7 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Treadmill

Thinking of getting a treadmill for your home gym? Fed up with commuting halfway across town to go for a run? Ready to stop paying your gym fees? Or are you setting up your own gym and are on the hunt for high-quality equipment? 

Well, you have come to the right place. Ask yourself these questions before you buy a treadmill and you can't go wrong. 

#1 - How Much Space Do You Have To Store The Treadmill? 

This might be one of the most important questions you can ask yourself before buying a treadmill. 

The last thing you want is not to be able to get your treadmill through the door to your office or to have it take up too much space in your home gym. 

Measure out the space that you have for the treadmill and double-check the dimensions of any piece of equipment you purchase. 

#2 - Do You Want A Curved Treadmill Or A Motorized Treadmill? 

The next thing you need to ask yourself is what kind of treadmill you want. 

Some of you may be thinking, there's more than one type of treadmill? Yes! 

There are curved treadmills and motorized treadmills. 

If you are looking to practice your sprinting or do CrossFit style workouts then you will want to go for a motorless curved treadmill. You may also find a motorless treadmill helpful if you're training for a race as it allows you to control your own pace. 

If you don't fit into those categories or you don't want to drop $3000+ on a treadmill then you will want to go for the traditional motorized treadmill. 

#3 - Do You Care How Your Treadmill Looks? 

Another thing you need to consider is the aesthetic of your treadmill. 

If you are someone who likes everything you own to look modern and sleek then you might want that for your treadmill as well. 

If this is the case then you will probably have to shell out a little bit more for your equipment. 

Conversely, if you don't care how your treadmill looks then you will find you can get some "less streamlined" but high-quality pieces of equipment for very good prices. 

#4 - How Fast Do You Want Your Treadmill To Go? 

You might not have considered this, but not all treadmills offer a large range of speeds. 

For example, when we read barbends' review on the proform carbon T7, we had no idea that this treadmill wouldn't offer speeds above 10 miles per hour. 

When you are a beginner, this is not going to bother you so much. Even if you are doing a HIIT workout, you won't need a treadmill that goes above 10 mph. 

However, experienced runners are going to want more. 

You should also think about the elevation options you want from your treadmill as well. 

#5 - Is It Okay If Your Treadmill Is Loud? 

If you're getting your treadmill for your home then you need to check out the reviews to make sure the treadmill is not too loud. 

If your treadmill is going to be in your office and you like to run after work then you are going to need to make sure it's not so loud that it wakes your kids up. 

However, if the treadmill is going to go in your shed or in your basement, this might not matter to you. 

#6 - Do You Want Your Treadmill To Come With A Fitness Program? 

How do you like to work out? Do you do your best when someone is cheering you on? Or do you love setting your own pace and getting lost in your thoughts? 

If you relate more to the first option, then you might want to consider a smart treadmill that comes with an interactive fitness subscription - think the Les Mills or Peloton treadmills. 

These are going to be more expensive options, but if they will help you develop an exercise habit then they might be more than worth it for you. 

If that sounds like a nightmare to you, then just avoid the smart treadmill options. 

#7 - How Much Do You Want To Spend On Your Treadmill? 

Finally, bearing in mind everything that we have discussed above - how much do you want to spend on your treadmill? 

It is generally true that you get what you pay for when it comes to treadmills. However, there are some hidden gems out there. 

One of the best things you can do is check out reviews of any products you are interested in. They will let you know if they are worth the money or if a cheaper treadmill is a huge bargain. 

If you are looking for a smart treadmill, they are still very new to the market and there aren't many cheaper alternatives yet.