Bodyguard T240

The best reviews of the Bodyguard T240 treadmill come from TreadmillDoctor.com and TreadmillSensei.com. The strength of TreadmillDoctor.com is its authoritative and broad coverage of nearly every treadmill available in the U.S.; its weakness is that each individual review is very short. TreadmillSensei.com has a smaller number of reviews (although most popular models are covered), but the author goes into much more detail. Taken together, the two sites add up to excellent coverage of the Bodyguard T240. TreadmillTips.com is a good secondary stop for treadmill shoppers. Author Aaron Co acknowledges that he does more research than actual testing of the treadmills he reviews, but he does discuss each model's features and adds some insight of his own. About.com's guide to walking has a ranked list of the top eight mid-range treadmills. While the ranking is useful, the review would be more credible if some testing had been done. An overview of the Bodyguard brand at Men's Total Fitness includes little information that can't be found in the better reviews.

The Bodyguard T240 has dropped off one top reviewer's Best Buy list for 2009; the reviewer says it's thanks to a price hike and some downgraded parts. Overall, critics say this is still a solid, high-quality treadmill. The warranty in particular -- 10 years on parts and three years on labor -- makes it stand out from other models. However, in the $2,000 range, reviews are now more likely to recommend the Smooth 9.35 HR (*est. $2,000), which has a lifetime parts warranty and a slightly more powerful motor than the Bodyguard (3 horsepower versus 2.75 horsepower). Light runners and joggers might want to consider a less expensive treadmill like the Sole F80 (*est. $1,500), which also offers a 3-horsepower motor and a very good warranty. Both the Smooth 9.35 HR and the Sole F80 include wireless chest strap heart rate monitors (optional on the Bodyguard) and the ability to automatically adjust the workout to keep your heart rate in its target zone.