Discussion
I was just about to ask the same question as I too am in the market for a treadmill.
It seems your Life Fitness 9100 HRT is ok but there are much higher spec machines out there now. It also seems it's a bit of a minefield unless you know your onions.
Life Fitness & Technogym seem to be the best brands but I've been looking the spec (motor ho, incline, programmes etc) and they vary so much.
Is there anyone out there that knows about this stuff?
OP: I'd be interested to hear what you end up buying. The Life Fitness 9500 seems like a better buy - 4hp instead of 2 on the 9100HRT
It seems your Life Fitness 9100 HRT is ok but there are much higher spec machines out there now. It also seems it's a bit of a minefield unless you know your onions.
Life Fitness & Technogym seem to be the best brands but I've been looking the spec (motor ho, incline, programmes etc) and they vary so much.
Is there anyone out there that knows about this stuff?
OP: I'd be interested to hear what you end up buying. The Life Fitness 9500 seems like a better buy - 4hp instead of 2 on the 9100HRT
Just ordered a Refurbished Life Fitness 95Ti - 4HP, 15% incline, 12 mph, lots of different programmes and it can automatically adjust the intensity based on your heart rate so you can keep 'in the zone'
It's a commercial piece of kit, so hopefully should take whatever is thrown at it (he says hopefully)
It's a commercial piece of kit, so hopefully should take whatever is thrown at it (he says hopefully)
Probably about to be shot down in flames but...
... I've got a Roger Black 'Gold' treadmill (aka Argos special), that I bought new from ebay for £200 (apparently an 'unwanted present' - at the time they were around £500 from Argos I think). It has a fairly wide track, a shock absorber, heart rate monitor and electric incline... and goes pretty fast (10mph max I think).
I've had it for 7 years, it's moved room / house a couple of times and generally gets 30 - 60 mins of use each week (I hate running!) and still going strong with no squeaks or groans. It's probably not up to constant abuse like a commercial machine but for a bit of home use it does the job.
So maybe give a cheaper one a go before spending a small fortune on one that's intended for a commercial gym?
... I've got a Roger Black 'Gold' treadmill (aka Argos special), that I bought new from ebay for £200 (apparently an 'unwanted present' - at the time they were around £500 from Argos I think). It has a fairly wide track, a shock absorber, heart rate monitor and electric incline... and goes pretty fast (10mph max I think).
I've had it for 7 years, it's moved room / house a couple of times and generally gets 30 - 60 mins of use each week (I hate running!) and still going strong with no squeaks or groans. It's probably not up to constant abuse like a commercial machine but for a bit of home use it does the job.
So maybe give a cheaper one a go before spending a small fortune on one that's intended for a commercial gym?
ally_f said:
Probably about to be shot down in flames but...
... I've got a Roger Black 'Gold' treadmill (aka Argos special), that I bought new from ebay for £200 (apparently an 'unwanted present' - at the time they were around £500 from Argos I think). It has a fairly wide track, a shock absorber, heart rate monitor and electric incline... and goes pretty fast (10mph max I think).
I've had it for 7 years, it's moved room / house a couple of times and generally gets 30 - 60 mins of use each week (I hate running!) and still going strong with no squeaks or groans. It's probably not up to constant abuse like a commercial machine but for a bit of home use it does the job.
So maybe give a cheaper one a go before spending a small fortune on one that's intended for a commercial gym?
This one I assume?... I've got a Roger Black 'Gold' treadmill (aka Argos special), that I bought new from ebay for £200 (apparently an 'unwanted present' - at the time they were around £500 from Argos I think). It has a fairly wide track, a shock absorber, heart rate monitor and electric incline... and goes pretty fast (10mph max I think).
I've had it for 7 years, it's moved room / house a couple of times and generally gets 30 - 60 mins of use each week (I hate running!) and still going strong with no squeaks or groans. It's probably not up to constant abuse like a commercial machine but for a bit of home use it does the job.
