Buying a treadmill? Did you know that Proform treadmills are currently the most searched-for treadmill online?

So they’re definitely popular. Then again, one of the main things people are searching for is Pro form treadmill parts – which may tell you something.

If you’re considering a Proform treadmill there are some things you should know before you buy. Based on these things you may or may not decide to buy a Proform model.

First of all, the Proform name is owned by ICON Health and Fitness, pretty much the largest fitness equipment manufacturer in the world. These guys are the giants in the treadmill industry.

They also own names like Image, Weslo, Reebok, Freemotion, Epic and Nordic Track. Each of these brands has their own strengths and weaknesses.

Proform’s main strengths are that they are affordable, plus they offer a truckload of cool fitness toys you won’t find with other brands. At any given time, there are a huge range of Proform models to choose from to suit almost any taste.

Want a TV on your treadmill? How about a fitness age tracker (tracks your heart rate and fitness improvement over time)?

Want a crosswalk model with ski-like poles to work your upper body? How about one that charges and plays your iPod through built-in console speakers? Chances are you can find any of these options in a Proform treadmill.

The main weakness of these treadmills is that, while affordable, they are well…affordable.

With treadmills you get what you pay for. In general, any unit under $1000 is not built to last for a long time. Since most Proform treadmills come in under $1000 you can figure out their main weakness.

So is a Proform treadmill a good buy? The answer is both yes and no – depending on who you are and what you want.

Different buyers have different needs. So what is a great buy for one person can actually be a poor buy for someone else.

For instance a tall runner who is planning on using their treadmill for over an hour a day, every day will need a commercial grade treadmill with strong running deck, excellent cushioning, high powered, well-built motor and preferably a longer running belt of about 55″ or more.

A 65 year old grandmother who wants the occasional light walk on her treadmill is not going to need that same treadmill. For her that same treadmill is actually a poor buy since it’s way more than she needs.

So returning to the Proform issue. Do I think they’re commercial grade treadmills that everyone will love? No.

In general, Proform units are economy, entry-level treadmills. They aren’t built with heavy duty commercial parts as some treadmills are and will not last as long as some other brands out there, especially if you pound the daylights out of them every day.

On the upside however, they have improved in construction over the years and the new models offer a lot more value than older ones. Plus they’re affordable for most people. And in this economy, that’s the only way some people are going to be able to get a treadmill. Better that than nothing.

So if someone has a strict budget of only $500 or $600 then Proform is probably the strongest brand out there in this price category. Because ICON is the largest manufacturer, they have the resources to build a better treadmill for less. And if you don’t plan on using your treadmill very often, you could probably get away with saving a bit and going with a starter Proform.

So those are several reasons why you may or may not want to buy a Proform treadmill.

One final warning: the resale market for Proform treadmills is huge. However what most people don’t know is that almost all manufacturers – Proform included – will not honor the warranty on a second owner.

So even if a seller says to you, “No problem, the treadmill is still under warranty”, realize that this means nothing to you. He’s covered – but you’re not. And since you really don’t know the state of the treadmill when you buy it (heavy use, light use, etc.), you’re taking a chance that you could have absolutely no protection if your treadmill breaks down the day after you buy it.

This is why many people choose to buy new so they’re protected and they know the treadmill has not been used before.

In the final analysis, it’s your decision. A treadmill is a smart investment in your health – just remember to do your research before you buy so you can choose the machine that fits your needs best.

If you’re looking for the best tips for choosing the best treadmill for you and your specific needs and for saving money too, here are a few that will help. Treadmills today are coming out with more and more new features or options such as TV’s and miniature fans, which leaves more room for manufacturing defects and other problems. This may require even more research on your part.

Prices on the top 15 treadmills range between $1900 and $3500 on both the folding and non-folding units. The more expensive treadmills will have more horsepower, a thicker deck and have sturdier construction than the less expensive models and probably have a longer warranty too. The folding models range between $1000 and $2600 but most cost between $1300 and $1500. You can get a very nice machine that will give you a good workout even with the lower-priced treadmills.

Non-folding brands include Landice, NordicTrack, SportsArt, Precor, True and Vision Fitness. Folding brands include Bowflex, NordicTrack, Horizon Fitness, ProForm, Keys Fitness, Smooth Fitness, LifeSpan and Evo.

You don’t want to find that when you bring your exercise treadmill home that it’s faulty after you set it up. It’ll likely be covered under the warranty but this can be annoying and disappointing. There may be no way to get around this except by reading treadmill reviews and checking ratings to find out which have fewer complaints so you can avoid repairs.

When choosing the best treadmill for you consider how much space you have in which to store it. It’ll take up about as much space as a long loveseat and a folding unit will take up about half that space when you fold it up. One of the smaller folding treadmills is about six square feet when it’s folded up. If you plan to run on it make sure the deck isn’t going to be too small for you.

All home treadmills are good for walking, of course, but if you plan to use it for running then you should choose a non-folding model because it’ll be much sturdier than the folding models. Make sure to check for the quality of the construction. Is it sturdy? Does it seem flimsy or unsteady in any way?

Check out the features that come with some of the units such as an LCD TV. Do you really need it? If you already know you need a fan, setting up a portable unit for your workout may be a lot cheaper. Quite a few treadmill models have very small cooling fans that are built right into the console but a floor fan is cheaper and may keep you much cooler.

Check out the belt to make sure that it has enough usable exercise room for you or any other user in your household and that it can handle varying levels of fitness. Make sure it’s big enough for walking with your stride length and that it can handle running if you plan to do so.

Check out all the buttons and make sure they are user-friendly and that you can easily read the display. Check to make sure that it’s easy to get on and off and that you can exercise on it easily.

