Are you looking to set up your home gym? If so, you might be considering adding a treadmill into the mix. It’s nice to have the convenient, efficient, and cost-effective option of getting your workout completed at home! A good cardio routine is pretty much mandatory if you want to increase your fitness level. So you might be wondering how to choose a treadmill for home use. There are so many options nowadays – which one is the best?
Many of us, especially this year, are having trouble getting to the gym or even going outside. Being short on time and stuck at home are the reasons home gyms are gaining major popularity. We don’t want to break the bank for our home gyms. That would defeat the purpose of firing our gym membership! Consider what’s important to you before you decide which route you’re going to take.
How to Choose a Treadmill for Home Use – Treadmill Types
Manual Treadmills – How to Choose a Treadmill for Home Use
Manual treadmills are interesting in that they have no motor. That means you’ll be doing all the work to get that track moving! This can be seen as a benefit or detriment, depending on what you’re looking for. If you want something easy to turn on and get moving, then a manual treadmill isn’t for you. This might reduce your motivation to work out. But if you want something that will work you hard, get your heart pumping, and save electricity, then this could be your solution! Other benefits are:
- Very smooth running (less injury)
- Environmentally friendly
- Natural running feeling
- More durable
Motorized Treadmills – How to Choose a Treadmill for Home Use
Motorized treadmills, unlike manuals, are much easier to get going. All you do is plug it in, press a button, and set your speed. One benefit of this is that you can know for certain how fast you are going. Also, if you have motivation issues, this option could be great for you since it’s so easy to begin running on motorized treadmills. You can typically keep track of your heart rate and make sure you’re getting an efficient workout. Another added benefit is the incline options. This is helpful for making your workout tougher, helping shin splints, and various other reasons. Other benefits:
- Typically bigger than foldable treadmills (listed below)
- Can save money
- Extremely user friendly
- Well built
Foldable Treadmills – How to Choose a Treadmill for Home Use
Foldable treadmills kind of revolutionized home fitness. Many people don’t have enough room for a big and bulky manual or motorized treadmill. Now, you can fold one up and store it virtually anywhere! You can put one of these in whichever room you choose and get a workout in with the press of a button. That’s a great deal for someone with minimal space! Foldable treadmills really are time, space, and even money savers.
- Inexpensive
- Minimal space needed
- Easy to move
- Good weight capacity
How to Choose a Treadmill for Home Use – Factors
Now that we know our main options, how do we choose what’s best? Here are some guidelines and tips to consider.
Pay attention to your needs
Look at the different types of treadmills, and make sure that whichever one you choose will physically work for you. The track sizes tend to vary, so if you are bigger, then check the width of the tracks. If you get something that’s too small, you probably won’t be able to use it. Treadmills also have a max weight limit, so make sure the one you buy can handle you. In addition to the physical aspects, in general, it’s nice to get all the features you desire. You’re spending the money, right? So you should get what you deserve. If you want to monitor your heart rate, then make sure you can! Consider everything that’s important to your routine, and get the best possible option.
Be aware of your goals
This one is hard for some people, as many clients just want to get in better shape. Try to think about your goals with a little more depth to decide which equipment is right for you. Do you just want to occasionally workout to shed a few pounds? Then you may want to simply go with the cheapest option. But if you want to get in the best shape of your life, continue to work out, and maybe even have a workout partner, then definitely do your research. Whether your goals are small, large, or incremental, there is a great product for you that will make you happy.
How often do you work out?
Oftentimes the user manuals (that you can see before your purchase) will give you an estimate of how long a motor is going to last. If you work out for hours every day, then check this out. You will get more life and workout time out of a manual treadmill since there is no motor. Also, there aren’t many pieces that can break or cause problems. A foldable treadmill is definitely more convenient, but it might not be the best option if you are an avid and regular fitness guru.
Where are you putting it?
This is a big one that I’m sure you thought of. Depending on where you live, which room you plan to use, and how much extra space you have – you may want to make this be one of your main deciding factors. If you have very minimal space to use, then your best bet is most likely a foldable treadmill. These are the most efficient with space-saving. You could even keep it in a closet until you’re ready to run. If space and location is not an option, then you’re good to go on whatever type best suits your necessities! Your location is not only important for space but also for motivation. Try to put your new machine somewhere that you’ll be happy to use it. The more motivated you are, the better the shape you’ll get in.
Final:
These are some things to consider that some people often forget. Of course, you want to check on affordability, user reports, durability, and whatever other factors may be important to your specific needs. Good luck on your journey, and we hoped this helped!
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