Buying Tips
The key to increasing your level of physical exercise is picking an exercise program that you enjoy enough (or at least tolerate) so you'll stick with it. Are you willing to walk or run outside in any weather? Can you stay with your outdoor exercise program even when it's dark outside? Will you make time to exercise at a health club? If the answers are no, perhaps a good choice for you is a home treadmill.
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You may even have looked at some of the treadmill ads and wondered how to select what you need and how much treadmills cost. A Consumer Reports article (June 2003) reported that people who exercise on treadmills tend to burn calories more quickly than stair climbers, rowing machines, exercise riders and exercise bikes. Here are some helpful guidelines for selecting a treadmill.
Belts can be adjusted for steepness. You increase the intensity of your workout as you increase the incline.
If you plan to walk on the treadmill, lower-priced models will probably be fine. One model tested by Consumer Reports sold for $325. If you are a runner, you'll need a more expensive machine that has a sturdy construction and a large belt. If there is more than one treadmill user in your home, you'll want controls that are easy to reset for each user.
Safety features are important
Most models have a key on a tether that reaches to you from the control panel.
If you reach the end of the line, the treadmill automatically turns off. If there are children in the family, hide the key to keep them from playing on the treadmill.