There is no getting away from it; a serious runner needs a serious treadmill. If you class yourself as a serious runner then you are going to have to spend a little more on a treadmill than the average leisure runner or those who want to use their treadmill as a basic fitness tool.
You need to take the following into account when looking for the best home Treadmills if you are a serious runner:
- Speed: Will it go fast enough for you? The average top speed is 10mph on most home treadmills, that’s a 6-minute mile but some go much faster.
- Running Belt: Is it long enough to accommodate your stride?
- Durability: Will the motor and frame take the long hours of pounding you will put your treadmill through?
- Cushioning: Most runners know the hard, impact feeling of running on the pavement. Your treadmill should try to avoid this and provide a cushioned surface that feels natural without slapping back under foot.
- Incline: It is said that putting a treadmill on a 1% incline simulates road running but specialised treadmills can go as high as 40%. Ideal for fell running.
- Console: All treadmills today offer programmes but some of them now connect wirelessly to apps that provide videos of streets and trails you can run down in a virtual world.
- Folding: It is suggested that a non-folding treadmill is better for serious runners as they are more strongly constructed and can take more punishment. This is true to a degree but there are some folding treadmills that can still stand up to the long haul.
Our Recommendations At Fitness Options:
These treadmills fulfil most if not all the criteria above.
Price Bracket - £1000-2000
Sole F80 Folding Treadmill £1799 or Sole F85 Folding Treadmill £1999
The major difference between these two treadmills is the Sole F85 treadmill has a larger 4HP motor and a slightly larger more advanced console but the 3.5HP motor of the Sole F80 treadmill will still provide excellent durability.
Price Bracket - £2000-3000
Sole TT8 Non-Folding Treadmill £2799
One of the features that the Sole TT8 treadmill offers is a 6% decline feature that simulates running down hill. The Sole TT8 also comes with a light commercial warranty that reflects its quality
Life Fitness T3 Non-Folding Treadmill £2845
Life Fitness is sometimes referred to as the Rolls Royce of fitness equipment. With the Life Fitness T3 treadmill you can choose between two consoles depending on how sophisticated you want you programming.
Price Bracket - £3000-5000
Spirit CT800 Treadmill £4299
Although the console is basic compared with many specifically designed home treadmills what makes the Spirit CT800 treadmill ideal for the serious runner is its built for full commercial use and with a user weight of over 30 stone you can see that the Spirit CT800 is designed for real punishment. In the home the Spirit CT800 should last 25 years or more.
Life Fitness T5 Non-Folding Treadmill £4345
As with the Life Fitness T3 treadmill you have the choice of two consoles but what the Life Fitness T5 treadmill provides is three different running-surface firmness settings. You can choose grass, track or pavement, providing the true and ultimate running feel no matter what you are seriously training for.
Price Bracket Over £5000
Treadmills over £5000 are mostly commercial treadmills and should easily deal with a serious runner using it in a home environment. However I just want mention a treadmill not widely known and that is the NOHrD Sprintbok treadmill.
NOHrD Sprintbok Treadmill £5295 - £6095 (Depending on wood)
The NOHrD Sprintbok treadmill is the ultimate manual treadmill. Unlike a motorised treadmill your legs are the engine, so you can stride out exactly the way you would on the road and because you determine the speed the Sprintbok has no limits to how fast you run. Because it’s so natural it will help you improve your running technique. The NOHrD Sprintbok treadmill also has a unique slat and flexion system that gives a wonderful cushioning feeling without too much bounce. It has a touch screen compatible with a range of apps.
I hope this helps you determine what to look for when shopping for a serious treadmill. It’s not a definitive list but it is a list of some of the most widely available treadmills and armed with this information you can feel confident you will be taking home a treadmill you wont regret buying.
Need help and advice?
Give the Fitness Options team a call on 0800 4580081 or email sales@fitnessoptions.co.uk