Treadmill Factory OUTDO :How to choose a home treadmill

Once you've decided to buy a home treadmill, what do you do next? Do your homework! Here are some things to consider:

• Frame : High alloy steel is usually more durable than aluminum, however they are heavier and must be coated to protect the treadmill from rust. Select a welded frame over a bolted one for a home treadmill and avoid all plastic frames.
• Horsepower : Check for the continuous-duty rating for the motor's true horsepower before you buy a home treadmill. Anything less than 1.5 continuous-duty horsepower can quickly be worn out.
• Speed : Most home treadmills run from 0 to 10 mph. A good treadmill will match the pace you feel comfortable walking or running. A safe starting speed of 0.5 mph or less is also very important for safety reasons.
• Belt : Be sure the length of the walking/running surface is long enough for your longest stride. The width of the belt should be no less than 16" from a wear and tear standpoint as well as comfortable striding
• Deck : This is one of the critical quality elements of the home treadmill. Quality decks shouldn't need much maintenance and they operate at a low temperature.
• Incline Adjustment : There's a variety of ways to adjust the incline of a home treadmill, from the automatic incline which changes depending upon your heart rate, to pushing a bottom on the console, to the less sophisticated methods of a manual hand crank or manually setting pins. Quality electronic incline adjustment shouldn't be noisy or cause the treadmill to shake at any grade.
• Control Panel : Generally computerized panels are standard on most home treadmills. They range from basic and simple to the complex and fully programmable. You can buy a treadmill with as many bells and whistles as you want. Price is influenced by the control panel options, so purchase only what you will regularly use.
• Heart Rate Monitors : This is generally an optional feature. Accuracy varies widely with the ear and finger clips being less accurate than the chest strap monitors.