Looking to buy a Treadmill 23 April 2015 at 2:44PM in Sports & fitness MoneySaving 10 replies 2K views

ellielovesem

As the title says really! I'd like to get a treadmill to use at home for walking to start off with and then hopefully progressing onto a big of light jogging/running. I'm really unsure of what to get and would appreciate any thoughts and opinions. I've been looking at some in the price range of £100 to £150 but have been wondering if cheap is really best. My main concern with the cheaper ones is that whilst they will be good enough for walking will they really be ideal if and when I might progress to going a bit faster?

I am average height and weight and I'd probably consider going up to £250 max if cheaper is a false economy. It would also be handy to be able to move it reasonably easily between two rooms on the same floor.

I know this is a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' question but any thoughts would be appreciated.

cazs

This is something where I'd spend as much as I'd feasibly could. Life Fitness is said to be the best brand for cardio machines.

[Deleted User]

Have a look at some of the 'better than half price' ones in Argos. I definitely would not spend less than £300 (preferably £400) or it will end up in the same place as all the excursize bikes that have ever been built.

I have had my treadmill for 2 years now and still use it regularly. It is a rogerblack and goes upto 14KPH and has incline too.

StuC75

Ive got a Reebok one that bought from amazon on the Black Friday Sale - down from around £800 to about £300. it goes up to about 15kmh and 12% incline setting..

I would be vary wary of one that was cheap and light weight, mines in the conservatory and I would dread the thought of trying to move it between rooms as the dimensions would be way to big to move through a hallway and the weight too..

250/300 is probably a reasonable budget for one bought second hand too , keep an eye on ebay for local sales with pickup as there might be a limited market in your area for people wanting to buy one.. assuming you have the means to pick one up with an estatecar \ van at best.. As often people buy them and may decide they don't get enough use from it (that's how I bought my first one)..

Credit-Crunched

Get out on the streets / beaches / trails / park and run.

Honestly, it will turn into a big clumsy clothes hanger.

Please don't think I am being obtuse, I have seen it so often.

[Deleted User]

Credit-Crunched wrote: »

Get out on the streets / beaches / trails / park and run.

Honestly, it will turn into a big clumsy clothes hanger.

Please don't think I am being obtuse, I have seen it so often.

depends on circumstances. If you've got kids it's not always easy to get out or in the winter when it's raining or snowing you have the option of running indoors. I wouldn't be without my treadmill.

Credit-Crunched

Deleted_User wrote: »

depends on circumstances. If you've got kids it's not always easy to get out or in the winter when it's raining or snowing you have the option of running indoors. I wouldn't be without my treadmill.

If it works for you then great, however, 9 times out of 10 it turns into a clothes horse!

Running in the rain is my favourite!

If your kids are older, take them down the park, and as you do laps, set them games / challenges to do.

Gets you all outside, exercising.

ellielovesem

Thanks for all the advice.

Credit-Crunched's point about it being a clothes hangar is what's in the back of my mind when considering this (although it would be downstairs so probably wouldn't actually have clothes on it) and the pattern does seem to be that they are often impulse buys.

To be honest, I don't really like the idea of running around the streets on my own, particularly when I'm first starting out. I was thinking that I'd probably be more inclined to get moving if I didn't actually have to leave the house and I can watch the telly at the same time! I was hoping I could get something to move between the conservatory and lounge (only through the patio doors) but it sounds as though this wouldn't really be possible due to the weight of the more decent machines.

I still really can't make a decision but will continue looking and taking advice!

ds1980

as already said, don't bother.

if you really do want then life , precor or techno are the only ones worth considering.

Rowing, cycling, swimming and cross training are a much better alternative also.

hcb42

I got a York one on Ebay, for about £20 a year, ago, needed a repair to the belt, which we sorted for a little bit more cash - it's pretty decent, we are not marathon runners by any stretch but it's worth having a look if it's not something you have done before.

kerri_gt

If you want to try running outside but don't want to go alone, see if there are any Park Runs in your area. These are 5k runs, free and open to anyone regardless of abilities. They are not timed but do have mashalls to help out and show you the route. myself and my friend were out running the other week and accidentally got mixed up in ours - it was all ages (literally teens to pensioners) and elite runners to a guy with a baby in a pushchair, new runners and families.

Its a good time of year to give running a go now, then if you enjoy it but don't want to go out in the cold / dark, do your research now and have a few treadmills in mind for then.

ps we had 2 cross trainers - one broke (was 2nd hand) and the other became a clothes horse and went back on fleabay after I got fed up with the space it was taking up. I found that with it being constantly accessible, it also became the never never to using it.