Treadmill Buyers Guide
| TREADMILL FAQ’s AND BUYING GUIDE |  |
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A. We can give you many good reasons as to why you should purchase a treadmill but we will keep it sweet and to the point. If used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle and diet treadmills definitely are an excellent product for keeping fit and healthy. And if you already are fit and healthy they are excellent for improving your overall wellbeing and further bettering yourself.
Treadmills will provide you with a safe and efficient workout platform, which allows you to exercise your cardiovascular system, they are great tools for loosing weight also, keeping active, fit and most importantly healthy all in the comfort of your own home.
All our treadmills are as quiet as is possible, we don’t cut corners when it comes to the quality of materials used when making any of our products, the deck suspension systems are very high tech, our running belts are all within some of the thickest on the market, all of our treadmill motors are extremely power-full and properly fan cooled, meaning that your treadmill wont be straining and wearing out as much as a lot of others on the market today, the entire mechanism of the machine is extremely advanced and this all concludes for a quiet run.
Women with children who are often unable to leave the house unsupervised will find a treadmill useful and ideal for keeping fit and healthy.
Treadmills also have their benefits over running outdoors. Since treadmills are generally used in an indoor environment, users may choose to run on them during bad or unpleasant weather. This eliminates weather, temperature or terrain issues. Users may also have the option of a virtual personal trainer, with all of our Branx Fitness treadmills having preset programs to ensure an efficient and effective workout. A big advantage of using one of our treadmills instead of running outdoors is the cushioned surface. Treadmills can absorb up to 40% of the impact compared to running on roads, which may reduce pain and damage to joints, hips, ankles and back.
Furthermore, studies have found that an outdoor running environment can be emulated by raising the incline on the treadmill for a more realistic experience.
So if you are considering buying a treadmill that can save you on your energy bills and runs quietly, make sure you invest in a treadmill with a DC motor. You will find that all Branx Fitness treadmills use high quality direct current (DC) motors and very efficient drive systems.
If you’re a serious runner and plan on using your treadmill heavily or want the peace of mind of real product longevity, or you plan on using your treadmill in a commercial environment, then the AC motor is definitely the choice for you.
A. Yes there are a few. Firstly do you wear a pacemaker? If so please speak to your GP as our treadmills, as with most treadmills are NOT CERTIFIED FOR USE WITH PACEMAKERS.
Do you have the space for a treadmill? Take a look at the product dimensions before buying if you are concerned for space.
Be aware that all of our treadmills are well built and sturdy therefore heavy! All our treadmills can be moved around on wheels but please note that our top of the range models are big and very heavy meaning you will need sufficient space in order to maneuver your treadmill.
Does the treadmill accommodate your weight? Check the products ‘;Max User Weight’ limit if in doubt!
Remember a treadmill is a long-term investment and you will want to keep it working well. As with all treadmills the running decks will require lubrication, how much depends on the usage of the treadmill. As a guide, light use (less then 3 hours a week) – every 8 months. Medium use (3 to 5 hours a week) – every 4 months. And for heavier usage every 2 months.
Regular lubrication will greatly extend the life of your treadmill and reduce the possibility of faults occurring. Tightening or tensioning the belt will ensure it continues to offer a smooth motion that feels as natural as running outdoors. We have some treadmill maintenance resources and videos for you here to show you how to keep your machine in top condition.
If your thinking of purchasing a piece of top quality fitness equipment? Be it a treadmill, elliptical, rowing machine, exercise bike, vibration plate for general fitness needs, as a past time (leisure pursuit) to assist you during rehabilitation or to exercise for professionally competing, here is your guide to help you choose the right treadmill for your needs.
Branx Fitness have very cleverly selected a range of treadmills which suit all needs and price ranges, we are aware it can be difficult to know sometimes where to start, so below are some questions you need to ask yourself firstly:
Who will be using the treadmill, what will their purpose be for using the treadmill and how regularly will the treadmill be used?
