Treadmill Advice?

kiwichick

Hi All,

I'm looking to buy a treadmill and am hoping some of you may be able to give some advice? I'm hefty (110kg) so need one that will take my weight, though will be walking not running. Ideally I'd like one that I can fold so I can keep it in the front room and unfold it for daily use. I've had a look around but am flummoxed really about which are good value and which are better than others.

Any advice?

Thanks,
Allison.

BusinessStudent

Hi,

Do you really need a treadmill? Can you afford one?. Why don't you see if you have a local rambling/walking club in your local area or prehaps you could go walk each day?

lady_noluck

I second what businessStudent said. Do you NEED a treadmill?

Walking outside would be better for you physically as well as financially. As a PT I hear endless stories of clients buying fitness equipment so they can exercise at home but because it's at home they always end up 'putting it off till later'. And of course later never comes. Spend the money on a little ipod, download some great tunes/audiobooks and take a trip outside. Even if it's raining and cold you'll soon warm up. And if you get bored walking outside take a camera and turn your walk into a photography challenge with a set subject. For example: 'I'm going to go out for 30 minutes and take photos of yellow things'. Time and distance will fly by because you'll be too busy looking for interesting yellow things to take photos of to notice how long/far you've walked. You don't need expensive camera equipment, a camera phone would do. And you'll have some lovely photos to look back on over your journeys :beer:

If you need any help/advice feel free to pm me

feniera

A walk through your local park is sufficient to maintain a healthy pair of legs. I own a biosync foldable treadmill and a maxima but they're both sitting in the garage to collect dust. Useless machines if you overlook their decorative benefits.

kiwichick

Hi All,

Thanks for the replys. I had thought about a treadmill as I fractured my T12 a while ago and any exercise other than gentle walking or swimming is out of the question. I work 4 jobs at the minute and am a single mum of 3 so not much spare time to get out and about in the day and cant leave the kids in the evenings.

I'll try walking the kids to and from school (can do 3 mornings & 5 evenings a week) and see how that goes. Prehaps I ought to try and use the Wii a bit, I know you can get exercise bits for that but havent done so as yet. Cheaper then a treadmill but can still do at home while kids are in bed?

Al x

paxtecum

I am buying a treadmill, been waiting for the January Sales. I watched a tv show about a fat couple and the Doctor put a treadmill in the corner of their lounge. The couple loved the treadmill, the weight just fell off, mainly due to the treadmill. The husband was on and off it all day building up his fitness levels.
The weather has been horrendous this year, hasn't stopped raining. You can hop on and off the treadmill anytime you like and you can wear any old t shirt and shorts, don't need to iron anything as you are in your own home. If you want to run or walk at 10pm when it is cold and wet outside and perhaps unsafe, then you have your treadmill indoors.

Two options, buy a second hand one from ebay or buy a brand new one.

Good second hand ones seem to sell for around half the price of a new one. One that cost £800 new that is 3 years old, might sell for £300 - £400 on ebay. You will need to arrange to pick it up, hire a man van or use a courier company. Cost of picking up a large bulky heavy treadmill could be expensive. If you see a good one that is 100 miles from you, arrange for a courier company to pick it up (eg shipley), if the treadmill isn't working when you get it, I can see the seller blaming the courier company and the courier company blaming the seller whilst you are stuck with a broken treadmill, part of the risk of buying second hand on ebay.

If you buy a good second hand treadmill from ebay and then decide it is not for you, you could probably sell it for what you paid for it.

If you buy brand new, you have a 2 year warranty and if you pay with a credit card, you have extra legal protection. Second hand values of good treadmills are high.

Good second hand model is Nordic track c2500

Brand new Nordic Track T14 buying at sweatband web site for £799

John Lewis sell Nordic Track, they had on offer T14.2 for £999 with 3 years warranty, an extra year warranty on standard Nordic. Sold out within days of going on the web site, hoped they would be on sale in January but they sold out at the asking price, so I missed out.

Don't buy a cheap Reebok treadmill from Argos. Reebok is a good brand name for trainers and running shoes but not the best for treadmills. You are paying for the name and not quality.

Second hand treadmills on ebay are more expensive this time of the year than perhaps Summer time when people are outdoors and there is less demand.

Life is not always about saving money at the cost of your health. Doing things the cheapest or for free isn't always the best option. If you can't afford a treadmill then jumping up and down in the lounge with a tin of value baked beans in each hand is better than sat down on the sofa with a packet of jaffa cakes.

Caroline_a

If you can't afford a treadmill then jumping up and down in the lounge with a tin of value baked beans in each hand is better than sat down on the sofa with a packet of jaffa cakes.

Not good advice for someone who has hurt their back! I would second the walking to school advice. There must be many many treadmills gathering dust all over the country, you'd be better getting yourself some proper waterproof gear to walk in, and it's something that the kids can do to! Walk to the park with them, walk to school, etc etc. I have to say that when my children were little and I had no car and walked everywhere I was a lot slimmer and fitter than I am now!

justinbob

Do exercise with natural way ...

aliama

I agree with much of the advice (in that it's far better to get out and walk in the fresh air), but also would point out that the flipside of lots of people buying exercise equipment that they never use is that you may be able to get a bargain. Maybe keep an eye on Ebay or post a request on Freecycle -- you may find someone who wants to offload one.

squidge60

Tbh i wouldnt buy a second hand one as you dont know how much its been used (i used mine quite alot).
Not only that mine was so noisy i am sure more expensive ones arent.
I bought mine new cheap (it was on a great offer Argos outlet on ebay) so wasnt that cheap but obviously to cheap .

I advice you pay alot for one or it just wont last (mine lasted 2 yrs )i did use quite alot but expected it to last longer.:)

femigirl

for 119.99£ here you go foldable treadmill takes weight up 150kg.

http://www.wowcher.co.uk/deals/london/deal-28841-detail/119-99-instead-159-99-homcom-foldable-electric/deal.html