The purchase of a home treadmill is a large investment for most people but the cost of this great piece of fitness equipment must be weighed against the cost of a gym membership. Gyms and health club subscriptions can run into thousands of pounds and yet you can buy a top name treadmill for about £700.

 

Gym fees have to be renewed every year and usually rise every year, your treadmill is your treadmill and after the initial outlay it is available year after year. Consider also which is more likely, getting ready and going out often in the rainy dark, driving to a gym, exercising and then returning home perhaps three or four times a week or stepping into the garage, training for an hour and stepping back inside the house.

 

We all have busy lives with constant demands on our time so having a home treadmill can alleviate some of that time pressure and also you will get more value for your money if you use it regularly, value that is lost on a gym subscription as you make excuse after excuse not to go.

 

A home treadmill can offer the same benefits as a commercial treadmill without the hassle of travelling to a club. You can exercise in privacy without the gym monster giving you funny looks as he waits to use the machine you are on. We all know one, there's one at every club.

 

Home treadmills range from a hundred pounds up to above several thousand. You get what you pay for and the more expensive models generally have more sophisticated features. It is worth spending a little extra to get the best machine you can afford.

 

What to look for in a home treadmill:

 

First question: Manual or motorised, a manual treadmill is powered by the walker or runner, these models are cheaper but lack even basic features so you should aim for a motorised treadmill. A motorised treadmill allows you to adjust the speed and usually the incline to get more out of your training. Look for a treadmill with a power rating of at least 2Hp. A larger motor usually runs smoother and quieter than a small one.

 

The size of the running deck is a vital consideration. You must think about what you wish to do upon it, if you plan to do mostly walking then a smaller deck is fine but if you are going to use it for running you will need a longer deck, say, around 150cm. This will allow you to get longer strides without the fear of falling off or crashing into the front.

 

When looking at a home treadmill check it's maximum weight capacity, some of the smaller machines are limited in the size of person they can handle.

 

A motorised treadmill will come with a control console, often with pre programmed exercise routines and most have heart rate monitors. Look for machines with large control pads so you can operate them without slowing your pace.

 

Finally make sure you have a space for the treadmill, ideally somewhere you can train without upsetting the household and where you can leave the machine ready to use, don't give yourself excuses to not train. Folding treadmills are available and if you are a bit "space poor" then perhaps these would be an option for you.

 

If you want to improve your fitness or lose the flab then a home treadmill is an excellent tool for you.