I want to buy a treadmill......advice?

[LisaR]

Joined the gym a month ago and I am really enjoying walking on the treadmill. Unfortunately, the hours at the gym are not conducive to my schedule. I would like to get a treadmill for home use. My goal is to buy one off of Craigslist but I will buy new if I have to. Does anyone have a model they love or hate? Any advice on what to look for? I will only be walking. I have had past knee surgery and running doesn't feel good.

 

[Christine]

http://www.pacemaster.com/silver.htm
I've had this one for years and I love it. I'm not overly tall but at 5'7", I found that a lot of the models that were sold at sporting goods stores just didn't have a good belt length for me.

This one almost feels like a "club" treadmill. Get a nice one and you will actually ENJOY using it, versus a $500 one that will feel kind of cheap.

 

[golfgal]

Have you tried an elliptical? Treadmills hurt my knees, I can't even use them. Just something to think about but if you have been using one for a month you would know by now .

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Find one with good shocks (Even if you are just walking).

I have used mine for both running and walking and after 4 years of consistent use (trained for 2 marathons on it)--they do eventually wear out.

what I look for--safety mechanism for auto shut off--I think they all have this.

Electric (they do sell manaul treadmills).

Incline capabilities.

If you want to stow the walking/running surface. Mine folds up and locks in place.

Pace adjustment.

And screen options--I like to be able to track my pace, distance, time--etc as well as calories burned. I also like this to be accurate--so it is good to research models to see if any of them have had trouble.

Decide on your budget and then find the best within your budget. Mine was something like $400-$500 in 2005.

If you aren't doing anything serious--there is no need to look at the $1000+ models as fancy and as cool looking as they are.

Unless you want to spend a couple of thousand, you won't get quite what you experience on the treadmill at the gym.

Do not buy it unless you can try it out in the store--while I can't get the smoothness of a gym model on my budget, I try to get the best bang for my buck in this area so that I can actually "enjoy" the treadmill work out.

IF I were treadmill shopping today--my budget would be in the $750-$1200 range....so that I can get at least similar, but hopefully upgraded version of the treadmill that I have. Not sure hubby would be ready for me to get a macked out one just yet. But as hard as he works out on one (he has a very hard foot strike and it quite brutal to my treadmill)--I might be able to convince him.

The reason I Say don't go all out to start--many people end up with very expensive coat racks. If you become a disciplined user--then you can later sell it on Craigs list and go for a much nicer investment.

Mine did not become a coat rack and I am ready for an upgrade.

 

[npmommie]

we have one of these
http://ww .smoo thf itness. com/treadmills/

the one that is $999
have had it for about 5 years, its held up well, works well, no complaints

 

[LisaR]

Have you tried an elliptical? Treadmills hurt my knees, I can't even use them. Just something to think about but if you have been using one for a month you would know by now .

Everyone told me to go for the elliptical at the gym because of my knee problems. I have tried those machines at least a half dozen times and within 5 minutes, my knees are killing me. I think I am the only person with knee problems that can handle a treadmill and not an elliptical. I don't get it but I have zero pain on the treadmill.

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Everyone told me to go for the elliptical at the gym because of my knee problems. I have tried those machines at least a half dozen times and within 5 minutes, my knees are killing me. I think I am the only person with knee problems that can handle a treadmill and not an elliptical. I don't get it but I have zero pain on the treadmill.

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

Have you had a trainer help you!

Ellipiticals are very easy to MISUSE if you don't know how to do it.

Getting the pacing right is important. B/c if you don't--what you feel like doing, may not work out and....at least for me...it will feel like my legs are not in control and my knees are slamming to the floor.

If there are trainers in your gym, I might check with them to see if you are doing something wrong.

Since it is non-impact, you may be going faster than your knees want to without realizing it.

 

[RitaE]

We have a Sole TT8. It cost a small fortune but has been one of the best purchases we ever made. It is rock solid steady - no shaking at all and the belt is huge.

 

[LisaR]

npmommie, I have been looking at the Smooth Fitness. All of their models seem to get very good reviews.

Lisa Love Pooh, no, I have never tried a personal trainer. I will ask tomorrow night when I go. Maybe I am doing something wrong. I have watched others use the elliptical and it doesn't seem that complicated but leave it to me to do it wrong.

RitaE, I looked at the Sole and The two models I looked at were way more than I wanted to spend.

 

[KirstenB]

DH bought me a Proform 7 yrs ago at Sams Club. It was $1100.00 and has been fantastic. Some days I go to the gym, some days I use my treadmill. I would be careful and try not to go cheap. Go to different stores and try them all out.

 

[RitaE]

RitaE, I looked at the Sole and The two models I looked at were way more than I wanted to spend.

yeah well. I wanted to go see Bryan Adams unplugged for my birthday and DH couldn't work his travel schedule to get home for the concert. So he said .... "anything else you want!" and I took advantage.

It gets the snot used out of it though - he runs in the morning, I use it morning and night ... teen boys use it and hopefully it will last for YEARS.