It is a widely accepted fact that the heavier a treadmill is, the steadier it will be, and the less likely it will shake and shudder. However, this isn’t always true, so be sure to double check. Look at the footprint and at descriptions as to how the deck is built. If you want a clue to finding out the stability of a treadmill, check out the maximum user weight. That should give some idea on how stable and solid a treadmill is.

Don’t Do Too Much Incline

Generally, treadmills have a maximum incline of between 10 and 15 %. Anything more than that could involve safety issues which you have to check with the manufacturer first. So just to be safe, don’t overdo inclines.

Consider what you are running for. If you are running to train, then also consider the course you are training for. If it’s for hilly courses, then you will really need to train on a hilly course. A treadmill with a 10% incline should be able to do the work. It will give you the illusion of pushing your body uphill…an experience that will be somewhat different from an actual run up a hilly path.

However, if you’re running a course that has a lot of down hills (like the Boston Marathon, for instance), then a treadmill is not going to be of much help. You can probably try propping the back up with a couple of 2 x 4’s but that would involve another set of safety issues, so again, check with your manufacturer before doing so.

Don’t Forget the Red Button

Safety is the most important thing to consider, on par with motor, when buying treadmills. This is especially true in households with children. There are two main safety features found in treadmills and so when you buy one, don’t forget to check for these: the safety key and the emergency off button.

Some treadmills offer only the safety key. Others offer both the emergency button and the safety key. It is best that you get a treadmill that offers both of these. If not, then weigh down the merits of each feature carefully before buying.

A safety key treadmill requires that the key be in place to turn the treadmill on. It usually has a way to attack the key to the runner so that if the runner falls or gets too far away, the key will pull out and stop the treadmill.

The emergency off button on the other hand is just a red button that you can push to turn off the treadmill immediately.