I was hoping to start a thread on the discussions of treadmills and what dopers might recommend.
I’ve extensively searched through threads over the past six years on the topic and the number one response I’ve seen (if there is a response, usually these threads aren’t terribly popular) is “one large enough to hold an airplane,” so I’m looking forward to similarly useful replies.
My budget is $1000, which I figure will start to get me up into actual quality treadmills. I’ve been looking at a few different ones. Horizon t92 which has a speaker output, fans to help cool, and a 300 lbs weight capacity which is nice because the higher the weight the more likely (IMO) it’s built to last and withstand continual usage. I’ve run on one before and it performs nicely.
I’ve also heard good things about the Sole f63 and the Smooth 5.45 though I haven’t had the opportunity to run on them.
I’ve been looking around Craigslist. I can definitely get a better deal, but I’m just not sure if I want to trust a purchase this big to the unreliability the guy selling and what defects the machine may be hiding.
Foldability is important but not crucial. I’m also rearranging the house and debating on what else to include in the room. Space is at a premium so I’m wondering how little of room I need and still make running comfortable.
So anything you guys can weigh in on with this purchase would be nice. What’s important to you in a treadmill?
I’ve had a PaceMaster Pro for more than three years. It cost me about $1,700 on sale. It was entirely worth it, though - I use it at least 2-3 times a week in the summer, more in the winter. And I’ve used it for both running and walking and usually use the incline. The thing has held up beautifully. Also, even though it doesn’t fold, it doesn’t take up a terrible amount of space.
When I bought it, I was looking for a treadmill with a very good motor (I think I was hoping for no less than 2.5 hp), decent elevation and a nice wide running surface, but with side bars. I’m not exactly graceful, so if I’m about to topple over, it’s good to have something close by to grab onto.
The only thing I don’t like about it is the heart rate monitor feature - theirs sucks. It’s terribly inaccurate. 9 times out of 10 it’s on the high side, meaning you get a very easy workout (if it can be called that). But I’ve noticed that that tends to be true for many treadmill monitors. So, I prefer to use my own watch monitor rather than the strap on the treadmill.
I bought Mrs. Giraffe a NordicTrack Viewpoint 3000 last year for Christmas from NordicTrack.com. $999, plus free shipping. (I don’t remember the original price, but it was marked down a lot – that was when retailers were panicking over the recession and there were some killer deals out there.) It’s been excellent so far – very well built, commercial grade motor, nice surface, built-in TV.
I know it’s not part of your criteria, but we bought an elliptical last Xmas. A Sole e25.
Good news:
quiet, good workout
Bad news: The wife’s not using it and after an injury, I’m doing different excercises (biking), but I expect to use it more in the winter.
If that’s the route you take, I recommend a unit with the rotating assembly in back. Ours is in front, meaning the rollers under your feat are just sitting on the track due to gravity. I got a little involved in it (based on sprinting on my bike) and a roller left the track and gouged it. The aluminum runner was replaced without incident, and I pulled in my technique. Hasn’t been a problem since, but I can see why all of the expensive ones have been redesigned reciently.
Hasn’t been a problem since, but I can see why all of the expensive ones have been redesigned reciently.