Before you buy your treadmill you need to know a little about the various types on offer and how you can decide on the right one for you . Here is the information you need to help you in that important decision.

Can I fit one in!

As a rough guide you will need about the same room for your treadmill as you would for a single bed, with about 18” all around for access and so you don’t bang your elbows when running, but do check the dimensions for each model and whether you have sufficient access to install it and use it safely. If space is tight you might want to consider a folding treadmill. If you’re having it delivered check whose responsibility it is to get it from the kerbside and get it up that flight of stairs!

O.K. So you can fit one in!

Read on to find the right one for you !

Basically there are 2 types of treadmill

1. Manual treadmills – these are 'pushed' by your feet, and are quite basic, therefore tend to be at the lower end of the price market – but that might suit your requirements, if so that’s fine for you.

1. Motorised treadmills – or electric treadmill, as the name suggests have electric motors, usually one to drive the “running belt” and one to alter the incline, as well as offering generally more options such as heart rate monitors, calorie counters, speed and distance covered, also various computer controlled programmes to simulate various hilly or mountainous routes for example, these tend to be shown on LCD displays. These extras come at a cost and machines can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

Folding Treadmills – Manual or Motorised

• These have the advantage of taking up less space, they are usually on wheels which means the can be more easily pushed ( although still heavy, as all treadmills are) out of the way after use. It easier to clean underneath parts of the machine, an important thing for all treadmills. It is the build up of dust, dirt and fluff getting in the roller and transport mechanisms that can lead to premature failure of a treadmill. Maintenance is required for all machines! It can feel a hassle to maintain a machine, but a little time dedicated to maintenance can save all sorts of trouble and expense in the long run.

Manual vs Motorised

Manual Pros

• You provide the motive power to drive the belt, thus providing lower body exercise.

Manual cons

• It can be difficult to get the belt moving on a slight incline and therefore it’s possible to strain joints and joint tissues e.g. ligaments etc. at the start of the exercise period if not fully warmed up.

• If a high incline is required to get the belt moving it is not usually possible to change the incline without stopping and getting off the machine! Therefore to start walking on a slight incline might prove too difficult for some.

• They tend to be considerably cheaper than motorised ones. Not that you want a cheap treadmill manual or motorised, you want a value for money one.

Motorised Pros

• The belt is moved by the motor, you don't have to strain to start it moving

• On most treadmills, you can adjust the speed and incline while you are still walking or running. On others, you may have to get off and adjust the incline manually, but you just have to turn on the treadmill to start the belt again

• The very fact that the belt keeps turning can motivate you to keep going

• Computer programmes can simulate routes of varying difficulty, which can be tracked on a screen, making things more interesting, also providing a paced warm up and warm down to help prevent injuries or soreness!

• They are more versatile, hence can be more interesting to use, hence you might continue to use them if you have a tendency to get bored when exercising.

Motorised Cons

• The biggest drawback tends to be that they are more expensive than manual ones.

• They also tend to be heavier if not bigger in size