Do you plan on being the only user of the treadmill or is it going to be used by your friends and family also? Is it for someone looking to generally get fitter, or for an established fitness enthusiast how will be using the treadmill on a daily basis and for many hours per week? Will the treadmill be sturdy and strong enough for someone who's on the heavier side?
What are the benefits you are looking to gain from using the treadmill?
You need to consider what you want to get out of using your treadmill, and what you actually require. Are you looking for something to use as and when as a bonus to maybe already using your local health club, or maybe your looking to cancel your gym membership and build your own home-gym, with the treadmill being the most popular piece of fitness equipment and a must have for any exercise programme. Or maybe you just want a brisk stroll from time to time to keep active.
What key features would you like your treadmill to have?
Our Branx Fitness treadmills are extremely modern and sleek in design and are packed full of useful features including: (HRC) heart rate monitoring; a variety of fun and challenging fitness programmes; Wi-Fi connectivity and interactivity; iPod and tablet compatibility; or quiet simply just a good gradient of incline and a large cushioned running deck The specification of our treadmills are at the top end of the scale in the market place so you will never be disappointed, wether you opt for a cheaper model or more expensive, there all excellent.
If you would prefer to talk to one of our professional fitness advisors then simply call us free on: 0800 862 0412 or email [email protected] and we will assist you fully.
Branx Fitness strives to provide equipment of high quality to suit a wide variety of customers, whether it is in industry or simply in the comfort of your own home. Our aim is to assist our customers in finding a treadmill tailored to their specific health and fitness needs at the best price.
Our advice to our customers is to buy smart! Branx Fitness offers unbeatable warranties across all of its treadmill products. This allows our customers total peace of mind that they are investing in a product that is built to last . Not only can Branx Fitness offer warranties that are second to none, but also an after sales service, which is unbeatable. This gives our customers peace of mind that they are not alone after their treadmill purchase. If you require any more assistance or guidance in choosing the perfect treadmill/ running machine please contact the sales team at [email protected].
Please carry on reading for a treadmills/ running machines to suit your needs...
The Basics
Below are the terms commonly used in conjunction with treadmills/ running machines:
- Motorised: A treadmill/ running machine with motors to adjust the speed and in some cases the incline levels.
- Manual: A treadmill/ running machine that is powered by your feet and own body weight, not a treadmill motor.
- Belt: The surface or ‘track’ you run on
- Console: The main panel on front of the treadmill/ running machine where the controls are situated.
- Display The digital output from the screen usually within the console.
- Frame: The structure where all the parts of the treadmill/ running machine attach.
- Incline: The tilt of the surface to imitate for example walking uphill, the steeper the incline, the more resistance of offered and the greater the effort required.
Choosing the right treadmill for you
- First of all measure up. Measure where the treadmill/ running machine is going to go and also measure your doorways to make sure the box will actually get into your home or training area.
- What are you using your treadmill/ running machine for? Is it for your own use or for a business? Will you be using it all the time?
- What is the treadmill/ running machine made of? Is the frame made of a sturdy material? Quality of the belt material? Motor specifications? Deck material?
- Would you like a wide variety of settings? Would you like your treadmill/ running machine to incline? Have various programmes to choose from? A high speed setting? Heart rate monitor?
- Consider belt size. Choose a belt size to fit your stride length. Longer legs? Longer belt length!
- Do you need to save space? Consider a folding treadmill.
- The Display. Is it complex or simple? LCD or LED?
There are many types of treadmills/ running machines on the market. Branx Fitness is here to guide and help it’s customers choose the right treadmill/ running machine.
1. You and your treadmill:
Treadmills have grown in popularity so much over the years especially the more recent ones, as people are becoming much more health conscious, and this can be seen from the vast range of treadmills being offered today.
If you’re looking for a treadmill, which is comfortable and will enable you a straightforward workout, you will for sure be looking at different treadmills to a serious runner. If you’re not looking to train in pyramid sessions, you probably will not require features like auto incline which controls the gradient, as you can normally set this manually before you begin your workout. Granted the manual incline treadmills do not have a very high gradient but its enough to emulate that of running out doors.
