depends on factors such as what budget you have, how much space can you spare and what will you be using it for.

How much to spend? Only you know how much you can or want to spend but as with everything in life you get what you pay for. If you will be using the treadmill regularly and you really should be, a little more spent will pay dividends as the treadmill will be more robust, have better controls and will be more stable. Stability is an important factor as you are more likely to exercise regularly if your treadmill gives you confidence.

Measure the available space before you buy your treadmill as they are fairly bulky pieces of kit. Check your measurements against that of the treadmill and if you are unsure then ask the seller for exact dimensions. Remember also that motorised treadmills require a nearby socket. If space is a premium then folding treadmills are available.

What do you want a treadmill for? If you primarily want it for walking you can have a shorter treadmill but if you wish to run on it then a longer model would be better ,running increases your stride and your treadmill needs to accommodate this. The speed of a motorised treadmill also has to be taken into account, for walking a top speed of around 5-6 miles per hour would be ideal but for running the treadmill needs to offer higher speeds.

The deck, i.e. the surface upon which you walk or run should be about 130 cms long and about 40 cms wide, this gives a comfortable space in which to exercise on your treadmill. The motor rating on the treadmill should be sufficient for your needs. A minimum of 1 1/2 HP continuous duty should be the minimum.

These are the basic requirements for your treadmill but you can consider what other factors are important to you. Look for a warranty if the treadmill is new, extras such as heart rate monitor, speed control, incline adjustment and ease of use are all part of the buying decision and a thorough consideration of them at the outset will make your treadmill a good and healthy investment

Norman Stanley is a writer for various websites and ezines. Interests include golf, rugby and cardiovascular exercise.
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