Why purchase a Treadmill |
In today's fast paced world most people are too busy to use treadmills in a gymnasium, with the rising cost of fuel it makes travelling to the gym more expensive. If you calculated the money you spent in a year with gym memberships, fuel, wear & tear on your car it could easily be over £1,000 a year. 
Treadmill manufactures are continually reducing their manufacturing costs, this means you can purchase a reliable home use treadmill for well under £1,000. This is fantastic news because a treadmill simulates walking, jogging or running which are the best forms of cardio vascular exercise.
In the United Kingdom we have extended periods of rain throughout the year, also as winter creeps in we have fewer hours of daylight. Because of this running can prove to be difficult. But with a treadmill machine you can walk, jog or run in the safety and comfort of your own home, rain or shine.
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Treadmill features to look for |
There are many different complex parts on a treadmill, much more than cross trainers, rowing machines or exercise bikes. Outlined below are the most important features of a treadmill that you should be aware of.
- Treadmill Warranty - Does the treadmill have a good warranty, if the treadmill has a godd warranty covering the motor and frame then rest assured the manufacture has total faith in that treadmill. Make sure the treadmill comes with a labour warranty and not just a parts warranty, if the treadmill comes with a parts warranty you will have to fit the replacement parts yourself. Also make sure the warranty is not "Return to Base" ask if the engineer will visit your home to perform the repair.
- Treadmill Dimensions - Make sure the treadmill you are interested in buying will fit into the space you have selected. If space is tight you should consider a folding treadmill, also make sure you have a single wall socket to power the treadmill, it is not recommended to plug a treadmill into an extension lead
- Treadmill Motor - The treadmill motor is the most important part of any treadmill, always look for at least 1.5 continuous HP (horse power) for general use. If you plan to do a lot of long distance running then you should consider a 3.0HP motor or higher (typically seen on commercial treadmills)
- Treadmill Belt - The treadmill belt is another important part of the treadmill, it should be wide enough and comfortable enough to run on. If you want to reduce stress on joints then an orthopedic belt is what you need.
- Treadmill Frame - There are generally two types of treadmill frames, aluminum and steel. Steel is favored because it adds more weight to the treadmill making it sturdier whilst aluminum is much lighter. There are also two ways a frame can be connected to the treadmill base, either bolted or welded. Bolted frames are not as strong or as sturdy as welded frames, a welded frame is a sign of quality (and typically seen on commercial treadmills).
- Treadmill Elevation (Incline) - there are two types of treadmill incline, manual and motor incline. Manual incline is typically found on cheaper budget treadmills while motor incline is found on higher budget treadmills.
- Treadmill Rollers - The rollers are typically the most overlooked factor of a treadmill. In general the bigger the diameter of the roller the longer it will last, this is because it takes longer to complete a full revolution on a 1.9" roller compared to say a 1.6" roller for example.
- Treadmill Deck - The deck of the treadmill is made from wood, the type of wood varies based on the manufacture. Lower budget treadmills typically use particle board decks, while high end treadmills typically use MDF (medium density fibreboard) board decks. MDF is better because it can sustain much greater forces before cracking compared to particle board.
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- Treadmill Cushioning - During jogging or running each time your foot hits the ground a similar force is transmitted towards your leg, this force varies from the surface you are running on. Treadmills use rubber or springs for shock absorption in an attempt to decrease the amount of force applied on your legs. There is a more advanced type of treadmill absorption that is better than rubber or spring; this is known as variable durometer elastomers. This type of cushioning typically has stiff rubber at the back and softer rubber at the front of the treadmill and is normally found on higher budget treadmills.
- Computer Display - the computer display is the heart of the treadmill as it controls everything from motor speed, incline, program types and more. There are typically 2 types of treadmill display, LCD (liquid crystal display) and LED (light emitting diode). LCD is the same screen that's used on most calculators, and is normally a cheaper method of displaying information. LED is a more popular choice and typically seen on commercial quality treadmills. LED displays are easier to replace compared to LCD.
