How to Pick Your Electric Treadmill

Suppose you’ve just been to your doctor. He’s told you that you’re slightly overweight and your cholesterol numbers are up. You need to get some exercise, he says. But you live in the suburbs, with no gym nearby. You have a busy schedule, which only allows you to run at night, and it might not be safe, particularly in these hard economic times. What to do? The answer is obvious: buy an electric treadmill. But you want to get the best value for your money. What are the things you should consider before deciding which model to buy?

First, you have to determine your budget. How much can you afford to invest in an electric treadmill? Once you have a figure, you need to do some comparison shopping to get the best value for your particular price range. If you can only afford a treadmill in the budget range, then you’re in luck since treadmill manufacturers in China now produce the most affordable treadmills. Unfortunately, Chinese-made products also have a reputation for being low-quality so you should exercise caution when buying treadmills made in that country.

You also need to decide if you want to get a foldable treadmill as against a stationary treadmill. In the past, getting a folding treadmill meant sacrificing the stability of your machine. But getting a folding machine may be a must for you since you live in a small apartment. Fortunately, many folding treadmills have since improved their designs, which make them comparable to their stationary counterparts. But getting a good one may mean having to spend a little more than you had planned. You should also get a model that has at least a one year warranty on service, two years for parts and five years for the motor. You should also consider how hard the treadmill is to fold and how difficult it is to move.

As with all treadmills, you should try the folding model out by running and jumping up and down on it to see how well it absorbs the impact. You should also consider if the machine can bear the impact of your weight.
There are also the features of the electric treadmill to consider. Can you program different workouts into the machine, to vary its incline and speed? Can you adjust these from the treadmill’s console? If you plan to watch television while working out, then you should consider how noisy the treadmill is. Or if you’re a bookworm, does the machine have a book rack?

You also need to decide if an exercise bike is more suitable for you than a treadmill. Many people consider exercising on an electric stationary bike more fun than on a treadmill; thus, they are more likely to stick with their exercise routines. Many exercise bikes can be programmed to replicate different courses that require you to change pace, or seem to pedal uphill, within one workout, making routines more interesting.

Whether you choose to get a treadmill or an exercise bike, the important thing to bear in mind is to check with your doctor before engaging in any exercise program, do the exercises properly and to stick with your chosen workout, in order to maximize your health benefits.

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Electric Treadmill Reviews