This time of year treadmill sales soar for primarily two reasons:People commit to a New Years resolution to get back into shape.

Fanatic runners are faced with sucky winter weather and have to move their workouts outdoors.

But buying a treadmill can be complex and confusing. Like cars, there are countless models, and the question is, do you buy the equivalent of a Yugo or a Mercedes.

There are three important factors to consider when you compare treadmills:

Your Budget

Your weight and height

Desired Treadmill Features

What Should You Budget

Like most items you purchase, the model you prefer will probably cost more than you imagined. If you go to a mass retailer like Walmart or Costco you will notice a number of treadmills in the $200-$500. Some are not even motorized. These are what I consider throw away treadmills. The come with a short-lived 90 day warranty. That's because most of them will not function more than 90 days.

If you want a treadmill that will last for the duration, and provide you with a challenging workout, this is my recommendations. For walking you want to spend a minimum of approximately $1,000. This will buy you a solid and stable model that will come with a one year service warranty, a minimum 2 years parts and 10 year motor warranty.

If you are a jogger or runner then I recommend you start at the $1,500 range. A model at this price will include a 20" wide belt, a minimum 2.5 continuous duty horsepower motor and is overall built with quality components.

For serious runners start at the $2,000 range. You will get a treadmill that has a longer deck for sprinting and interval training. The motor is powerful enough to handle continual use at a high level. The deck and the belt are designed for constant pounding. Models over $2,000 generally have a generous warranty.

Your Weight and Height

Both the weight and height of a treadmill user should determine the model you are considering. For example, heavier users will require a more powerful motor and a reasonably thick deck. I worked for a company that compromised on the thickness of the decks on their low-end models and guess what? Some cracked. The deck should be a minimum of ¾".

The perfect motor for a treadmill is one that does not strain. It should work effortlessly, otherwise it will eventually burn out and generally be noisy. And you do not want to replace a motor, especially after the service warranty has run out.

When comparing treadmill motors you want to go by the horsepower of the continuous duty, not peak horsepower. Peak horsepower is the maximum horsepower a treadmill can reach. Continuous-duty horsepower is a measure of sustained power during regular use. The continuous motor power is what is consistently delivered during heavy usage over an extended period of time.

Since peak horsepower is usually significantly higher than a motor's continuous capability, continuous horsepower better helps you determine which treadmill will accommodate your intended exercise use. Generally speaking, the larger the motor the more powerful it can operate at a continuous rate.