There are two core components of maintaining optimal health; eating right and getting enough exercise. When it comes to exercise, only about 20% of Americans are getting enough to maintain a healthy body.
One of the biggest reasons people forego exercise is that they think they need to go to the gym in order to exercise. But going to the gym requires driving across town, paying membership fees, and being surrounded by sweaty people who grunt a little too loudly.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. With so many types of treadmills available, you can get a quality job before work, without leaving the house.
The ability to work out at home makes it possible for anyone to stay healthy, as it eliminates many of the barriers that come with exercise.
Here’s a look at the best treadmills for home use.
Manual Treadmills
Manual treadmills are very simple and very affordable. For those new to using treadmills, this is one of the best places to start.
A manual treadmill doesn’t require electricity, so you can place them anywhere in your home without needing to look for a power outlet. They are powered manually, by your feet. As you run, the machine works, moving the floor along with you.
When you stop running, the tread slows to a halt. This creates a safer experience, since there are fewer chances of an accident, or getting pushed off the treadmill.
Manual treadmills have very few additional features. Some models allow you to adjust the incline, or adjust the resistance level. But there are no LED screens for tracking your speed, heart rate, or time.
This also means that the machines are smaller, lighter, and more portable. Some can even fold up, making them easy to store out of the way.
They come in different sizes, depending on your height, how long your legs are, and how much space you like to have when jogging or running.
Electric Treadmills
Electric treadmills are operated by a motor, which requires an electrical connection. They are bigger, bulkier, and heavier, and generally cannot fold up. Rather, they are designed to have a permanent location in your home or garage.
But electric treadmills allow for a more customized workout. And your entire experience can be controlled with your fingers. These treadmills feature an LED screen with adjustable settings.
To adjust the incline, you can just push the higher or lower buttons. You can adjust the resistance level. You can track your time, speed, and heart rate.
Some models will even have built-in fans, to help you stay cool while working out indoors.
And more advanced electronic treadmills have video monitors, allowing you to tune in to fitness classes, watch videos or television, or enjoy scenes of nature as you exercise.
Some will even have different types of workouts built-in, so you might start out with an easy jog, and switch to uphill running automatically, and so forth.
Hybrid Types of Treadmills
There are also hybrid treadmills available, that allow one machine to offer different types of workouts. Hybrid treadmills will include basic treadmill functionality. But they can also accommodate stairclimbers, ellipticals, and stationary bikes.
Having one machine that can provide multiple types of workouts can help you change up your workout and prevent your body from getting too comfortable. It can also prevent you from getting bored with your daily workout.
One of the main benefits is that it allows you to switch from a high-intensity, high-impact workout like running to a low-impact exercise like cycling, in a matter of moments.
Switching between two functionalities is easy and seamless with hybrid treadmills. So if you’d like to engage in different types of workouts at home, but have limited space for equipment, a hybrid machine is the way to go.
Generally, hybrid treadmills can only accommodate two different functions, so you’ll have to pick which alternative workout you’d prefer.
Do You Need a New Treadmill?
Are you hoping to replace your current treadmill? Is yours getting hard to use, or is it broken? You don’t need to shell out thousands of dollars for a brand new treadmill.
You can just hire a treadmill repair service to take care of the one you have. Getting daily exercise shouldn’t be expensive, so you shouldn’t buy a new treadmill until you absolutely need one.
Plus, if you were to buy a new one, you’d have to dispose of the old one. Doing so can be very difficult. And to take it to a waste facility, you’d probably have to pay to dump it anyways.
While some of the modern treadmills available today are outstanding, all you need is one that will help you get daily exercise. Use the one you have until you absolutely can’t anymore.
Commercial Treadmills
Are you opening a gym? Wondering what treadmills you should buy for your new gym?
Most gyms use commercial-grade, electronic treadmills. These will have the most robust features, allowing each individual to get the workout they want.
They are also the largest, heaviest, and strongest. They can handle individuals up to 300 lbs and can sustain use all day long.
If you were to stock your gym with residential treadmills, you’d have a lot of broken treadmills on your hands. Residential treadmills aren’t designed for sustained use, all day every day, like commercial-grade machines are.
Rather, if you want a busy gym, full of returning customers, then you need to invest in the best gym equipment. After all, people are going to the gym to access equipment that they can’t afford to buy for their house.
And almost everyone will want to be able to plug in headphones or watch their own content on the treadmill screen, rather than stare at other sweaty people.
Taking Charge of Your Workout
There are a few main types of treadmills that you can buy today. And within these categories, there are many unique variations, with new models coming out every year.
Exercise is getting easier and easier than ever before. And having your own treadmill is one of the best ways to ensure you actually complete your workout each day.
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