Investing in any major workout equipment for your home can be great. Having the ability to get some quality exercise without having to rely on a gym offers a huge advantage, especially in current times with many businesses closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Treadmills are a popular option of workout machinery to invest in. However, because of the many models and varying prices that exist, it is important to keep several considerations in mind if you are looking to buy one. For the top considerations when buying a treadmill, read below.

What is Your Budget?

Before you purchase a home treadmill, one of the first things you’ll need to do is determine your budget. Equipment like treadmills are big, expensive pieces of machinery. If you are going to be spending a large amount of money on this kind of machine, you should put it into one that is going to be of the best quality. However, you also need to find a price that is still within reason for you. One of the best tips to keep in mind is to choose the highest quality treadmill you can afford. This way you will receive one that will be of high quality, but will not break your bank account. You will find some treadmills well below $1,000, but you should avoid these. For any quality treadmill, you will spend at least $1,000. If you want one with better stability, motors, and more workout options, you will need to look in the range of $1,500 and $3,000. Also, consider how many people will be using the treadmill, and how often. Your best bet is to look into home exercise equipment stores that are reputable for quality machines. They can help assist you with further information to make sure you get best machine for your home.

Look at the Horsepower

Another detail to consider when searching for a home treadmill is the machine’s horsepower. Horsepower is a general measurement of power for any engine. However, there are two measurements of horsepower that some manufacturers fail to point out. Theses are peak duty horsepower and continuous duty horsepower. The peak duty horsepower is the highest power a motor can run at. Unfortunately, this measurement is useless since the treadmill can not sustain this power and would eventually overheat. So, whatever you do, do not choose your treadmill based on this detail. Continuous duty horsepower is what you want to look at. This measurement is the power that the treadmill can continually and steadily operate at over a 24-hour period without beginning to slow down. This is important, as the horsepower that comes from the drive motor will directly affect the treadmill’s quality and how your workout feels. A good example of what to avoid is a popular model that was selling based on its 3 peak duty horsepower, but the continuous duty horsepower is only 1.5. A motor with 1.5 horsepower is actually the bare minimum of what you want. If you will be using your treadmill frequently, choose one around 2.5 to 3 horsepower. You should also consider weight. The higher the weight of the person using it, the more powerful of a motor you will want.

Basic Function Specifications

There are several small specifications you want to look for in a treadmill. Even though they are smaller ones, many of these specifications will also have an impact on your workout. One of the first to consider is the belt size. If you are planning to run on the treadmill, you will need a belt that’s at least 48 inches long and 18 inches wide. Belt size can also be affected by height. Someone who is six-feet will need a belt at 52 inches, at least for walking, and 54 inches for running. The control panel should be well within reach and practical to use. Check the cushioning of the running bed beneath the belt. Make sure that it absorbs shock when your feet come down, as this is imperative for your joints. Running on hard surfaces without any shock absorber can damage your joints over time. Incline ability is another detail to check. Incline creates resistance so you can vary the challenge of your workouts. You should get a treadmill with an incline that can reach up to 10 percent or higher. There are also advanced models that have a decline feature, which can further simulate conditions for running outside. This is not a necessity, but it can be a great bonus. Next, look at the maximum weight for the model you’re interested in. This needs to be considered especially if you’re a larger person. Look at the rating of the maximum user weight which will indicate the machine’s sturdiness. Speed is another important detail to check if you are planning on running. You are best off with a model that goes up to 10mph or higher. Also, see if you can test it out to check its stability. The best way is to see if the frame shakes while walking or running on it.

Check Your Storage Space

Another top consideration when buying a treadmill is to consider the space in your home. Treadmills tend to look much smaller in the store since they are in a large building. Once in your house, you might find it’s much larger than previously expected. Before looking at any treadmills, take proper measurements of the area you are considering. If you plan on moving or storing your treadmill somewhere else, you should measure that area as well. One option is a folding treadmill model, but be aware, these machines still need a good amount of space even when folded up. Certain models are harder to fold up and move than others. For instance, some models must be tilted back on a set of wheels to be moved.