Do Expensive Treadmills Work The Best?
Some Machines Show More Wear Than Others
POSTED: 3:19 p.m. EST February 19, 2002
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CLEVELAND -- Treadmills are the top-selling exercise machines; a person burns the most calories while using them.
In Tuesday's Consumer Alert, On Your Side Troubleshooter Chris Caswell reported on which treadmills rate the highest.
Consumer Reports put 11 different top-selling treadmills to the test, ranging in price between $500 and $3,000.
"A treadmill is a great way for you to get exercise," said Tom Mutchler of Consumer Reports. "You can adjust the incline to give you the workout that you want. Our research also shows that you're more likely to keep using a treadmill. It's less likely to become an expensive clothes rack."
Machines test the durability of each treadmill by subjecting each one to the equivalent of a year's use by a 185-pound runner. Most of the treadmills did fine.
But two -- the Nordic Track EXP-1000i and the Trimline 2610 -- showed more wear than the others. They have unusual designs that incorporate cushioning between the belt and particleboard deck.
"The Nordic Track's foam cushioning became compressed," Mutchler said. "It would feel uneven when you walked on it. On the Trimline, a fiberboard layer became chipped. Either way, you'll have to buy replacement parts sooner."
To see how easy the treadmills are to use, Mutchler asked people to try them out without reading the instructions. Some were tough to figure out.
"I'm trying to start a program, but I don't know what the control panel is asking me for," one person said.
It turns out that the top-rated treadmill is the Life Fitness T-3. It has handy raised buttons to adjust the speed and incline, and its monitor is easy to read. Testers found that it's built to last, and a person will get a really good workout. It costs $2,200.
But Consumer Reports said that for those who are just going to use a treadmill for walking, a less expensive one is all they need. One to consider is the Pro-Form 525-E. It costs just $500.
Those who buy a treadmill should get an extended warranty, because the machines are not trouble-free.
And considering how big and bulky they are, people aren't likely to take them in for repairs. So a person should look for an extended warranty that covers house calls as well as the cost of the parts.
In Tuesday's Consumer Alert, On Your Side Troubleshooter Chris Caswell reported on which treadmills rate the highest.
Consumer Reports put 11 different top-selling treadmills to the test, ranging in price between $500 and $3,000.
"A treadmill is a great way for you to get exercise," said Tom Mutchler of Consumer Reports. "You can adjust the incline to give you the workout that you want. Our research also shows that you're more likely to keep using a treadmill. It's less likely to become an expensive clothes rack."
Machines test the durability of each treadmill by subjecting each one to the equivalent of a year's use by a 185-pound runner. Most of the treadmills did fine.
But two -- the Nordic Track EXP-1000i and the Trimline 2610 -- showed more wear than the others. They have unusual designs that incorporate cushioning between the belt and particleboard deck.
"The Nordic Track's foam cushioning became compressed," Mutchler said. "It would feel uneven when you walked on it. On the Trimline, a fiberboard layer became chipped. Either way, you'll have to buy replacement parts sooner."
To see how easy the treadmills are to use, Mutchler asked people to try them out without reading the instructions. Some were tough to figure out.
"I'm trying to start a program, but I don't know what the control panel is asking me for," one person said.
It turns out that the top-rated treadmill is the Life Fitness T-3. It has handy raised buttons to adjust the speed and incline, and its monitor is easy to read. Testers found that it's built to last, and a person will get a really good workout. It costs $2,200.
But Consumer Reports said that for those who are just going to use a treadmill for walking, a less expensive one is all they need. One to consider is the Pro-Form 525-E. It costs just $500.
Those who buy a treadmill should get an extended warranty, because the machines are not trouble-free.
And considering how big and bulky they are, people aren't likely to take them in for repairs. So a person should look for an extended warranty that covers house calls as well as the cost of the parts.
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