TrekDesk The Treadmill Desk For Exercise

TrekDesk – The recent invention of TrekDesk allows you to make better use of an existing treadmill set-up by making it easier to find the “right time” to exercise.

Whilst more recent and expensive treadmills have been giving you the ability to listen to music with plug-in connections for digital music players, or read using built-in book rests, the TrekDesk takes things much further, now you can exercise whilst working or playing on a computer or whatever use you put the desk surface to!

If you think your children are spending too much time on the computer and not getting enough exercise the TrekDesk could be the way to give them both at the same time.

The TrekDesk being a freestanding unit does not suffer the problem of vibration from the treadmill, thus making it possible to carry out tasks that otherwise vibration might prevent or make difficult.

TrekDesk Features As Indicated Above

1. Accessory Slots to keep accessories located on the desktop.
2. The TrekDesk provides a large working surface (72 inches by 34 inches) which is bigger than most desks.
3. Beveled edges for comfort and design appearance.
4. Height adjustable console (adjust it to the best ergonomic position for
5. Strong durable metal base and support system.
6. Allows the utilization of incline features of exercise treadmills.
7. Logo.
8. Center “cut out” means the treadmill controls and accessories are within
reach.
9. Manuscript holder keeps your books, magazines and papers upright for
easier reading.
10.Phone Stand/File Tray, feature.
11.Stability support struts to add stability to the desk.
12.Robust metal support arms to add strength and durability.
13. Cup Holders 2, or suitable for holding your water bottle.
14.TrekDesk can be used with nearly all existing exercise treadmills.

Additional Features of the TrekDesk:

1.  Easy assembly from box.
2.  Sturdy design.
3.  Safe product, ROHS Certified
4.  Professional design and materials.
5.  Weight: 57 lbs.
6. Durable scuff resistant work surface area.
7.  Numbered adjustable desk height settings.
8.  Two (2) year limited warranty.
9.  Future accessories added easily to accessory inserts.
10. Suitable for all laptop and keyboard sizes.
11. Universal design to fit most treadmills.
12. Allows additional use of treadmill (work and exercise).
13. Can be used as a stand alone height adjustable desk.
14. Individual user settings are done easily and quickly.
15. No vibration or movement caused by treadmill.
16. Folds for easy storage and transport.
17. Weight Loads over 55 lbs. not recommended.
18. Powder coated steel frame and steel re-enforced LDPE desktop.
19. Colors: Desktop is Black, Frame is Gray/Silver.
20. Designed for both home & commercial users.
21. Unique shape maximizes the work area.

Will it fit Your Treadmill?
The TrekDesk treadmill desk will work with nearly all makes and models of treadmills.

Use the measurements detailed on the website (click on one of the Trekdesk links to visit website) to ensure that a TrekDesk will work for your requirements:

Our Opinion

Whilst we don’t see the TrekDesk appealing to all exercise treadmill users there is definitely a niche in the marketplace for such an item.

Probably more for home/office situations where it is often difficult to leave and have a break from sitting at the disk without leaving the business unattended, however use is claimed in Fortune 500 companies, so we may be proved wrong over time.

We wouldn’t imagine people spending many hours on the treadmill but as an alternative to sitting, especially for people suffering from back pain problems where this could be a real benefit.

Even if you didn’t intend to use the desk for serious work, it would be ideal for surfing the net or gaming or whilst exercising, for both adults and children who don’t get enough exercise because they are spending too many hours a week hunched over computer keyboards and consoles!

This product can be delivered to all parts of the United States (even including Alaska and Hawaii) at a fixed cost or even free with some offers. The height adjustable desk could be useful where space is tight, but one that can be used with an exercise treadmill could mean you use it and exercise more often to benefit of your health.

Sole Treadmills – Fitness Treadmill Manufacturer

Sole Treadmills

These are being reviewed by popular demand; this site has no financial motive to endorse any one company’s products over any other. Other companies such as Smooth Fitness, Landice, Precor and Bowflex etc. also offer good treadmills; reviews of them and their exercise treadmills will be coming as requested.

Sole Treadmills

Sole the company, has been manufacturing and developing Sole Treadmills for over 20 years.  Their company policy seems to be producing quality products that are simple design wise, yet innovative and of high quality, meaning that they are reliable and good value.

Sole Treadmills, confident in the quality of their treadmills, offers to the consumer, some of the best guarantees on exercise treadmills that can be found anywhere.

Even entry level Sole Treadmills, such as the 2009 F63, have lifetime guarantee on the frame and on the motor, three years on the deck, three years on the electronics/belt/rollers, one year on the labor and all this on an entry level machine costing around $1000.

