Buying The Best Home Treadmills

Most people ignore treadmills as a great exercise tool, seeing it as a lazy attempt to avoid going outside. I beg to differ. There is a reason why these great accessories have become a common household item.

• Firstly, treadmills incorporate shock absorption in order to protect your ankles and knees from the wear and tear of jogging or walking. This is also a detail I will be looking for in my selection of bargains.
• Weather conditions are stable all year round, rejoice. Theres nothing stopping owners from turning the music on during a foggy, cold and rainy day and exercising in complete comfort.
• A gym will cost you more in the long run.
• You have the luxury of many distractions that can make you lose calories before you know it. Watch your favorite shows, a new movie or simply listen to music.
• Treadmills also give you a customizable running experience. Choose the slope, speed and degree of your exercise.
• Know the extent of your exercise by calculating energy expenditure and calorie usage. This is idea for those of us who have a distinct schedule and timeline for their fitness. Be in control.

Without further a-do, I present you the best home treadmills. 

Amazon's most popular full-range treadmil, and for good reason. The Merit Fitness 7256 is a cheap, aesthetically pleasing medium-sized powerhouse. When I say full-range, I mean it. The treadmil boasts the following features:

• Motor: 1.25 continuous horsepower, 2.25 total horsepower
• Speed range: 1 to 10 miles per hour
• Elevation range: 0 to 10 percent
• Running area: 18 x 45 inches
• Running deck: 15 mm
• Cushion system: AeroSoft
• Belt thickness: 1.3 mm
• Roller size: 42 mm
• Weight capacity: 250 pounds
• Warranties: Lifetime on the frame, 2 years on the motor, 90 days on parts and labor

Other notable luxuries include everything from heart-rate monitors to cupholders (yes plural).

Suited for: The casual exerciser who wishes to enjoy a vast spectrum of benefits at a cheap price. 

The Bowflex is a step-up on the qualititative and perhaps even quantitative foodchain. This treadmill offers a huge array of features and is geared towards exercisers with one thing in mind: high performance and pin-point precision. The Bowflex offers a lightly higher incline radius and speed than the Merit 725T (12 incline and 11 mph) but exceeds it in every department. On top of its high-performance capacity, the Bowflex is not conspicuous in the household because it can conveniently be folded up and packed away, occupying a minimal amount of space (104 by 89 by 166 centimeters).

• 3.0 continuous-duty horsepower motor
• Speed range is 0.5-11 miles per hour/0.8-17.7 kilometers per hour
• 0-12% incline range
• Quick incline and quick-speed keys offer easy access to desired settings
• Fifteen workout programs: Manual, cardio, running, fat burn, speed interval jogger, hill intervals, 5K run with 12 intervals, heart strength/recovery test, calorie goal, distance goal, fat burn heart rate calculation, cardio heart rate calculation, body mass index (BMI) test, two custom programs
• Grip and telemetric heart rate monitors help measure your fitness level
• Skylight backlit LCD computer display
• Product Dimensions: 83 by 35 by 55.25 inches/211 by 89 by 140 centimeters
• Folded Product Dimensions: 40.87 by 35 by 65.5 inches/104 by 89 by 166 centimeters
• Machine Weight: 298 pounds/135 kilograms
• Maximum User Weight: 300 pounds/136 kilograms
• Strike Zone deck cushioning provides soft landing and firm lift-off
• Two-ply belt
• Walking/running surface area measures 20 inches wide by 60 inches long/51 by 152 centimeters
• Built-in three-speed fan

Prized for being sturdy,smooth and silent, the Horizon Fitness T101 is another solid choice for rigorous training. Thanks to its FeatherLIGHT lift technology, it is also easy to move and pack away when not in use. This treadmill includes an Mp3 player with sonic surround speakers, shock absorption and a workout fan.

• Motor: 2.25 HP
• Speed range: 0 to 10 MPH
• Incline: 0 to 10 percent
• Belt size: 20 x 55 inches
• Maximum user weight: 300 pounds
• Warranty: Lifetime frame and motor, 1-year parts and labor

This treadmill is a goldmine in terms of overall worth. Cheaper than its two previous competitors but with the same amount of features, the Schwinn 840 is also a foldable and stylish work of art that will carry you to fitness in style. 

• Softrak suspension deck reduces impact to joints
• Folding convenience with SoftDrop technology
• Cushioned walking/running surface area (20 x 55 inches)
• 10 percent maximum incline
• 10 MPH maximum speed
• 16 workout programs, including 6 course profiles, calorie goal, Quick Start and custom workouts
• Integrated grip and telemetric heart rate system
• Magazine rack
• Integrated fan
• Folding frame
• Maximum user weight: 300 pounds