Treadmill Info

I know it's still the middle of July, but we're seriously thinking about purchasing treadmill prior to the onset of winter here in Michigan and I'm in need of a good website with info/reviews, or personal reviews.

Any and all input welcome.

http://www.treadmilldoctor.com/

I have a Proform from sears. Under $1000, i have logged serious miles on it. I did a 5.5 or 6 hour run once on it! lol.

Kevin:

If I had it to do over again, I would err on the side of spending more moeny. And this is coming from a cheap b@stard.

I got a NordicTrack (c1800i) from Sears for about 7-800 when I started running. If I had known more I would have seen that it's really more of a walking treadmill than a running treadmill. I can't do more than 6 or so on it without hurting myself in some way.

I may try to sell it before winter and upgrade.

I know Trever has Sole that the treadmill doctor recommends and likes it a lot. PacerChris also got a new one last year, but I don't remember what he got.

I have a Nordictrack one and the Landice cardio trainer. The NordicTrack is ok, but most treadmills are made/serviced through the same company and I have had service issues with them (I believe it's ICON fitness, but not sure) I love, love, love the Landice but it was really expensive. I can't say I've been on for 5.5 hours like Meri but I do end up logging a lot of miles on it because of scheduling issues with the kids. Nothing beats being outside but if I have to be on a treadmill I'm glad I spent the money for the Landice. Oh and definately spring for the extended warranty on whatever you get

I've heard very good things about Landice. I like the Quinton Club Tracks at my gym, but I assume they're quite pricey.

I have a VisionFitness HRT9600 that has a few bells and whistles, has a 1.5 HP motor and is a very stable machine. I have run a 20 miler on it without experiencing any problems. I think the other names I was most seriously considering when I ended up with the VisionFitness are Cybex and Landice. The range in price can be pretty wide.

Personally, I would avoid buying one of these at a shopper's club (BJ's, Costco, Etc.) or at a place like Dick's. Go for a place that sells good quality equipment as a main part of their business.

KP

Both Trev and Ailarie have Sol 80s. My wife and I are thinking of purchasing a SOl also based on Trev and Ailaries recommendation. Plus the Treadmill DOctor has plenty of positives to say about it also. Just my .02

KP,

Frankie beat me to it, but yeah...I have a Sole F80 model, and honestly, I am extremely happy with it.

It's got a long and wide belt (as far as treadmills go). Speed available from, jeesh, I think .05mph (don't quote me on that) on up to 11 miles an hour.

You can run on a flat area, or with an incline (and the incline can get pretty steep if you want it.)

The display is easy to read and reach. Also the incline and speed can be "bumped up or town" by buttons on the handrails

Technically, it's a folding treadmill, though I leave mine in the unfolded position at all times.

I don't use the heart rate monitor, so I can't comment on that feature.

It does have several programs you can use too, but again, I typically just go with the manual choice, and bump the speed up or down as desired.

Radioyada also said that assembly wasn't bad at all.

You can order directly from Sole, if you're interested:
http://www.soletreadmills.com/details.php?name=F80

If you do, note that they have "drop shipping" and an "in house" (not the right term) delivery. Drop shopping literally is curbside. It doesn't matter if the curb is ten feet from your front door. The curb is as far as they go. So.. either go for the in-house delivery, or make sure that you and at least one other person can pick the thing up. It's a heavy mofo!

This model was also avialable at Dick's Sporting goods for a while.

Happy treadmill hunting!

The best thing about Landice is the lifetime guarantee. If you have some serious running to be done, you will burn a motor out sooner or later and the cost to rebuild a treadmill is almost as much as a new one. I had to have the motor replaced and the mat---free, not even a service call charge. At first they were "there's almost 5,000 miles on this treadmill, we won't replace the motor on a multiple user treadmill" The company didn't believe that 2 people would rack up that mileage. The service guy said "most people use it as a clothes rack by then".

Is there a way to see the cumulative miles put on the Landice? Or do you keep track. I've only had it since Dec. but I would be curious how many miles I've put on it since then. Thanks.

note to self : make sure next TM is a Landice!

I ended up getting an Epic from Costco, and it's been serving me well. It has a 10 year warranty. I just didn't have the money for a more expensive one, and figured I would by a cheaper one, run it into the ground, get another cheaper one, etc. This one was $900 incl shipping, and so far it has been great. It goes up to incline 12%, speed 12 mph (as if!), and is comfortable. I've been putting 20-25 miles on it nearly every week (two small kids keep me close to the house). Heavy as all get out, though. It took 4 friends to get it into place, and I might have to sell it as a fixture if we move.

My take on it, which may be wrong, is that the extra money pays for more features and a stronger motor. I don't need any features but speed, incline and timer. The motor is important for the number of miles you're going to put on it and how much weight you're putting on it. I weigh 110 pounds, so I don't need one capaple of handling a 300 pound person. As far as the miles, well, I couldn't afford a better one anyway.

that was my take Jebba. Mine serves my needs. I run at 10-11 min/mile pace. I power hike a lot. The only other treadmill i would get if this one goes is the Nordictrack (i think) one that has a steep 15% incline as well as a decline to practice downhill running. That would be very good for my training.

I should add that my treadmill wildly overestimates how many calories I burn. It has me burning 160 calories per mile. So I just ignore it.

Appreciate all the input, but decisions have been made and it looks like the treadmill has been put on the back burner until after we purchase a house in the spring - don't want to have to move it just a few months after we get it.

that is a good plan. we just bought a house and i need to downsize my equiptment. i own a TM, stairstepper and ellitptical. The elliptical is currently on craigs list. But i do not use it that much since i bought the stepper.

yep, but I forgot how. If you take the moniter face off, there is an internal setting. If you have the manual, you should check it, bacause this is how I found out that my incline was wrong, I thought that my basement was on an incline, but when the guy came and check my miles he also said that it had an internal incline of .5% . I had the company guy come because the percent incline wasn't making sense according to my Sears level. (I had someone on a different website figure out how degrees and incline are calculated and sure enough my treadmill was wrong)

Any home treamill models that go 15 MPH ??? Just curious -

You could buy a used Precor.

964i and I think that's considered commercial type. I can't think of any others...never had the need.

We got a PaceMaster Gold and I really like it. The Landice was pretty firm and didn't have some features I wanted. Been real happy with the Pacemaster so far - it actually has a negative incline up to -3% which is good for downhill training (I think Precor is supposed to come out with this soon if they haven't already). PaceMaster was much cheaper than Precor and I liked the way the deck felt vs. the very stiff Precor.

Treadmill Doctor is great -gives you some good basic info to go into a dealer armed with some info. Don't be too cheap and be realistic about what you want to use it for.

How's the HR reading on yours? Mine is very off - 10-50 beats higher, depending on actual rate. I just use my watch HRM instead. I turned off all the electrinics around it to make sure it wasn't interference. Also, My model is a 2005 and does not have the negative incline. That would be nice but I just use blocks under the rear supports for now.


Meri - the Pacemasters also go to 15% for the power hiking.

Though the Landice's has a very nice feel to it and my Gym has the Precor 956i's. I like those as well.

I had a proform

just make sure you get the yearly support contract if you go with Sears. You will need it, at least I did

i got the stairmaster 2100 clubtrack, not a cheap treadmill, and I don't believe the HR for one iota. I can run easy and edge to 200. I don't think I can top off that high in a sprint, and the only people I've witness with their own HRM are about 18 and younger.