Consumer Watch: Treadmills Can Cost You Less
Walking or running on a treadmill is an effective way to burn calories and get a cardiovascular workout, but you don't have to join a gym to get in shape.
Consumer Reports tested 24 treadmills from major brands including Nordic Track, Horizon Fitness, and Bowflex. The traditional treadmills cost as much as $3,500. Treadmills that fold to save space and maybe some money were also tested. These models went for $600 to $2,600.
"If you're a serious runner, you'll want a nonfolding treadmill because they're usually more stable. But they take up a lot of room -- as the size of a small sofa," said Rich Handel of Consumer Reports:
Space isn't the only thing to think about.
"There are features like programmable exercise routines, incline controls, and screen displays," said Handel.
Consumer Reports said these features can help vary your workouts and keep them more interesting. But other features, like a console fan, only look cool. A room fan works better.
If you are looking for a traditional treadmill but don't want to pay top dollar, Consumer Reports named the Vision Fitness T-9200 Simple a best buy. While it does not have exercise programs, it rated very well. At $1,300, it costs less than half of the top-rated treadmills.
If you prefer a folding treadmill, the Bowflex 7-Series rated excellent. At $1,500 testers also named it a Best Buy.
Whichever type of treadmill is selected, it is a good idea to try it out in a store to make sure it's right for you. And consider getting an extended warranty. Consumer Reports said a treadmill is one of the few purchases where it pays to get an extended warranty because repairs and service calls can really add up.
For more helpful consumer information, visit Consumer Reports on the web. Just click on the link: Consumer Reports. (Related) Consumer Reports is a fee-based Web site. Many of the articles require a subscription.
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