One of the most popular, if not the most popular, pieces of home exercise equipment today is the treadmill. Today, fitness equipment manufacturers are trying to meet the high demand for home exercise treadmills. There are many competing models of treadmills, from inexpensive to expensive, to choose between.

A few treadmill models, which have rollers, are powered by the user rather than a motor. A treadmill consists of a wide belt that's stretched over a bed and around two or more rollers. Cheaper treadmills will often give you the peak duty motor power rating, which is always higher than the continuous duty rating: know what the continuous duty rating is when comparing units.

Less expensive treadmill models require you to manually change the incline, which can be very frustrating if you want to make adjustments midway through a workout session. Safety features on a treadmill are especially important if you plan to work out alone or if you have small children who might accidentally start up the treadmill. Display panels should be easy to read and straightforward to operate.

The console indicates the belt speed and other factors, such as heart rate, miles per hour, and distance. The deck is the belt area on which actual running, jogging and walking take place. Notice that some treadmill heart rate monitors clip onto an ear or, for more accurate readings, strap onto the chest.

Quite a few of the treadmills available today have the ability to add an incline to your workout to duplicate running or walking uphill, thereby increasing the intensity of your workout. A heart rate monitor is a very good, useful feature to look for on a machine.

It's best to buy a treadmill that has at least a one-year warranty. A noisy treadmill can upset other family members or roommates and even your neighbors if you live in a duplex, apartment or condominium. If there's a treadmill you've enjoyed using regularly at your local gym or fitness center check to see if there's a home version available in your price range.

If you can afford to buy a treadmill with a heart rate monitor, it'll be a good investment in your health. When you're reading treadmill ratings or treadmill reviews, they'll usually cover safety statistics, the heart rate monitor, the various merits of the interactive model and computer fitness programs and levels. When your equipment is up and running, get the right lubricants and cleaners to take good care of it.

The taller a person is the longer their stride so you'll need to choose a treadmill with a longer and wider belt. It's important to set a strict budget and then stick to it. One indication of the likely longevity of any treadmill is to check out the length of the manufacturer's warranty; the longer the better.

Keep in mind that what feels right to you may not accommodate others around you as comfortably. The more incline variation offered in a treadmill unit, the more expensive the model will be.

Do your research; treadmills are an important investment, regardless of the price, and if it's not right for you, you don't want to find out after you've set the treadmill up at home. Commercial club treadmills are reliable and well constructed; do look into a home version.

More and more people every day are choosing to get healthier; the majority of beginning exercisers start out by just walking or jogging. Walking, whether on a treadmill or not, is one of the best approaches anyone can take toward physical fitness.

Selections of preprogrammed exercise routines are not essential to obtaining a good workout from a treadmill, but they do help to provide motivation. The more programs the treadmill has to offer the more you can vary your workout and you'll be likely to continue exercising on a regular basis.

Besides spending your money on a treadmill make sure you spend time on it! Make sure to take your time and choose a treadmill that fits your fitness goals. Purchasing a treadmill can be overwhelming but with help from treadmill ratings and treadmill reviews you should be able to make an informed decision.