treadmills

[butthead]

Hi y'all. I've been asked to investigate treadmills around Vancouver (Christmas gift). I would like comments on the best brands and their price ranges (preferably $600 - $1000.00 range). I also need to know what features are commonly available.

Thanks!!

 

[Creole Lady Marmalade]

Go to Fitness Depot. Knowledgeable staff, with the kind of activity you want to do on the treadmill, they can make some recommendations. Not all treadmills are created equal.

 

[expo joe]

Fitness Depot is good but do your homework. Bells and whistles are great to have but the drive system, belt and motor are the most important. Generally, buy one that has a larger motor (ie: 2.5hp or higher) as these will last longer since they are stronger and have better related hardware to absorb all the pounding of someone running on the belt. Also, if you plan to train for speed, then a stronger motor wil be required as they can usually go above 9 or 10mph. Belts are important as cheap ones wear out fast and are very noisy. Good ones are expensive (usually $500+ upgrade) but worth it because they are quiet and smooth.....................

 

[georgebushmoron]

Almost a complete waste of money. Best to go outside and get some fresh air and go for a 30 minute walk or jog every day. Treadmills provide almost no muscle toning to the buttocks and legs because the mill does all the resistance work. The air you breathe indoors does not compare to the freshness of what you can breathe outdoors to fill your lungs. The environment outside will put a blush in your cheeks, whereas the indoors will keep your eyes dreary and skin gray. Buy an audio player of some sort (Mp3, FM radio) instead and get your friend outside.

 

[Ilovethemall]

Gbm

....he said it all....plus I once spent nearly 2k on one after doing friggin' exhaustive research and the thing was still a piece of crap that I had to return.

Go for a run.

 

[Mchatte]

I find they are great to hang clothing on them!

M

 

[stryker]

What GBM,ILTM said,,I bought one years ago for my ex,almost top of the line back then,she used it for about two weeks and then it became an expensive cloth rack(I'm not kidding)It was just a waste of money.

 

[50 Mile Radius]

Almost a complete waste of money. Best to go outside and get some fresh air and go for a 30 minute walk or jog every day. Treadmills provide almost no muscle toning to the buttocks and legs because the mill does all the resistance work. The air you breathe indoors does not compare to the freshness of what you can breathe outdoors to fill your lungs. The environment outside will put a blush in your cheeks, whereas the indoors will keep your eyes dreary and skin gray. Buy an audio player of some sort (Mp3, FM radio) instead and get your friend outside.

but, but, but.........

Not knowing anything about them.....can't you change the settings and incline and stuff like that there to improve your walk/run?


Im asking, cuz my building has a fitness centre dealio and i was planning on using the damn treadmills for about an hour a day.....(i hear ya about the outside air, but umm, errrrr..it rains here!, and i see meeself beeing a bit lazy when it comes to the wet stuff and getting outside).....

 

[stryker]

Too funny Mchatte,,you've been there as well I see

 

[SFMIKE]

I agree with GBM

For all the reasons stated.

Unless you are willing to pay high enough for a club-level treadmill, do not bother.

I only use a treadmill in nasty weather, but not as much of that where I live as where you are.

Regarding the incline: Most people I see using the incline at around 15 % seem to hold on to the bar. I am not a physicist, but it seems like that would almost entirely negate the benefits of the incline. Unless you are able to simulate a 15% hill (you can't hold on going up a real hill)., do not bother.

When I am really feeling my oats, I go into the city and walk some of the hills there. Now they are hills.

 

[Mchatte]

Too funny Mchatte,,you've been there as well I see

M

 

[maverick73]

Hi y'all. I've been asked to investigate treadmills around Vancouver (Christmas gift). I would like comments on the best brands and their price ranges (preferably $600 - $1000.00 range). I also need to know what features are commonly available.

Thanks!!

I recently looked into treadmills and other cardio machines. I eventually decided on an elliptical trainer. Treadmills (like running) are hard on your knees and other joints. With all the snow out, I prefer the comfort of home. Open a window to get the "outside air." Even if it wasn't snowing, half the time when I went out for my 3 times per week jog, it would be raining... and there's always a bit of traffic, even in a secluded residential area. I ended up having to go late at night so it was perfectly quiet and I could "run in peace."

My intial budget was $1000 or less, but I quickly found that to get something decent would cost $1500-$2000. In the end, I got the EVO XCITE (winner of best value in the $2000 US range at www.ellipticaltrainers.com). Although it is a $2000 US machine, it was on for $2300 CDN at Fitness Experts. Offered them $1500, settled at $1750. Hell of a deal. Great customer service there too. Only problem is they are kinda out in the boonies. I had to travel all the way out to Cloverdale. The other one I compared with is the Vision Fitness 6100 at Fitness Depot for $1700 CDN. It was my 2nd choice. It was nice, but not nearly as refined as the XCITE. Also, the salespeople at Fitness Depot are a little pushy. "Would you like to hear about our extended warranty plan?" "NOT IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR SPLEEN I DON'T!"

