Buying Guide for Best Treadmills

Only having a list of the best treadmills for home use will not be enough. You must know what you require and which model will fit into your requirements. So, if you are looking for the best home treadmill, then this buyer’s guide will help you to choose the best home treadmill.

What should you check for in your ideal home treadmill?

Figure out the purpose

Before you even start searching for the best treadmill brands, think for a while and figure out the purpose of buying a treadmill. If you are buying a treadmill, it can be because of the following purposes

• Just for maintaining your fitness in general by walking and slow jogging
• For improving your stamina by jogging and running
• For advanced workout sessions

Knowing your fitness goal will help you to figure out the purpose properly. There are different models available in the market as per the intensity of the workout.

• Just for staying fit, a cheaper model with fewer functions, will be a good choice.
• If running and improving stamina, a model which allows more bodyweight will be the right choice.
• For advanced levels of fitness activities, a treadmill which offers a lot of features will be an ideal choice.

Brand

Knowing your treadmill brand is another key feature of your treadmill buying guide. You have to understand that the most popular treadmill model may not meet all your fitness goals. So, do not go by words of mouth or referrals from relatives and acquaintances.

Try to do research by yourself to match the features of a particular treadmill brand model with your fitness objectives. Invest your money only when you are convinced which brand will be the right choice for you.

Manual or Motorized Treadmill

All the popular treadmill brands in the market have two varieties:

• Motorized or Automatic
• Non-Motorized or Manual

If you have sufficient budget for a treadmill, then a motorized treadmill model will be a better choice as it offers a lot more functionalities than a manual model.

On the other hand, a manual treadmill model will be an ideal choice for a low budget purchase.

But if you are still confused, which model is better than here is a brief about the Pros and Cons of automatic and manual treadmill models. Read it to know for yourself which one is better for you.

Motorized Treadmills

The automatic treadmills are prefered over manual treadmills for running and walking. It comes with a load of features and functions.

Pros

• You can adjust the Speed and Inclination
• More Features and Functionalities
• Suitable for Run and Walk

Cons

• It will raise your electricity bill
• May be unsafe to use if not handled properly
• Price is higher

Manual Treadmills

A manual treadmill depends upon your strength and efforts to move the belt. The belt moves only when run or exert pressure.

Pros

• Electricity is not required
• It is always safe to use

Cons

• Stressful for the Joints
• Limited Features

Consider the space available:

No doubt, bringing in a home treadmill will occupy space in your home. Check thoroughly with the space available in your home. This will help you to choose the appropriate size of the treadmill. Also, check whether the treadmill is foldable or not. A foldable treadmill is much easier to store in a compact place.

Set the budget:

This is by far the most important point you must consider before buying a treadmill. Set your budget wisely. Don’t let the budget for your fitness make a big hole in your pocket. Make a note that your budget may vary depending upon the usage and number of users who will be using the treadmill.

Weight of the users:

This is an essential factor to consider before buying a treadmill. Every treadmill for home in India comes with a maximum weight capacity beyond which it can not perform its dedicated task. Hence, mindfully check the weight of the members who will be using the treadmill. If there are members with weight on the heavier side, choose a model which allows maximum weight capacity. Otherwise, the treadmill will not last long.

Extra programming features:

It is essential to understand what features are available and how they are going to help you once you get it. If you are looking in an offline store, ask the salesperson to explain the extra features and their benefits. For online shopping, you can compare the features of all the models.

Warranty Period

Every treadmill brand provides a free warranty period. Warranty is a way of assessing the quality and longevity of the treadmill.

Most treadmills for home use come with a default warranty period of 10 years for the motor and a lifetime warranty for the frame. However, some low budget treadmills have only a 5-years warranty on the motor.

So, check out the warranty period and what is covered under the warranty. Read all the terms and conditions carefully. Ask the salesman all your queries regarding the warranty and how can you avail it.

After-Sale Services and Charges: Delivery and Set-Up

• Delivery Charges – Most of the online stores may charge you a delivery cost. Depending upon your postal code, the delivery charge may go up as well. Check the same before placing your treadmill order.
• Set-Up – You can easily install some models of the home treadmill by following the user manual, whereas some require technical help that is chargeable.

Read the details on the treadmill buyer’s guide about the Delivery and Set-Up charges. Whether technical assistance is needed for setting up the treadmill or not. If required, check whether it is chargeable or free of cost. This is essential to save a few hundred rupees.

Do not ignore this checklist before buying a home treadmill

• Belt size – A wider belt means a better and convenient running track. Check the dimension of the belt before selecting any model. The belt must be 48″ long and 16″ wide.

• Speed – The speed matters whether you are planning to simply walk, or jog or run. If you are planning to run then a treadmill that can go up to the speed of 10 km/hr. To achieve such speed, the motor of the treadmill has to be powerful enough. Hence, check the motor rating before you finalize your in-home treadmill. However, for normal walking and jogging, any other model will be enough.

• Inclination – An inclined treadmill is best to hold on and maintain stability while exercising. Hence, get a treadmill that can incline up to 20%.

• Cushioning – The running bed greatly impacts your exercising on a treadmill. If the running track is bouncy and shockproof, then it will help to conserve energy while you workout.

• Stability – Stability is essential to maintain balance while you run or walk on the treadmill. The frame should not move or shake. Otherwise, chances are there that you might suffer a knee injury, lower back pain or cervical problems.

• Control panel – Most of the modern treadmill models come with LED display and preset programmings. Ensure to have a treadmill with an easy-to-use control panel well in your reach while you sweat on it.

• Emergency stop button – If you are planning to buy a motorised treadmill, then having an emergency stop button is necessary. The emergency stop button might save from any unforeseen event.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Which treadmill is good for home use in India?
A. The best home treadmill as per our reviews is the Sparnod Fitness STH-1200 (3 HP Peak) Automatic Treadmill. This model comes with a powerful motor, perfect design, advanced safety features and display console with various pre-set workout settings to keep you fit and in good shape. The best thing is not among the costliest models.

Q. Which brand treadmill is best for home?
A. Monetarily, Fitkit FT98 carbon is best for home. But if you want an overall performance, then go for Sparnod Fitness STH-1200.

Q. Is it OK to run on a treadmill every day?
A. Yes, it is absolutely safe to run on a treadmill. The modern treadmills focus greatly on the safety of the users.

Q. What factors shall I consider before buying a home treadmill?
A. There are numerous that you must take into account before finalizing the treadmill model. Firstly, your objectives of using the treadmill, the available space in your home, and of course, the budget. The technical features you must consider before buying a treadmill include the workout programs, inclination setting, speed setting, the track width, and folding option.

Q. Which is the best folding treadmill for home use?
A. As per our analysis of all the models, Sparnod Fitness STH-1200 is the best folding treadmill for home use.

Q. Can treadmill reduce weight?
A. Exercising on a treadmill is highly useful for burning calories and losing weight. However, you can combine treadmill exercise and strength training for the best results on weight loss.

Q. Can treadmill reduce belly fat?
A. Yes! Exercising on a treadmill burns calories and belly fat. If ever you put on some weight, running on a treadmill will not allow the deep belly fat to return.

Q. What is the alternative to the treadmill for reducing belly fat?
A. You can use Elliptical Machine.