Guarantees on higher priced treadmills are even more impressive, but do check what the guarantee is on the year and model Sole treadmill you are considering buying.

Sole Folding Treadmills

Sole F63 Treadmill

Although an entry-level treadmill it still comes built to a high standard and with a host of useful features.

The “F” signifies this as a space saving folding treadmill and has built in wheels to move and collapse it easily, great when space is limited. It has a safety locking system when in its upright position, but unfolds itself when released, you just step back and watch it unfold, whenever you want to use it.

Speed and incline can be adjusted easily from the handrails, a cool blue LCD display lets you monitor your progress, there are built in cooling fans and you can even listen to your choice of music from the built-in audio speaker system by plugging in your iPod, MP3 player etc.

It has a 2.5 Horse Power continuous duty motor with a generous flywheel to ensure smooth running at speeds up to 10m.p.h, both pleasing for the user and extending the life of the motor, not that should be a real concern with their guarantee. This and the belt transport mechanism mean it is a quiet running treadmill too!

It has a generous 20” x 55” and stable running deck with shock absorption features that are kinder on your joints, greatly reducing the pounding compared to running on asphalt, plus the ability to set the incline up to 15% maximum.

Other features of this Sole treadmill include: -

• Message Window, blue LCD display
• Belt, 2 ply
• Rollers 2.5”
• Deck size 33” x 75”
• Standard Programs 6
• User defined programs for 2 people
• Hand pulse grips, including wireless chest strap
• User weight up to 325 pounds
• Machine weight 245 pounds
• Price around $1000

Other Sole treadmills in this range:-

• Sole F80 Treadmill
• Sole F83 Treadmill

Sole F85 Treadmill

Said to be Sole’s best selling treadmill and it’s not difficult to believe!

With an impressive 60 inch running surface and a class leading 3.5HP continuous duty motor you can be taking those long running strides at up to 12m.p.h. as you look at that 6 window club-like display to see just how well you are doing!

With Sole’s “Cushion Flex Shock Absorption Whisper Deck” you’ll be doing this with minimal noise and good shock absorption to help protect your joints.

Apart from the 6 standard programs the user can define a further 2 programs to make your workouts more challenging! It is well equipped with programs and can be customized, as you’d expect on top rated machine.

Speeds can be set as low as 0.5 m.p.h., so this machine can be used by people with a wide range of abilities, not just the super-fit!

The good solid construction of this Sole F85 treadmill means it take accommodate users up to 400 pounds.

Other features of this Sole treadmill include: -

• Option of heart-rate control that calculates the safe and most efficient workout for your age
• Built-in cooling fans for your personal comfort
• Incline up to 15%
• Deck size 33” x 80”
• Rollers 2.75 inches
• Folding with “Easy Assist”
• Belt – 2 ply double woven
• Heart Rate Control, including wireless chest strap
• LCD Display – Backlit blue LCD, 9 inches
• Displaying continuously – Calories, Distance Travelled, Incline, Speed, Time, Pulse and Pace. Also there is a one-quarter of a mile track feature and a Peak and Valley graph for different programs.
• Hand Pulse Grips
• Arm Rest controls for speed and incline
• Built-in Speakers for your iPod, MP3 player etc. to play through
• Guarantee – Motor- Lifetime, Deck- Lifetime Frame- Lifetime, Electronics / Belt / Rollers- 5 years, Labor- 2 years In-Home service.
• Weight 280 pounds
• Price around $2000

Non – Folding Sole Treadmills

If you don’t need a folding treadmill Sole have a range too :-

• Sole S77 Treadmill
• Sole TT8 Treadmill

See All Our Sole Treadmills

Jargon Buster for Treadmills

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Treadmill Terms Explained

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Different manufacturers may list their machines specifications differently, so when comparing machines it is important to compare like with like. Also compare machines about the same cost, you will not get the same features or quality when comparing a budget end model with a top price model!

Below is a list of the most common terms you are going to come across amongst the various treadmills available in the market currently.

Manual Treadmill

Stamina Manual Fitness Treadmill

A treadmill you operate by pushing the conveyor belt with your feet.

