Choosing the best home treadmill can be tough because there are so many choices out there - and the market is getting more and more crowded each year.
Unfortunately too many people get caught up in all the 'Goodies' a treadmill offers them that they miss the fact that the treadmill doesn't have the basic essentials of a quality unit.
By knowing the 3 basic essentials of a quality treadmill, you'll be able to quickly sift through the treadmill deals and choose the best home treadmill for your needs.
3 Essentials to a Quality Home Treadmill:
#1 - High powered, well built motor
Since the motor is the most expensive part of the treadmill to fix, a good motor is essential to your treadmill. Try to find at least a motor power of 2.0 HP, preferably higher.
Remember that a 1.5 HP motor has to work twice as hard as a 3.0 HP motor - so it will burn out long before the 3.0 HP motor.
Also, not all motors are built with the same quality parts. Look for a good brand name and a long motor warranty to give you clues as to the quality of the motor.
#2 - Excellent Cushioning
A quality cushioning system is essential in a home treadmill. A good cushioning system protects your joints, ligaments and back. A bad cushioning system can result in injuries, doctor's visits and a lot of physical pain.
I know of one woman who bought a cheaper brand of department store treadmill and then ran on it 3 times a week for 6 months. Within 6 months, she had damaged her hips so badly that it hurt her to even walk on the treadmill. She had to take several months off from exercising until her body healed (which kind of defeats the purpose of a treadmill).
Make sure your treadmill offers an excellent cushioning system - especially if you'll be running! (Our top picks below all have top rated cushioning sytems.)
#3 - Extensive Warranty
You want to protect your investment so a solid treadmill warranty is a must. A good treadmill warranty will cover the frame for at least 30 years, the motor for at least 5 years and other parts and labor for about 1 year. Anything above that and you've got an EXCELLENT warranty.
But a warranty isn't just to protect your investment - a good warranty lets you know about the quality of the treadmill parts.
Treadmill companies aren't expecting to have to fix the treadmill within that time frame. So if you've find a treadmill with a 10 year motor warranty, you KNOW it's a quality built motor. If the warranty is only 90 days however...that tells you something.
So those are 3 basic essentials of a top quality home treadmill. Knowing these, you can sift through the treadmills available and easily locate the best treadmill for your home.
If you're looking for treadmills that fulfill these criteria (and then some) check out our 3 best home treadmills.
