Showing posts with label Fitness Equipment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fitness Equipment. Show all posts

Treadmill Ratings - What Most People Don't Know About Treadmill Ratings

Posted by Admin Tuesday, March 29, 2011 5:28 AM 0 comments
If you're buying a treadmill, chances are you'll want to research before you buy. Everyone wants to get the best deal for a discount price. They also want to find the best treadmill to suit their workout needs.


So you'll probably be interested in looking at various treadmill ratings or reviews. But why are there so many different ratings and which one is the most accurate? Here's a few things most buyers don't know about treadmill ratings.


There are really 2 types of treadmill ratings:

1) Consumer Ratings

2) Expert Ratings


User Treadmill Ratings:

Consumer treadmill ratings are done by the layperson who has bought and used the specific treadmill. Many websites allow anyone to go online and post a review of their treadmill.

Customer reviews and ratings can be very valuable when searching for a treadmill - however keep in mind several things:


#1) No treadmill has a 100% perfect track record. Even the BEST treadmill manufacturers sometimes make a dud.

And it's usually the people that have had BAD experiences that leave negative reviews of their treadmills, not the many that have had good experiences with the same treadmill.

They have every right to do this and hopefully the treadmill manufacturers read these reviews and do something about them. Just remember that one bad review doesn't prove it's a low quality brand.


#2) The treadmill industry is growing more competitive each year. And marketing is a huge portion of the treadmill industry since treadmill manufacturers KNOW you're going to research treadmill ratings before you buy.

So while I'm not making any accusations, I have read 'customer reviews' that are clearly NOT written by the average buyer. They sound like they're written by somebody working for the competition - someone well versed in the art of sales psychology and who knows more about treadmills than the average person. Again, not making any accusations here - just keep this in mind when reading user ratings online.

Rule of Thumb: Use common sense. If it sounds like it's written by a treadmill salesperson, take the treadmill review with a grain of salt.


Expert Treadmill Ratings:

There are also expert treadmill ratings. These are the ratings written by the experts in the fitness industry. People like Consumer Reports, Runner's World, Consumer Guide, Men's Health, Prevention Magzine are just a few out there. These people rate and review various treadmills at various times in the year.

While these ratings are much less likely to be tainted by biased reviewers, here are a few cautions to keep in mind while reading them:


#1) Each rater has a different rating system and may rate treadmills on such factors as price, cushioning, stability, quietness, belt area, warranty, console, electronics, programs, incline and quality of parts.

So while one reviewer may put more emphasis on cushioning the other may put more emphasis on warranty. It's nothing to get confused over - just understand that different experts value different features. They'll usually have an area where they list exactly how they rated the treadmills and which features they valued highly in their review.


#2) Expert ratings also usually don't have time to look at EVERY treadmill brand on the market. Nobody does. We've been reviewing treadmills for over 3 years and we still haven't covered all the brands.

So just because a certain brand isn't in the ratings, doesn't make it a poor quality brand. Try to find other reviews on a brand if you can't find it in your favorite expert ratings list.


One last thing: Many treadmill ratings are also based on comparison to other similarly priced treadmills on the market.

So if you have a $1000 treadmill that gets 5 stars - that doesn't necessarily mean that it's better than a $2000 treadmill that gets 4 stars. It means that compared to other $1000 treadmills it is one of the best values.

By remembering these things when sifting through treadmill ratings, you're less likely to be confused. And it will be easier to choose the best quality treadmill for your needs.


Source : www.readbud.com

Do Proform Treadmills Offer Any Decent Accessories?

Posted by Admin Sunday, March 27, 2011 11:39 PM 0 comments
Well-known for the technological innovation they employ in constructing their fitness equipment, Proform treadmills carry their innovative streak into the range of treadmill accessories they offer to the treadmill consumer. Regardless of whether you are a seasoned professional runner, or just looking to get in shape, sometimes running alone is not enough to take you where you want to go, but with their range of treadmill accessories, Proform treadmills offer the consumer a more complete exercising package to help you achieve all your fitness goals.

It is easy to become overwhelmed at the range of treadmill accessories available today, but Proform treadmills offer a range that is both comprehensive and straightforward. From the simple maintenance accessory kit that includes such tools as treadmill belt cleaner and lubricator that can help prolong the life of your Proform treadmill, while helping to maintain its optimum performance, to the treadmill accessories that will help you make the most of your fitness endeavors, Proform offer a mix of accessories that really hits the mark.

One of the most popular of the treadmill accessories that Proform treadmills offer is their interactive fitness program, called iFit. Specially developed by fitness experts, this technology brings a Proform personal trainer right into your home, helping you make the most of your Proform treadmill fitness sessions. With scientific research to support the fact that many people who exercise with this kind of guidance perform better than those who exercise alone, it is easy to see why this is one of Proform's most popular treadmill accessories.

Cardio exercise should only be one aspect of your fitness regimen, and Proform treadmills show that they have thought of this too, by offering strength training equipment as part of their treadmill accessories. The Proform exercise ball is the ideal way to work on those all-important core muscles, the stomach and back muscles that support your entire body. A strong core is essential to achieving total body fitness and the Proform exercise ball, combined with the Proform sculpting bands which help you build the muscle in your arms and legs, is the ideal way to round out the workout afforded by Proform treadmills.

Proform treadmills are famed for their innovation and it's easy to see that the company have translated this into the treadmill accessories they offer to consumers. If you are looking for a complete workout then enhance your cardio fitness program afforded by your Proform treadmill with some important accessories.

Source : www.readbud.com

How to Measure Your Treadmill Belt for Replacement

Posted by Admin Friday, March 25, 2011 7:13 PM 0 comments
To measure your treadmill belt for replacement do the following:

If your treadmill is not a major brand and it needs a new belt you may have to special order a belt. Following are instruction for making sure you get a good measurement.

Next to the motor the treadmill belt is the most important part of the treadmill. If it becomes frayed or starts to turn up on the sides then it is time to replace the belt.

The treadmill belt will also split at the seam. You should check the belt on a regular basis to ensure it is safe. If the belt wears thin it can ruin the deck, then you have the double expense of replacing the belt and deck.

There are many companies that sell replacement treadmill belts, and some of them will take special orders. But you must have the correct measurement so your belt will fit. Following is the directions to measure your belt.

1. Place a mark on the edge of the belt, then using a string or tape measure go completely around the belt to get the circumference. This needs to be as close as you can get it.

2. Measure the width of the belt.

Example 102" X 15"

If your belt is so bad that you know it has to be replaced then cut it off and measure the entire length and width of the belt. If it is a very old belt please allow for stretching.

You can also set the rear roller about halfway of the adjusting screws then measure around the front and rear rollers for an accurate measurement. If you can not find a company that offers special order belts let me know.


Source : www.readbud.com