Treadmill Parts

It is very useful to know something about the different treadmill parts in order to understand how a treadmill works and what its benefits will be for you. This will help you to compare the various treadmills on offer from manufacturers, stores and online retail outlets.

A treadmill is made up of the following parts:
- a moving belt that you run on
- a flywheel and rollers that make the belt move
- a motor that powers the flywheel
- a deck that the belt runs around
- a frame and handrails
- a console with a display.

The treadmill belt

The size of the belt is important. The bigger it is, the easier it will be to use, especially if you are running. The width is important because you will not always run in an exact straight line. The length will determine the length of strides that you can safely take - this is more important for taller people. Look for a treadmill with a belt size 20 x 55 or more if you will be running on your exercise equipment.

The treadmill flywheel and treadmill rollers

The flywheel helps to regulate the movement of the belt so that it does not slip or falter when your feet hit it. Again, a better flywheel is more important for runners, especially if any of the users weigh over 75% of the treadmill’s weight limit (over 225 lb on equipment with a weight limit of 300 lb). For the rollers, larger is better.

A good flywheel and rollers will also help extend the life of the equipment because they will wear better. Generally you can assume that a high quality treadmill will have a better flywheel and rollers than a cheap treadmill.

The treadmill motor

Treadmill motor strength is measured in horsepower. What you should look for is continuous horsepower (chp) which is the power that the motor can maintain over a period of time, not the maximum horsepower that it can reach in short bursts.

Other things being equal, a more powerful motor will mean a better exercise experience and a more durable treadmill. However, occasionally a manufacturer will use a higher powered motor simply because the belt, flywheel or deck are not great and would not work at all with a smaller motor. So size is not an indicator of quality 100% of the time.

Some treadmills offer a longer warranty on their motor than on the other parts - up to 25 years is possible. This is a good sign that the manufacturer believes they have a quality motor.

The treadmill deck

The deck supports the belt and provides shock absorption for the knees and other joints when you are running. One of the great advantages of treadmills over running on the sidewalk is that treadmills offer increased absorption of the jarring shock of the foot hitting a hard surface which can result in severe damage to knees over time. This is especially important if you run hard or if you are heavy, but should be a consideration for all runners. Most treadmills except the very cheapest offer some increased absorption. Go for the best that you can afford here.

Many decks also have an adjustable incline. This gives you a slope to increase the difficulty of your walk or run, and adds to the variety that you can build into your workouts to combat boredom. The maximum slope on most treadmills is 10%.

The treadmill frame and rails

Most frames are made of steel. Some top of the range treadmills come with aluminum frames, which are stronger and can support more weight. The bars or rails that you grip when you are starting out are standard, but you will want to be sure that they will be easy to grip without getting in your way. They are not designed to be held throughout your workout.

Some rails include a heart rate monitor that measures your pulse when you grip them. You do need some kind of heart rate monitor to measure your performance for most workouts, but having to grip rails is not necessarily the best way. Something you can wear can be easier to manage.

The treadmill console

This is often the first thing that people look at and the area that the salesperson will focus on in the store, but it should certainly not be the only consideration. It is useful to have a large display that is easy to read, so that you can check your progress through your workout without having to break your stride. It can also be nice to have an iPod deck for your music, a programmable interactive workout schedule, etc, but it is best if you see these as extras. Think of it as if you were buying a car. How important is the console on a car? It’s a factor and good instruments and features will certainly add to your driving pleasure, but it is not as important as the engine, right?

As a minimum, the console should at least tell you the distance that you have run and the time. If you are using it for weight loss you will probably also want to know calories burned. If you are interested in racing you will want to know speed. Beyond that, some models will continuously measure your heart rate and a workout program.

This should give you a good understanding of a treadmill and how it works to help you select the best home treadmill for your needs. If you’re shopping online for a treadmill, check out these award winning treadmills for your home from Nautilus®.

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Tags: Exercise, Exercise Equipment, Treadmill Parts, treadmills, Weight Loss

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