Kinds of treadmill equipment: Elliptical, walking belt, manual, motorized, compact, folding

Ready to buy a treadmill? Make sure you know what kind of treadmill equipment you should buy for your home.

There are many types of treadmills, and when you’re buying treadmill equipment you should purchase the kind of treadmill that’s right for you and your home. Here are some of the kinds of treadmills you can buy.

Elliptical trainer

Strictly speaking, an elliptical trainer isn’t a treadmill at all, although it’s similar: treadmills have a belt that you run or walk along, and with an elliptical, your legs move in a circular motion.

Elliptical trainers are popular fitness equipment because they are low impact, so they’re good if you need to be careful of your joints. But many people prefer treadmills because they want to walk or run.

Walking belt treadmill

All treadmills have what are called walking belts—this is the part of the treadmill that you walk or run on. This is why treadmills can also be called walking belt treadmills. If you’re buying a used treadmill for your home, you should check the belt to see if it needs to be replaced. This can be done at home for cheap.

Manual treadmills

Manual treadmills have no motor, so all the movement of the walking belt comes from you pushing it and starting it. Manual treadmills are often a lot cheaper than motorized treadmills but believe it or not, you will get a better workout from a motorized treadmill.

Motorized treadmills

Motorized treadmills have a motor that you turn on when you start the machine. The walking belt starts automatically and goes as fast as you tell it to go. You can also set the incline while you are using the treadmill.

Compact treadmills

If you have a small home, you should look for compact treadmill equipment. A compact treadmill will take up less space than other treadmills and will work fine for you unless you are very tall.

Folding treadmills

Another option for people with smaller homes is to purchase a folding treadmill so that when the treadmill is not in use, it can be folded to take up less space. Some folding treadmills are not as sturdy as larger treadmill equipment so make sure to test the treadmill to make sure it’s good quality.