Which treadmill should you buy? That’s the burning question for most people who are looking to boost their home fitness options. The market is flooded with quality running machines – not to mention a few of more dubious quality – and the sheer volume of choices available to you can be overwhelming.

The trouble with figuring out which treadmill to buy is that there are a great many variables to take into account. To start with, you’ve got to think about price. A treadmill price can vary wildly. The top-of-the-line exercise machines will cost you several thousand dollars. For some people, price is no barrier, so they might be looking to go for the top treadmills money can buy. Other buyers might include professional gym owners, who want the very best pro-grade machines in their establishments. Then there are those who want an affordable option to help them lose weight at home.

Once you have figured out what treadmill price-point ballpark you are looking at, you’ve got a few more decisions to make. There are all kinds of special settings and features out there on different models. Some top treadmills are built to handle heavier weights, while others put a premium on durability and running comfort in their design. The length and width of the underfoot tread belt also varies, with shorter belts providing a better option for walking or jogging, and longer belts allowing runners to take bigger strides while running.

Gadgets

The top treadmills today are all-singing all-dancing, with some stunning bells and whistles. Many have Google Maps featured, allowing you to run real routes from the warmth and comfort of home. Other features might allow you to connect the treadmill to a smart TV and simulate runs through spectacular virtual scenery. A lot of treadmills also come with preset workouts and automatic incline options, while some can connect with fitness trackers and apps to provide a comprehensive fitness experience. A good portion of machines come with entertainment options now too. They might feature inbuilt sound systems with MP3 connectivity, or attached HD screens. All of this is on top of the usual variables, including motor power and top speed. When it comes to deciding which treadmill you want, these are just some of the extras on offer.

“Coin-Grip” Rolls PVC Flooring

• PVC material helps these flooring rolls last for a long time
• Coin flooring looks great in commercial and residential areas
• Perfect for use as a marine floor in aquariums and other places prone to wetness
• Ideal for use as gym floor mats, van floor mats, bathroom flooring, trailer floor mats, kitchen floor mats, flooring for the basement, and more

Enhanced Traction: One of the perks of having coin flooring like this is that the risk of slip and fall accidents is greatly reduced. The coin patterns that give the roll its signature name are slightly raised. Although hard to see with the naked eye, the raised circles help to provide feet with a higher level of grip and balance. Even the PVC material itself is good for traction purposes. It is a feature that comes in handy especially when the flooring is used as a marine floor for wet areas.

Permanent or Temporary Installation: This commercial PVC flooring is a versatile product in the way it can be installed. If you have it in mind to permanently install this PVC flooring, using glue adhesives like the BASF Chemrex® CX-941 is your best option. But not everyone is so fixed in one location. For the movers out there, double-sided tape if your best option because it is so easy to apply and remove.

Brands

Before you can even think about choosing a specific model, you have to figure out which treadmill brand you should go for. There is a machine out there for everyone and the best treadmill brands will offer durability and great warranties. It’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list, but these are some of the best treadmill brands within different price points, along with some of the options they specialize in.

NordicTrack™
NordicTrack provides top treadmills as one of the most trusted names in the industry. One of the company’s key selling points is that it makes machines to cover a wide range of budgets, starting at under $800 and rising to more than $3,000. NordicTrack™ treadmills are known for having good motor power, and all models feature an interactive training coach as well as pre-loaded workouts. The upper end of the price range has some extra features such as HD touchscreens and wireless heart monitors. Some of the newer models are also built specifically to include extreme incline options, giving runners an effective uphill option in their own homes. These are some of the top treadmills available.

LifeSpan™
LifeSpan™ also has a good treadmill price range, from around $700 on basic units, up to about $2,500. The LifeSpan™ options include several treadmill desks – allowing people to work at a laptop while moving their feet and getting exercise – as well as the more traditional treadmill choices. Most models can be folded away for storage, but are still known for their stability and safety features. The more advanced LifeSpan™ choices have inbuilt sound systems with iPod connectivity, preset and personalized workouts, as well as features that track advanced body and performance metrics.

Horizon Fitness™
Horizon™ features a lower end price point under $1,000, reaching up to prices topping $2,000. Even the base models heave some great features to make a tough treadmill workout more manageable though. All new Horizon™ treadmills have a virtual video feature, which allows you to hook the machine up to your TV and run on stunning routes – including Yosemite and Niagara Falls – from the comfort of your own home. Machines also offer capabilities to provide a 12-15 percent incline (depending on the model), to make sure you get the most from your workout. When deciding which treadmill you want, an incline feature is an important consideration for serious exercisers. Some models are better suited to walking due to the short belt length, while others run longer to allow runners to hit peak performance.

