Posts Tagged ‘home treadmill’

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What Treadmill Equipment Do I Really Need?

January 29th, 2011


If you’re in the market for a treadmill to run or walk on, you’re not alone. Many people prefer treadmills to outdoor exercise. They don’t have to deal with extremes of weather, and if they feel self-conscious exercising then a home treadmill is the perfect solution. Once you’ve decided to get a treadmill of your own, you need to decide what kinds of treadmill equipment you’ll need.

Obviously, you’ll need the treadmill machine itself. Most people are well informed on how to pick a treadmill. With any machine you consider, take note of the brand name and features as well as the dimensions of the machine. You want to make sure that there are no surprises once you bring it home and set it up. But there are many other pieces of equipment beyond the basic frame that your treadmill will require.

A treadmill belt is the second most important consideration. This is the part that you will be running on, so it really is the most important part of your treadmill. If you’re suddenly having difficulty running on your treadmill, you probably need a new belt. Most treadmills come with a belt when you purchase them. But you may want to buy a higher-quality belt than the stock belt that comes with the treadmill, or you may want an extra belt around in case you need a replacement later on.

Treadmill lubricant allows the belt to slide effortlessly over the metal parts of the treadmill, which is absolutely necessary to a smoothly operating machine. Choose a wax-based lubricant over oil or silicon-based lubricants.

In regards to lubricant, you really need to read the manual that comes with your treadmill. It should recommend a lubrication schedule that will optimize the performance of your machine. And some treadmills come with pre-waxed belts that don’t need lubrication at all. It’s all in the manual, so make sure to read it.

Another important piece of equipment is a floor mat to put underneath your treadmill. This will soften impact to your knees as you run or walk, as well as protect your floor from being scratched or scuffed by the heavy treadmill. Most mats measure about 3′ by 6′, but they vary slightly. Extra-long mats are also available. Some are made from foam, but most exercisers consider vinyl mats to be the most durable and functional.

Other accessories also fall in the category of equipment you’ll need. Accessories like replacement safety keys, surge protectors, clip on heart rate monitors, water bottles in attachable caddies, and running apparel are all necessary for a successful treadmill experience.

Hopefully you’ve seen in this article that there’s more to buying a treadmill than meets the eye. You actually need several pieces of treadmill equipment to make your purchase complete. Once you’ve gathered all the necessary equipment, start exercising and have fun.

By: Jenny Evans

About the Author:
If you are in search of the latest and greatest treadmill equipment out today, then visit http://www.TreadmillBuyingGuide101.com, where you’ll find this and much more, including a 2 part buying guide and top of the line reviews.



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Which is Best, a Treadmill Or the Firm Wave?

January 23rd, 2011


Whichever piece of home exercise equipment you choose, there are several factors to take into consideration.

How much available space do you have? How much are you willing to pay? Do you want something that can be hidden away in a closet, or left out all the time? Do you want something to tone and shape muscles as well as give you a cardio workout?

It’s really worth sitting down and having a good think about these points – there’s nothing worse than buying a home exercise machine and realizing it’s not what you wanted!

The Firm Wave is a cleverly designed, curved exercise system that can be used in several ways:?

Curve-side down it works your legs and core, burning calories and toning your mid-section as well as improving your balance and co-ordination. Curve-side up it is more stable and can be used for Step exercises. Add exercise bands to create a full-body muscle toning system. Can also be used for Pilates exercises to create long, lean muscles and flat abs.

The WAVE can be used in a small space and put away in a closet when not in use, making it the ideal piece of equipment for a small spare room or apartment. Cost-wise, the WAVE represents great value for money and comes complete with several DVDs and a useful wall chart.

A treadmill, on the other hand, represents a much larger investment, costing from $200 for a manual system, up to several $1000 for a state-of-the-art motorized model with varied speeds, programs and inclines. My experience is that spending around $2000 will get you a first-class home treadmill with a lifetime guarantee on the frame, a smoothly-running motorized belt that is wide enough to be comfortable and long enough to take large strides, and enough programs to ensure you reach your training goals and never become bored! Oh, and don’t forget the heart-rate monitor and calorie-burn counter that are also included on these models.

Most companies will deliver and install your treadmill at that price. All you have to do is step on and press a button. Treadmills are permanently set up and take up a lot of space, although there are several folding models if space is a premium.

As an exercise professional, I rate both the treadmill and the Wave. However, a treadmill is much larger and more expensive, and cannot be used for toning the arms and shoulders – and I don’t recommend trying Pilates on a moving treadmill!

It doesn’t actually matter which piece of equipment you go for, just as long as you actually use it. My personal choice for convenience and value would be the Wave – there are not many? pieces of equipment that work your heart and lungs, tone muscle, burn calories and strengthen your core, all in one small value-for-money package!

By: Carol Bartram

About the Author:
Carol J Bartram is a qualified Personal Trainer, Pilates Instructor and Sports Therapist who has looked at many pieces of home fitness equipment. She thinks The Firm Wave, an inexpensive Personal Gym is a fabulous piece of home exercise equipment, which will help you to lose fat, get stronger and look great.



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What To Do With Your Old Treadmill

January 20th, 2011


Home treadmills have improved so much in the past few years that you may very well want to get a new one. Typically, you can’t trade in your old one and, like most mechanical equipment these days, it’s usually cheaper to buy a new one than to repair or upgrade your old one. The question then becomes what to do with your old one.

Sure you could take your old treadmill down to the local dump and pay fee to dispose of it, but there must be a better way. Yard sales are a good option, especially if your old treadmill still runs. If it doesn’t, hiring a professional to fix it may not make economic sense. However, buying a needed part or two can increase the treadmills value substantially. The same thing holds for Internet sources like Craigslist. It can actually be quite worthwhile to sell on Craiglist. You can get a good price on Craigslist if you have a recognizable model, the buyer knows what he’s looking for, and your equipment is in good condition.

Giving a working treadmill to your local community center or other public facility can be nice, but only if the treadmill works. Otherwise, the gesture is likely to be recognized for what it is – an attempt to unload your junk on someone else! You could get a charitable deduction for the gift if you give it to a recognized charity. A $200 for a typical old home treadmill should be defensible if you are questioned by the IRS.

Local fitness stores may be open to a trade-in, especially if you are buying a better quality treadmill from an independently-owned store. They still have limited flexibility in what they can do, though. They might at least agree to take your old equipment away when they deliver the new one and then dispose of the old one.

Of course, as a last resort, you could simply throw your old treadmill away. Unlike a computer or television, there should be no toxic parts in a treadmill. There is also almost no salvage value to the metal. The treadmill may be big, but it is fairly easy to disassemble. The console and supports can be unscrewed, removed, and fit into a garbage can. The bottom part with the belt may be a bit more unwieldy, but is certainly an easy fit into a dumpster.

Bad ways to dispose of your equipment include leaving it on the sidewalk, forming an artificial reef in the ocean, and giving it to your overweight friend with no interest in exercising. You could also just keep it and use it like so many people do – as a clothes rack. Whatever you do, or don’t do, with your old treadmill, if getting a new one will cause you to use it, or to work out more, it is worth it!

By: Robert Braun

About the Author:
Robert Braun has been using, selling, and writing about treadmills, see http://www.Treadmill-World.com



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