Most people use the treadmill for running. Others may prefer walking on it, but the majority really buy treadmills because they don’t want the hassle of having to go outside for a quick jog every morning or evening. For that, you need a lot of flat surface.

Your treadmill comes equipped with a rolling belt on which you will do your running. The suggested belt size should be at least 48 inches long and 16 inches wide. Look for a treadmill with those kinds of specifications and I guarantee you that you won’t regret it one bit.

If you plan on running, get a treadmill that goes up to 10 mph. For incline, get a treadmill that can go up to 10%. Some people say that an incline of 20% is the best choice, but really, that’s too much. Ten percent is exactly what you need, not too much, not too less.

Cushioning is another thing you should watch out for. Sprains happen when you run because you were wearing the wrong shoes or the ground wasn’t conducive to running, i.e. there wasn’t enough cushioning to support each foot-strike. When you buy a treadmill, choose one with a running bed that could absorb shock. Also, make sure that the bed doesn’t move around with every foot-strike.

When looking for a good treadmill, check the frame. Make sure that it provides you with stability. The treadmill should shake or move around when you run or walk on it. A good tip would be to try standing on the treadmill and hold on to the handlebars, assuming your position when you run. If the frame feels like it isn’t solidly placed, don’t buy that treadmill. Move on to the next one.

The control panel of your treadmill is the fun part. This is where you control every other aspect of your treadmill, besides the motor (and sometimes even that). Most treadmill models these days come with their very own exercise programs and let you choose which among the beginners, advanced, and expert programs you want to try. Other treadmills have their own personal electronic trainer installed in their programming and you can access that through your treadmill’s control panel.

When looking at control panels, it is important that it should be within easy reach from where you will be as you run. It is important that it be simple to use as well. Remember that your control panel is your one access to your treadmill because it where you can control everything with just a touch of a button or a twist of a knob.

Purchase treadmills online!

There are many types of treadmills for many types of individuals. There are treadmills with personal trainers installed in them. There are treadmills that purely traditional in the sense that they don’t have a single program running them. There are treadmills with maximum horsepower. There are treadmills with low power. So before you buy, try to decide what you want. Use the questions below as a guide in arriving at a decision:

• Do you want running or walking programs included?

• Do you need a heartrate monitor? 

• Do you want a function that lets you hook your treadmill up to a website such as ifit.com for new workouts?

• Do you need a treadmill that folds (usually more expensive) or do you have enough space to house a treadmill full time?

• How easy is the treadmill to maintain?