Trying to decide what kind of fitness equipment you should get? Treadmills are the most popular pieces of exercise equipment on the market right now - followed closely by elliptical trainers.
This is probably because treadmills give you a lot of benefits and they are also one of the most advanced home equipment types in terms of technology as well.
So should you choose a treadmill over an elliptical, rower or stair climber? Here are 5 benefits you may want to consider:
#1 Easiest Form of Exercise
On a treadmill you can both walk, jog and even walk uphill or hike. While jogging or hiking might offer some people a challenge, walking is an easy exercise that pretty much anyone can do.
It's the perfect exercise for anyone regardless of fitness level or age group. Plus a lot of treadmill give you better cushioning than walking outdoors - which is great if you struggle with shin splints, sprains or injury.
#2 Simple To Use
Almost every treadmill I've ever seen through the years has all the basics you need to just get on and go. This is usually known as a "quick start" option.
So while you can always jump on your treadmill and spend a couple of minutes figuring out which program you want to use etc, if you want to keep things simple, you can just get on and hit the quick start button and start the machine.
From there you can adjust the speed and incline levels to suit your taste. Every treadmill starts off very slow - about 0.5 MPH so this is a simple way to just get on and go.
It really doesn't get much more complicated than that.
Of course there are lots of treadmills that give you a whole lot more than just quickstart options - everything from fancy workout programs to high intensity training intervals to iPod docks and even online tracking apps. But if you don't want to use these you don't have to.
At the end of the day a treadmill is so simple, anyone can figure out how to use it.
#3 Lots of Fun Toys
Ok, so what if you're into the toys? Not a problem. You can find a model to suit you.
These days you can find everything from built-in TV's to web browsers to animated trainers talking you through your workout.
You can also find home treadmills with fans in the console to keep you cool and even online tracking options. This way you can track your workouts over time to graph your calorie burn and weight loss goals.
Treadmills are pretty much the most advanced fitness equipment in terms of online toys and tracking. Elliptical trainers and bikes are catching up, but treadmills still have the advantage.
So if you're into tracking your stats or doing virtual reality workouts, then you can probably find the treadmill that is right for you pretty easily.
#4 Folding to Save Space
While there a couple of elliptical trainers that fold, they are much harder to find than a treadmill that folds up. Most home treadmills do fold up and lock into place with wheels on the bottom for easy movement.
So while a treadmill is not the lightest piece of fitness equipment, you can still fold it up and away for easy cleaning. That makes the treadmill a good choice for smaller spaces like condos or apartments.
#5 Great for the Whole Family
Everyone can walk or jog or run. And a treadmill offers some great versatility if you have multiple people in the family who want to use it.
Contrast this with an elliptical trainer or a rowing machine - which are a little more specific types of exercise and not everyone likes them. So a treadmill gives the best overall options if there are more than one family member who will be using to them.
So those are the benefits of choosing a home treadmill. Are there any downsides?
Well, to be fair yes there are. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
#1 Treadmills Can Be Heavy
These are some of the heaviest pieces of fitness equipment on the market - especially if you get a high quality machine. This ensures it won't shake or wobble when you pick up the pace.
However it can also make it a pain to move if you're by yourself (and/or the treadmill doesn't fold up).
#2 Larger Footprints When In Use
When they are actually in use, treadmills have some of the largest footprints of any of the choices of fitness equipment. So while they fold up to save space, if you actually need a smaller machine, you'll either need an extra compact treadmill - or another type of fitness equipment.
So there you have it - some of the benefits and drawbacks of choosing a treadmill for your home gym. There are lots of places to do research on your treadmill if you decide you want one.
Next we'll discover the benefits of an elliptical in the follow up post!
