Best Treadmills
Whether you believe it or not, treadmills were first invented for use by animals and only later got adapted for use by humans. The first treadmills were used in the latter part of the 19th century as a means of using either cows or horses to perform such labor consuming activities like churn butter, or lift water. It was a very simple contraption and had a moving belt that ran over rollers. This contraption was inclined at a judicious angle so that the animal, when placed on the treadmill, started to slide down. To counter this action, it would start walking and you had your treadmill. This was connected to whatever you wanted done by a system of gears so that basically any task could be performed.
In the 1950s Dr Robert A Bruce hit upon the idea of using these very same treadmills, adapted so that people can walk on them so that they could be used as a stress test to perform ECG. It was a very good tool and is still being used even now as a basic ECG testing tool before other more complex and expensive tests are recommended.
In the 1960s a fitness wave swept through the country and manufacturers started making treadmills so that you could go to a gym and still run, something that had been impossible until then. Slowly home variations of the very same treadmills were brought so that now, it is one of the most popular exercise machines anywhere in the world.
Because of their popularity, you will find that there are a number of manufacturers who are making treadmills and selling them. Considering that it is not something that you will be looking at replacing every year or even once every couple of years, it is imperative that you choose a good one. This is not an easy job because at its most basic, all treadmills are the same, just a belt over rollers.
There are however a few factors that you should keep in mind before you plomp for any one.
First decide if you have the space for it. If space is a constraint, you may want to go with a folding model even if it is a little more expensive.
Check for the reliability. You get treadmills starting at $300 going up to more than $5000 and while you may not want to spend five grand on a treadmill, going in for a really cheap one may mean that you do not get a very reliable one.
Check for the features, warranty and coverage. Many manufacturers will give you a warranty but only if you bring your treadmill to their service center, not something that is easy to do considering that even average ones can weight more than 250 lbs.
In order to help you decide what kind of treadmill would be best for you, we have reviewed different models based on price as well as design. Read below for a detailed account.
Design
The folding design is a very simple yet ingenious way to save space if space is a constraint. Most treadmills are made so that their dimensions can be up to 5 or 6 feet long and 2 to 2.5 feet wide. This may not seem too large in a large gym, but in your home, it is a lot of space taken up by just one appliance. The folding treadmill solves this by giving a hinge at the place where the belt meets the frame. You just lift it up and clip it on to the frame and you are done.
3 Best Folding Treadmills
This is the cheapest model from Sole who is one of the top manufacturers of exercise equipment in the world. This model pretty much gives you everything that you are looking at in a treadmill like the powered incline, shock absorption, and LCD monitor that displays relevant details, pulse grips on the hand-rests, and 6 standard programs. It also comes with speakers and cooling fans if you feel that you are getting too hot. At around $1850 it may seem like a very expensive choice, but getting it directly from the manufacturer online means that you pay only $999 which is around a 50% discount in the price.
2. Horizon SG Treadmill
This model is a very popular basic model because it gives you pretty much everything that the previous model does, except for the power. It has only a 1.5 hp motor and very basic functionality. The only reason why this model is recommended is that it folds flat down instead of up. This means that you can stow it under your bed when it is not in use freeing up more space than if you had the stand up ones. Although the store prices are $800, you can get it online for under $500 which is another reason for its popularity.
3. Smooth Fitness 7.35 Treadmill
This is probably more than most of us would need, but if you are on the lookout for a really good high end version, it is probably the best that you can take. Retail prices are around $2300 but you can get it directly from the manufacturer at less than $1500. At this price most of what they offer like a powered incliner, and speakers are standard. What you get extra is a heart rate monitor that is integrated into the machine display itself, a slightly larger machine than the competition and a longer warranty.
3 Best Non-Folding Treadmills.
The non-folding treadmills are actually a better choice if you have the space to accommodate them. They are usually a little more expensive than the folding ones, but also come with more features and are also more heavy duty which means that larger people can use them. The top non-folding machines are reviewed below.
1. Sole S73 Treadmill
This is one of the best non-folding treadmills in the market. Obviously they cost more and at nearly $2100 is just a little expensive. If however you get them online you can save more than $500, and this if you go direct to the manufacturer itself. If you go to some of the online stores, you can get them cheaper still. This model gives you everything that you expect in a good treadmill. A good warranty policy, sturdy build, integrated heart rate monitor and shock absorption, speakers, power incline and anything else that you may want. The only thing lacking is an LCD display where you can watch movies or other clips but then these ones will set you back more than $2000.
This model is the top of the line model from Sole and is good for the serious trainer. It comes with both a light commercial setting as well as warranty so that you can really use it without fear of it conking off. The best part about this model is that it gives you everything that the previous model but with beefed up parts so that it will practically last you a lifetime. At around $2200 it is not cheap either but then going to an online store will ensure that you get quite a big discount along with free shipping too.
3. Smooth Fitness 9.45 TV Treadmill
This is the top of the line non-folding treadmill from Smooth Fitness. It is a great piece of equipment and comes with everything that you can think of as default. It is also very expensive at around $2500 if you purchase directly from the manufacturer but it is one of the few models that come with an integrated 15” TV on the system. For those of us who actually put our treadmill to a lot of use it is an invaluable asset as it removes the boredom out of running daily.
