Buying a treadmill can be one of the best ways to spend your money in this tough economy. When times are good, people tend to spend their money loosely. When times are bad, people are more careful with their money and thus want to find value. Cheap treadmills can defiantly get you in the right direction, taking you down the path to better health and a better life. This may be shocking, but the majority of Americans are overweight. Studies show that this epidemic will only continue to worsen in the future. Do you really want to become just another statistic? I didn’t think so.

Losing weight is all about incorporating a cardiovascular workout into your daily life. In the last 20 years, the sale of treadmills has surpassed the sale of other similar home gym equipment with similar benefits. Many people think that a treadmill is inherently expensive. Wrong. Like any other product on the planet, the price that you pay for a treadmill depends on the features that you want. However, you don’t really need fancy features in order to get a good workout. Depending on your requirements, you can potentially eliminate unnecessary features and get treadmills for cheap.

When trying to find a cheap treadmill, you need to know what type of treadmill you need. Below are some of the common types of treadmills to choose from.

You have two options when trying to pick the perfect treadmill for you. You can either go for a cheap motorized treadmill or a cheap manual treadmill. If you go with the motorized variant then it can be used for running and walking. Alternatively, the manual treadmill can only be used for walking or jogging. Most motorized treadmill models allow the incline to be adjusted automatically. A manual treadmill requires the user to stop for a few minutes while he/she adjusts the incline. Most treadmills sold on the market today are motorized. Of course, you can still find a manual treadmill and for a reasonable price to boot. The average price for a manual treadmill hovers around $100, this is in contrast to the $400 you will have to pay to get a motorized version.

You should consider getting a folding treadmill if you are no willing or are unable to allocate the necessary space that is required for a treadmill. However, you will have to pay for the added convenience since a folding treadmill is more expensive than a non-folding one. Another disadvantage of a folding treadmill is that it has a greater chance of breaking. Unless you have a real desire or need for a folding treadmill, I would recommend that you go with a non-folding one.

If you are overweight (and there is a high probability this is true, as evidenced by the fact you are reading this article) then you need to make sure you get a treadmill with a strong motor and a quality belt deck. It is probably a good idea to opt for a warranty on the motor as well. A 2.25 HP motor coupled with a warranty period of one year would come to about $400. Compare this to a machine with a 3HP motor and a lifetime warranty. If you weigh less than 250lbs then you should opt for the one year warranty and save yourself the $1600.

Wireless heart rate control is a really wonderful feature that allows you to control your workout intensity based upon your current heart rate. Here are some of the zones that you can choose from if you have heart trouble: healthy heart zone, temperate zone, aerobic zone, anaerobic zone and the redline zone are some of the heart training zones. This feature is generally only found on models that are more expensive and is intended for those who are older. If you are relatively young and are free of health problems (other than obesity) then you can get away with getting a cheap treadmill that does not have the wireless heart rate control feature.

If you find yourself in the tough position of being really short on cash and needing to have advanced features then getting a used machine might be your only option. You can find cheap treadmills for sale that have a strong motor, can be folded, and also has a wireless heart rate control monitor. Just remember to really check the treadmill over before you purchase. If anything feels loose or looks suspicious just walk away. You can seriously injure yourself on a faulty machine so be careful.

Now get out there and lose some weight!