So maybe give a cheaper one a go before spending a small fortune on one that's intended for a commercial gym?
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3...
At £300 it seems like decent value and has good reviews too.
Ah my department...
If you're looking to buy a treadmill, the single worst thing you can do try to find something that's cheap. A bad treadmill with a cheap deck and/or cushioning system will be bad for your feet, knees and back.
If you buy a treadmill that's <£500, this is exactly what you will get. You should never skimp on budget - you will be far far better off investing in a visit to a foot specialist, a running trainer, a good set of trainers and getting outside. It will be cheaper too.
The deck, belt and motors are the most important factors.
Avoid treadmills where the manufacturer puts most of their work into fancy gimmicks and systems, because they will have spared expense on the deck, belt and motor. The whistles and bangs are there to sell, not to help you.
Don't pay for a badge. Avoid big sports brands and names - Reebok, Nike, York, <something named after an athlete>. These are some of the worst treadmills around.
Avoid big retail own brands, like cheap Argos tat. Invariably these are cheap Chinese copies that will have poor build quality and almost certainly a duff deck, belt and motor.
Avoid treadmills that have a weak motor <2.5Hp. They are often run overly hard to get a good speed on the belt, this over-stresses and over-heats the motors shortening their life and their ability to alter speed effectively.
The best treadmills these days are ones that have an orthopedic belt (around 4.4mm in depth). These act as a natural cushioning system for your feet and can feel like running on grass. Spring-loaded or flex-deck treadmills will have a thin belt. The surface of orthopedic belts also allow you to run bare foot without shredding your feet. Bare foot running will vastly improve your running technique as it will make you run on your toes - how we're designed to. This will make you use all the natural springs in your body, such as the arch on your feet, your Achilles tendon and calf muscles.
You also want a treadmill that makes you do most of the work, so a spring-return system like a flex-deck is a cheat. The ground doesn't spring back and help you run, so nor should a treadmill. Flex-decks/spring decks can be 1/3 as effective as a deadening system. Don't be sold on these being a good cushioning system. They are not. Your body is designed for soft ground, not a ground that bounces back.
I sell loads of orthopedic treadmills for all the above reasons so if you're looking for an excellent treadmill with a great belt, motor and deck, you can do no better than a Horizon T4000 or 507. It would be worth going miles out of your way to try to find one going cheap. Better just to fork out a bit more and buy new though, as the you want a motor under warranty as these are the bones of the treadmill. If it fails, expect a repair bill worth almost as much as the treadmill itself.
It's a wholly pointless exercise buying something to improve your fitness when all it can do it make it worse...
If you're looking to buy a treadmill, the single worst thing you can do try to find something that's cheap. A bad treadmill with a cheap deck and/or cushioning system will be bad for your feet, knees and back.
If you buy a treadmill that's <£500, this is exactly what you will get. You should never skimp on budget - you will be far far better off investing in a visit to a foot specialist, a running trainer, a good set of trainers and getting outside. It will be cheaper too.
The deck, belt and motors are the most important factors.
Avoid treadmills where the manufacturer puts most of their work into fancy gimmicks and systems, because they will have spared expense on the deck, belt and motor. The whistles and bangs are there to sell, not to help you.
Don't pay for a badge. Avoid big sports brands and names - Reebok, Nike, York, <something named after an athlete>. These are some of the worst treadmills around.
Avoid big retail own brands, like cheap Argos tat. Invariably these are cheap Chinese copies that will have poor build quality and almost certainly a duff deck, belt and motor.
Avoid treadmills that have a weak motor <2.5Hp. They are often run overly hard to get a good speed on the belt, this over-stresses and over-heats the motors shortening their life and their ability to alter speed effectively.