If you are a novice when it comes to indoor running, it is important to consider whether you’d prefer a folding treadmill so that you can put it away in order to save space or a sturdier version that’s permanently in place. Note that most home-use treadmills are folding and all our Branx Fitness home-use treadmills are one of the sturdiest treadmills available on the market.
And if you’re an ambitious well-established runner, you’ll want the absolute best for your requirements and some. Therefore you will definitely want a treadmill with a powerful motor and plenty of horsepower so you can have a long-term training partner to help you achieve and surpass your goals.
2. Size and location:
Most home-use treadmill have folding mechanisms enabling you to store it upright which saves space and makes it easier for you to maneuver. The only possible down side can sometimes be that they make more noise as there lighter and less cushioned overall then non folding treadmills, but this depends a lot on where you place your treadmill, the room and the way that particular room resonates the sound, the floor etc etc, this is why we always recommend purchasing one of our Branx Fitness training matts. Our treadmills are extremely quiet and we have never had any problems in this area as there all extremely well designed and built and are all extremely sturdy. Always place your treadmill on a strong flat surface.
Something else important to consider is the dimension of your treadmill: the belt should ideally measure 125 centimeters or more in length and at least 45 centimeters in width. A long belt allows for long strides, while more width provides more stability and is safer. Appropriate footwear should always be worn and its really important the faster you go the more so you need to concentrate.
3. You get what you pay for:
As the saying goes “you get what you pay for” well it is true. The cheap basic treadmill is not always cheap and cheerful, you will receive a lot less power, a much smaller running track, not many features and normally but not always a lower grade build quality throughout, cheaper quality steel, components and the running deck to name but a few. Branx Fitness is extremely competitive in the market and we sell what we believe to be the best cheaper treadmills without compromising on quality whatsoever, it means we can not offer treadmills for a couple of hundred pounds but what we do offer is unbeatable.
The more powerful treadmills don’t only have bigger motors and a larger running surface, they include software to control your training and keep you motivated to excel and get fitter. HRC heart rate control is a must have for any quality treadmill as its essential to know not only what your workout is doing but what your heart is doing too. Quality, Quality and Quality! Something, an area in which Branx Fitness treadmills exceed in. Never loose sight of this important factor when considering your treadmill. All of the Branx Fitness treadmills have equally high quality standards throughout the board.
4. Useful training information to bear in mind:
Speed, time and incline…
There are three different elements of cardio exercise your treadmill should offer in order to determine the intensity of your workout: the speed you run at, the duration of your run and the gradient you want to run at. The latter is key, as changing the gradient has a large influence on performance. The motion and drive required to conquer an incline results in a complete leg workout and helps to refine your running style. A steeper incline will also help to keep your weight on the balls of your feet instead of the heels, meaning lower impact training and greater protection for your knees.
Easy runner…
If you are struggling to keep up with the treadmill without holding on to the side rails, you are probably going too fast. By constantly running at an unsafe pace and relying solely on holding on to the handrails you will probably injure yourself as this creates a twisting like motion in your body. Be careful.
More then just a cardio and leg workout…
Arm movement is important on the treadmill. The upper body, shoulders and arms can be trained and toned during a treadmill workout by simply strapping weights to your wrists or moving your arms in vertical lines as you run. This will serve to straighten up your torso and pelvis, helping you maintain a healthy upright posture.
Keep it fun…
Mix it up, don’t become static in your training routine as this won’t benefit you in the long run. Try doing some fast runs with no incline as well as slower ones with an incline. You might think slow means your burning less calories and your not getting as fit but both forms of exercise are needed for overall fitness and performance. The slower uphill workout will build your strength, while the faster flat one will help you build stamina, endurance and quicker footwork. Adjusting both the speed and the incline during your session, and you will better emulate that of running outdoors.
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