3 replies to this topic

[Ben_O]

Hi everyone.

 

We are planning on turning our extension into a Gym and would like to start off with a treadmill.

 

Having looked online, the treadmill market is a minefield! Lots of cheap chinese rubbish with mixed reviews and after spending days searching, every one we look at seems to have lots of good reviews but a few really bad reviews.

 

We decided on the Reebok one GT40s which is in our price range but only available from Argos who don't have any stock.

 

I have also been looking at the bodymax T60 which seems to have good reviews overall but i just can't decide.

 

Our budget is around £500 so can anyone recommend a particular model based on their own experience because i just don't trust the online reviews.

 

Any help would be much appreciated

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[Black.Ghost]

Everyone is different, but personally I wouldn't start with (or even have) a treadmill, especially not at that price. Personally, I'd have a multi gym and a rowing machine in there to start with. Running can be done outside - much more enjoyable (especially on IoW - must be loads of nice routes) and plenty of gadgets around these days to measure performance like a treadmill can. You will also run faster outside than you will on a treadmill.

I know that doesn't help one little bit! It's worth considering though what your overall fitness and body condition is like at the moment. If either of you are suspectible to joint problems, leg problems or even back problems, running isn't ideal. Although it seems relatively straight forward, it can put a great deal of stress on the body. Other activities such as swimming and cycling can help you get just as fit without the physical stresses on joints. Rowing and weights will also see fitness gains. A punch bag and maybe a speed ball, along with a skipping rope, will also help. Circuit work is a good all rounder and something you can do together. We used to have to work in pairs. One would do an exercise like press ups, and the amount of time you had to do it would be determined by how quickly your partner can get around a 400m track! Makes you run pretty quick. There can be other things you do indoors, for example row 200m instead.

I'm not saying don't get the treadmill - everyone likes different things - but try a couple out if you can before doing it. I don't know about Iow but over here you can usually get a day pass to a gym. I actually quite enjoy running when I'm up to fitness but outside on interesting routes.

Whaevert you choose to do, make sure you have a good warm up and cool down routine. Don't just pay lip service to it, it really does make a difference. Because we aren't generally active all of the time anymore, we can just go straight into high intensity exercise, we need to do so gradually. Your muscles need a good stretch at the end as well. I have never been a fan of it, it yoga will also help your general body condition and fitness as well. Ryan Giggs used to do Yoga and kept playing football until close to his 40s. But most of all, have fun doing it!

[paul748]

I've recently sold a Reebok Z9. Excellent piece of kit, very solid build quality and loads of features.

You can find them for sale hardly used for around £300.

I only sold mine because we moved house and had nowhere to set it up.

I agree with some of the points above, but a treadmill has a lot of merits if used correctly.

Paul

[ace01]

I have a Hammer treadmill.  Very robust, folds up if required, has plenty of options.  The main downside, and a minor one, is that the manual does not say anything about the content of a programme.  IE. How many minutes walking, running at whatever speed etc.  You soon find out!  Cost was around £500.