We are constantly being advised by health experts that our lives are becoming too sedentary and so running machines and treadmills are becoming the most popular piece of exercise equipment for the home, as they can provide an excellent cardiovascular workout and burn up lots of calories. If you’re thinking of buying a treadmill here’s some of the options to consider:

Manual or Electric Treadmills
This is the first thing to think about. Manual ones are driven by the action of the user’s feet driving the belt. They can put considerable strain on knee and hip joints and are not really recommended by most fitness professionals. Electric ones are powered by a motor attached to the belt and are the only real option for anyone thinking of keeping fit this way.

Running or Walking Treadmills
Which of these you are likely to be doing, will help to determine the size and speed of machine that you should buy; If you’re planning on running then a deck of least seven feet long and three feet wide is best as anything else will be too restrictive, frustrating and potentially dangerous. If you’ll be walking then you can opt for a shorter deck although this obviously limits your options. Running needs a machine capable of speeds of between 8-12 miles per hour and walking about 5 miles per hour.

Cushioning on the Treadmill
A really important consideration both for comfort and the safety to your joints. Machines with hard decks can damage your joints over time and will not be very comfortable to use so opt for the best cushioning that your budget will allow. Users that are overweight are especially advised to go for cushioned decks.

Weight Capacity
Check this carefully as it will often be an indicator of a machines overall robustness. If you can, choose a model that could be used by someone that is heavier than you actually are – this means that you will end up with a machine that’s sturdier and so needs less maintenance.

Motors
The quality of the motor plays a very important role in the overall strength, reliability and smoothness of the machine so is worth looking at closely.

Continuous Duty and Peak Duty Motors
Continuous Duty means how much horsepower can be delivered at all times regardless of the user’s weight, whereas Peak Duty means how much can be delivered under optimum conditions (in other words, weightless). When considering which model to buy look for those which will give at least 1.75 Continuous Duty as anything less is really only suitable for very occasional use.

Horsepower and Torque of the Treadmill
Horsepower ratings are typically about 1-3 HP, but this in itself does not give a full picture of the machines capabilities so consider Torque also. This represents the strength of the drive train (the components which deliver power from the motor to the belt). A high horse power rating does not always mean a high torque rating; a lower rated horse power motor may develop more torque than a higher rated motor due to the unique design of the drive system. The system delivering the most torque will produce a constant, smoother and more powerful feel than a system with more HP and less torque. Once you have compared the various models around, try them out if you can, as this is the best way to judge the overall performance.

Heart Monitoring & Programmable Treadmills
Some running machines come with strap-on heart monitors (either wired or wireless) that can be programmed to adjust the speed and intensity of the workout or incline of the running deck, to keep the heart at a specific level throughout the duration of your fitness routine. This can be a useful option if you are working towards a specific goal, say for weight loss, when your heart rate needs to stay at a particular level (depending on your age, sex, weight etc) to burn the optimum calories. Some running machines come with pre-set programs allowing you a variety of different routines and others that you can program yourself. Machines with a huge choice of programs tend to be amongst the more expensive and may give more variables than most people will ever use.

Slope Inclination Decks
Most running machines will have the capability for a slope gradient to vary and increase the level of calories burnt in your workout. How easy the slope is to adjust varies depending on the model. Cheaper machines will have a manual adjustment meaning that you have to stop your routine to change the incline. Medium priced models will have a button on the control panel to do this. Models at the top end of the scale will have an automatic adjustment that will alter the incline in conjunction with a particular programmable routine, or adjust it according to the heart monitor readings.

Space
This may be an issue as these machines can take up a lot of floor space; you may want to consider a fold-away version that can be stored away and only brought out when needed. If so, then try assembling it before you buy if possible, to make sure that the saving in space is worth the extra effort, otherwise there will be no real gain. Also, consider what your real priorities are in terms of smoothness of operation, overall comfort and reliability as not all brands manufacture a fold-away type. If space is not an issue you will have a greater choice of models over a larger price range.