When looking for home workout equipment, buying a used treadmill can be an excellent investment.
A used treadmill offers you the chance to buy a top of the line model without paying top of the line money. There are different levels of quality when buying a used treadmill. Some will have simply had a quick wipe down, while others will have been fully refurbished.
A refurbished model will typically have been disassembled, any worn or broken parts replaced, then the metal work will be sandblasted and repainted. Machines such as this will have a limited warranty.
When buying a used treadmill, you should consider the following:
- The motor. To get good performance you want a minimum of 1.5 hp, with 2-3 hp being ideal.
- Is there a warranty? How long is it and what does it cover?
- Has the machine had regular maintenance and service carried out on it?
- Is the speed range suitable for your intended use? (0 to 6 mph for walking, up to 8 or 10 mph for running).
- Does the motor maintain a steady speed at all times?
- Does it have an incline range of between 0 and 10%?
- Is the control panel easy to read and simple to use?
- How noisy is the motor?
- Will it fit in your house?
It is essential that you test out any machine, varying the speed and incline, and keeping it running for a while to give time for any potential problems to show up.
As long as you shop wisely, there is no reason you shouldn't wind up with a machine that will give many years good service at a fraction of the cost of a new one.