The best treadmills these days are ones that have an orthopedic belt (around 4.4mm in depth). These act as a natural cushioning system for your feet and can feel like running on grass. Spring-loaded or flex-deck treadmills will have a thin belt. The surface of orthopedic belts also allow you to run bare foot without shredding your feet. Bare foot running will vastly improve your running technique as it will make you run on your toes - how we're designed to. This will make you use all the natural springs in your body, such as the arch on your feet, your Achilles tendon and calf muscles.
You also want a treadmill that makes you do most of the work, so a spring-return system like a flex-deck is a cheat. The ground doesn't spring back and help you run, so nor should a treadmill. Flex-decks/spring decks can be 1/3 as effective as a deadening system. Don't be sold on these being a good cushioning system. They are not. Your body is designed for soft ground, not a ground that bounces back.
I sell loads of orthopedic treadmills for all the above reasons so if you're looking for an excellent treadmill with a great belt, motor and deck, you can do no better than a Horizon T4000 or 507. It would be worth going miles out of your way to try to find one going cheap. Better just to fork out a bit more and buy new though, as the you want a motor under warranty as these are the bones of the treadmill. If it fails, expect a repair bill worth almost as much as the treadmill itself.
It's a wholly pointless exercise buying something to improve your fitness when all it can do it make it worse...
Thanks for the excellent info Mattikake! My research so far has covered pretty much all your advice (no Argos, no athlete names etc.) though the price is the problem! I do intend to visit the Northampton fitness superstore, and have been using their site to check against the various machines I've seen on ebay. Maybe they'll have a sale on in the New Year...
By the way, I do prefer to run outside, but haven't had much time in recent years since my son was born, so a machine at home will mean I can do some running when he goes to bed!
By the way, I do prefer to run outside, but haven't had much time in recent years since my son was born, so a machine at home will mean I can do some running when he goes to bed!
Car analogies work - Buying CV equipment is like buying car. You can read all the specs on paper, but until you try them out, the car you sit in and decide "this is me" is probably not the one you were originally thinking of.
Except it's more important than buying a car. CV equipment is about suiting you well enough to make you better, fitter, stronger, without injury and being comfortable enough to make you come back for more. A car only has to suit you well enough to get you from A to B in a relaxed state, not one where you may be pushing your body to it's limits.
One of the main reasons CV equipment sits around unused is because the owner doesn't like using it. They made a poor choice in the first place usually by deciding on the wrong selection criteria. Price, while largely unavoidable, is almost always the wrong criteria.
Never put a fiscal limit on your health. It's more important to you than that.
Except it's more important than buying a car. CV equipment is about suiting you well enough to make you better, fitter, stronger, without injury and being comfortable enough to make you come back for more. A car only has to suit you well enough to get you from A to B in a relaxed state, not one where you may be pushing your body to it's limits.
One of the main reasons CV equipment sits around unused is because the owner doesn't like using it. They made a poor choice in the first place usually by deciding on the wrong selection criteria. Price, while largely unavoidable, is almost always the wrong criteria.
Never put a fiscal limit on your health. It's more important to you than that.
mattikake said:
Ah my department...
If you're looking to buy a treadmill, the single worst thing you can do try to find something that's cheap. A bad treadmill with a cheap deck and/or cushioning system will be bad for your feet, knees and back.
If you buy a treadmill that's <£500, this is exactly what you will get. You should never skimp on budget - you will be far far better off investing in a visit to a foot specialist, a running trainer, a good set of trainers and getting outside. It will be cheaper too.
The deck, belt and motors are the most important factors.
Avoid treadmills where the manufacturer puts most of their work into fancy gimmicks and systems, because they will have spared expense on the deck, belt and motor. The whistles and bangs are there to sell, not to help you.
Don't pay for a badge. Avoid big sports brands and names - Reebok, Nike, York, <something named after an athlete>. These are some of the worst treadmills around.
Avoid big retail own brands, like cheap Argos tat. Invariably these are cheap Chinese copies that will have poor build quality and almost certainly a duff deck, belt and motor.
