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[W663]Where To Buy A Treadmill

by Kathryn Oneill, Kat

But where can you look?

There are in general 3 places you can buy your tread mill. This article will outline what you should know about each. You'll learn the advantages and disadvantages - to help you find the best treadmill buy.

#1 Department Stores

Department stores like Walmart, Sears, and Target sell a variety of name brand treadmills in their sports and fitness departments.

What you should know: Although these stores may appear to offer several different brand names they are almost always produced by one manufacturer - Icon Health and Fitness.

Icon is one of the largest treadmill manufacturers on the market today and produces such brands as Proform, Weslo, Epic, Image, Nordic Track, Free Spirit and Reebok.

These treadmills have lots of neat gadgets like CD players, TV's, iFit compatibility and more. However, they are not necessarily known for high quality cushioning, stability or durability.

They also typically offer short warranties. For many of the cheaper treadmills, 90 days on parts and labor is all you get. If you want a longer warranty you'll have to pay extra for it.

Salespeople at these department stores are often not very knowledgeable about treadmills, fitness or how to choose the right treadmill based on your personal needs. So if you need to buy from a department store make sure you do your homework before you go.

Also, at a department store, you'll usually have to pay extra for shipping and delivery of your treadmill (around $150 - $200) so that's also an extra cost to consider.

#2 Specialty Sports and Fitness Stores

These are stores like Fitness Depot, Dick's Sporting Goods, Sport Chalet etc.

What you should know: These stores typically offer you higher end treadmill brands like Precor, Landice, Trimline, Star Trac, Keys and more.

You technically get a larger selection at these stores because the treadmill brands are made by more than 1 giant treadmill manufacturing company.

Sales people are typically more knowledgeable at these stores and can tell you more about the treadmill models, what you need, etc. However be careful as these salespeople are often on commission and may try to pressure you into buying a higher priced machine than you actually need.

You'll also typically have to pay for shipping and delivery of your treadmill when you buy at one of these stores (which could cost you $150-200 depending on the size of your treadmill). However if you hit these stores on a sale, you may be able to get a discount or free shipping.

#3 Online - Direct From the Manufacturer

Buying a treadmill online is an option that is growing in popularity with buyers. There are both online fitness stores and online treadmill manufacturers.

What you should know: Online manufacturers sell direct to the consumer, in effect skipping the middleman of the store. Consequently customers can save up to $800 on a brand name treadmill.

Buying online is also easy and convenient since you can research treadmill brands and prices from the comfort of your living room. You have a much larger selection of treadmill brands than either option above and can thus make a better buying decision.

Another bonus is that online distributors typically offer free shipping which can also save you a couple hundred dollars. There are no pushy salespeople to deal with so you can take your time to decide without any pressure.

The downside of buying a treadmill online is that you don't get to walk on the treadmill first. Many people get around this by trying them out at stores first and then buying the treadmill online (if possible).

Or you could do the research and invest in a high end treadmill brand with high ratings from experts and users. (Several treadmill websites will list any expert awards or user reviews for you to read.)

So those are 3 main places to buy your treadmill. Regardless of where you buy your tread mill, remember to take your time, have fun and consider your own personal workout needs before buying.

Running has the potential to burn serious calories. An average sized person can burn 200 calories in 20 minutes with ease. It can also slow bone and muscle loss because your body is responding to the physical demands of running. Walking is also a good form of cardiovascular activity. A brisk walk can burn about 120 calories in 20 minutes.
Having a treadmill at your house has several advantages over running or walking outside. You can use your treadmill in a much more controlled environment. You don't have to worry about rain and you can control the temperature. There is also additional padding on the decks of the treadmill that absorb energy this in turn helps lower the impact to your feet and knees over concrete. It is easier for people to set a dedicated time during the day to take care of their exercise needs when they have a treadmill at their home.
A treadmill or elliptical also allows you to control the pace of your workout. It is an advantage to be able to use the same piece of equipment on every workout. There are always small differences between treadmills even if they are the same brand and same model. Maybe one is better lubricated, has a different belt tension or has better bearings. This has probably been experienced by anyone who visits the gym on a regular basis. Having the ability to control your workout allows you to escalate your workout in a controlled manor.
The single most important thing to consider when looking to buy a treadmill or elliptical for your home is ?Will you use it?? This is a simple question but so many people buy gym memberships, home fitness equipment, diet books and workout videos just because they feel like they want to lose weight and improve their health but don't follow through with any dedication. If you go forward and decide to make the purchase of a treadmill you should spend some time and create a schedule that you can set for yourself where you can get in a regular workout. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. If you can't commit to exercising at least 3-4 times a week then you may want to reconsider the investment of having a treadmill in your home. Getting fit is ?work? but the benefit is improving your health mentally and physically.
You can keep your workout fun. It is a great time to have a little time for self improvement. You can put on a set of headphones and listen to the music you enjoy and spend a little time improving your health and feeling better about your appearance. Try not to over commit yourself when you first start. It is easy to get burned out with a program and then you will find yourself slowly move away from being active.
Take your time and determine which machine and what type of program you could see yourself making a long term commitment to using. Be realistic about your expected results, stick with it and you will find your life will improve in many ways.

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About Author

Both Kathryn Oneill & Onebrady are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Kathryn Oneill has sinced written about articles on various topics from elliptical, Treadmill Exercises and Information Technology. Kathryn O'Neill is a contributing writer for , offering unbiased treadmill ratings. For the latest treadmill reviews visit. Kathryn Oneill's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.

Onebrady has sinced written about articles on various topics from Interior Design, Treadmill Exercises and Home Improvement. Brady Freeman is a regular contributor at a site you can visit to find a comprehensive. Onebrady's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.