Almost all of the electric treadmills available these days have price tags ranging from $600 dollars up to a stunning $5,000! However this price range might also change depending on market forces as well as the other economic factors. The tendency of many buyers is to want the best of the best, who wouldn’t? But please realize that what you are really after should not be gauged on how expensive or cheap the treadmills are. Expensive does not mean that it is the best there is much like a cheap treadmill does not necessarily mean that it is of substandard quality. Most prices of treadmills are highly dependent on their features, materials used and degree of craftsmanship placed in the design. Treadmills with higher quality materials normally tend to be sold at higher prices. Others which have more features and sophisticated console panels might also carry some higher price tags.

Proform and Nordic Track are two popular brands who are selling treadmills from the lowest price range up to the highest price range. A Proform Series 660 machine currently costs between $500 to $600 while its Power 995 model may cost from $1,600 up to $2000. Nordic Track also has some models in the similar price range. Expensive brands tend to be with Landic, Sole and Bowflex which have prices ranging from $3,000 up to $4,800. That is a stunning investment to be made should you go for the expensive ones.

However, please note that the main factor in choosing which one to buy is to determine your needs. Even if you are a really serious user, a moderately priced electrical treadmill minus those fancy add-on on the console panel might already suffice. Health spas and clubs might opt for the more expensive ones in order to cater to numerous users. With every beating that their treadmill machines get by the hour, they would need some serious investment with their treadmills.

Some years forward, a breakthrough in research led to the electric treadmill as we know it today. A creative doctor from the University of Washington named Dr. Robert Bruce utilized the basic concept of the treadmill to test human cardiovascular behaviours in order to aid in the diagnosis of heart and lung problems. As such, humans were made to tread on the machine to test their hearts’ functions under different stress levels. It was not a sophisticated machine but nonetheless, it got the job done. In addition, electrocardiographs were used in these tests in order to precisely monitor heart beats.

Such breakthrough became public and attracted the attention of many enterprising minds. That is, business then had the sudden idea of creating a treadmill as means to exercise thereby aiding in the overall health of the user or even boost their enthusiasm in their quest for a quick weight loss exercise regimen. Various businesses then brainstormed for various designs which they hope would be appealing. One of the pioneers in treadmill design is actually a bicycle company called Tunturi which is based in Finland. In the late 1960’s, it then showcased its own designs which appealed to many individuals then. Not to be outdone, an American company called Aerobics, Inc. then showcased its own line of treadmills in 1968. As the public became endeared to the innovative product, competition among the manufacturers has become fierce. Even during those times, it has become apparent that electric treadmills are more favored over the simple manual mechanical treadmills. Just a few years forward, many big business names have already started to join the bandwagon called the treadmill mania with some offering their cheapest treadmills to the consumer.

Fast forward to the recent years, Nordictrac and Startrac, which are among the big names in the fitness equipment arena, have introduced their own lines of products which led to numerous styles and designs which delighted the consumers. More functionality has been incorporated into modern day electric treadmills which made them more user friendly.

Before the treadmill was invented most people do their jogging or running around the neighbourhood block or around their favourite jogging parks. However, with the change of pace of daily activities and lifestyles, time constraint has become a hindrance. Some may not have the time nor energy to fit in a 20 minute exercise into their respective schedules. What about the change in weather conditions? I don’t think anyone would want to jog outdoors during the cold winter days. When the treadmill was invented, the whole running or jogging arena has drastically changed. Most people have found the treadmill to be a boon because it allows greater flexibility in most exercise regimens. Even during inclement weather, jogging and running are both made possible when the treadmill came into existence.

Because of this, electric treadmills have become the big favorite exercise equipment by many people who really want to exercise either for health reasons or for vanity reasons. Who wouldn’t want a lean body anyway? Some decades ago, manual treadmills have also etched their place into the fitness world but have to take the sidelines when their electric counterparts gained some headway. Keep in mind that electric treadmills do not come cheap. They cost much more than their manual counterparts. However, it may just be a worthwhile investment you may have to make. Hence, choosing which one to use must be carefully chosen taking into consideration some factors which may contribute to a wise purchasing decision. Not many can afford the most sophisticated and modern treadmill available. But it is also very important to note that higher price tags do not necessarily mean higher quality. There are cheap treadmills out there that may have some qualities and features that would suffice for you. All it would just take is to make some diligent research about the product you have in your list in order to make a very informed decision.

The electric treadmill motor, even though it is not visible, is the heart and soul of the machine. Being the prime mover of the whole treadmill assembly, it carries the most work so to speak especially if the user is of heavy build. Hence, you should ensure that the motor that makes your treadmill run is of good quality. Poor quality treadmill motors tend to overheat and fail leading to high costs of repair or replacement. If you are a serious treadmill user, you could be logging in numerous miles and hours on the machine. For that, you will surely need a good quality treadmill motor to meet your demands. This can be compounded if there would be multiple serious users for a single machine. Hence, you should ensure that the motor can take the load with great ease. One good indication of a high quality motor is the length of the manufacturer warranty. The longer the warranty period, the better the quality of the motor in most cases. It is just an exercise of common wit actually. Try to ask yourself this: If the manufacturer is not so sure of their baby, will they offer longer warranty periods or any at all? If the manufacturer does not offer any warranty or if it did, only for a few days, then you should start to get wary of its quality.

