Portable Treadmill

Are you considering picking up a portable treadmill? The name is kind of a funny one, it’s more like a fold up treadmill if anything, it’s not like you’re going to be carrying your treadmill around with you wherever you go.

A portable treadmill is generally used in a situation where space is a commodity that is in short supply. People who will benefit from this are people who live in a condo, people who have a small room in which to fit their exercise equipment in, or just people who fill their house with so much clutter that sometimes it’s just a good to have something you can fold up and wheel away.

Now if you’re considering picking up a portable treadmill, there are a few considerations you’re going to have to make in order to get the best bang for your buck and to ensure you make a smart buy, here are just a few of those considerations:

1. How Large Is The Treadmill?

Now we not only need to know how large it is when it is fully deployed, but also how large it is when it is in it’s compacted position. First of all, considering space is at a premium, you’re going to want to measure out where you want the treadmill to go and see how much space you have to work with. Once you’ve got those dimensions, head out to your local fitness store and have a look at the treadmills on display there.

As inconspicuously as possible, start measuring the portable treadmills and see which ones fit your criteria. If you can, find someone who works there who may be able to tell you how much space it will take up when all folded up. Also find out if it is something that can be wheeled away while folded up or if it can be placed up against a wall, if you’re getting a portable treadmill, these kinds of things will make a difference in how you’ll be able to store it when not in use.

2. Is It Sturdy?

Another major consideration for you will be how sturdy is it? Considering there are going to be several folding parts, you don’t want a portable treadmill that is going to collapse in on itself during your workout. I may be exaggerating the situation, but one concern is that the unit may not be quite as solid and may end up squeaking in the not too distant future. You wan to do your due diligence on the company that manufacturers the fold up treadmill and make sure that it’s made of quality materials and is not prone to breaking down, squeaking or any such thing.

3. How Powerful Is It?

Now when I say power, I’m talking horsepower and maximum speed. The bigger you are, the more horsepower you’re going to need on your unit in order to have a comfortable and smooth exercising session. A good rule of thumb is to go with anything above 2HP. Additionally, not all treadmills are going to have a high top speed. There are some treadmills that have max speed of only 6MPH and while that may be fine for you now, if you improve your cardiovascular ability down the road, you may outgrow your machine!

To avoid this, look for a portable treadmill that has at least 10MPH as it’s upper limit, preferably 12.

4. The Length and Width of the Running Surface

When running, it is important that the treadmill is long enough to support your stride, this is especially true if you happen to be tall as taller people tend to have longer strides. With a portable treadmill, sometimes the length and width can be sacrificed in order for it to be stowed away more readily. This is why it’s critical you make sure that the running surface is sufficient for your needs before you go ahead and purchase.

Now if you’re in the market for a portable treadmill, these tips should be enough to ensure you come to the store prepared. One last word of advice though, although you may be tempted, try not to make your purchase inside of the store. Wait until you can go back home and check for the same model online on Ebay or Amazon. Often times you can save yourself a couple hundred dollars simply by ordering it off the Internet.