guestions for folks who have treadmills

[mgraylorn]

I sit on my fat butt in front of a computer all day at work. To try to make my fat butt smaller, I started taking 30 minute walks on my lunch break. This worked out in the spring, summer and fall, but these walks have lost their appeal now that the weather has turned crappy.

I've been thinking about buying a treadmill. I don't want a huge motorized thing, I'd like to get a manual one. I see there are a few brands out there, and they can even be bought at JC Penneys, Sears, Target and even Wal-mart and on QVC!

I've been trying to find reviews of manual treadmills but have not been sucessful. The only reviews I've found have been of the sort, "Don't buy that, get a motorized one instead!" - clearly written by shills for expensive electric treadmills and with no rationale for why manuals are bad. I need to check around this season, but the last time I looked in my local stores, none carried manual treadmills in stock, but they can be ordered. Another thing I have noticed is that many of the online sites have sold out of their manual treadmill stock.

I'd really like to try a manual treadmill, or read a review, before I go einie, meinie, minie, moe and pick one out of the hat. I do think I would like one that folds up pretty easily, has a fairly long tread surface (I have a long stride), and comes with multiple surface level settings.

So, after this long winded story, here are my questions: Does anyone out there have a manual treadmill? Has anyone out there tried a manual treadmill? Do you like them? Why or why not? Any brand recommendations or slams?

[LiLOrion]

Do I have a manual treadmill? - NO, I have an electric one.

Has anyone tried a manual treadmill? - YES

Do I like them? - NO. To me the work-out is more akin to pushing a shopping chart up a hill. I found that I had to lean forward to much in order to be able to make the belt move. I cant remember the brand I tried though, it might have just been a crappy brand. :)

I know Consumer Reports has reviews of treadmills, but I cant remember if they include manual ones in their review. You would also have to pay like $4 or something to view the info on their website.

I got my treadmill on Black Friday from Modell's Sporting Goods store. They did have a manual treadmill in the store amongst the 40 or so electric treadmills. I actually got a good deal on mine (its a Sportcraft), it was regularly $400 but I got it for $200, which isnt that bad for an electric one considering they can go up to $6000 and beyond.

I would say try the sporting good stores if you are looking to try one out, like Sports Authority, Dick's, Modell's, etc. Actually come to think of it, Sports Authority had a manual treadmill set up as well in the store.

[mgraylorn]

Thanks LiLOrion, I'll see if I can find a listing of sporting goods stores in Columbus Ohio. I googled the stores you mentioned and none of them are in Columbus.

We take Consumer reports, and again from google I see they did a review of treadmills on 6/03 and 3/02 - but it doesn't say if it included manuals. I'll check the mags at home tonight. I've been sort of disappointed with CR recently, they don't seem to review many models of whatever the item is any more. Most recently I was looking at a review of generators and they only had about 8 reviewed - out of many out there, and none of the brands to be found in my local (HomeDepot, Lowes) hardware stores.

[PrairieScaper]

mgray, I hope you'll report back on what you end up doing. I've thought about getting a treadmill but haven't even looked into them yet.

[UTChick]

Yes, I had one. They are a hard work out. If you're prone to any leg or feet problem, this will a ascerbate it. LilOrion is correct about having to lean forward & the higher the incline - the more you have to lean. Because the demand is for electric, I don't think you'll a wide variety in the manual. The one I had was a very short throw. It is noisy - you're stomping on it to make it move. Not a stealth machine!!

I personally likes the nordic track - you can probably easily find one used. It gave a great work out - including the arms, w/out the impact damage to the legs. It folds pretty well, too.

I, too am a walker. For the winter, I didn't want to stop & instead have decided to join Curves. I have found that to be a wonderful workout for both aerobic & resistance training. I would not, on my own, do any resistance work. Curves incorporates into their circuit - 30 secs per machine & aerobic square. IT's also reimbursable by Blue Cross/Blue Shield. So, you might want to check it out. I will say that Curves is franchised, which means each store is given alot of latitude (pro & con). If you get a well run store, great!! If not, then it's not very interesting. The store I go to has Personal training at it & always has someone walking the circuit to help you out, give you support etc. But I've heard of other stores that didn't have any of that.

Good luck in your search. It isn't easy. Definetly get out & start walking on every machine you find. Sears has them for sure. Shillitos might (sp? - I haven't been out in Ohio in a while - I can't remember the stores).

[AgentSun]

tae bo. all you need dude. tae bo :) i have a treadmill but i dontremember the brand. i'll look at it tomorrow.

[Selena]

I have electric also and it inclines. But if I ever bought one again I'd get one with an auto incline - it was only about $100 more. It's worth it.
I love mine and have it set up in front of a TV - I'm planning on getting a second cheapy DVD player so I can Scape while I walk.:D
Most trainers recommend that women walk - it's supposed to be better for the female of the species.

[JadedLegend3]

I have an electric treadmill and I love it!

