Tips when buying a treadmill

Tips when Purchasing a Treadmill

There are a number of things you need to look out for when buying a treadmill. Often a treadmill can be quite expensive. An entry level treadmill can sell for as little as R4000.00, but that is still alot of money if you are constantly going to have problems with it.

Some important things to consider when purchasing a treadmill:

1. Warranty: This basically gives you an idea of how much faith the manufacturer has in their equipment. It would be advisable not to purchase any treadmill with a warranty of less than 2 years. It is also important to find out what the warranty covers. Most warranties don't cover wear and tear items, such as the running belt and so forth.

2. Size of the motor: The size of the motor is an important aspect of the treadmill, as this can determine the amount of usage the treadmill can take. In terms of motor size, the term continuous HP and max or peak HP are spoken about. Be sure that when you check the HP of the motor that you are getting the continuous HP and not the Max or Peak HP.  i.e. A continuous 1.75hp motor may have a peak of 2.5hp. Some suppliers advertise the peak HP and not the continuous HP. The continous HP of the motor is the more important aspect to look at. If you want a really solid treadmill that can take a couple of hours a day continuous use, you should look at a treadmill that has a continuous HP of at least 2.5hp.

3. Size and thickness of the running belt: Simply put the thinner the running belt, the quicker it will wear out, and the sooner you have to replace the running belt. If you want a good running treadmill, try get a treadmill that has at least a 3.3mm Orthopaedic Running Belt.

4. Speed & Inclination: Always look at the size of the motor, and the max speed of the treadmill. This will give you an indication of whether the supplier is using the peak HP, or the continuous HP. If a supplier says the motor is 3HP, and the max speed is only 16km, then the chances are that they are using the peak HP and not the continuos HP. With regards to inclination, AVOID purchasing a treadmill that has a manual inclination, meaning you have to adjust the incline yourself. Try purchase a  Treadmill that has a 12% incline + which is also motorized.

MiFitness has a number of treadmills, carefully sourced, to please the consumer who wants to purchase good quality treadmills. Visit this link to see what Treadmills MiFitness has available: http://www.mifitness.co.za/treadmills