How To Shop For A Treadmill
However you have come to decision to buy a treadmill, it is critical you have a very good idea of exactly what you need in a treadmill. Too many people walk into a fitness store and let the salespeople talk them into buying more than they need, and of no fault to the salespeople, the buyer just has no idea how much they wanted to spend. There are four steps to consider that will determine what type of treadmill you need.
The first, and probably the most influential for many people, is the budget. How much you have available to spend will determine the range of features available to you. If you only have one thousand budgeted, then you will end up with a budget treadmill or none at all. Simple economics will tell you that the cool features you wish to have aren't free and the sooner you come to terms with what you can afford, the better your eventual buying decision.
An important factor that will affect what treadmill you should take home is the level of use the treadmill must endure. There is a huge difference in walking or light jogging in comparison to sprinting or marathon training. Treadmills are designed for heavy or light users, both in terms of use, and the individual's weight.
Some people are already familiar with using a treadmill and know what features to expect. To these people, particular features are requirements not options. Almost every treadmill comes with some level of training programs built into it and contain different types of workouts. If you already did your homework and know what features are available in particular brands and models, you are less likely to get sold on something that no one in the history of treadmill runners ever use.
Once you hit the shop, it is important to keep in mind that you don't have to buy right away. Many people will find it helpful to walk away and talk to a second salesperson at another time if they are feeling pressured or uncomfortable with the prior visit. That is a good thing to practice with anything big purchase. It is never a good idea to buy under pressure.
Besides the intensity of use we also have to figure out the consistency of use. Is it going to be used for an hour daily? Two hours twice a week? Don't be surprised if you buy an entry level model, sprint for an hour a day, and the treadmill dies on you in less than six months.
That brings us to the final point. Because it is something that should be a requirement, we didn't include warranty into the list of considerations. Most budget treadmills come with 90 day warranties that tend to be insufficient. Get parts and labor covered if you have to spend some money on an extended plan. It usually is worth it as long as you're saving some money on a well thought out buy.