 
|
|||||||||
              
|
Buying a treadmill Though prices vary, there are a few basic things to look for Tuesday, December 14, 1999 By Carey Checca and Brenden Sager, Post-Gazette Staff Writers
Consumers spend more money for treadmills than on any other piece of exercise equipment for the home. And the good news this year is that the lower-priced models are getting better. That's the word from Consumer Reports magazine and local exercise equipment stores that for the most part are seeing brisk sales this holiday season. "A lot of what we sell are for New Year's resolutions," said Jeff Robol, manager of Exercare in Monroeville, which has sold 50 treadmills so far this season. More than 37 million people use a treadmill, at least occasionally. A recent 18-month University of Pittsburgh study shows that short bouts of exercise several times a day on a home treadmill can enhance weight loss. In 1998, treadmills accounted for $1.5 billion of about $5.5 billion spent last year on home exercise equipment, and store owners report that treadmill shipments are running 10 percent or higher above last year, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. "It's the simplest exercise to do," said Ned Nedzesky of Ned's Fitness Supply in Whitehall. "Almost everyone can walk." For home consumers, treadmill prices range from $400 to more than $4,000. Most sources recommend spending at least $1,000, even though Consumer Reports in its February 1999 survey of treadmills found a few models costing as little as $500 that passed its durability tests. There are more mid-priced models available (around $1,500) this year than in the past. Your weight and how you intend to use the treadmill make a big difference, according to the sporting goods association. If a 120-pound person intends to use it for walking or light jogging, a less expensive machine is appropriate. If the treadmill is also to be used by a 200-pound person for some serious training, you'll want something more durable and should spend between $1,500 to $4,000. Some treadmills have suggested weight limits. Versatile programming and heart monitoring options add to the cost. What do you look for when buying a treadmill? Most treadmills have two motors. One drives the belt, the other, the lift motor, raises and lowers the running bed to enable you to walk or run at An incline to intensify your workout. For the belt motor, look for a continuous duty motor with a minimum of 1.5 horsepower for driving the belt. "There are different ways to rate the horsepower of a motor," said Ken Wunderlin, store manager at G&G Fitness Equipment Inc. in Ross. "The things you see in department stores are rated in peak performance, which isn't a real accurate measure. The better rate is called continuous duty and that reflects the average horsepower run through the machine." He suggests the treadmill belt be a minimum of 48 inches long and 16 inches wide. "Nobody really needs a 20-inch belt. Nobody uses that kind of width. Those extra-wide belts just add more drag and use the motor more." With belt speed, you want a slow start speed (0.1 to 0.5 mph). Top speed depends on your intended use; some go as fast as 12 mph (or a 5-minute mile). Cushioning also is important. One of the advantages of a treadmill over running outside is the lower impact provided by cushioning. This is particularly important for people with knee, leg or joint problems. The bed should absorb shock but not recoil. It is very important that the belt not move from side to side from the impact of your feet. Look for stability. "Make sure the frame is stable when you walk on it," said Robol of Exercare. "It shouldn't shake." Handrails and controls should be easy to reach. And a treadmill that folds is easier to store, although those models may be more expensive. Some machines offer heart rate interactions. "The machine will react to your heart rate and change your speed or incline to keep you within your target heart rate (when your body is working at an optimum performance level)," Wunderlin said. Look for a warranty of more than 90 days. It should have three years on the motor and two years on the parts, Robol said. "It's a bad investment if you buy a treadmill with less than a three-year warranty." Nedzesky of Ned's Fitness Supply said treadmills often require more maintenance than exercise bikes or other equipment because they take such a pounding, particularly from runners. Probably the most important step you can take is to try out the treadmills in the store. For the ones you're most interested in purchasing, stay on them for at least 20 minutes. "If [store clerks] don't let you try them, than something is wrong," Wunderlin said. If you're looking for less pounding on your legs, you may want to consider Elliptical trainers -- a cross between an exercise bike and a ski machine, with a bit of stair climber thrown in. They have been on the market for roughly three years and also are selling well this season. For most people, an Elliptical exerciser can provide a workout similar to a treadmill for a lot less money -- roughly $500 or less. The feet loop either forward or backward and hands grasp handlebars that move back and forth, giving you a modest upper-body workout. "But be very very careful about quality," Wunderlin said. "There are cheap ones that can cause more damage to your body than good."
|
||||||||