Another thing to consider is to look at the specifications of the motor. The specifications are usually found on the sticker on the motor casing itself or in the treadmill manual or user guide. You should look for the power rating which is usually in horsepower or hp. Higher power rating means the motor can take on heavy loads for longer sustained periods without overheating. But the downside is that it may tend to consume more power. Usually, the ratings are usually in the range of 1hp up to 3hp. Hence, it would be a safer bet to opt for those who have at least 1.5hp rating. However, if you are a serious exerciser who wants to log in hours of running or if you are the type who likes to sprint or if the treadmill is to be used with multiple users in succession, you should opt for at least 2hp. Keep in mind that the more powerful the electric treadmill, the higher the price tag it will tend to carry.

That being said, for your normal needs at home, you should choose a belt with at least a 2-ply rating. There may be some brands who have 1-ply belts especially the cheap ones. I would suggest to avoid those. Fortunately, most famous brands have made the quality of their treadmill belts of good quality with moderate to high resistance against snapping and rapid wear and tear. A 2-ply belt comes usually as a standard in many of their models these days even with the lower priced models. There are also models which have 3-ply belt ratings or more especially with the high-end brands.

Belt width should also be factored in. A wider belt tends to be the better bet most of the time. Narrow treadmill belts tend to constrict the movement of your lower limbs which can make you uneasy as you jog or run on the treadmill equipment. In most situations, an 18-inch wide belt may suffice. Please note that the wider the belt, the price of the electric treadmill tends to go higher due to the wider frame it would need to accommodate the belt.

Belt length should not be neglected. A person with longer lower limbs tend to have a longer motion range as he or she jogs on the belt surface. In most cases, an electric treadmill belt length of 4 feet can be adequate for persons of average height. However though, taller individuals might need more than 4 feet of belt length in order to accommodate their limb motions. One good way to measure if you would be comfortable with the length of the treadmill belt is to do some actual testing. Most shops selling these are will be more than glad to give you a test run.

Keep a keen lookout on the position of the side handrails of the treadmill. You should make sure that they are positioned in such a manner that you could hold a firm and quick grip of them should you happen to stumble or lose your balance on the machine for any reason. Remember that a falling person will instinctively try to grab hold on to anything no matter what that something is. Also make sure that the handrails are strong enough to support your whole weight. You do not want the handrails to break as you get a hold of them.

Most treadmill-related injuries happened when the electric treadmill was running. There are a number of scenarios in which injuries ranging from minor scratches to severe fractures were the results. Hence, safety features are now usually aimed at making the treadmill stop running or not run at all when the situation calls for it.

Among the safety features which are considered highly essential are the emergency shut-off button, safety key, and code protected power-on functionality.

The emergency shut-off button is usually a big round switch strategically located at the center of the console which is within easy reach of the user. Should the user happen to push himself or herself to the limits of his or her stamina, the emergency shut-off button which quickly stops the treadmill from running is just within easy reach.

The safety key is one highly important safety component to use in every treadmill session. It is actually a key mated to a sturdy lanyard which you will then attach firmly to your upper limb such as your wrist area. The treadmill cannot power up if the key is not in its keyhole. If, for any reason you happen to fall down on a running treadmill, the key will then be dislodged from its slot and automatically stop the machine from running.

Code protected operation is actually a safety feature which will come real handy when kids or toddlers are around. Kids are normally very curious in nature without any hint of what can be potentially dangerous to them or not. A treadmill lying around the house may attract their curiosity especially if they are left unsupervised even for a tiny moment. Hence, if you have kids around, it is best to ensure that your electric treadmill would have this feature.

1)    Treadmills are primary designed for adults. Try to keep your treadmill machine in a locked room to prevent the kids from accessing it. If this is not possible put on a durable protective cover on the machine to prevent the kids from tinkering with it.
2)    Do not forget to utilize the treadmill safety features which are applicable to kids such as the code protected operation or better yet, unplug the equipment from its power source.
3)    Do not leave the safety key in its slot when the machine is not in use. Put it somewhere safe from the kids. A safety key left dangling can be a strangling hazard aside from giving the kids the ability to power-on the treadmill.
4)    Educate your kids about the hazards which the treadmill might bring upon them. Explain to them fully that they are not toys and that they are only for adults. They may not listen at first but repeated reminders may make them heed the warnings.
5)    When you are using the machine at home with your kids around, make sure that you do not let them go near the machine. Many injuries were attributed with kids’ limbs getting caught with the moving parts. Better yet and if possible, use the treadmill when kids are not around or tucked away in their beds.

These simple yet useful safety practices should not be taken for granted. The electric treadmill can be your lifelong aid towards healthy living but do not forget the fact that they can also be a hazard to the kids. Our kids are the primary reason why we want to stay healthy in the first place.