How Much Does a Treadmill Cost?

by Vishal Sanjay October 26, 2013, 11:27 pm 1.7k Views

Health and exercise enthusiasts recognize that the treadmill is the ultimate exercise machine since it is so natural to use.

But how much does a treadmill cost? That is a question we all pose when considering getting a treadmill for home use.

Treadmills cost anywhere between $200 and thousands of dollars. Some highly specialized treadmills cost even up to $25,000.

To find out which treadmill is best for you and what it will cost, there are some important features you should look at.

Manual Vs Motorized Treadmills

Manual treadmills will use your momentum to drive the belt whereas motorized treadmills have a motor that drives the belt and the user paces him/herself according to the speed of the treadmill belt.

Of course, this means the motorized treadmills will come with a bigger price tag. Manual treadmills come at a price of between $200 and $600.

They are smaller than motorized treadmills and use up less space. They are also easier to move from place to place and do not use up electricity. However, they tend to get spoilt faster.

Motorized treadmills for home use range between $800 and $8,000. They are built to take much more of a beating compared to manual treadmills and therefore last much longer. They also come with a variety of features that make exercise more varied and fun.

For instance, you can adjust the incline and decline, you can monitor your pulse and heart rate, and you can connect an iPod or watch TV on it. The price goes up depending on the features available.

>> You can check out the Discounted Price of the Best Treadmills at Amazon.com

Treadmill Belt

The most important aspect of the treadmill is the belt, whether you are using a manual treadmill or a motorized one.

You need a strong, thick belt that moves easily and is wide enough for comfortable exercising. A treadmill with a good quality belt that can accommodate a 200lb runner who exercises everyday will cost upwards of $1,500.

Weight

The weight of the person who will be using the treadmill and the number of people using it also determines what kind of treadmill you should be looking for and how much you should pay for it.

For instance, a 120lb senior citizen who will be using the treadmill twice a walk to walk will require less features and power compared to a 20-yr old marathon runner who exercises on a daily basis. In a household with overweight users who exercise on a frequent ongoing basis, you will need a stronger treadmill.

Typically, treadmill manufacturers tend to overstate their weight capacity by 50lbs. So if one of the users of the treadmill weighs 250lbs find a treadmill with a rating for 300lbs. Goes without saying that the higher the weight rating the more expensive the treadmill will cost.

Motor

The treadmills motor will affect the cost of a treadmill. The motor should be powerful enough to easily move the treadbelt. When choosing a treadmill that will be used by multiple users who weigh heavily, it is important to check both the continuous duty rating and the peak rating.

For users weighing in over 180lbs, they should not consider any treadmill with a continuous duty rating of less than 1.5 horsepower. Also keep in mind that the duration of the warranty provides a good indication of the quality of the motor. A lifetime warranty is preferred.

Controls

When computing the cost of a treadmill you should consider the types of controls your treadmill will have. It is important to have controls that enable the user monitor functions as they exercise.

These include heart monitors, pulse monitors, calories burned, and much more. A treadmill with basic pulse monitors will cost around $1,000 while those that measure pulse, heart rate, and calories will cost upwards of $1,200.

Elliptical Trainers and Other Advanced Treadmills

There are highly advanced treadmills that are costlier than regular treadmills. For instance, there are specialized treadmills for ice skaters used mostly by ice hockey players. These cost upwards of $20,000.

There are treadmills for use by people recovering from accidents, amputations, comas, and other body malfunctions. These treadmills used mostly for medical recovery purposes cost upwards of $5,000.

Many people would love to own a treadmill, an exercise bike, and a stair stepper in their homes but they are limited due to costs and space. Elliptical trainers offer a good combination of the functions of a treadmill and an exercise bike. They range in price from $1,500 to $5,000.

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