Choosing the right treadmill.

Home treadmills are becoming a common feature in many homes. Prices can be as low as $399 it is no surprise that many people decide to purchase one. It provides a great form of exercise, you don’t have to pay monthly fees for a gym or have to work out in front of vein bodybuilders. However when buying a treadmill the prices can range from $399 up to thousands of dollars. So what is the difference between a treadmill that costs a few hundred or one that costs a few thousand? This articles aims to answer some of the questions you may have before buying a treadmill and give you the confidence to go out and know what you are buying.

Horsepower

One of the main factors in buying a treadmill is what horsepower to go for. “Horsepower” is applied to two different ratings-”peak duty rating” and “continuous duty rating.” The peak duty rating is advertised on a treadmill tag. The continuous duty rating is stamped directly on the motor and is the rating that determines its quality and duration.

In general, the larger and heavier the motor is, the cooler it will run and the longer it will last. Penn State Sports Medicine Newsletter recommends purchasing a machine with at least 1.5 continuous duty horsepower&#