How to choose a Treadmill for home treadmill, commercial treadmill, exercise bike, stepper and other fitness equipments.

OUTDO Treadmill Motor and Horsepower

The motor matters - it gets the heaviest workout. The horsepower ratings can be confusing. The figure you want to look at is the "continuous duty rating" and if you want buy home use treadnukks, you can shop for 1.5 to 2.5 HP "continuous duty." In OUTDO treadmill factory , we supply home use treadmill motors from 1.5-3.0HP "continuous duty" . When you need your have a big family and your home treadmill use very frequently, you need 3.0HP light commercial treadmills which is more stable and durable. The "peak duty" rating is less valuable.

Test OUTDO Treadmill Stability and Smooth Ride

Test treadmills wearing your workout shoes and clothes. A shaky or jerky ride is not acceptable. The hand rails should feel sturdy enough to support you and be in a good position to grip easily and not block your arm motion. The belt must be wide enough and long enough for your stride.Treadmill Workout Features

Boredom kills treadmill workouts. Choose a model that has the most pre-set and programmable workouts to vary pace and incline, such as OTD688. The incline and speed should be easily adjustable from the console. A pulse monitor is good. A water bottle holder and book rack are essential for me. Some models plug into a VCR, CD, or internet for new workouts, such as OTD3000B. Books or videos can get you going in the right direction.

Treadmill Accessories, Books, Video

OUTDO treadmill Noise and Space

The treadmill needs to work in your space. How noisy is it? If you plan to watch TV or listen to music, you need to be able to hear those over the treadmill itself. A model that looks small in the store can turn into an elephant in your spare room. Check its size when folded or stored and test how easy it is to move.

Manual Treadmills vs. Motorized Treadmills

Due to the difference in cost, many people are tempted to buy a manual treadmill instead of a motorized treadmill. But manual treadmills have many drawbacks vs. their motorized cousins. They are often difficult to get moving without using an extreme incline, and once moving you can't change the incline. The low price also often means less sturdy construction.

Manual Treadmills vs. Motorized Treadmill Bargains and Alternatives

If a new treadmill breaks your budget, there are many alternatives to find good treadmills at bargain prices. There are also many ways to use somebody else's quality treadmill. Come browse my tips on how to use a good treadmill for fewer dollars -- or even for free. You should also try Exercise bikes manufactured red by OUTDO. They give a lower impact workout while exercising both your upper and lower body. Top quality elliptical trainers are a similar price to bargain treadmills, so you get more for less.

Treadmill Tightwad Tips

Motorized treadmills for home use cost from $750-$5000, and generally the more you pay, the better you get. Most motorized treadmills under $1000 have underpowered motors and are less sturdy and have fewer options for adjusting the incline, programmed workouts, etc.

Best Bargains

You can often find a good used motorized treadmill for a huge discount and get a better quality treadmill for your dollars. Many people sell their almost-unused treadmills as the New Years Resolutions wear off. You can find practically new treadmills sold as used.s

Local Classified Ads
Charity Thrift Stores: such as Goodwill

Play It Again Sports: stores throughout the US and Canada sell used treadmills. Many other exercise equipment stores do as well.

eBay and Online Listings: try to connect with a local seller as shipping costs would be very high for this heavy item.

Local Gyms and Fitness Clubs: they may sell their used equipment, which is usually of the most sturdy construction, although they may have seen hard use.

Before You Buy a Treadmill: Whether buying new or used, here is what to look for in a treadmill. You may be thinking of a home treadmill for convenience, but you will find far better treadmills at gyms, schools and fitness clubs. Treadmills built for club use are far more sturdy and often have more options for programmed workouts, incline settings, etc.

Fitness Clubs: Shop for a club with a low monthly fee and join them to use their equipment. School Gyms: Check into getting access to a school gym, including local community colleges. You may have to volunteer or sign up to audit a course, but this can be a relatively low investment to use their facilities.

Work Fitness Centers: Check with your employer or those of your immediate family to see if they have an on-site workout room or if they give discounts to use local gyms or fitness clubs. Community Centers: Check with the local senior center, parks department, after-school program centers, etc. to see if they have facilities available to the public for free or for a low fee. If you don't meet the requirements, ask about volunteering to earn the perks of using their equipment.

Health Programs and Medical Centers: Check with your health plan, HMO, or local medical centers to see if they have workout facilities available. You may find a free or very inexpensive fitness or weight loss program they are offering as well.

Recreation Centers: Check with your close friends and immediate family who live in apartment or condo complexes, senior living facilities, etc. as many have fitness centers. Check the rules of use. Just Walk

Your feet and the local sidewalks or indoors shopping malls are free. While you may have been thinking of a home treadmill for convenience, staying out of the weather, and personal security, you do still have the free option of just walking.