“Shark Tooth II” Heavy-Duty Floor Mat

• Prevent damage to any surface
• A heavy-duty mat designed to handle shocks and impacts
• Perfect for protecting sections of floor that are under heavy equipment
• Can be cleaned with common household cleaners

Prevent Slips and Falls: Safety is always first! This is why the checker-plate design featured on the mat’s surface not only looks sharp and sleek but is functional as well! This pattern, combined with rubber’s natural ability to provide traction, greatly increases the mat’s non-slip qualities.

Customize Your Protection: As a standalone black rubber mat, this product works best when protecting specific portions of floor that see heavy use. Multiple mats can be cut and configured to fit any flooring situation; all you need is a standard utility knife! Whether you need to protect a small corner in your gym or a narrow pathway in the warehouse, the Shark Tooth II mat can help protect your floors in almost any situation.

Sole™
Sole™ makes top treadmills that are designed for use at home, but have the extra heavy-duty feel and stability of a machine you might find at a fitness club. The company has a current range of five models, with the cheapest coming in under the $1,000 mark. Every model has an ultra-thick tread belt to boost machine durability and runner comfort. Some of the higher-priced Sole™ models are extremely sturdy and can bear weights up to 400 pounds. All treadmills also offer inbuilt fans and 15 percent incline options.

3G Cardio™
3G Cardio™ is a relatively new brand, but has quickly earned a great reputation for the quality of its treadmills. Its base model is mostly for walking and jogging, but comes in under the $1,000 mark. 3G Cardio™ has several other top treadmills, ranging right up to the $3,400 Elite Runner. The company offers lifetime guarantees on motors and frames, as well as long-term warranties on parts. Some handy gadgets and gizmos are present and stack up well against price point rivals, but the entire range favors strong functionality over flash. When it comes to choosing which treadmill you want, you need to know where your priorities lie.

Smooth Fitness™
Smooth Fitness™ products are solely available online, giving them a very competitive price point for the features on offer. Machines start at $899, but range up to a sale price of $3,999. Smooth Fitness™ offers top functionality, as well as entertainment options to make sure your run doesn’t get too monotonous. All of the company’s top treadmills come with longer than average tread belts, good stability and impressive motor power. The high-end treadmill additions also have top shock-absorbing qualities, booming audio systems and optional built-in TV screens, allowing you to exercise for longer without boredom setting in.

“Armor-Lock (Fitness)” Interlocking Rubber Tile

• Smaller sized tiles that are perfect for smaller sized gyms or garages
• Flooring for a garage. These tiles can handle the abusive most residential (& commercial) garages.
• Use as flooring for gym. Since it can absorb the impact of heavy weights and resists moisture, these are ideal to place in your workout areas.
• Affordability plus durability. These eco-friendly recycled floors are made from reclaimed rubber, which is tough and long lasting.

Pebble Top Finish: The vulcanized surface of these recycled floors comes with a pebble top finish. This quality helps the tile give your feet a good level of comfort and traction, especially if you are using these as a type of flooring for gym.

Easy to Transport: Sometimes, the circumstances in our lives dictate a change of location. If you happen to find yourself on the move to new territory, or if you just want something that is easy to carry around, then these 20” x 20” rubber flooring tiles are for you. Because of their smaller size and lighter weight, they are perfect for easy transportation. Add this to the fact that this is interlocking flooring, meaning that you will be spared from carrying around the additional adhesive materials that you would need for most other roll flooring.

ProForm™
ProForm™ carries some high-quality options to meet all needs and abilities, with the company’s lowest-priced model currently coming in at a very affordable $599. Some of the models on offer through ProForm™ are made for serious runners and marathon trainers, with automatic incline and decline features, as well as variable impact absorption options to simulate the feel of running on outdoor surfaces. Different models might have LCD displays or HD touchscreens, while newer treadmill consoles boast 3-inch speakers and impressive preset workout options. These are some of the top treadmills on the market at all price points.

Vision Fitness™
Vision Fitness™ has a well-earned reputation for producing top treadmills. But that reputation comes with a heftier price tag – its lowest-priced model comes in at around $1,999. The company produces treadmills for home and commercial use, so Vision’s top products are approaching $4,800 in price. This might be out of reach for many, so this should be kept in mind when deciding on which treadmill you want. But Vision Fitness™ treadmills do live up to the price tag. They boast smooth rides, strong motors with lifetime guarantees and incline features. Some models also feature hydraulic folding systems, while others on the higher end of the range have large HD touchscreen displays.

Which Treadmill is for You?

These are just some of the brands out there producing top treadmills, with enough quality to make a top-notch addition to your home gym. Many of the brands feature an affordable option, best-suited to those who are dedicated to their fitness while on a budget, as well as higher-priced choices. As we’ve seen, which treadmill you opt for will depend on a whole range of factors, including price. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. However, while the higher price points feature the greater specifications and more advanced gadgets – from entertainment systems to durability and motor power – it is very possible to get top treadmills at great prices. It is important to do your research before you buy to make sure you get the features you need, no matter which treadmill brand you opt for.

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