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Treadmills are best buy in stocking home gym

By DAVID NORRIE
Published July 14, 2006

Jennifer Benjamin prefers to exercise outdoors in the fresh air. But with four boys between the ages of 4 and 11 out of school for the summer and the blistering heat of Florida hitting its peak, even the most enthusiastic fitness buff has to make adjustments.

She has a family membership to the YMCA less than 10 minutes away. The clubhouse in their community has a gym, a pool and activities for the kids. Yet most of the time she can be found sweating it out at home.

"It's simply more convenient to exercise at my own house," Benjamin said. "I don't have to worry about taking the kids someplace or plan out a two-hour block on how I'll fit my workout in."

Privacy, convenience and not having to worry about somebody else's sweat on the machine are a few reasons why she went out and purchased a StairMaster for her home. The $3,000 price tag was on the high end for a piece of home cardio equipment, but she recommends spending a little extra on a good piece of machinery you can trust.

With the children home during the day now, Benjamin tries to wake up before them, getting in 45 minutes of cardiovascular work with her favorite television show on. Husband Steve takes advantage of the equipment after he gets home from work, right before dinner. The time factor and not having to leave the house are invaluable to them both.

There is a certain amount of "gym atmosphere" that Benjamin misses. And running outdoors, she says, is certainly more entertaining and full of nature.

But she has a difficult time breathing in months with high humidity and when the sun is most intense. Heatstroke and skin cancer are two of the biggest reasons treadmill sales jump about 10 percent during the summer.

While Benjamin chose to go with a stair climbing machine, Josh Dobbie, manager of Precision Fitness Equipment on N Dale Mabry Highway and Fletcher Avenue, said the good old treadmill remains the home fitness industry's No. 1 seller.

According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, treadmills account for more than one-third of all home exercise equipment sales. In 2003, Americans spent nearly $2.7-billion on treadmills with that number growing by about 6 percent each year.

The quality, style and functionality of equipment varies, with a low-end basic treadmill starting around $400. That number can balloon up to $4,000 for a health club style machine.

"We have about 15 different models which we sell," Dobbie said. "The majority of the people are concerned with things like price, quality and simplicity. They don't want something too complicated."

For the average person out shopping for their first piece of home cardio equipment, something basic to walk or jog on, the most popular treadmill might be something like the ProForm 350. With a $400 price tag, it's a good beginner model. It weighs about 125 pounds and is 62 inches long by 28 inches wide. It can fold down easily and be stored away when not in use.

However, if you're an avid runner and need to take your training indoors, there's a good possibility you'll need something a little more advanced and sturdy.

"If you go into a store, look for a treadmill rated for the specific needs you have," said Mario Sabatine, manager of Play It Again Sports on N Dale Mabry. "Seventy five percent of treadmills are for walking or jogging, but a true runner does not want a folding treadmill with a small belt. Also make sure to look for how much continuous horsepower is being fed to the belt."

A pure running treadmill will provide a much firmer surface and have a minimum of 3 horsepower being continuously fed to the belt, whereas a typical jogging treadmill has between 1.75 and 2 horsepower.

"Walking and jogging machines provide a lot of cushion," Sabatine said. "To a runner it may feel as if they are on a trampoline."

Some of the major manufacturers of treadmills are Keys Fitness, ProForm, Spirit and Horizon. However the Landice L7 Pro Sports Trainer model was named the No. 1 model for heavy runners and pros by Consumer Reports and a "Best Buy" by Treadmilldoctor.com. It will set you back about three grand but is manufactured to the same standards as most commercial health club machines. Driven by a 3-horsepower continuous motor, it received "excellent" ratings for ease of use, ergonomics, exercise range and quality. It is said to be able to "take a real pounding" and comes with a lifetime warranty on all parts.

With so many choices on the market it may seem like a difficult task to decide which treadmill is right for you. I suggest making a list of the things most important to your individual needs. You may be interested in accessories such as a calorie counter or a heart rate monitor. Size and storage ability may take precedence. And, of course, price is always a factor.

To help you with your purchase, research your equipment on Treadmilldoctor.com, Consumer Reports or Treadmilltips.com.

There is always the option of looking in the classified ads as well.

Fitness Management magazine says 80 percent of home exercise equipment is not used after the first year.

That's the type of stuff that usually makes it into the paper, and most sellers will part with it simply looking to make space in their garage.

Regardless of what you buy, purchasing a treadmill is a great step toward a better body and greater health. So make a decision and run with it.

[Last modified July 14, 2006, 08:37:15]