Some manual treadmills contain magnets to make it move more smoothly

Motorized or Electric Treadmill

An “ electric treadmill” – containing electric motors that move the belt and may also tilt the track for you as you walk or run

Belt

The ‘track’ of the treadmill

Deck

The underlying structure the belt runs over

Console

The controls on the front panel of the treadmill

Display

The digital readout, usually an LCD display, on the front panel of the treadmill showing e.g. average speed and/or distance travelled

Frame

The structure, usually a metal tubular framework that all the moving parts of the treadmill attach to

Folding Treadmill

Where space is an issue a folding treadmill does what it says, so that it takes up about 50% less space when

compared to a non-folding one.* See note about folding machines build quality lower down age*

Heart monitor

A sensor that takes your pulse and displays it to you

Calorie counter

A calculation of the energy burnt (calories used) during the session can be displayed, great if you’re in to counting calories as part of a weight loss plan

Incline

The tilt of the conveyor belt surface that simulates uphill running

Programmes

Different workout programmes available on a motorised treadmill

Surface

The top side of the conveyor belt, i.e. the part you run or walk on.

Folding Treadmill Machines and Build Quality -

LifeSpan Fitness Fold-N-Stor Compact Treadmill

In the early days build quality of the folding machines tended to be inferior. that is when compared to that of the fixed ones, they were less able to stand up to the heavy pounding encountered during running activities.

They were often less stable, making for a rather uncomfortable experience and also less reliable. Today on the whole these problems have been overcome, with the framework of a folding machine having a similar quality and design of a fixed treadmill running machine.

As well all the listed features above, the overall design of the machine is important when it comes to using it on a regular basis.

Is there a drinks holder for instance, somewhere to hold your iPod or mobile phone, or somewhere to rest a book if you’re one of those people who can read on the run! What do you want to do when you’re using your exercise machine to make it more fun, or a just some “you time” to listen to some cool music!

There are some machines that you can plug in and download exercise programmes from the Internet, again this may make things more interesting than using the same ones all the time.

Tip – the “F” indicates “folding” in the title of Sole Treadmills e.g. Sole F63 Treadmill is a folding treadmill.

See Folding Treadmills <click here

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Treadmill Buyers Checklist to Help Buy the Right One for You!

O.K. you’ve got this far and you want to buy a treadmill exercise machine, here is a checklist to help you remember and act on what you’ve learned so far! You’ve an idea of what your budget is……

Treadmill Buyers Checklist

1  Motorized Treadmill or Manual Treadmill?

2  What Maximum Speed do I require if it’s Motorized?

Remember – For a walking or a gentle running regime a speed of up to 7.5 m.p.h. 12k.p.h) might be fine, but for harder training at higher running speeds this would be too slow and a faster machine should be chosen.

 

3  What about the Treadmill Motor?

Typical Treadmill Motor from Proform

An electric treadmill can have two motors; one to drive the belt and the other to raise and lower

the bed for changing the incline. When considering your treadmill motor that drives the belt the specification figure that is important it is the “Continuous Duty”, more than “Treadmill Duty” or

“Maximum Power”. A continuous duty motor with at least 1.5 horsepower motor is recommended, some higher horsepower figures quoted are peak power, rather than continuous, don’t be fooled by the sales pitch!

4  How many incline settings?

(Min 3 recommended)…Y/N

5  What size is the treadmill?

Do you have room when you get it home and use it, plus the access to get it where you want it? If you don’t have room to leave one in its own space all the time a folding treadmill could be the answer, however you may need to make some extra checks, see earlier under build quality

6  What about the treadmill running deck and its size?

If you plan on running get one at least 48″ long and 16″ wide, the deck should feel cushioned to absorb shock and the belt should not move around with each stride

7  What thickness is running deck?

Schwinn 840 Treadmill

Most treadmills depending on price range have ¾” – 1″ decks, the ¾” decks can break over time with a runner, since they put a considerable pounding force on a deck. That’s why there are some postproduction deck reinforcement kits available, so if you are a runner it might be better to buy a machine with a 1″ deck.

8  What information can I get from the display?

Examples below:- Heart rate monitor  Y/N Calorie counter, for those weight loss diets? Y/N Average Speed Y/N Average Distance Y/N Time Y/N Programme progress/tracking Y/N Any must haves for me

9  Overall Build Quality

If you have the opportunity to use the machine you have selected do it! The machine should run quietly and smoothly and should feel solid and stable when in use, the frame should not be shaking violently and the belt should not be sliding about with each stride taken.

10 Warranty

These vary between manufacturers, some are more comprehensive than others.

Alternatively you can buy an extended warranty from an independent specialist company that will cover other fitness equipment too.

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Making That Final Decision to Buy from all the Treadmills on Sale

Obviously it is not feasible to test out a large number of machines, but if you make a shortlist of say 3 or 4 machines try and find out if there are suppliers near you that have these models available to try out or at least see.

Price and convenience are probably going to be factors in where you eventually buy from, remember though you don’t want a cheap treadmill ,you want a well made value for money one!

