Treadmill

[Hanfel]

Am seriously considering getting a treadmill- I know most people hate them but those who don’t what do you recommend? Thanks

[harveyemm]

Hi, I bought a treadmill about 5 years ago and have not regretted it for a second.

It has been great when I injured myself for building up slowly and I can walk whilst watching the tv.

I live in an urban area where it would not be safe for me to run at night and my treadmill is there for me anytime.

I just bought one from Argos and it suits my needs. The things to look out for in my opinion:

How much space do you have?

The one I bought folds up and has wheels so I can move it fairly easily to the side of my room. If you have a dedicated room then size or move ability may not be a big factor.

Speed and Size

Some treadmills have faster speeds than others and it depends on what type of runner you are. I am not a fast runner so my basic treadmill suits me but I imagine Mo Farah would find it a bit too basic. Also there is a weight limit on most treadmills so it is important to choose one that is the right size.

It would be better for a tall well built person to have a look at the overall dimensions of the belt as I can imagine it might feel a bit odd. I am short so this is not so much of a problem for me.

Manual or Automatic Incline

My treadmill has 3 level of inclines that I have to adjust manually whereas on some treadmills you just press a button.

I can manage with mine but probably if I bought a new one I would upgrade a bit. I am an average runner but I can imagine a really good runner would prefer a treadmill with a whole range of inclines.

Extras such as speakers and WiFi

My treadmill has no extras in this department but there are a lot on offer that have all kinds of features.

Budget

Cost is also the other factor. The more features the more expensive the treadmill. When mine packs up I will upgrade a bit because I have really enjoyed using it and more features would be great. However if you are on a budget a basic one is fine if you just want to supplement running outdoors. I have not used a non-motorised treadmill so do not know how good they are. I have seen a treadmill advertised that analyses your running style but it costs thousands.

I hope this helps and good luck with your running.

[Hanfel in reply to harveyemm]

Thankyou so much for such a helpful response! Do you mind me asking what one you have at the moment? I don’t want to spend a fortune and have a room it can stay in but really just want one that can cope with a moderate run few times a week when the icy and wet weather kicks in with dark mornings. So good to know you have benefitted as I am hoping to xx

[harveyemm in reply to Hanfel]

Hi.

I have an Everlast XV7. I bought it a few years ago so I'm not even sure if it is still made.

I just went on the Argos site and chose the cheapest at that time. I wanted a motorised one. If it breaks down or if I am feeling flush I would probably would just go on Argos again and upgrade it to one with an automatic incline button and slightly higher speed limit. However I am happy with the one I've got.

I pulled a hamstring quite badly a while back and I couldn't seem to get back into running for fear I would pull it again. I thought I would just give up running. However I started really slowly on the treadmill for 10 mins or so. It has been a godsend and I have built up my strength again. I run 4 times a week now--a mixture of long and slow and short intervals. The treadmill works fine for that.

With winter coming and various lockdown situations looming I feel my treadmill will see me through it all.

I hope you get one you like and good luck with all your running.