Had the XCITE for a couple weeks now and I've used it every other day. I frickin' love it. I use it to improve my cardio for hockey and of course to maintain my male spinner body lol .

 

[Slurpie]

Treadmills

I hear they can be dangerous!

http://bradp.co.uk/fredryk/Video/WMV/FredrykPhox-DoTheTreadmeel.wmv

 

[richmann]

Fitness Depot is good but do your homework. Bells and whistles are great to have but the drive system, belt and motor are the most important. Generally, buy one that has a larger motor (ie: 2.5hp or higher) as these will last longer since they are stronger and have better related hardware to absorb all the pounding of someone running on the belt. Also, if you plan to train for speed, then a stronger motor wil be required as they can usually go above 9 or 10mph. Belts are important as cheap ones wear out fast and are very noisy. Good ones are expensive (usually $500+ upgrade) but worth it because they are quiet and smooth.....................

GBM's fresh air advert aside, Joe's is good advise. My recomendation would be to spend nearer the top end of that price range or more as you won't get anything that will last for $600. I spent 1100 but on a floor model so it was a deal.

 

[richmann]

I find they are great to hang clothing on them!
M

If anyone needs a place to hang clothes to dry. I have a great deal on a Nordic Track!

 

[Discombobbled]

I recently looked into treadmills and other cardio machines. I eventually decided on an elliptical trainer. Treadmills (like running) are hard on your knees and other joints. With all the snow out, I prefer the comfort of home. Open a window to get the "outside air." Even if it wasn't snowing, half the time when I went out for my 3 times per week jog, it would be raining... and there's always a bit of traffic, even in a secluded residential area. I ended up having to go late at night so it was perfectly quiet and I could "run in peace."

My intial budget was $1000 or less, but I quickly found that to get something decent would cost $1500-$2000. In the end, I got the EVO XCITE (winner of best value in the $2000 US range at www.ellipticaltrainers.com). Although it is a $2000 US machine, it was on for $2300 CDN at Fitness Experts. Offered them $1500, settled at $1750. Hell of a deal. Great customer service there too. Only problem is they are kinda out in the boonies. I had to travel all the way out to Cloverdale. The other one I compared with is the Vision Fitness 6100 at Fitness Depot for $1700 CDN. It was my 2nd choice. It was nice, but not nearly as refined as the XCITE. Also, the salespeople at Fitness Depot are a little pushy. "Would you like to hear about our extended warranty plan?" "NOT IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR SPLEEN I DON'T!"

Had the XCITE for a couple weeks now and I've used it every other day. I frickin' love it. I use it to improve my cardio for hockey and of course to maintain my male spinner body lol .

I like the elliptical trainers to. We have one at home and it gets used pretty frequently. My old battered knees can't handle the stress of running anymore.

 

[maverick73]

I like the elliptical trainers to. We have one at home and it gets used pretty frequently. My old battered knees can't handle the stress of running anymore.

I just finished a 20 minute workout and had a nice shower... god I feel good!

Oh, one thing about ellipticals... you MUST go and try it out... even if everything is "perfect" on paper, the stride length is unique to each individual... you have to find one that matches your approximate stride length... and if you'll be sharing with another family member, it has to match both your stride lengths. Sports Art makes one with a manual and motorized stride length adjustment, but with all those moving parts, it is a recipe for higher potential failure. Look for a quiet stable one (no rocking side to side) that has a "solid feel" to it and easy to use display. The heart rate chest strap is something I'd never use so think twice before dishing out extra $$$ for one with that option... the XCITE has the heart rate monitor contacts right on the arm handles...

With the Ellipticals, I find I can go longer without being sore. After running for more than 20 minutes, I always had sore ankles or knees... with the elliptical, it's so painless... makes me motivated to want to do more. I'm setting up a TV in my fitness room so I can hopefully watch Body Moves and jerk off at the same time as I workout .. either that or I can watch Simpsons reruns and practice my quotes.

 

[Discombobbled]

I'm setting up a TV in my fitness room so I can hopefully watch Body Moves and jerk off at the same time as I workout.

Watch Body Moves, jerk off, and work out at the same time? Man that requires a certain talent!

 

[SFMIKE]

Anybody remember Jim Fixx's book, "The Complete Book of Running"

At the outbreak in the 70's of the running/jogging craze he wrote this book and sold many copies. I remember running in a 10K where he was promoting the book and he really was not much of a runner himself. Heck, I beat him by about 5 minutes, so he was not much.

Unfortunately, he probably never read his own book because several years later he died of a heart condition (do not remember the specifics) which medical experts could have easily diagnosed had he bothered following the very advise he was giving in his own book.

I know somebody here will dig up better information than I have just given as I am way too busy today.

 

[georgebushmoron]

The lower mainland needs an indoor track. In Calgary, there is a beautiful one you can use to run on during the winter. Does one exist here that I don't know about?