Cheap treadmills can be more expensive in the long term!

With it being easy to shop around online and maybe get a real good deal not available locally, but as with local retailers ask about after-sales service unless you happy to do any maintenance yourself?

Good luck and enjoy your treadmill.

Check out Manual Treadmills < Click Here

Check out Motorized Electric Treadmills <Click Here

Treadmills Work – Don’t You Hate the Name Treadmill Though?

Treadmills – Don’t let that name put you off !

Treadmills can be a great investment for fitness, and combined with a good diet a great way to help lose weight too! Studies have shown that people get more out of a treadmill than any other type fitness equipment; this is because it is natural to walk or run and you are more apt to stick with it for longer each session and to continue to keep using the equipment itself.

A treadmill is sometimes also referred to as a running machine; this is a misnomer and shouldn’t put off people who feel daunted at the thought of having to run!

Manual Treadmills or Motorized Treadmills

With manual or motorized treadmills you set the pace. Whether it’s to simulate a gentle walk on the level, perhaps for someone just starting to exercise or recovering after an operation, or to running at speed on the flat or even up an incline, the choice is yours!

LifeSpan Fitness Folding Treadmill

Motorized Electric Treadmills

When considering these types of treamills speed is a consideration, depending primarily on the motor each machine will have a maximum speed. For a walking or a gentle running regime a speed of up to 7.5 m.p.h. (12k.p.h) might be fine, but for harder training at higher running speeds this would be too slow and a faster machine should be chosen.

As well as speed considerations whether the running surface is flat or inclined changes the amount of effort the exercise requires and how various muscle groups are used. Having a machine on which you can vary the incline by at least 3 levels should be considered a minimum requirement, and with the more sophisticated machines the incline can be varied considerably whilst in motion even, either manually or automatically by a computer controlled programme without any input from the user after selecting a programme and pressing the start button.

Getting to know if a machine suits your needs would ideally be done by trying one out for at least 10 minutes and perhaps this may be possible for some people in certain areas, but with so many machines on the market trying out a large number is not usually a practical proposition.

It is possible to try treadmills out in some shops and of course there are many readily available to use in clubs and gyms, although these commercial treadmills may not be readily available, or too expensive for some home users, getting to know about treadmills in general is not a bad thing. Also people who work in fitness centres usually have a broad experience of machines and are usually happy to give you their opinion.

Not only will you find out what to look for but read on, we  can also tell you some things to avoid before making your purchase!

See also our Buyers Guide Checklist for Treadmills

Fitness Treadmill – Crazy To Buy One

Fitness Treadmill – The Facts

Well you may be, but before you buy go out and part with your hard earned cash there are some questions you should ask yourself, I’m sure you don’t want another piece of fitness equipment gathering dust in the garage or spare room!

There are many fitness treadmills for the buyer to choose from and quite a lot of information available too, but not that easy to find in one place!

You may say, “ Which is the best fitness treadmill”, “What information do I need” and “What type and what features do I look for, there are so many to choose from!”

The bad news is this is true, but here at treadmills4exercise.com we can help you make sure you ask the right questions to get the information you need to make the right fitness treadmill for you, and not just for the salesperson!

We provide independent advice on this site and are not tied to any individual manufacturer!

LifeSpan Fitness TR3000i Folding Treadmill

Why do want to buy a fitness treadmill?

If included in your goals are to increase general fitness or maintain it, weight loss, or building up stamina, then a fitness treadmill makes a good choice – and the great thing is that they’re really easy to use for people of all ages, but remember, always consult your doctor before beginning an exercise programme.

Fitness treadmills are great exercise machines to buy, they get used!

It is estimated that that more than 37 million people use a fitness treadmill worldwide, the majority in the U.S.A.  Fitness treadmills are great because they mimic an exercise that is both familiar and comfortable, after all, most of us know how to walk or run and for these reasons alone people who buy treadmills tend to continue using them long after other “gimmicky” equipment has been left to gather dust.

Using a fitness treadmill may be seasonal for some people, for those of us who prefer to stay dry, well at least out of the rain, but the seasons tend to run into years not just weeks or months! That’s why it’s important to get one that will allow you to get the most from your money, suit your needs and adapt to your future requirements too.

Using a fitness treadmill in a gym is the way most people get their first experience, but not everyone likes the gym experience and would like to exercise in the privacy of their own home at the most convenient time.

Buying one for your home is a serious matter, a fitness treadmill , sometimes called a treadmill running machine, cost a good deal of money, so consider your budget and, if you can, buy the highest quality machine you can, then look after them and you will be using them for years to come!

To see types of Fitness Treadmill < Click Here