To save money on your treadmill look for close-out sales, other types of sales and discounts and try to get it wholesale if you have the connections. Always try to get it for less. Ask the salesperson if there are any discounts available – senior discounts, nurses’ discounts, health professionals’ discounts, business discounts, etc. If there are none try to get something you can use thrown in with it, free.

You may be able to save quite a bit if you buy online. But, if possible, try out selected models in a ‘brick and mortar’ store first. Many online dealers offer free shipping.

If you can settle for a cheaper used treadmill try used sporting goods or consignment stores or find some for sale on Craigslist locally. How about buying machines from fitness centers that are closing? We’ve had several in our area close this year as the big franchises have moved in. Also the workout gyms and big health clubs get new equipment; see if you can buy one of their old treadmills that may still have a lot of life left in it.

In any event these are a just a few of the best tips I’ve found for choosing the best treadmill for you and saving money too. Following these tips should help you make the right decision about which is the best one for you and how to get the best buy too.

The Proform treadmill is possibly one of the best-known names in exercise equipment. Produced by that behemoth of fitness equipment manufacturing, Icon Fitness, the Proform treadmill is often seen as synonymous with sturdy construction and reliability. While many treadmill experts do indeed rate the Proform range highly, for every positive Pro Form treadmill rating you will find, it seems there is a corresponding review that reports consumer dissatisfaction with the Proform treadmill line.

Some quick research will reveal many a positive treadmill rating for the Proform range. The construction of the Pro Form treadmill range is considered by those in the know to be excellent, and these treadmills are also deemed to offer a good motor. The electronic readouts that they provide are consistently clear and easy to use. As a company with a relatively long history in treadmill construction, Proform treadmills have developed many innovations, such as the adjustable deck cushioning that is available with some treadmills, and the likes of the scissor type arms included in Pro Forms CrossWalk treadmill, which provides the user with the same upper body workout that is afforded by an elliptical machine. These innovations have helped distinguish Proform treadmills from their treadmill competition. But are these factors enough to secure a top-notch treadmill rating?

It would seem that this is not necessarily the case. Despite the many exercising advantages offered by the Proform treadmill, it is not difficult to find many a consumer treadmill rating that reports great disappointment with a Pro Form treadmill purchase. There exists an apparent consumer treadmill rating consensus that Proform treadmills lack the punch that was expected of them, and long term users report myriad reliability problems and poor customer service. Some users have even reported safety concerns with using a Proform treadmill, and even though certain issues have been resolved by the company by adding extra safety features to their newer treadmills, the older models remain as they were, so caution is recommended when purchasing a used Proform treadmill.

Overall, the Pro Form treadmill offers a good package of features, including a range of innovative designs not available with other treadmill brands. Proform are not, however, deemed the most reliable make of treadmill available in todays fitness equipment market place, and with relatively short warranty periods and questionable customer service, the treadmill ratings tell us that a Proform treadmill might not be the wisest investment for the serious exerciser.

So you’re excited about buying a treadmill. You’re looking forward to having a premium piece of fat-burning equipment available 24-7 at your convenience.

Rain, snow, sleet or hail, it doesn’t matter because you’ll be able to workout anyway!

But wait a minute ? there are so many treadmill brands to choose from. And why are there so many differences of opinion?

If you’ve read many treadmill reviews in your search for the best treadmill you may have ended up a little confused:

One person swears by their Proform treadmill; another says it’s a piece of junk. One expert loves Nordic Track; another expert wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot pole.

How are you supposed to make a smart decision with so many conflicting opinions?

To help you out, here are the top 3 things to keep in mind when reading treadmill reviews:

#1) Consider this: It’s just one person’s opinion.

People have different opinions on everything from movies to ice cream to cars to cities. Someone prefers Honda to General Motors. Another person prefers Dell over IBM.

That doesn’t mean that one thing is necessarily better than another, it just means somebody has a preference for it.

So just because you really want to buy a Landice and another person doesn’t agree with you doesn’t make it a bad buy for you.

Keeping an open mind is always a good thing and listening to other peoples’ reasoning behind their decision can help you with your purchase.

But in the end it’s your choice and it’s YOUR opinion that matters.

Just because somebody doesn’t like what you like, that doesn’t mean you are going to make a bad decision. If your treadmill has everything YOU need, then that’s what’s important in the long run.

#2) Consider this: Who’s writing the review?

I’ve read so many ‘user reviews’ on treadmill websites that are clearly NOT written by a normal treadmill buyer.

The lingo smacks of a treadmill salesperson. And while I’m not making any accusations here, when a treadmill buyer writes something like:

“Let’s look at the features of the ABC treadmill and see what they mean to you?”

or

“The XYZ treadmill offers an Optical Speed Sensor used in combination with the PWM motor controller to produce the smoothest speed changes. The optical eye actually counts the revolutions of the motor directly at the axle?”

I’m just a little bit suspicious.

If the review sounds a little too much like a treadmill brochure, take it with a grain of salt.

(That doesn’t mean that the quality of the treadmill is bad or good, mind you. Just make sure you don’t base your decision on those reviews alone.)

#3) Consider this: Flukes DO happen.

Even the BEST treadmill manufacturers sometimes make a dud. Nobody has a 100% customer satisfaction rate all the time.

And unfortunately, it’s usually those people that have had BAD experiences that leave nasty reviews of their treadmills.

They have every right to do this of course. Hopefully the treadmill manufacturers read these reviews and do something about them.

But keep in mind that one bad review doesn’t prove it’s a low quality brand just as one stellar review doesn’t prove it’s a high quality brand.

The Bottom Line?

Trust your own decision.

If you’ve taken the time to research treadmills, chances are you already know what makes up a quality treadmill.

Don’t let one person’s opinion ruin the fun of getting in shape with your choice of home treadmill. Good luck and have fun!