Treadmills are one of the most popular forms of exercise equipment. Of course finding the right treadmill for your budget and needs can be a difficult process. First, you need to sit down and evaluate why you are thinking about buying a treadmill. Ask yourself how much money you would like to spend on a treadmill and what benefits you would like to receive. Treadmills are the number one selling piece of exercise equipment on the market. Why? They work and they are easy to use! Walking is a natural process that most people have done since they were one year old. If you have noticed all the diet and fitness fads, you have noticed that the treadmill is the one piece of exercise equipment that never changes and is always around. This is a true testament to treadmill shoppers; they know they are buying a product that has given many people results.

To start shopping for a treadmill you need to ask yourself why you want a treadmill. Are you looking to loose weight, rehabilitate, or to tone up. How much money would you like to spend on a treadmill? When it comes to treadmills, you need to be prepared to spend some serious money. The phrase "you get what you pay for" definitely rings true when discussing treadmills. The price ranges generally break down to budget ($500 to $1,500), mid-range ($1,500 to $3,000) and quality ($, 3000 and up). Many fitness places will offer discounts around holidays, so be sure to keep your eyes open.

If you cannot afford a more expensive treadmill, don't even look at it. You might like the added features like a TV screen built in and an Ipod docking station, but if you are on a budget, just keep walking. Only spend what you can afford. If you want quality, shop around at a few different stores to see what different types of treadmills they have in your price range.

Think about what a treadmill does, it allows you to walk or run. If you are a marathon runner, you may want to invest more than the average person who just wants to tone up. A good basic treadmill may be all you need. If you are in pretty good shape and walk on a regular basis, it is wise to invest a little more money. If you regularly exercise at least one hour a day, you can find that a less expensive treadmill can break down within 6 months from being overused. Do your research and find a treadmill that has recommendations by consistent users.

Think of all the people that will be using your treadmill. If a single user that weighs 110lbs uses the treadmill, they will need a much different treadmill from a family of 4 that has people weighing over 200 pounds. Also, look at your home and where you will be able to fit the treadmill. You may need to pay extra for a "folding treadmill" that allows you to collapse it when it is not in use. Put the treadmill in a visible area so you can see it every day and remember to use it. Again, you need to consider how your treadmill will be used. Normal use of a treadmill is considered using it up to 30 minutes per day, every day of the week. If you plan to use your treadmill more than this, you need to move up to a higher grade treadmill. For every 30 minutes extra you plan to use the treadmill, you need to step up to a higher grade.

So how do you determine the quality of a treadmill? This is not too easy, especially if you have a good salesman trying to market their treadmill. First do your research and know that a manufacturer has to spend more money on a better quality treadmill. So that does mean they have to charge their customer's more for the treadmill. However, just because the name "ProForm" is attached to the treadmill, it may not be better than the new Reebok or NordicTrack treadmills on the market.

Now, a few more things you need to be aware of when selecting a treadmill. A user weighing 100 pounds and a user weighing 200 pounds make a difference to how well the treadmill will run. For every 50 pounds of weight over 200 pounds, you need to go up one level in treadmill quality. If you weigh around 200 or 250 pounds expect to pay $1,000 to $1,500 for a treadmill. Many treadmills have problems with a user who is over 200 pounds who runs on a daily basis, so be sure to budget a little more money. Another factor you need to consider is the workout time. Again, a normal workout is considered to be 30 minutes per day per person. If you plan on using the treadmill more than this, go up one level for each extra 30 minutes of use.

Back to the number of users, if you are a single person weighing 200 pounds or less, you will not need to purchase the same treadmill as a family of 4 with at least 2 individuals weighing 200 pounds or more. The standard number of normal users is 2. If you have more than 2 people using the treadmill, you need to go up to the next level in quality.

Now that you know a few things about how to select a treadmill, you need to know the most important "quality issue" pertaining to a treadmill; the drive system. The drive system is the motor control, belt, and deck of a treadmill. Poor engineering of any of these components and you have yourself a lemon. Many manufacturers use underpowered components and have poor reliability because of it. So here are a few tips to look for when it comes to the drive system.

1. Power. When you are walking, and change the speed to running, the transfer of power should feel smooth. You should never hear the motor working hard to keep the pace. Also, you should not feel a large lag when you step on the belt, this too should be smooth.
2. Horsepower. Online ratings are the best place to check. Look at the figure "continuous duty rating" and shop for a treadmill with the rating 1.5 to 2.5 HP continuous duty. Along with the horsepower rating, check for a treadmill that has a long warranty on the motor and remember that DC motors are quieter.
3. The walking belt. Steer clear from overly thick belts and oversized belts. Most people only need 18 inches of width and 52 inches of length. The more belt surface you have, the harder the motor has to work.
4. Noise. A treadmill should make some noise, but not enough to wake the sleeping baby. An overly noisy treadmill shows you have poor engineering and poor components. A quieter machine means less friction and wear on the treadmill.
5. Warranty. A standard warranty is lifetime on the frame, 3 years on parts and 1 year on labor. As you can see, you probably won't need to purchase an extended warranty. Cheaper treadmills have shorter warranty's, so if you have 90 days to evaluate the quality of the treadmill, put on your shoes and make sure you made a good decision.
6. Options. More options are becoming available the more you spend, so be careful to note that these options do not include essentials like the motor and belt. Many treadmills come with programs that provide variations in your workout. Most people never use them, or try them once and stick to plain old running or walking. Heart rate control (HRC) is another option that treadmill manufacturers have come up with to determine the speed of your heart. There are many problems with HRCs, they have hand grips that determine your heart rate and it is not quite accurate or they have a strap that you place around your wrists that also do not give accurate readings. With everything else, you get what you pay for. The cheaper the treadmill, the less chance you will have of an accurate heart rate test.

So now that you know more about treadmills, let's look at a few of the most popular treadmills on the market to give you a better idea of what to shop for.

• Nordic Track - This is the number one selling brand of treadmills on the market. They come with excellent warranties, good cushioning and design. It is hard to find any poor reviews of a Nordic Track.
• Reebok - This is a fairly new brand of treadmills to hit the market. Reebok treadmills are manufactured by ICON, the same manufacturer of Nordic Track treadmills. These treadmills are also recommended for quality and price.
• Fitline - These are a lower end treadmill by True. Most people say they are decent, but not for the price you pay. Relatively expensive for the quality.

Finding the right treadmill to suit your needs will take some time. Plan out your budget and all the other requests we have gone over so you are ready to make a sound investment. Just remember to use the treadmill!