Running is a very rewarding sport, it allows you to improve lung capacity, strengthen muscles, eliminate stress, free your mind, lose weight, etc. For all this and with the new “fashion” of healthy living, it is not uncommon for this sport to be on everyone’s lips again.
Although not everyone wants to leave home and go for a run. For all of them there is a good alternative: the treadmill.
Think of all the advantages of having a treadmill at home or in the office and how you can take advantage of the time. For example, in the office you can talk to your secretary, on the phone or think about some productive ideas or your projects while running for a few minutes. In fact there are many people who already do it, for example Victoria Beckham. In addition, this alternative benefits you and your ideas, because in moments of frustration or when you feel stuck you can use the tape, by clearing your mind you will be very productive again and some good ideas may also come up.
Having a treadmill at home is also very comfortable, since you can do two things at the same time, like watch your favorite program and run at the same time.
There is a wide variety of treadmills on the market, many models and with many different characteristics. If you want to buy a treadmill and you don’t know which one to choose, then keep reading because below we are going to give you all the information you need to choose correctly.
As we have said, not all treadmills have the same functions, so the first thing you should do is define what type of exercises you want to do on it, and what basic characteristics you need it to have.
For example, think about if you only want it to go flat or instead you can program different intensities, you could also choose one with a menu of training programs already configured.
If you want to know how to choose a treadmill and not just go for the cheapest one, then keep reading the tips that will help you choose the perfect treadmill for you and your needs.
What should we look for when choosing a treadmill?
Power
One of the first things you should look at is power. Look at the maximum weight that the treadmill supports to see if it will support you. In addition, the power of the motor must be able to support the maximum speed that you want to reach in your training.
The incline of the treadmill also influences the power required by the motor.
In theory, a person weighing about 80kg would need a 1.5hp treadmill. But in general, the power considered optimal is 2 hip, especially if you run at more than 15 km/h.
Speed
Speed is another feature to consider as not all treadmills reach the same top speed.
That is why you should pay attention to what maximum speed the treadmill reaches or should reach the treadmill you want to use, because it may not be enough for your level of training.
In general the treadmills for beginners could reach at most 12km/h. If instead you are looking for a professional training or a treadmill that can last a long time throughout your training even if you are now a beginner, then the general choice is to choose a treadmill that reaches a maximum of 16km/h.
Incline degree of the treadmill
In this case, it does not matter if you are a beginner or a professional, since the incline9 of the treadmill will benefit you in your training, since the different levels of incline will allow us to practice different types of training, with which you can increase the intensity of the effort when walking. Or run
The most general degrees of incline that we can find on treadmills are: 7, 10, 12, and 15%.
In more professional treadmills they can also include inclines below 1 or 2%. This is useful when you have ankle or knee problems, since in these cases it is best not to strain and not use any type of incline on the treadmill.
Damping
The cushioning of treadmills is also a really important issue to take into account, since the cushioning systems are what allow runners to not withstand so much impact on their joints and thus also protect them. In addition, some forms of sliding such as in the opposite direction can cause some discomfort in some muscles, so cushioning is a crucial part. The best shock absorber systems that we can find in professional treadmills, such as the Protect Plus or the Softback system.
It is convenient to take into account what your weight is and what injuries you have, if any, to choose the type of cushioning that best suits you so that you can minimize the risks.
Size and surface
To choose the right size of your treadmill, you must take into account your height, since the taller you are, the greater your stride will be, so you will be much more comfortable on a larger treadmill.
To give you an idea, if you are a tall runner and you are taller than 1.80 cm, you will need a treadmill with a minimum surface area of 46×130 cm. If instead you measure less you can get a 42x127cm treadmill.
Console and programs
This last item should be the last thing you look at when choosing a treadmill, but instead it’s the first thing top runners look at. Although we can place it last, it is also important to choose the one that will best serve you, since the programs it includes will help you plan your training. These programs can measure your speed, how long you’ve been running, calories burned, how far you’ve run, etc. all of them important measures to know for any athlete. Although you can make up for these shortcomings with a watch with an internal accelerometer and/or an external pedometer for running on a treadmill.
Today you can get tapes with touch screens or buttons; you can also find tapes with up to 4 different windows on the screen. So you can see 4 metrics at once.
Taking into account your needs and what you would like to see on the screen while running, choose a treadmill that best suits your needs and preferences.
Now that you know all the most important features to consider when choosing a treadmill that is right for you. Do not forget all the basic characteristics that you should look at when choosing, and not just opt for the cheapest or the one that you like the most aesthetically. Remember that choosing an ideal treadmill for you should provide you with everything you need according to your level of training and also to protect you from some possible injuries and protect your joints.