Treadmill Buying Guide
Table of Contents
Why Do Treadmills Become Popular?
The recent events in the history of humankind have revealed the importance of having safe and sound health to survive any further. And in the background of the recent happenings, the fitness industry got a significant boost with more and more people coming forward to buy and use fitness devices. Treadmills are one of the most sold fitness devices across the world today. It is estimated that the global market size of the treadmill is worth more than 3000 million US dollars in the year 2020 alone. This rise in sales of treadmills in recent years has also caused newer developments in their design and technology of them. There are a lot many models of treadmills available in the market and customers often get overwhelmed with these countless options. The following buying guide summarizes the major models of treadmills available in the market and the things to be considered while choosing any of them. It would be an ideal guide to help through the purchase of a treadmill by anyone.
Treadmill
Treadmills are one of the most sought exercise machines presently available in the market. it is a walking machine that has options to control speed, time, etc. It is made up of components like the frame, running deck, running belt, rollers, power panel, etc. It comes in numerous models and sizes which can even be customized. The basic two types of treadmills are manual and motorized. It is solely based on the source of power with which the machine is being operated. There are further classifications to the section into models like foldable treadmill, incline treadmill, under desk treadmill, portable treadmill, etc.
Treadmills are associated with numerous benefits and the primary one among them is the convenience to be used indoors. Treadmills are mostly purchased for homes and as they do not have any complicated operating procedures, it is extremely easy and convenient for anyone and everyone to use this machine. A large number of options is another advantage of this machine. There is a treadmill for anyone and on any budget. The features may change accordingly, but the price range of treadmills is extremely inclusive. Numerous health benefits are also present along with treadmills like weight loss, maintenance of fitness, athletic training, etc.
When buying any treadmill, the buyer needs to be considerate of several features to make the best deal out of the purchase. The first one is the size of the machine. It is required by the buyer to identify and calculate the space in which the treadmill is being bought and to check whether the model that is being considered for purchase would fit in the space smoothly. Also, the type of treadmill should be checked and chosen before proceeding with the purchase. Power of the motor, ability of the running deck to cushion the legs, control features, stability of the machine, the noise level during operation, etc. should all be considered for a better purchase. Check out our treadmill reviews.
Foldable treadmill
Foldable treadmills are considered one of the most space-saving options available in the treadmill category. As the name indicates, they are capable to fold their body so that they can be included in a tight space. It is the running deck of the foldable treadmill that folds up and then is kept in place with a lock on the removal of which, the machine would get back to its normal size and position. It is also equipped with wheels on the bottom so that it can be easily moved out of the way once folded. It is created for people who cannot offer a dedicated space for an exercise machine and they can unfold this treadmill in any common space and can efficiently fold and push it away to store somewhere else after the use.
The major benefit of owning a foldable treadmill is the fact that it takes up much less space than any other treadmill as it is designed to be a bit more compact. It is extremely easy to store as it is both foldable and wheeled. Also, the cleaning of the machine and the space that it occupies is easier than many other instances as the user gets access to all the nooks and corners once it is folded. It is also quite easy to relocate or transport these treadmills from one place to the other.
Buying a foldable treadmill will not be a daunting task if paid attention to several features. The most important feature is the space that the treadmill may occupy, not just while in use, but also during storage. It is generally seen that when folded for storage, the vertical height of the treadmill increases by several inches and this should all be considered before buying any one model. Compatibility with the ceiling height is thus an important factor. Another one is stability. The foldable treadmill can have compromised stability for the sake of easiness to handle. So, it should be closely monitored. Other factors that should also be considered are easiness to fold, easiness to move, weight capacity, etc. Read our foldable treadmill reviews.
Manual treadmill
Manual treadmills or non-motorized treadmills are a popular subcategory of treadmills. They do not use any motor or other mechanical components to move the running deck and running belt of the machine. Instead, the running belt is moved by the sole effort of the user. the user pushes it backward so that the running belt would start moving and the user will have to keep walking or running as long as the machine needs to be operated. It takes more effort to move on a manual treadmill than on a motorized treadmill. It is estimated that while operating at the same speed, a manual treadmill will use up 30% more energy from the user than a motorized treadmill. There are further subcategories to manual treadmills like curved belt manual treadmill, flat belt manual treadmill, etc.
