American Fitness Professionals & Associates

By: Scott Gray  

Before investing your hard-earned cash in a treadmill, it is a good idea to learn as much as possible about these machines so that you will know enough to purchase exactly what you want at a reasonable price.   You can find information about treadmills at public libraries; you can search the Internet; you can conduct a survey among all your friends; you can trek from one store to another and talk to dozens of salespeople — or you can read treadmill reviews.   That’s right, treadmill reviews are produced by experts who have anticipated your questions and done the research for you.   How great is that?

Reviews Compare Treadmill Brands and Models

The big advantage of treadmill reviews is that they save you hours of time when you want to comparison shop.   If you are looking for a particular product line, a specific brand, or if you are making decisions about features that interest you and you don’t know which brands carry them, these publications will help you find all the information you need to make a decision.   It is especially useful that review publications carry data on used treadmills and discount treadmills because some of these models are no longer carried by retailers and it is not so easy to find someone reliable to critique them.

There are many different review publications on the Internet and it is a good idea to check several of them.   Three popular reviews are Consumer’s Reports, Runner’s World, and Treadmill Doctor, and there are many more.   When checking out a treadmill review, begin by noting when the web site was last updated so that you know if the information is current or not.   Be prepared for some of the writers to be quite blunt:   e.g., “Don’t waste your money on this one”; or “In this price range, you are better off with another brand.”   If a review is less than enthusiastic about the treadmill on which you have set your heart, check out other reviews.  
Maybe others will say some nice things about it; on the other hand, if there are a lot of negative comments, it is wise to take them seriously.

Reviews Supply Helpful Buying Tips

Along with information about various treadmills, many of the sites will give you helpful tips.   All these publications recognize that you are looking for information on treadmills because you want to improve your general health or your cardio fitness, or your strength and endurance, or you want to control or reduce your weight, and have chosen running or walking as your preferred exercise.   They assume that you have discarded the idea of joining a health club or a gym and having to wait your turn to use particular equipment or having people observe you while you are working out — you may be self-conscious about your body or your less-than-fashionable workout clothes.   They know that you have probably considered the merits of various clubs and decided that the hours or locations were not suitable and you are now shopping for personal exercise equipment for your home and they want to help you make the right decision:

• Do you have room in your home for a large exercise machine or should you buy a fold-away treadmill that can be stored in a closet or under the bed?

• Do you want a low-cost manual machine where the user supplies all the horsepower or do you want an electric machine on which you select your speed and other elements of your fitness program, and which displays electronic data on speed, incline, distance, and calories burned?

• Would you like one that includes a heart rate monitor; do you want trays and stands to hold reading material or a remote control or a cell phone; would you like a cradle to hold your water bottle and a place to hang your towel?

• Would you like variety of preset programs available or would you like to custom design one for yourself?   Would you prefer to alter the speed and incline as you work out or would you like one that adjusts itself to keep your heart rate within a particular zone?

• Does the used, factory refurbished, or discount machine that you are considering come with a warranty?   It won’t be as extensive as for a new treadmill, but is there a reasonable guarantee in place?

A Review will Compare and Analyze Features of Various Treadmills

You can check out what all the reviewers have to say about the brands and models that appeal to you.   Here is a sampling of some comments made about the popular treadmills Iron man, Precor, ProForm, and Spirit:

1. The Iron man treadmill reviews generally agree that these machines are nice looking with good features.   There are several models available (e.g., the Iron man Triad is sold exclusively by Costco and combines features of both the T and the M series), they come with good warrantees, and are produced by Keys Fitness Products.   The prices range from $ 1,000 to $ 2,000 (USA).  
The Treadmill Doctor prefers other models produced by this manufacturer, such as the Keys 4000 or the Keys 8500 over the Iron man series.

2. Precor treadmills have excellent ratings, particularly the Precor M9 33 and the Precor M9 35, which are expensive (in the plus $ 3,000 USA range).   If you have the money, it seems that you can’t go wrong with this brand.

3. ProForm treadmills, in general, aren’t rated as well by reviewers.   There are models that have some very good features and the machines are not very expensive, but the better buys are in the more expensive models (e.g., the Proform Trailrunner at about $ 1,000 USA).

4. Spirit treadmills are produced by a family-owned-and-operated company, which is recognized as a leader in making the best fold-up treadmills in the world.   If you are looking for a fold-up, you can’t go wrong with a Spirit treadmill — it will fold automatically with the press of a button.

In general, reviews point out that you should expect to pay for quality, and you should not settle for an inexpensive, flimsy machine that can’t deliver on performance and reliability.   Pay a little more and buy the best you can afford, but make sure you are getting your money’s worth.   Treadmill reviews take the guesswork out of the selection process for the customer.   You can do your research, shop, compare, and order what you need right online.   You can expect same-day shipping or shipping within three to five days.

We want to help you select the perfect treadmill to help you safely and conveniently reach your fitness, health, and weight goals.   It’s all there for you on the Internet.   What are you waiting for?   Go for it.

 About the Author

Scott Gray is currently freelance writing and enjoys providing information and moneysaving tips to consumers who are in the treadmills, discount treadmills and Precor treadmills.