Exercise treadmills bring the outdoors inside so you can enjoy the benefits of running without leaving your house. They can be very useful for people who don't feel safe running out of doors and are popular with female runners.

But what needs to be considered when making the decision to use one? Are they a good substitute for running? Do I buy one? Are they expensive and what type should I buy?

Are exercise treadmills worth the cost?
Before you consider whether you need to buy one, you may like to answer the following questions.

1. Do you run at present?
If the answer is NO, can you be sure it won't end up as an expensive clothes hanger gathering dust in a few months time. Maybe try an exercise treadmill at the gym or start a running in the local park so you can judge whether you will enjoy running.

If you answer YES and have made a long-term commitment, appreciate that road running and using exercise treadmills are quite different activities. Personally, I prefer to stick to the roads but there may be reasons why you would like a treadmill.

2. What are your reasons for running?
If you are running to lose weight then exercise treadmills are popular where you may feel self-conscious about running in public or the gym. A treadmill offers a great way to start.

If you are running to keep fit and you feel safe running in your local area then road-running may be a better option. However, if environmental conditions make training difficult at times, an exercise treadmill is a good alternative to keep your on the move.

3. Can you use your local gym
The treadmill is the most common piece of gym equipment, even in an ill-equipped one. Of course you still have to pay gym membership or an entrance fee but you do have other machines to use. They may even have a swimming pool for a cool down following your run.

But again you may not want to run in front of all those fit individuals or your gym is inconvenient to get to when you fancy a quick jog in the evening.

4. Do you have the space? Where would you put it?
Obviously if you answer No here a treadmill is not an option. Unless you have a very dear friend who will house it for you.

Even fold-up treadmills take up space. Non-folding treadmills take up a considerable amount of a room. If you have got space, what type of room is it. Some use their garage, others prefer the bedroom or somewhere near a TV. Where ever you consider putting it, is it a room you would like to spend a considerable amount of time in? If you progress your running you may be training up to two hours at a time!

If after taking in the pros and cons you decide to go ahead and purchase an exercise treadmill be prepared to spend at least US$1000. If you buy a cheaper treadmill it is frankly not worth the bother. If you spend more you will get extras such as heart monitors, running programs, stopwatches and tilting surfaces for hill running.

Specifications:
You will need to look at the power of the motor and the maximum speed. You really need a minimum of 1.5 horsepower and one that can do up to 10 mph. You don't want to be growing out of your exercise treadmill in just a few months time after spending all that cash! The belt should be at least 48" long and 16" wide.

I would also advise you try a model before you buy one - you may use an online provider but always check the same model for yourself first. Check neither the frame or the belt moves when you use it. Make sure you can reach and use the control panel with ease.

Test run for at least 10 minutes and listen for any changes in the noise of the motor. Is it quiet? It may sound okay in a large sports store but what about in your garage?

As mentioned earlier, running on a treadmill is different than road running. The advantages to using one are first of all the obvious, such as running in your own home so you will feel safe and not need to worry about traffic or undesirables. You can run any time of day and not worry about weather conditions.