The major advantage of a manual treadmill is that it can provide a high-intensity workout for the user when compared to many other models. It is ideal to be used for athletic training as it is completely muscle-powered and a constant workout on this machine could tone the lower body, especially the legs of the user. An electric outlet is not required for a manual treadmill, which benefits the user in a financial aspect also. Being a basic model, it falls in an affordable price range. It is also considered one of the safest workout options as any accidents on the machine would instantly stop the machine as it is solely operated by the person who is using it at a time.
When buying a manual treadmill, the user should consider factors like the easiness to use, strength, durability, stability, inclination features, etc. As manual treadmills require great force from the user to move the running deck around, make sure the quality of the machine is great and the running deck can withstand heavy force and pressure. Check out manual treadmill reviews.
Under desk treadmill
Under desk treadmill or treadmill desk is a recent addition to the treadmill category. It is used mostly in office spaces where people with desk jobs use them during their office hours. They are comparatively smaller-sized treadmills that do not have a front rail or front power panel. Instead, they have a tabletop on which the user can place the required office supplies. This treadmill can be used to carry out gentle walks during office hours. But it cannot be used while typing or writing on the tabletop as that may cause the machine to lose its stability. This is designed with the sole purpose of helping persons at desk jobs from having any health issues from continuous sitting. This machine provides the user an opportunity to exercise without having to compromise on the work.
An under-desk treadmill is proven to increase the productivity of the employees. It let the workers continue their job without feeling any kind of monotony. It let them stay active, especially during the afternoon hours when normally a dip in productivity is witnessed. It also helps the users to improve cardio health by engaging in a gentle and brisk walk. It is generally observed that machines like these make the office environment much lighter and more productive and also help decrease staff absence. It is also an ideal solution for the employees to vent out any kind of work pressure, frustrations, and tensions.
But while purchasing an under-desk treadmill, several factors should be considered as it is supposed to be used in a public space. The first one is the floor space at the office that can be allotted to the under-desk treadmill. Every employee might not be having a dedicated work cubicle or big desk. If the workspace of the buyer is a shared one and there is not much of a space to accommodate a regular-sized under-desk treadmill, the buyer should consider other options available in the same category. Noise level is another important feature to be considered. As it is being used in a public place around other people, the noise level of the machine should be low and controllable so that it won’t be a disturbance for the others around when the user is operating the machine. Read more about under desk treadmill reviews.
Incline treadmill
Incline treadmills are very popular among a diverse group of customers for the effectiveness in the workout that they bring forth. An incline feature is what looks similar to an uphill climb and requires more power and effort from the user to carry out. It challenges the muscle, breath capacity, etc. of the user and is ideal for endurance development. The incline treadmills contain preset workout programs that include inclining and declining. With just the flip of a switch, the front half of an incline treadmill is lifted mimicking an uphill track. There are manual incline treadmills also, which require the user to manually adjust the incline feature accordingly. There are treadmills available that are capable of inclining for about 30%.
Using an incline treadmill comes with numerous benefits, especially regarding health. It is ideal for cardio workouts as it immediately increases the heart rate of the user. It is also considered the best option for athletes and other sports enthusiasts as it properly reproduces an outdoor experience that is helpful for the athletes in practice. It also increases the maximum burning of calories unlike many of its counterparts. It is undoubtedly one of the best options to shed weight and increase physical capacity.
The incline capacity of the treadmill should be closely monitored to make the best out of the product. Likewise, make sure that the running deck offers the best cushioning effect as it is important to avoid leg cramps and injuries from overstraining. Check out our incline treadmill reviews.
Portable treadmill
Portable treadmills are made for people who are constantly on the move and are following a hectic schedule making it difficult to frequent a gym for health and fitness. They are also used by many who have limitations regarding the space to work out. They have very basic features and expects to be extremely lightweight for the user to handle easily.
The biggest and most popular advantage of a portable treadmill is its portability. They are designed to be extremely slim and sleek to make them ideal to fit in a car or tight storage space. Several models of portable treadmills also come with retractable wheels for better portability.
The footprint of the treadmill, portability, quality, weight capacity, etc. should be closely monitored when buying a portable treadmill.
Conclusion
Treadmills are being sold across the world at a never-before pace and the manufacturers of treadmills have taken up the challenge to produce the best possible machines and are producing unique and efficient machines of various models. The present market of treadmills has solutions for all kinds of fitness problems with a wide array of products like portable treadmills, manual treadmills, under-desk treadmills, etc. They all offer the best features to the customers but differ in several aspects too. Despite the differences and similarities, it is the liking and requirement of the buyer that influences any purchase and thus, none of these products can be termed the best one, rather all of them represent the cream of the best category.
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