Cheap Treadmills

Cheap Treadmills – Are They Safe?

If you are planning to start exercising at home, cheap treadmills are easily available and a really good way to start. Whether you plan to walk or run, treadmills are relatively simple, with little that can go wrong and you should be able to find one that suits your budget and your fitness needs with no problem at all. There are, of course, a few things to consider before you buy a treadmill but let’s look briefly at what I think are the two main ones below:

Available Space for a Treadmill

Depending on how much space you have for your treadmill and how often you plan to use it, you may want to consider either a folding treadmill or one with a smaller footprint than normal.

One of the things that most retailers of cheap treadmills fail to mention is that what may look like a full-sized belt may actually be substantially shorter than those you are used to using one in a fully fledged gym. Now, if gentle walking is all that you plan to do, this does not normally pose a problem, but running, jogging or even fast walking all use an increased stride, and it’s amazing how quickly you can find yourself catching your feet on the front supports or falling off the back of the machine. This is definitely not something that you want to happen if you are home alone as you could end up with a sprained ankle or worse, with nobody to help you.

If you are doing anything other than straightforward walking, or if you plan to step up from walking in the future, do make sure that you get a full-sized area to exercise on.

Treadmill – Simplicity or Complexity?

For most people, a simple treadmill is enough for home exercising. The more you get, the more you pay for it. But even cheap treadmills can be found with some or all of the following, which you should consider as options:

* Inclining ramp

* Speed adjustment

* Milometer

* Speedometer

* Calorie counter

* Warm-up and cool down presets

Safety Cutout Option: Perhaps the most important feature to look for in a home treadmill, though, is the safety cutout option. This is a safety feature that cuts in and safely slows or switches the machine off when contact is lost, either from the hand grips or from a clip that you attach to the front bar or console. As with the above warning about short-base treadmills, if you are exercising at home alone, it’s best to avoid taking unnecessary risks. Anything could happen at any time – blackouts, pain, dizziness or even just tiredness – things that would not normally be a big deal if you can just steady yourself or sit down without fuss, become much more of a risk if you are on a moving base such as that of a treadmill.

My advice would be that if you have to sacrifice all other features, for home use, make sure you get one with a full-size base and belt and a safety cutout. Nothing is as important as your personal safety. And there are plenty of cheap treadmills out there with both these features to choose from.

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