Avoid treadmills that have a weak motor <2.5Hp. They are often run overly hard to get a good speed on the belt, this over-stresses and over-heats the motors shortening their life and their ability to alter speed effectively.
The best treadmills these days are ones that have an orthopedic belt (around 4.4mm in depth). These act as a natural cushioning system for your feet and can feel like running on grass. Spring-loaded or flex-deck treadmills will have a thin belt. The surface of orthopedic belts also allow you to run bare foot without shredding your feet. Bare foot running will vastly improve your running technique as it will make you run on your toes - how we're designed to. This will make you use all the natural springs in your body, such as the arch on your feet, your Achilles tendon and calf muscles.
You also want a treadmill that makes you do most of the work, so a spring-return system like a flex-deck is a cheat. The ground doesn't spring back and help you run, so nor should a treadmill. Flex-decks/spring decks can be 1/3 as effective as a deadening system. Don't be sold on these being a good cushioning system. They are not. Your body is designed for soft ground, not a ground that bounces back.
I sell loads of orthopedic treadmills for all the above reasons so if you're looking for an excellent treadmill with a great belt, motor and deck, you can do no better than a Horizon T4000 or 507. It would be worth going miles out of your way to try to find one going cheap. Better just to fork out a bit more and buy new though, as the you want a motor under warranty as these are the bones of the treadmill. If it fails, expect a repair bill worth almost as much as the treadmill itself.
It's a wholly pointless exercise buying something to improve your fitness when all it can do it make it worse...
Wow you gained a lot of knowledge in the last 4 months If you're looking to buy a treadmill, the single worst thing you can do try to find something that's cheap. A bad treadmill with a cheap deck and/or cushioning system will be bad for your feet, knees and back.
If you buy a treadmill that's <£500, this is exactly what you will get. You should never skimp on budget - you will be far far better off investing in a visit to a foot specialist, a running trainer, a good set of trainers and getting outside. It will be cheaper too.
The deck, belt and motors are the most important factors.
Avoid treadmills where the manufacturer puts most of their work into fancy gimmicks and systems, because they will have spared expense on the deck, belt and motor. The whistles and bangs are there to sell, not to help you.
Don't pay for a badge. Avoid big sports brands and names - Reebok, Nike, York, <something named after an athlete>. These are some of the worst treadmills around.
Avoid big retail own brands, like cheap Argos tat. Invariably these are cheap Chinese copies that will have poor build quality and almost certainly a duff deck, belt and motor.
Avoid treadmills that have a weak motor <2.5Hp. They are often run overly hard to get a good speed on the belt, this over-stresses and over-heats the motors shortening their life and their ability to alter speed effectively.
The best treadmills these days are ones that have an orthopedic belt (around 4.4mm in depth). These act as a natural cushioning system for your feet and can feel like running on grass. Spring-loaded or flex-deck treadmills will have a thin belt. The surface of orthopedic belts also allow you to run bare foot without shredding your feet. Bare foot running will vastly improve your running technique as it will make you run on your toes - how we're designed to. This will make you use all the natural springs in your body, such as the arch on your feet, your Achilles tendon and calf muscles.
You also want a treadmill that makes you do most of the work, so a spring-return system like a flex-deck is a cheat. The ground doesn't spring back and help you run, so nor should a treadmill. Flex-decks/spring decks can be 1/3 as effective as a deadening system. Don't be sold on these being a good cushioning system. They are not. Your body is designed for soft ground, not a ground that bounces back.
I sell loads of orthopedic treadmills for all the above reasons so if you're looking for an excellent treadmill with a great belt, motor and deck, you can do no better than a Horizon T4000 or 507. It would be worth going miles out of your way to try to find one going cheap. Better just to fork out a bit more and buy new though, as the you want a motor under warranty as these are the bones of the treadmill. If it fails, expect a repair bill worth almost as much as the treadmill itself.
It's a wholly pointless exercise buying something to improve your fitness when all it can do it make it worse...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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