Is a treadmill worth having?

I think so.......... ours is used every day. A good treadmill can provide a good aerobic and conditioning workout. I use it sometimes just to warm up before working out.

I have a very good commercial treadmill and it's night and day over the residential equipment. It has a 15 degree incline and is built like a tank.


Which treadmill are you talking about?

 

They are generally good for hanging clothes while you do the laundry. Look around at your friends' houses and you should see it used as a hanger bar. We have one that gets used 2 times per week or so. I think there are better machines to buy.
BT

 

My wife walks 3-5 miles a day at least 6 days a week for the past 20 yrs. About 8 years ago she switched from afternoons to 5:30 AM. I got her a club quality treadmill ($2900) for days of rain and cold. It lasted one winter. Now it's in a back corner. She has the gear for any weather. Sub zero, she does not care. Last month she cut it to 2 miles through 8" of snow. She love the air and the wildlife. You can't stop her.

Anyone want to buy a treadmill?

 

I also have a good commercial one. I use the elliptical trainer the most. The good thing about a treadmill is that if you wear a heart monitor it is the easiest thing to control your target heart rate. I used to like to run of mine and it would set the pace. The most fat burning occurs in about 50 to 60 % of your max heart rate. When you are at very high levels you are not burning fat but are training your heart and lungs.

 

It seems like you are making moving plans many years in advance. Do you plan to use the treadmill more, or is it for her mostly? Or do you plan working out at her place on a regular basis?

People find all sorts of excuses NOT to use their treadmill, even if it's in the same house.

A treadmill is definitely worth having if you use it regularly... so I would suggest keeping a treadmill in the same home you live in, if possible. If it has to stay in her home for a few years, plan on spending some extra dedicated time at her place just to use the treadmill.

Enjoy,
~shahedc
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If you opt for a treadmill, save yourself a lot of money and buy a used one. There are VERY few worn out treadmills for sale.

 

I would maybe get a cheaper one to start with or try to see if you will really use it.

I ride offroad about 5-10 miles a day on a mountain bike. In the winter I tried to do it at home with a stationery - I just cant do it. It sucks. No wildlife, no outdoors, no fresh air. As a friend said "stationary is just work... may as well clean the garage or the house".

You may be the type that can do it... I (and most) can't. Going outdoors and walking is 1000 times better than indoors, so IMO see if you can do the outdoors thing first. If you don't stick to it or get bored, no way you'll stick to the indoors one

 

If you will use it, buy the best you can afford. There is a difference between the pad under the treads on the cheap ones vs expensive ones.

If you or your gf use one currently at the gym (a lot) then I'd get one. If you think having one in front of you will make you use it, then I'd skip on it.

 

We have a few treadmills in our clinic. My suggestion is to find out where the treadmill came from. If it was previously at a gym in it is probably going to have more wear/tear on it. If it was owned by a private party I would presume it was used significantly less than a gym unit. The commercial grade units have a more robust motor as well as other parts. Second thing I would look at is the power source. We had to run 220 in our facility for our commercial grade units. Not sure if the one you are looking at is a 220v or 110v but it is something to consider. We have yet to have a problem with one of our units in 8 years with moderate use.

Tip: To increase the intensity of a treadmill workout increase the incline first not the speed. On an incline the gluts, hamstrings and calves are getting a more intense workout. It also increases your heart rate much quicker. Also you can try walking backwards. Increase the incline to at least 8% and walk backwards. This increases the effect on the quads which do not get as much of a workout when walking forward.

Good luck with your purchase.

Dan

 

I used to have a Schwin Air Dyne but switched to a high quality treadmill and it works great. I run about 5 miles a day on it. Use it about every day. I like it better than the bike. I race MX at 50 so I have to be in good shape. I got mine for free The person that got it used it 5 times and did not like it so there are deals out there if you look.

 

Any peice of exsercise equipment is worth having if it's actually used.

Buy new and go with the extended warratny, as the control boards and motors (if they go bad) can be a big $% of a whole new unit...ask me how I know =).

For that reason, I'd be leary of buying used. If things go wrong you could be well up to the cost of a new one and still have no coverage for the next time something happens.

 

I like an elliptical much better...

 

PT, Another good thing about the incline is it's better on the joints. I try to never run on one without some sort of grade for that reason.

 

I like my Merit 730T Treadmill, It was pretty easy to put together-comes with all necessary tools, and has large running surface and comfortable controls. I am thrilled with the incline, speed variations and the fan!I love it, really pleased to have it.

 

My brother bought a treadmill and a riding lawn mower. I asked him why he didn't kill two birds with one stone and get a push mower?