Discount Treadmill - General Tips On Buying
There is a difference between a discount and budget Treadmill.
Discount Treadmill
Discount Treadmill - a discount treadmill is simply any treadmill that has had it's price marked down by the manufacturer. They're everywhere! You can save a lot if you shop online. You'll see two prices usually, the "manufacturers suggested list price" and the "discounted " price.
Discounted treadmills are available in just about all price categories and don't imply only "cheap" treadmills - you may pay thousands of dollars for a discounted treadmill.
For example the Sole F85 Treadmill has a manufacturer list price $2,499.00 but sells online for $1,999.99 ( Shipping Included ).
Or the Nordic Track C2155 Treadmill, a decent light duty treadmill, has a list price of $1,199.00 but is advertised all over the internet for discounted price of $599.00. Quite a bargain.
Why are these treadmills discounted?
It has everything to do with supply and demand, warehouse inventory, manufacturer cash flow targets, discontinued model clearance etc... NOT the quality of the treadmill. So take advantage of high percentage mark downs - many are very hot deals and you'll save a ton of cash if you search. Top
Budget Treadmill
Budget Treadmill - A budget treadmill can be purchased for about $200 to $1000 a should be mainly used for walking - possibly light jogging. Typically these are constructed with light duty bolt on frames and low powered motors. Most come with a 90-day warranty on frame and motor.
Fine for walkers but if you plan on training hard you'll need to spend more.
Budget or Discount Treadmill?
"Keep in mind...you can find a midrange treadmill at a budget price if you simply shop just as easy you can find a quality treadmill at a midrange price"
Stick with the major players though, these companies are established, back their product and honor warranties:NordicTrack, Sole or ProForm for midrange treadmills, Weslo or Image for budget buyers, Landice for higher-end quality machines.
Commiting to a home based exercise program that includes a treadmill is a smart choice for many reasons. Visit: Treadmill workout benfits
If you want reviews of treadmills between $600 - $1200 . Visit: Treadmill Review Top
Discount Treadmill - How to Choose
You can find a discount treadmill in any one of the 3 categories below but you MUST FIRST...
ASSESS YOUR WORKOUT LEVEL!
Generally, treadmills come in 3 types:Budget, Midrange, and Quality. Types relate directly to workout intensity and treadmill capability.
Budget Treadmill
Budget Treadmill - These treadmills are meant for light duty use, basically walking or speed walking. They're built with light bolted frames, and low horsepower motors. Usually the warranty is no more than 90 days. Expect to pay between $200 up to $1000. The higher priced "budget treadmills" usually cost more because of added features like cardio monitors, workout programs, ipod docking stations etc....not because the construction or power rating is any better. Top
Midrange Treadmill
Midrange Treadmill - expect to pay between $1,000 to $2,000 for a good medium grade treadmill. These are able to accomodate jogging at the lower price range and more serious running at the upper price range. Power and frames are much better quality in the midrange category usually having 1.75-2 hp - continuous duty motors and rugged steel bolted or one-peice frames. Lifetime warranty is common on frame and motor. To see some good deals on mid range treadmills, visit popular midrange treadmills Top
Quality Treadmill
Quality Treadmill - These treadmills can accommodate the serious competitive runner or athletes who require lengthy time training on a treadmill. Expect to pay over $2000 to $ 3500. Expect top of the line motor, frame warranty as well as internal features ie..cardio and calorie monitoring, interactive workout programs, cooling fans etc...
For example the Sole F85 Treadmill has a manufacturer list price $2,499.00 however is selling online for $1,999.99 ( Shipping Included ). A perfect example of a "discount treadmill". The Sole F85, by the way is a high powered machine with a whopping 3.5hp continuous duty motor and one piece solid frame. Top
3 Major Considerations When Choosing Any Treadmill
Spending hard earned cash ona treadmill is a big decision for the majority of us. Choosing the WRONG treadmill because you didn't know what the most important features are when choosing can make you feel...well...like a dum dum. More importantly your workout goals could suffer big time by buying the wrong machine!
