12 Jan Five tips to pick the best treadmill to meet your needs

3G Cardio discusses how to pick the best treadmill

The most popular home exercise machine is the treadmill. It offers incredible versatility and can benefit people of nearly all fitness levels.

Not surprisingly, there are also countless options available when it comes time to pick the best treadmill. There are lots of companies trying to earn their share of the market by manufacturing treadmills.

Here are five tips to sort through the vast array of choices and find the best treadmill for your needs:

1. Choosing a Price

Treadmills can be purchased for as little as $500 or go up to $5,000, $10,000 or more. My best recommendation is to visit a reputable specialty fitness equipment store and talk to a sales associate about the options. Then, start stepping onto treadmills and trying them out (more on that below).

No matter how much or little you plan to exercise on the treadmill, there’s probably a good one you can purchase for a price point to meet your budget. Investing in a more-expensive machine will allow you to get a treadmill with sturdier construction, a better warranty, and a larger running surface, but there are still some pretty good deals to be found without paying top dollar.

2. Identify your goals

Before you even start thinking about what kind of treadmill you want, decide what you’ll be using it for. Do you want to run a lot? Mainly walk? How many people will be using it? Are you a hard-core athlete, or an older person looking to rehab on it?
Once you’ve answered those questions, you’ll have a lot better idea where to start your search.

3. Pick a Size

Measure the room where you plan to set up the treadmill and make sure you get one that will fit that space. If you are extremely tight on space there are some excellent fold flat treadmills and fold up treadmills that can easily be rolled away for storage when not in use.

If the room has a low ceiling, make sure you account for the height of the treadmill AND ceiling. Once in a while, we hear of people who had to return a treadmill because once they get on it and start running their head is too close to the ceiling.

4. Try before you buy

Bring a pair of running shoes to a specialty fitness equipment store and walk and-or run on on treadmills that you’re considering purchasing.

If you’re a runner, you’ll need extra room so check to see if the deck length accommodates your stride. Pick the best treadmill that appeals to you ergonomically and aesthetically and has good shock absorption. Also check out the electronics. Docks for iPods, USB ports, and wireless Internet connectivity are pluses. Remember, you can save money by hooking up your own device instead of paying thousands extra for a fancy built-in console.

5. Inquire about warranty and setup

Make sure you compare warranties and ask about delivery and installation.

3G Cardio is proud to be one of the highest rated manufacturers of treadmills in the world, with models suited for everyone from novices to marathon runners and fold-up treadmills to health club quality models.