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- Introduction
- Best Treadmills Overall{3 mentions}{3 mentions}{13 mentions}{1 mention}{4 mentions}{3 mentions}{4 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}{2 mentions}
- Heavy-Duty Treadmills for Running{1 mention}{1 mention}{4 mentions}{2 mentions}{3 mentions}{5 mentions}
- Incline Trainers{4 mentions}{2 mentions}{1 mention}{4 mentions}{1 mention}
- Useful Links
- Our Sources
Choosing and using a treadmill
A treadmill is just one option for exercising at home. If you want more cardio options, ConsumerSearch has separate reports on elliptical trainers and stair steppers. See our reports on dumbbells and yoga mats for more options for your home gym.
TreadmillDoctor.com has an excellent treadmill buyer's guide that includes a checklist about your physical characteristics and how you intend to use the treadmill. Answering the questions on the checklist helps you narrow down an appropriate price range.
ConsumerReports.org has a step-by-step guide to help shoppers choose the right treadmill and get the best deal. Unlike much of ConsumerReports.org's content, the guide is free for nonsubscribers.
Dick's Sporting Goods, the sports and fitness retailer, also has a helpful buyer's guide that explains the different features and components you'll find on most treadmills.
Smooth Fitness addresses some of the ambiguities you may notice when comparing treadmill components, including problems with motor horsepower ratings, in its treadmill-buying guide.
The American College of Sports Medicine offers a brochure to help you select, and get the most use out of, a home treadmill.
Wendy Bumgardner, the walking guide at About.com, has an interesting article on "Treadmill Walking Mistakes to Avoid." The running guide, Christine Luff, has a similar article for runners entitled "Tips for Treadmill Running." (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
A recent article in Runner's World magazine includes treadmill training ideas such as race simulations, speed intervals and hill repeats.
The Walking Site has a useful guide for choosing the best walking shoes.
If you're looking for running shoes, Runner's World offers explanations about the basic foot diagnostics you can use to determine what kind of shoes you need, and we offer a full report on the best running shoes.
ConsumerReports.org recently polled more than 1,400 subscribers. Not only are most of them happy with their treadmill purchase, the majority of respondents use the machines at least as much as they're originally intended to.
Treadmill brands
You can find detailed treadmill specifications and features at manufacturers' websites:
FreeMotion, Gold's Gym, HealthRider, Image, NordicTrack, ProForm, Reebok and Weslo (all made by Icon Fitness)