Always consider the treadmill MOTOR, FRAME and WARRANTY first!
All the fancy gadgets are purely secondary...
For example, workout software is great if used on a normal computer, but don't get too caught up in the software that comes with your treadmill, all you need is the basics.
Skimp on the basics and you may end up the highest price clothes hanger you ever purchased...with an ipod docking station maybe... Top
Construction Over Gadgets
Don't get caught up in gadgets - If you are on tight budget think solid constrution rather than gadgets when purchasing any discount treadmill. Don't worry about heart monitors, programmable interfaces...they're neat but you may not really use them. You should not skimp on build quality. Expect to pay around $600-$1200 for a good quality treadmill. If you spend less than this on a discount treadmill you are prone poor quality, weak motors and general lack of durability.
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Treadmill Construction - What To Look For...
Solid Steel Frame is The Key - Even on discount treadmills, it is critical to buy one with a sturdy frame, for obvious reasons - it will take a pounding! ( you will be working out...eh?). Make sure the frame is "Steel Welded" rather than bolted. Also look for rust resistant coating - and avoid any discount treadmill that DOES NOT have a decent guarantee on the frame - at least 30 years is standard .
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Treadmill Motor - How Much Power Is Enough?
Motor speed and horse power - When choosing a discount treadmill needs power. Look for at least a "continuous duty" horsepower rating of 1.75-2 HP. Continuous duty refers to the treadmill performing with a load (a person running) on it wheras "peak duty" measures the motor performance with no load. Make sure you inquire about this as it can mean the difference between solid, quiet quality or poor, noisy performance. The more powerful the motor the quiter and cooler the performance
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Commercial or Home Treadmill - Which is Better?
Buying a Commercial Machine Is Overkill - You don't need to spend the extra $1000 or so to buy a commercial grade treadmill. These are built to take a pounding 12-24 hours a day everyday - so unless you plan on a working out that much a good discount treadmill should suit your needs.
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Also, the home based treadmills are usually much quieter because they use DC motor rather than AC motors used in commercial tredmills.Stick with the home based treadmills, you'll save a ton on of cash.
How Long Should a Discount Treadmill Last?
Expect a good home discount treaddmill to last 7-12 years. This is based on normal weekly usage of about 1 hour a day 5 days a week.
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Other Basic Treadmill Features and Components
Incline Feature
Fairly standard feature on all types of treadmills - Increases resistance by simulating running uphill. Look for an incline of 10% to 15%. Top
Max User Weight
Very important. Most discount models over between $400 - $600 should be able to support 275lbs. Weight limits usually go up to around 300 lbs on the more expensive heavy duty steel frame treadmills. Top
Safety Features
Handlebar are a smart choice for obvious reason ( balance, stability etc..). How about a kill switch - usually a plastic key that stops the motor when pulled out. Believe me if lose your balance or get going too fast this can be a life saver! Top
Treadmill Flywheel
The treadmill flywheel will regulate the speed of the treadmill belt. The cheaper the treadmill flywheel the jerkier the action of the deck. Good flywheels are pretty much standard on treadmills over $1000. Top
Treadmill Rollers
The rollers exist to support the belt. Good quality treadmill rollers will reduce stress and wear and tear on the motor and the running deck. As expected the cheap treadmills will have lighter weaker rollers while the models usually over $900 will come with heavier duty wheels. Top
Treadmill Deck
This is, as you may have guessed - the surface you run on. Good support is critical so knowing the weight capacity of the treadmill is very important. Also look for some kind of shock reduction - they very a lot with each manufacturer. For example, Nordic offers DuraSoft™ III - which reduces stress on joints by 26% to 33% compared to outside running. Over time this is critical to protecting your knees, hips and ankles...
Dealers Slashing Prices
It's pretty easy to find great deals on treadmills this season. For example companies like Nordic Track and Epic. It's not uncommon to find a $1300 treadmill discounted to under $800...just remember that quality is more than fancy programs, displays and coolng fans! Top