Excercise equipment question

[BadgerBeer]

My wife wants to buy a treadmill for our home. She will use it for walking but I will use it from time to time as well and I like to run. My question is, what should we know about treadmills before we buy? What price range will insure a quality piece of equipment. What brands are well thought of. Can a off name brand be solid? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[PeteyPirate]

Make sure you get one with handles high enough to hang clothes or plants on.

 

[BadgerBeer]

Make sure you get one with handles high enough to hang clothes or plants on.

Very good. I will show my wife this response. Maybe it will save me some money.

 

[PaseanaARG]

I'd def. make sure you don't want to do the gym thing. The difference between a $500 treadmill and a $5,000 treadmill is significant to your hips, shins, back and overall happiness. My gym just bought five high-dollar Cybex 'mills and they are loverly. Why not go that route?

I guess it all depends on why you wouldn't go to a gym.

 

[DocTalk]

Home treadmills vary alot in quality and the amount of money you spend depends upon what you want it to do. Walking 'mills can easily be had for under $1000, but if you're going to run (and I mean sub7 miles) then you need a good motor that won't cause the belt to shudder and solid cushioning. add opportunity for elevation and you probably need $2000+ for long lasting performance.

Also, depending on your height and stride length, the bed length and width may be an issue. Go to a store and try a few different models out. Check out consumerreports.org and runnersworld.com for their recommendations. Finally look for sales on last years models. Technology doesn't change that much.

 

[Editude]

I echo the need to buy gym-level equipment or risk having it become a hat rack for spider webs. It must be worth using, and keep using, or else you can spend the $50 a month at the health club. We reviewed a treadmill from Woodway recently that goes for 10k but would offer a lot more than a $600 model from Sears.

 

[pallister]

10K?

 

[Boom_70]

Here is link to Runners World story on treadmills:

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,ssssss6-240-322--9266-1-1X4X8X12X16-6,00.html

$2000 is the Mendoza line for quality.

As prices climb from $2000 what you are paying more for is bigger deck and more computer programing. The base models have about 7-10 programs that you can use and allow to run up to about 9mph.

True is a good brand to look at. Be sure to go to store and test them out. Don't waste your money on a Walmart special .

 

[leo1]

as boom says, go test it. i've read in countless articles (in men's health type magazines) that you should go to the store in your workout gear and actually do a workout like you'd do when you own it. i have never seen anyone doing this and who knows if the store would let you, but it makes sense to me.

 

[three_bags_full]

Save yourself some cash and space.

Hit the pavement -- or your local track.

 

[grrlhack]

Put your money into a gym membership for you and the wife -- and motivate each other to go. Otherwise, you won't put enough money into the home version and eventually, they all do become clothes holders!

 

[Point of Order]

This is the one I ride at the gym:

I had no idea it was $5,800.

http://www.globalfitness.com/detail_elliptical_training_machine.asp?id=343