3 Best Budget (Under $700) Treadmills
Budget treadmills are the low cost ones that make up the bread and butter sales of the manufacturer. Often these treadmills will be as good as the best except for its lack of features, but then hey, it’s budget right. For those of us how want to use a treadmills only as an exercise equipment and are not so pressed for time that they need to surf the net even while they run, these are more than sufficient.
Budget treadmills are those that are below $700 in price. Most treadmills cost twice as much if you buy from a store as if you get them online, directly from the manufacturer. Why this is so is not common knowledge, but suffice to say that it is so. If therefore you can get a treadmill that costs you $1500 at a fitness store for less than $900 if you buy online, it is plain insensible not to avail of this discount. Since you are going directly to the manufacturer there would not be any quality problems either. For all you know, your local fitness store does exactly this.
The three best ones in this category are listed below.
1. Merit 725T Plus treadmill
This is one of the best low cost machines that you can get in the market. There are a number that are even cheaper but as a package this is the best one. This also reflects in the numbers with this model being the top seller in this category. At around $400 it is not exactly the cheapest especially considering that there are models that you can get for around $200, but it gives you a powered treadmill, when compared to the cheaper manual ones. Plus you get a motorized incliner while most of the other cheaper ones have a manual three step process. It also comes with a decent 5 yr warranty on the motor although you get only 90 days on the parts and labor. It also folds up thus saving space. All in all a very good low cost treadmill.
2. Horizon Evolve series
There are just two folding models in the Horizon line and they make up the cheapest ones too. They do not give you too much functionality, but have a unique fold down process that is much easier than the folding up of the belt and rollers and what not. Plus you can shove it under your cot during the day and no one will even know you have one at home, space saving to the max. At around $500 online it is just $100 more than the Merit, but for those who have space constraints and this means most of us the folding down option alone is worth the extra. Everything else including the warranty is pretty much standard.
3. Merit 715T Treadmill
Barring the above mentioned two treadmills, there is pretty much nothing else that you can go with. If you are ok with a manual one that works with a flywheel there are simple ones that you can get at less than $200. If you are looking for a motorized one like most of us are, your options are pretty much limited. You could go with the Merit 715 which is basically the same as the 725 except that it does not come with a motorized incliner which means that you have a three stage incliner that you will have to set manually. You also get only a 1 yr warranty on the motor. At around $300 it is only for those who really feel that the $100 savings over the 725 is really something.
3 Best Mid Range ($700 – $2000) Treadmills
The mid range treadmills are those that are priced between the $700 and $2000 category. Most treadmills that are sold fall in this category. This is because whether it is for your home or for a gym, you need a good mix of performance and features and the mid range ones are the ones that give you this. Let us see the top three in this category.
1. Sole F63 Treadmill
This is the lowest end model that Sole has and is also one of the best for most home users. Sole has a good name for making very good quality exercise products and has been the manufacturer of choice for some of the top hotels for decades. You therefore get robust machines that can literally take a pounding and still last day in and out. Of course it costs nearly $1000, even if you go directly to the manufacturer, but there is always the possibility of a sale somewhere where you can get it for even less. It is their folding model and comes with all the basic requirements including shock absorption, hand grip pulse meters, LCD displays, speakers, plus a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor with three years on electronics and parts.
2. Smooth Fitness 7.35 treadmill
This model is their middle of the range product but their topmost folding model. It costs more than $1900, but if you order directly from the maker you can get it for less than $1500 with free shipping. You get a 20 inch by 62 inch running surface which is the longest that you will ever get along with the starndard sound system and display. You also get a monitor that can be configured to work with your heart rate monitor. Added to all this you get lifetime warranty on frame and motor and 7 yrs for the electronics which is much more than what other manufacturers provide for this price.
This is probably the best choice if you want a really good one but are not that bothered about a folding one. This model from Sole is the standard non-folding type from Sole but basically gives you almost everything that a top of the line machine would except for the TV monitor. At around the $1700 mark online it is not very cheap, but then if you go to a store near you, you will probably have to shell out more than $2100 for it. Apart from the usual shock absorber and longer running surface, you also get an integrated heart rate monitor, and lifetime warranty on everything except parts and labour. Unless you really have space constraints it is better to go with this model than the folding model simply because of its more robust build.
3 Best Top End (Over $200) Treadmills
1. Sole F85 Treadmill
This is by far one of the best ones in the market. Retail prices are around $2500 but you can get it directly from the manufacturer for around $2000. It gives you pretty much everything that you would require in a treadmill including a heart rate monitor that connects directly to the display. Considering that the heart rate monitor (A Polar design) alone will cost you nearly $200 if you get it separately this is a good deal. It also comes with an easy assist feature that assists you when you want to fold it up.
2. Smooth Fitness 9.45TV Treadmill
This machine gives you everything that the Sole F85 gives you but it also comes with a TV attached. This means that you can watch your favorite program while you work out, and will probably help you stay at it longer than if you were running without any distraction. It costs nearly $2500 after all discounts but for those who want a TV this is the only option at this price.
3. Sole TT8 Treadmill
This model is the top of the line for Sole and is the most expensive one that they have. At nearly $3000 it is also one of the more expensive ones in the market. You can however get it directly from Sole at a little under $2300 which is a tremendous amount of savings. Sole does not give you a TV model which is a pity considering that they make such good machines. Even though this model seems very similar to their previous lesser cost model in terms of features, it is different in the sense that you get a light commercial setting with this one. This means that all the parts are made from even better quality parts and it is also more robustly built. You also get a separate warranty for this model along with in house service.
