Treadmills
I am getting ready to buy a treadmill. Does anyone have a recommendation for brand or features? My hubby and I canceled our gym membership because he has a very serious lung disease and he has to wear oxygen when he exercises. He is too embarrassed to wear it to the gym. Please pray for him. Thanks.
Lynn J
Lap RNY 9/29/04
5' 4"
306/146/135
We bought a treadmill from Sears about 15 years ago. I don't remember the brand or model (it was stolen several years ago) but I can provide a few pointers as to what to look for.
Ours was a spacesaver model that folded up (which apparently made it especially easy for the thieves to roll it out the door!). It's still a nice feature if you might need to get the treadmill out of the way sometimes.
It's important to try the thing out in the store to make sure that it runs smoothly. Some models have a little hesitation to them (or in some cases, a lot of hesitation) which really makes your workout difficult. The pricier models seem to run the most smoothly but you can still find medium-priced ones that are very acceptable.
Also check the noise level. Ours was a bit on the noisy side, so it was impossible to hear the tv over it. Listening to music with headphones was fine. I noticed when I was checking some treadmills out online that some come with an iPod port, which would really be nice.
If you or your husband has a long stride, make sure that the belt isn't too short. That's never been a problem for me at 5 ft tall but my husband is a foot taller and it makes a difference for him. Also make sure that the incline is adjustable.
Also be sure that there is a mechanism for turning the machine off if you stumble or fall. Ours had a monitor and string that hooked to your tee-shirt - if the string was jerked, that turned the machine off immediately.
It's nice to have a mechanism for checking your heart rate, calculating distance, etc. All but the very cheapest models have that.
Many come with preprogrammed workouts like the ones at the gym. I think it's nice to have a few of those, but I wouldn't pay extra to get 12 workouts vs. 6.
Academy usually has a nice display of treadmills to try out. Also check outlets that sell used machines.
I've been thinking about getting a new treadmill, so please let us know what you end up buying.
Marcy
Thanks for all the info. We haven't looked at Academy Sports yet. We have only looked at Sports Authority and Sears. I will let you know what we get. I don't want to spend too much, maybe about $1500 or $1600. Sears had one on sale on Black Friday but we got there too late. The sale ended at Noon.
Lynn J
Lap RNY 9/29/04
5' 4"
306/146/135
I did a lot of research before bying mine some years ago. I used to go to Gold's Gym at the time, and when I cancelled my membership, I wanted something substantial for my treadmill. I ended up buying a Trimline, and I love it. It folds up and like everyone else mentioned, it is big so the folding aspect is really nice. Just be sure you have the room when it is opened up. I paid about $1200 for it....definitely worth it...it isn't wobbly or noisy and it runs smoothly. My husband is a firm believer that you get what you pay for. Good luck!
And good thoughts, chants, and prayers being sent to your husband from RI.
Cara
Cara
When you get older, you realize it's a lot less about your place in the world but your place in you. It's not how everyone views you, but how you view yourself. - Natalie Portman
'Life isn't like a bowl of cherries , it's more like a jar of Jalapenos--what you do today, might come back to burn you tomorrow......'
