Treadmills For Walking Exercise
Treadmills can be used for running or walking exercise indoors without the need to brave some of that often horrendous British weather. If you are looking for a treadmill then the array of different options can be quite dizzying but for walkers, there are a lot of features you can do without.
If you require a treadmill for walking only then you can afford to look at some of the cheaper models. Runners need running decks capable of taking a serious pounding, motors which can give them the higher speeds they need and other things which push the price up. That doesn't mean you can aim for the dirt cheap models and expect great performance, but it does mean you can save yourself a few hundred pounds over the machines they need.
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Horizon Sonic II Folding Treadmill
Horizon Fitness equipment combines cutting-edge design with health club performance and reliability - and the Sonic II is no exception. Comes with a stylish exterior and durable interior mechanics. Horizon Fitness machines include exceptional guarantee... more information
Street Price: £700.00
SweatbandFitness Price: £399
Total Saving: £301.00
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When you are looking for a walking machine you need a treadmill which satisfies these requirements:
Motor Requirements
Yes, you do need a motorised walking machine. Non-motorised versions are cheaper but put additional stress on your lower joints, never give a constant speed because it's solely reliant on you pushing the belt along and can not benefit from a wide range of useful fitness programs provided by the computerised console.
For walking fitness, a treadmill's motor speed need only go upto around 5 miles per hour whereas runners need 8 mph or higher. You do want to ensure the motor rating stated is continuous duty as opposed to the misleading "peak performance" rating which is in fact a lot lower when actually being used!
You need to check for an DC motor as well. Commerical treadmills use AC motors which are noisy and probably not suitable for home use.
Maximum Weight
Check the maximum load the treadmill can carry particularly if the user is somewhat on the heavy side.
Space Requirements
If you have the space, aim for one of the non-folding treadmill machines as these are more sturdy and generally of better build quality. If you haven't the space to devote entirely to a treadmill then you will need to look for a folding treadmill which can be easily packed up and stored in an average sized storage cupboard or pushed into the corner of a spare room. For walking exercise, a folding treadmill should pose no problems, runners or speed walkers may be slightly less impressed because they do not feel as sturdy.
Deck Cushioning
This is not quite so important on a treadmill for walking as opposed to one for running on but still something to consider. A cushioned deck makes using a treadmill more a low impact exercise than it otherwise is which is kinder on joints and muscles.
Heart Monitors
These are things to think about. Some treadmills use built in Heart rate monitors to measure pulse rate either so you can ensure you maintain your target heart rate during your workout or on the better models, to adjust the speed and inclination of the tread deck automatically to raise/lower your heart rate. You can of course buy pulse monitors separately which can be used not only on your treadmill but in other forms of home exercise and outdoors too.
Programs
A treadmill with built in programs keep your fitness workout interesting and is more likely to ensure you keep up with it rather than becoming bored and skipping workout sessions. Generally, the more you pay, the more programs the console comes with and some are even programmable so you can add your own new programs or download pre-programmed routines from the internet.
Warrantee
The simplest way to see if a treadmill is of good quality is by the length of the warrantee. Look for a lifetime warrantee on the frame and if possible, on the motor as well. Anything less than 5 years on any part and you would be well advised to look for another make and model.
The bottom line with walking treadmill machines is you can afford to buy a model with slightly less robustness, with lower top speeds and can maybe do without deck cushioning and quite probably a lot of the funky add-ons and programmable techno-wizardry as well. Always check for a decent motor, weight maximums and long warrantee and you should be fine.
See also: Running Machine Buyer's Guide
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