- Maximum Treadmill Speed - The maximum speed a treadmill can reach is around 25km but of course this depends on the treadmill you purchase, to get 20km plus you typically have to invest in a commercial treadmill.
- Maximum Incline - The maximum incline of a treadmill we offer has a huge 40% (Sportek ST7100 - click here) the average treadmill incline is around 10 - 20%
- Treadmill accessories - you can purchase many treadmill accessories from us, such as treadmill mats, extended warranties, heart rate monitors and much more. See our individual treadmill products for "optional Extras"
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Overview of Treadmill Brands |
There are many different manufactures of treadmills and choosing the right brand can be difficult. Below is a brief list of some of our brands (in no particular order):
Life Fitness Treadmills
Life Fitness is a commercial brand used in gyms throughout the world, if you are a member of a gym you may have noticed Life Fitness. At Fitness Superstore we have the complete range of Life Fitness treadmills. Click here to view our Life Fitness treadmills
Horizon Treadmills
Part of Johnson Health Tech - Horizon has been manufacturing high quality fitness equipment including treadmills for the past 25 years. Horizon's aim is to produce high quality commercial equipment at affordable prices. Horizon typically offers the components that you expect with commercial treadmills, from variable durometer elastomer cushioning to high HP treadmill motors; at the same time their treadmills are folding which is fantastic for those with little space. At Fitness Superstore we have the complete range of Horizon treadmills. Click here to view our Horizon treadmills
Kettler Treadmills
The Heinz Kettler group was established in Germany in 1949, today Kettler is the leading manufacture in the leisure industry. Kettler are known for their vast range pf quality products, including rowing machines, table tennis tables, garden furniture and of course treadmills.
A UK subsidiary Kettler (GB ) Limited , has been operating for almost 20 years and provides full after sales service here in the United Kingdom. At Fitness Superstore we have the complete range of Kettler treadmills. Click here to view our Kettler treadmills
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Vision Treadmills
Vision Fitness offer a wide range of treadmills for both home and commercial markets, the first Vision treadmills were introduced in 1997 and have received much praise for their high quality construction and ease of use.
Vision Treadmills offer innovative cushioning with their eight strategically placed variable durometer elastomer cushions. The softest elastomer is located where your foot contacts the treadmill deck while the firmest elastomer is in the back of the deck to offer you support and giving you an extra comfortable workout on the treadmill
The treadmill consoles are advanced yet easy to use and give you all the information you need to achieve your goals. All treadmill models have one-touch speed and incline quick keys, making adjustments during your workout simple. Some treadmill models even store your workout totals, so you can track your progress over time.
The reliability of Vision Fitness treadmills is backed by good warranties. Parts and labour warranties vary between one and three years depending on the model, all models come with a lifetime frame warranty and the treadmill motor is guaranteed for at least five years, with the higher end models having a lifetime motor warranty. Click here to view our Vision treadmills
ProForm Treadmills
ProForm is a subsidiary brand of fitness giant Icon Fitness, the largest manufacturer and marketer of home fitness equipment worldwide.
While ProForm today manufactures a wide range of fitness equipment, they are probably still most widely known for their treadmills which have continued to grow in popularity ever since they first introduced the now world-famous SpaceSaver® folding design. Click here to view our Pro-Form treadmills
York Treadmills
York Fitness design and manufacture a wide range of home fitness equipment, everything from dumbbells to complete home gyms and obviously treadmills with products being distributed in over 40 countries.
The British division, York Barbell UK, was established over 20 years ago and manufacturing is partly based in the UK. York Fitness is a name known around the world and has built a reputation on quality home fitness equipment. Click here to view our York treadmills
Reebok Treadmills
Reebok is a known name similar to Yorrk Fitness, Reebok started marketing their treadmills in 1998 and have grown ever since, with their most popular treadmill model being the Reebok I-Run.
Fitness is Reebok's passion, continuous research and development has made Reebok one of the leading names in fitness. Click here to view our Reebok treadmills
Of course there are many more treadmill brands that we offer, to search by brand please click on the brands menu on the top right of our website.
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