Buying a Treadmill
Friday, February 25, 2011 at 11:34PM 
A long, cold winter is culprit in my need to purchase a treadmill. Sure, I could just go to the gym a couple of short minutes away, but with four young children and a busy spouse I have been finding more excuses not to run than I care to admit. Having a treadmill at home would allow me to keep and ear and eye out for the kids while getting my training done. It would also provide a greater opportunity for video gait analysis while doing future minimalist running shoe reviews. So, where to start?
There is a daunting amount of information on the world wide web regarding treadmills, a plethora of makes and models, gimmicks and features, something for all shapes, sizes, and fitness levels. I needed to answer a few basic questions before continuing my search. What would be my intended use? What size of treadmill would I need? How much space to I have for a treadmill (folding or not)? What kind of features would I need?
I am 5'10. I weigh 175 lbs. I currently run 25 miles per week, ever increasing the distance within my training regime. From what I could gather I would need at least a 3.0 continuous horsepower motor, a 56-60" belt, and commercial grade components to withstand the rigors of distance training. Many folding models boast decent enough quality, but I chose to stick with the stability of a non-folding machine as I had enough space in a newly developed basement. Features such as fans or entertainment hubs seemed almost gimmicky to me, and quality trumped amusement for every model I looked at. Sure, it would have to double as a jump for my boys' hotwheel cars being that it would be set up next to the toy closet, but that would then make it 'fun' for the whole family. I needed to arm myself with as many rationales as possible, especially with the growing cost of a treadmill with my desired specifications.
The internet is riddled with reviews, some good, some motivated by affiliate sales. I leaned heavily on Consumer Reports, a seemingly unbiased source for reviews and comparisons on consumer products:
Consumer Reports does not print outside advertising, accept free product samples, or permit the commercial use of its reviews for selling products. Its publisher states that this policy allows the magazine to "maintain our independence and impartiality... [so that] CU has no agenda other than the interests of consumers."
Consumer Reports states that all tested products are purchased at retail prices by its staff, that no free samples are accepted from manufacturers, and that this avoids the possibility of bias from bribery or from being given "better than average" samples.
I have used Consumer Reports for many purchases, and they have yet to steer my wrong.
Through research, my shopping list narrowed to two treadmill companies, True Fitness and Life Fitness, tried and true builders of commercial and high quality residential fitness equipment. The problem remained that their machines were both more than double what I had budgeted for the purchase. In the world of treadmills, you do get what you pay for, and I wanted a little more than I could afford. What to do? Well, I went shopping for used.
How many high quality treadmills are available on the used market? Not many. In fact, I never came across one True or Life Fitness machine in a month of searching, lots of junk. Then I stumbled upon 'the find.' I came across an add for a Life Fitness T3 Advanced treadmill for less than half it's retail price. Was I seeing that right? And was it only a couple hours drive from my home? Too good to be true, but there was no harm in checking into it.
The owner had been promoted to a job in a new city but had to downsize to a small apartment with no room for a bulky treadmill. She showed me the original receipt for the purchase three years earlier, but I couldn't help but notice the machine looked almost brand new. There was still protective plastic on the lettering and console, and further investigation proved the machine had only been used 56 hours. Golden. I shook on the deal, fumbled the heavy machine into the minivan, and headed for my treadmill's new home.
Although the process was long and at times painful, sifting through endless piles of information, I was ecstatic to have found such a great deal. When buying a treadmill, be aware of your needs. Some may be looking for a machine for walking or light jogging. A 2-2.5 chp motor could do the trick. Some may want to be entertained as they exercise. There are treadmills with endless programming, mp3 inputs, and even built-in tv screens. Some may need a machine that can withstand a heavier user weight or more intense usage. These machines can cost an exorbitant amount, but if that's what you need, don't waste your time and money with something that won't suit your needs. You may end up paying even more for that mistake in the long run. Had I not been aware what to look for, I may have stumbled into an expensive mistake myself.
If buying a treadmill stresses you out, just think of all the de-stressing you will soon be doing on the quality machine that works for you. Even Cher got it, "Nothing lifts me out of a bad mood better than a hard workout on my treadmill. It never fails. To us, exercise is nothing short of a miracle." Now off to look for a miracle on my new treadmill.
Reader Comments (3)
Treadmills are definitely de-stressers. If you'd like to read non-biased reviews on over 25 popular brands, CRN Treadmill Reviews is a valuable resource.
I would love to buy a treadmill however there is just no space in our house for it. Do you know of a treadmill that is compact?
Carol, we were lucky enough to have space for a standard sized treadmill; however, we did take a serious look at folding models. Folding treadmills got a bad name in the not-to-distant past as a result of trading quality for compactness. Now, however, there are many options for high-quality machines that fold up easily to eliminate the need to take up a large footprint permanently. Both of brands we considered our 'top 2,' in relation to features, quality and durability (Life Fitness and True Fitness), have folding models that are rated well by other reviewers. Good luck with your search.