One of the most popular pieces of fitness equipment purchased by consumers right now is the treadmill. This simple to use but extremely effective machine can be used from novice trainers to experienced fitness buffs with a wide range of results.

So, for example, you can use a treadmill to simply help you exercise to lose weight, to boost your cardio-vascular system, to train for a race or to improve your stamina levels. Now, whilst all treadmills work on the same principle (i.e. you walk or run your way to fitness!), they are not all the same.

If you are in the market for a treadmill then you could be end up confused by the choice of options, features and benefits that you are faced with. We’re about to show you three easy steps to making the decision real easy for you here.

Step One: The first thing you need to do is to consider what you need from a treadmill in the first place. If you are simply looking for a quick way to get some basic exercise a few times a week then a basic non-motorized machine could work real well for you. Here, the treadmill’s belt starts to work as you walk or run on it. If, however, you want something a little more feature rich then you could look at a motorized treadmill. This kind of machine moves the belt for you and gives you a range of extra features. So, this could suit more complex fitness needs or a long-term fitness improvement program. You also need to think about what you will do on the machine. Some treadmills are made for general use, some will be best suited for walkers, some for weight loss, some for hill runners and some for general runners. More advanced models will also give you customized information on the console deck such as the calories you have burned, your heart rate and your speed, for example.

Step Two: The next thing you need to think about if you are buying a treadmill for home use is where it will go. Although these machines are not as big as some other types of home gym equipment they can be quite bulky so check on sizing before you choose a model to buy. If you are real short on space then you may want to consider a folding treadmill. These models can be easily put up when you want to use them and folded down again when you are done. So, you could quite easily store them in a closet or under the bed, for example. Even if you have room to have a static treadmill in a room do think about how much room will be left around the machine. Running on a treadmill in a small space can be quite claustrophobic.

Step Three: Finally, think about how much you can afford to spend on a treadmill and try and find a model that has all the features that you need that falls within your budget range. It is a good tip to buy as high a quality machine as you can afford here as it will simply last longer and will be easier and more reliable to use. If you can go over budget look at buying a treadmill that has some extra features and benefits. You may not use them right now but they may be useful down the line as you get fitter and more treadmill ‘aware’. This will also save you having to replace your machine too soon in the future.

It’s always recommended to try out a treadmill if you can to see how it suits you from a size perspective. If you can do this before you buy one of these machines then you’ll be more likely to find a model that really suits you and that you will be comfortable using.

Many exercise lovers (and the rest of us who simply do exercise because we know we have to!) will advocate the benefits of using a treadmill as part of a fitness regime. These machines are designed to give low impact exercise and, as such, can suit just about anybody who wants to get fitter.

A treadmill is kind of like an exercise conveyor belt. With a manual treadmill the belt moves when you walk or run on it. A motorized treadmill runs the belt for you. In both cases you stand on the machine, get the belt moving and then walk, jog or run to get the exercise you need. You can set the controls on most motorized treadmills to cope with your own fitness levels and they can be used at home as well as in a gym or fitness center which makes them potentially even more useful.

The treadmill that you use in the gym may be larger and have more settings than the one you use at home but home versions are also real useful. At the very least this gives you access to an exercise machine that you can use when you like in the comfort of your own home. Many home treadmills are often foldable so they do not need to take up much space at all and can be stored out of sight if you prefer.

Treadmills are also popular for use at home as they can be used while you do other things. So, using this kind of exercise machine does not have to eat into your free time too much. Many people, for example, will have a session on their treadmill whilst they are watching TV.

Experts have long championed the benefits of walking and running from an exercise perspective and using a treadmill can give you all of the associated benefits. The big plus here is that you can take your exercise safely at home or at the gym at any time and in any kind of weather.

Using a treadmill can give your body an excellent cardio-vascular workout and can help you to improve your own overall fitness levels. These machines are also a good way of increasing your endurance. With a motorized treadmill you can change the belt speed, slope and/or resistance and with a manual treadmill you can simply run faster or stay on the machine for longer periods.

Treadmills are also great exercise options for beginners. You can use these machines to get a gentle start to your fitness program and can increase your work rate as your fitness levels increase. Most machines here will also give you shock absorption protection (often known as low impact) which can help protect your body against sprains and strains.

And, more advanced treadmills can help the experienced exerciser as they can be customized to show useful fitness information. So, for example, you could use your machine to measure your heart rate to make sure that you are working out hard enough or to assess how many calories your workout is burning off for you.