How Much Should You Spend on a Treadmill

This time of year treadmill sales soar for primarily two reasons: 1) People commit to a New Years resolution to get back into shape. 2) Fanatic runners are faced with sucky winter weather and have to move their workouts outdoors. But buying a treadmill can be complex and confusing. Like cars, there are countless models, and the question is, do you buy the equivalent of a Yugo or a Mercedes. There are several important factors to consider when you compare treadmills: - Match your budget with your fitness level - Your weight and height - Desired treadmill features What Should You Budget Like most items you purchase, the model you prefer will probably cost more than you imagined. If you go to a mass retailer like Walmart or Costco you will notice a number of treadmills in the $200-$500. Some are not even motorized. These are what I consider throw away treadmills. The come with a short-lived 90 day warranty. That's because most of them will not function more than 90 days. If you want a treadmill that will last for the duration, and provide you with a challenging workout, this is my recommendations. For walking you want to spend a minimum of approximately $1,000. This will buy you a solid and stable model that will come with a one year service warranty, a minimum 2 years parts and 10 year motor warranty. If you are a jogger or runner then I recommend you start at the $1,500 range. A model at this price will include a 20" wide belt, a minimum 2.5 continuous duty horsepower motor and is overall built with quality components. For serious runners start at the $2,000 range. You will get a treadmill that has a longer deck for sprinting and interval training. The motor is powerful enough to handle continual use at a high level. The deck and the belt are designed for constant pounding. Models over $2,000 generally have a generous warranty. Your Weight and Height Both the weight and height of a treadmill user should determine the model you are considering. For example, heavier users will require a more powerful motor and a reasonably thick deck. I worked for a company that compromised on the thickness of the decks on their low-end models and guess what? Some cracked. The deck should be a minimum of