I don't like the manual ones because it's too easy to cheat on them! The electric ones make you keep going...or else you fall screaming like a little girl off the back in your college weight room....not that I've ever done that... :innocent:



Jacqui :love:

[AgentSun]

the one i have has an incline too. its so cool to see yourself rise up when you push the button.

[harveywhispers]

I have an electric treadmill with the auto-incline & absoloutely love it.

Public Service Announcement:

When begining to take part in a regular excercise regiment, always be certain to include a warm-up/cool-down phase in your program. It is also of the utmost importance to always allow your body enough rest time between the varying parts of your program (i.e. weights MWF; treadmill TTH). I learned this lesson the hard way, and have a three inch long scar running down the outside of each leg right along the joint as a result. These scars are from a medical procedure termed IT Band reduction, and it involves taking a portion of the muscle out to release tension in an overly taut thigh muscle (think of it like breaking a guitar string). This was all caused by a combination of sucky knees, a lack of a proper warm-up routine & too many miles piled on in a week. In short, the surgeon told me that I had THE WORST case of this condition that he had EVER seen. Nearly two years out from the last of the surgery, I am finally getting close to my former activity level. That said, I do still have some of the pain & I am under strict orders to only use the treadmill on flat for an incline setting.

Synopsis of the PSA:

- Have proper fitting shoes (New Balance are great)
- Have shoes that are not worn out
- Stretch
- Cool down
- Vary your program

[eta_carinae]

I have a treadmill. It's in my basement. There is a tv in front of it, complete with vcr. We are going to hook up the spare dvd player at some point in the future. I have been on it, oh, maybe 5 or 6 times since august.

I was soooooo sure I would use it, I used to run at the gym all the time. My last university had a huge rec center with everything you would ever want to use and I went there all the time. The new university has kind of a crappy gym, so I figured if I just had a treadmill at home I could run on it whenever I wanted and watch tv or something. Ha! I need to get into the habit, but it's soooooooo hard when the comfy couch with cable tv is on the main floor, and I have to climb downstairs to go run while watching tv. eh.

[LiLOrion]

Originally posted by JadedLegend3
The electric ones make you keep going...or else you fall screaming like a little girl off the back in your college weight room....not that I've ever done that... :innocent:


:rollin: Did anyone see you NOT do that?

[JadedLegend3]

Originally posted by LiLOrion
:rollin: Did anyone see you NOT do that?

Of course not. :angelgrin


Jacqui :love:

[mgraylorn]

Great comments, everyone, keep them coming! UTnewbie, there are more brands of manual treadmill out there than you think. And in a way that's part of the problem - which one is best and which ones should be avoided like the plague?

I guess there is greater demand for the electric ones, stores in my area tend to have them on the floor to demo and not the manual ones, which have to be ordered. I _really_ don't want an electric one, unless all the manuals are complete crap. Part of that is the cost, but part of it is a space issue - the motorized ones I've seen are _huge_ and I don't really have the space for a great honking thing, not to mention the difficulty of getting it into the basement, and the potential to get wet if the basement floods (which has happened twice in 14 years, so while not common, it is possible). So I'd _really_ like to at least see a couple of manual treadmills, if not actually step on them and see how they feel, as well as get comments from people who have used them and aren't trying to sell me an electric one.

I've heard of those Curves places and hear that they are really convenient and can get you a good workout. I don't want to join any kind of health club because I don't have the time to go to one. I figure if I had a treadmill at home, I could walk for 30 minutes while the SO was making dinner, or go after I did the dishes, or squeak it in at odd times - faster than driving to a health club.

Its interesting to hear people talk about potential for leg and foot problems. I've recently been told I have some arthritis in my knees and my doctor suggested I might want to start some physical therapy now while it wasn't bad. (Getting old is lots of fun.) I'll collect data for a few weeks and ask the physical therapist for a recommendation as well when I go the first week in January.

As I said, let me know about your experiences with manual and electric home treadmills! I figure with the number of Scapers out there I ought to be able to get some feedback from real people. PrairieScaper, I'll be sure to post what I decide to do.

Harveywhispers.......OUCH! It hurts reading about it! My SO runs 7.5 miles 3 times a week and sometimes complains about leg pain. I'll mention your experience to him.

[fermicat]

Originally posted by Selena
I love mine and have it set up in front of a TV - I'm planning on getting a second cheapy DVD player so I can Scape while I walk.:D
Be careful and don't get yourself run over and trampled by going for a ultra cheapie at a Walmart sale!

[LiLOrion]

Well the electric one I have folds up...most of them do now I think anyway.

But if you have flooding problems in the basement, I understand your desire for a manual one and also the electric ones are priced kinda high, but like I said if you wait until next Black Friday and go at 5:30 in the morning, you'll probably get a good deal. :)

And, I must say, it was a bitch and a half to get that thing in the house. I had my younger brother do most of the work and the box had wheels built into it (which would have made it a lot easier if my little bro would have actually folded the wheels out, but instead he dragged the box up my driveway...but thats another story) :) Once it was put together it was easier to move, but lifting it up to take it up or downstairs would require some help, at least two strong men.