Treadmills

[lindsey]

We are looking to buy a treadmill but I am not sure what the best kind to get is.

We are looking to spend around $1500.

As far as what we want it for - My fiance wants to run, but only for short amounts of time - 20-30 min.

I want it for walking so I definately need an incline. We are both fairly tall so need the belt space. One that stores away is great, but not necessary.

Any suggestions would be great!!!
Thanks!!!

 

[materialsgirl]

I LOVE my Horizon treadmill, and it was about $1500 (2 years ago). I have the 5.1T (rated a Consumer Reports Best Buy!), and the current version of that is the 5.3T:
http://www.horizonfitness.com/products/treadmill/5.3t.aspx
It says it retails for $1999, but I'm sure you could find it cheaper. We got ours at the end of the season, when they were getting ready to stock the next year's models, so it was heavily discounted. My DH is very tall at 6'4" and he has no trouble running on this treadmill - it has a nice, long 60" belt. It meets all your requirements - it inclines up to 12%, has a long belt, and folds up for space saving.

I do NOT recommend the Horizon treadmills that are sold at mass sporting goods stores like Dick's - these are cheaper models, not as durable (and they will have shorter belts anyway). The best Horizon treadmills are sold at local fitness stores.

HTH!

 

[SirenSongWoman]

I got a Nordic Trak at a huge discount, years ago, and I think I paid $1,200. It's club quality and it does it all - though those two little fans aren't enough air for ME. But I feel compelled to offer a word of warning about size. When I saw it at Sears, among a whole mess of other treadmills, it didn't look all the big. But when they delivered it and put it together I could FEEL my eyes bugging out of my head and I struggled to keep my hand from going to my mouth in horror. It took up a lot of space and looked awkward where it was. My treadmill measures 59-1/2"h x 38"w x 32"d, folded up. UNFOLDED, it measures 56"h x 38"w x 73-1/2"d. I can't even imagine what it weighs but, at some point in the near future, I'll need to move it to another room and I'm probably going to have to pay movers(!) to do it for me. If you have lots of space and it's not going to be in the way at all, feel free to go for the big fabulous one you REALLY want and know will last. But if you're thinking of putting it in a small little corner niche of your bedroom, heed my warning: MEASURE EVERYTHING FIRST. The big one's are bigger and heavier than you think. You'll want to put it in the perfect spot (because it's too hard to move) and, wherever you put it, it will be a HUGE presence. If I could have gotten the same quality in a smaller machine I would have but they didn't have 'em back then. By now, I'm thinking more compact machines of excellent quality are surely available(?). Measure carefully. The big one's are absolute behemoths in your home.

 

[meowracer]

I have done tons of research and looking. Today, I am buying the Pacemaster Gold Elite folding treadmill. The price I am paying is $2099 (retail is 2599). Slightly more than what you want to pay, but supposedly, the best folding treadmill you can get. I have tried out several and this one definitely feels the best. I have talked to repair people, and this is the only one they recommend. It also folds straight up and while I had heard it was hard to move, I tried it at the store and it is not bad at all. You wouldn't want to do it daily from room to room, but when needed, it would not be bad! Also, it goes to a 15% incline.

 

[jackie7]

Recently got a Nordic Track 1500 commercial from Costco for 799. I love it. It is solid enough to run on! Plus the warranty for the motor was 12 years. It has 6 preprogrammed weight loss routines, a number of aerobic routines as well as endurance routines.

4 of us use it and we love it. Its a big unit, but it folds up.
I think the incline goes up to 12%.