One of the most beneficial cardiovascular exercises is walking. This applies to people of all ages and fitness levels. Most of us cannot afford a health club membership or visitor’s fee and look for other alternatives to reach or maintain our physical fitness. A treadmill is one of the best ways to regularly exercise irregardless of the time of day or night and the weather.

You can determine the distance, time and pace of your workout while watching television, listening to music, reading or evening talking on the phone. Cheap treadmills, meaning one within a reasonable price range not poor quality, is a great option to consider for a beginner just starting an exercise regimen.
First Choice: Manual Treadmill or Electric Treadmill

There are so many avenues to research before buying treadmill that is truly mind boggling. First, you have to decide if you will be going with a manual or electric treadmill. The difference is obvious, one is powered with an electric motor and the other is powered by the user. You can begin with some online research to get some price ranges and availability. There are many online stores that offer both types of treadmills in various price ranges. Some even offer financing for up to 90 days.

Here’s a look at a Manual Treadmill with a very happy owner:

The advantage in buying locally: Try out your treadmill first!

Many large retailers like Walmart, Target and Sears offer both types of treadmills at a wide range of prices. This is always a good place to start because you can usually take a test walk on a treadmill before actually purchasing it.

Manual treadmills range in price from $129 up to $275 for most known brands such as Phoenix and Stamina Inmotion while the electric treadmills are from $300 up to $2000.

What determines the price? Mostly it is the options available on the treadmill.

* There are monitors that can track distance, heart rate, pulse and speed to name a few.
* Adjustable incline levels add to your workout options.
* Many treadmills are portable to the extent that they can fold in half for easy storage. This is definitely a plus for those with limited exercise space.
* Product warranty should be another consideration. You would want the warranty to include the main parts such as the motor, flywheel and the belt and should be for at least one year or longer.
* Stay away from the “budget” treadmills because they will be truly cheap treadmills and you will get exactly what you pay for.

What about Used Treadmills?

Another place to find a cheap used treadmill is the classifieds or yard sales. Unfortunately, many begin the new year with goals and fall off the wagon as time progresses. The only drawback is the uncertainty of the condition of the treadmill and probably no warranty. So you might save some money but risk losing the money and the treadmill in a short span of time. Always test it and ask if the seller still has all the paperwork such as the original receipt and owners manual. Not saying you won’t be one of the lucky ones that finds the gem at a yard sale, but better to be safe than sorry.

You don’t want to end up with something like this:

This treadmill is too cheap!

Remember, this can be a solid investment in your goal of physical fitness if you first determine what type of treadmill you need, what your price range will be, and how much use you plan to get out of your purchase. With today’s economy your investment amount might be limited but at the same time sellers whether large companies or individuals are willing to work with you to make the sale. So finding a bargain on a treadmill is not impossible and can be the beginning of a whole new you.

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