Mall walking: many or most shopping malls and large shopping centers open early for mall walkers. Check into this in your area. You can circle inside without crowds, with bathrooms and water fountains available.

Dress for the weather, know that you won't melt in the rain, and get out the door and onto the sidewalks!

How to Buy an Exercise Bike Trainer?

Types of Exercise Bikes
Upright Bikes

• Similar in form to traditional bikes and still the largest seller
• Good lower body and cardiovascular workout
• Fit easily in limited spaces
• Recumbent Bikes, semi-recumbent bikes

These have chair-like, or bucket seat

More comfortable than an upright bike and provide better back support

Promote more efficient blood flow throughout the body

Prevent you from cheating on peddling because you can't stand up
Dual Action Bikes

• These are Upright models with movable bars on arm handles
• By utilizing both arms and legs the overall aerobic intensity is increased
• Upper body toning is enhanced

Resistance

• Direct Tension - offers manual adjustment of resistance
• Fly wheels - similar to a regular bicycle peddling motion
• Air - resistance is achieved by peddling against the flow of air from a fan blade
• Magnetic Frictionless Resistance - the most sophisticated type of resistance, allows for more variation in level of workout

Feedback Mechanisms

• Most exercise bikes provide information on speed, distance traveled, and time of the workout
• The more advanced bikes today can include any or all of the following readouts:
• Speed, Time and Distance
• Total Calories and Fat Burned
• Program Mode and Resistance Level
• Pulse, Heart Rate, and Work Level
• RPM, Watts, METS, Minutes Per Mile, MPH/KPH
• More sophisticated models also offer pre-programmed workouts and information storage

Size

• It is important to match your size to the bike
• Most exercise bikes are extremely adjustable to fit almost all body types

Top Picks for Exercise Bike Trainers

Folding Treadmills vs. Non-Folding

In the last several years there has been considerable design improvements that have contributed to folding models being comparable to the stationary treadmills. Look for stability, ease of folding, weight capacity, and how easy it is to move.

Should You Buy a Folding Treadmill?

The quality of folding treadmills has improved greatly in the past few years, according to expert Fred Waters. A folding treadmill is a great solution for smaller living spaces or multi-purpose rooms. Look for stability, ease of folding, weight capacity, and warranty.

In the past, purchasing a folding treadmill meant compromise. You were going to compromise on stability for the convenience of a space saving exercise machine. In addition, the overall durability and quality of components would be less then you would find in a stationary treadmill.

Design Improvements in Folding Treadmills

In the last several years there's been considerable design improvements that have contributed to folding models being comparable to their stationary equivalent. In fact, the treadmill company I worked for used the exact same frame for both their folding and stationary models. I could not tell the difference between the two.

Space Advantage with a Folding Treadmill

There is no question that treadmills are space hogs. An average treadmill with a 20" wide belt can be 3.5" x 6". If you are living space challenged, and you prefer not to sacrifice a good portion of a room to exercise equipment, then a folding treadmill makes sense. In addition to the fact that many folding treadmills are easy to move, and can be stored.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Folding Treadmill

• 1 :Stability: With any treadmill, you want a solid and stable feel. You'll find that many folding models under $1,000 will lack stability. They just are not structurally built well. You probably want to test the treadmill in person. Try both walking and jogging. Jump up and down. The ideal treadmill will absorb your impact without being sloppy.
• 2 :Cost: What should you pay for a good folding treadmill? If you plan to have the machine around for a reasonable amount of time, and intend to use it on a regular basis, then you are going to need to shell out a few bucks. I generally recommend that you pay around $1,000 for a machine primarily for walking, and start at $1,500 for a treadmill that will be used for jogging or running.
• 3 :How easy is it to fold the treadmill? Most folding treadmills are equipped with hydraulics, making it a breeze to fold up or down. There are some that require power lifting. Regardless, remember to always lift with your legs, and not with your back bent over.
• 4 :Will you be moving the folding treadmill? Almost all folding treadmills are designed to move, the difference is the effort required. If you plan to constantly move the treadmill, check out how easy it is. If it is a 200 lbs. treadmill that requires tilting it on two wheels in order to move it, you are going to need some strength training in addition to a cardio workout. There are some models that when folded, have four recessed wheels that pop out, making it simple to move.
• 5 :Weight capacity; You can assume that all manufacturers are going to exaggerate the weight capacity of their treadmill. It is a standard practice. Whatever the capacity states, minus at least 50 lbs. You want a machine that can withstand the impact of your weight. Otherwise you'll find the motor, belt, rollers and bearings will burn-out prematurely.
• 6 :Warranty: The warranty is always a good indication of the quality of the treadmill, whether it's folding or stationary. Be leery of models that have 90 day warranties. That suggests built-in obsolesce. I recommend a folding treadmill that has a minimum 1 year service, 2 year parts and 5 year motor warranty.

Best Folding Treadmills