Types of Treadmill Running Machine

0 Comments

The title is a little bit disingenuous, as there is really only one type of treadmill running machine. Simply put, a running machine is just a belt that moves, and which allows you to do exercise by either running or walking. Of course, there is a little more to it than that, and whether you get more or less depends on how much you want to pay, and how many features you want included in your machine.

Like the humble lawnmower, there are two flavors: the electric treadmill and the manual treadmill. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. For manual treadmills the best part is that they are very cheap, perhaps a couple hundred dollars. They are, as the name might suggest, not powered by a motor. Instead the user pushes the belt along using their own running motion. From an exercise perspective, this is good as it forces you to employ your lower body and leg muscles to get the belt moving. Unfortunately, that is probably as good as it gets. Often, these ones are hard to get going and need to be raised to an incline in order to do so. Struggling in this way is a very easy way to get muscle strain and joint injuries. And of course, as it is not electrically powered, you cannot simply raise the incline to get started and then lower it again in mid-flight; you will have to get back off it to change the level of elevation. Furthermore, if you are grappling to find your motivation, a manual treadmill may not be the best way to go. It will slow down when you slow down, rather than forcing you to push yourself to new levels of fitness.

Are the electric running machines any better? They can be, and again it really depends on what your budget happens to be. If you cannot stretch to more than a few hundred bucks then your choices are somewhat limited. The low end of the electric treadmills market offers fixed incline models and lower powered motors and slower maximum speeds. These inexpensive ones are great if you are not too heavy – they can often be slightly flimsy – and if you are more interested in using them for walking rather than running. Walking is great exercise, and commonly overlooked because of the lower perceived benefits; in fact, a brisk walk can offer wonderful fitness benefits, with far less risk of injury than running.

With the lower budget models you will get the basics, such as a digital display for distance, time, speed and calories burnt, and somewhere to store a water bottle. There is a very good chance that if you do use one of these for running, the deck itself may not be long enough to accommodate your stride. On the plus side, they are usually foldable. A folding treadmill is a wise idea if you do not have much room, and cannot leave it set up permanently.

Many of the mid-priced models feature a slightly improved set of options than found on cheap treadmills. There might be a few pre-installed exercise programs, the ability to vary the angle of incline, and maybe a heart rate monitor. However, although the construction of these is generally much sturdier, they can often still be slightly too short for a good, long stride when running; fantastic for brisk walking though!

To get a really top class electric running machine, you will need to think of a four figure price tag. These are the sturdiest of all and have longer decks to accommodate serious runners. They have similar features to the mid-price range, but with more powerful motors and higher top speeds. You will probably need to reserve some space at home though, perhaps in the basement or garage, where this can be set up permanently, as the top of the range models tend not to be foldable.

So although to most people, a treadmill running machine is simply that, there are scores of different models on the market, with prices that range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. You will need to think very hard about your exact needs, and how much you are willing to pay. And it is best to try a few out too, so you get a personal feeling for how sturdy they are before buying.