Getting some exercise on a busy day is not always the most convenient. But with the right treadmill, you can get all the cardio you need all from the comfort of your own home.
After the summary table below, we discuss the key things to look out for when selecting a treadmill, followed by detailed reviews of the best products on the market in Australia.
Our top pick: Endurance Spirit Treadmill
This treadmill from Endurance is a highly efficient, powerful and convenient product. The design is space saving and you can move the treadmill around with ease.
The treadmill comes fully assembled — you simply need to unfold the treadmill and put the six bolts in place, then you are good to go. The heavy-duty treadmill is sure to give you a great run.
Pros
- 15 automatic incline levels that give you a variety of running positions.
- Heavy-duty 2.5 CHP motor that also comes with lifetime warranty.
- Running deck has a cushioning system that reduces the impact on your joints when you run.
- Can be folded up easily and also has wheels for you to move it around with ease.
Cons
- The track is short and is ideal for walking, not necessarily running.
Best value: Everfit Treadmill
With its anti-slip belt and soft-grip handle, the Everfit Electric Treadmill is one of the safest products out there.
The motor is quiet, smooth and efficient allowing you to get some exercise without waking up your neighbours. You also get a lifetime warranty on the frame and the motor.
The extra thick tube is made of powder-coated steel which gives you more support while running.
Pros
- Space saving design and can be folded up for easier storage.
- Dual drink holders to keep your beverages in place while working out.
- 12 inbuilt training programs and 12-speed levels for you to pick from.
- Three adjustable inclination levels.
- LCD screen allows you to navigate through the machine.
Cons
- May not fold up as easily as advertised.
FreeForm F200 Commercial treadmill
One of the most popular machines on the market, manufactured by industry leaders FreeForm, the F200 Commercial is a formidable treadmill that will give you the cardio exercise you need with performance and reliability.
It offers a one-touch quick-speed control allowing you to go from 0.5-22km/hr, as well as one-touch incline control.
The treadmill belt has a two-ply commercial OrthoTred which ensures that you have a comfortable workout and your alignment and feet are protected too. The tread area is 1600 x 570 mm, giving you a wide surface to work out on without any restrictions.
There is extensive protection for the belt which allows the treadmill surface and the belt to work for longer without putting in too much work on maintaining it.
Pros
- Uses a custom HiTorque motor which gives you continuous horsepower and also reduces noise and vibration, among other things.
- Attached heart-rate monitor allows you to keep a track of how effective your cardio exercise is and set goals for each exercise session.
- FreeMix 5.0 Sound System allows you to connect your phones, tablets or MP3 players to listen to music while you work out.
- Comes equipped with a self-diagnosis feature that notifies you of any problem with the machine so it can be fixed immediately.
- The treadmill belt is self-lubricating.
Cons
- The price may seem slightly steep to some people.
FreeForm F80 Treadmill
The FreeForm F80 treadmill is another very popular offering from FreeForm with easy lift and drop assist, easy speed adjustment (1-20 km/hour) and even a kind of ‘personal trainer’ by way of the preset programs that can decide the routine for you.
The treadmill has precision cushioning that reduces the impact of when your feet hit the treadmill base by 25% compared to running on the road or on the ground.
There are also several inbuilt safety features to ensure you have a safe workout.
Pros
- Running deck is 1430 x 510 mm — giving you a wide and comfortable base to run on.
- One-touch quick incline control and one-touch quick speed control so you can get a robust workout faster.
- Powerful HiTorque 3.0 CHP DC commercial motor.
- Easy-lift assist feature is also space saving.
- Inbuilt and adjustable fan that keeps you cool during the workout.
Cons
- The price is on the higher side.
FreeForm F20 Treadmill
With a 1.75 CHP DC motor, the FreeForm F20 (Blue) is a great buy at a decent price. The easy-lift assist feature allows you to make more space for storage too.
The LCD screen allows you to navigate through the preset programmes and also allows you to adjust speed easily. There are three levels of adjustable incline and precision cushioning that reduces the impact on every tread.
Pros
- Preset programs give you variation in your training and allows you to mix routines up.
- There is a holder to keep your drinks and energising beverages while working out.
- You can plug in your phone or other devices and listen to music, thanks to the FreeMix 5.0 Sound System.
- This is the ‘best value’ product as it offers great quality and a decent amount of features at a reasonable price.
Cons
- At 1280 x 400 mm, the running deck is not as wide as the other products mentioned above.
How To Choose your Treadmill
The following are some things to consider before buying a treadmill:
Speed
Treadmills typically have multiple levels of speed. A good treadmill should give you at least 10 different levels of speed so there is some dynamism to your workout.
Some treadmills also offer a one-touch speed control option so you can increase or decrease speed quickly and at your own convenience.
Elevation Levels
There are several different elevation levels a treadmill should typically have.
The elevation level changes the nature of your workout and some may allow you to burn more calories while others may be slightly more relaxed.
A good treadmill should have three or more elevation levels.
Safety
Every treadmill has a safety key which allows you to shut off the treadmill if you find it malfunctioning. It also prevents children from turning the treadmill on unsupervised.
Other than the basic safety consideration, a treadmill should have an anti-slip running deck, a firm grip on the handlebar and also some cushioning to reduce the impact of running on your joints.
Other Features
There are several other features that could make your experience better though they may not be linked directly to the exercise aspect of the machine.
Some of these features include a sound system to listen to music while working out, a bottle holder, an inbuilt fan for keeping the heat down, etc.
Price
The price is an obvious factor. Think of your budget and then decide on a product accordingly.
There is a whole range of products in the market, though you may have to let go of certain features if you buy one at the lower end of the spectrum.
