Top 5 Reasons to Buy a Home Treadmill

It’s been a few years now since the COVID-19 quarantine, but the lessons linger. What happens if you can’t make it to the gym? Fortunately for me and those like myself who were home fitness fans from the start, the shutdowns had no impact on my workouts. I’ve been competing in NPC bodybuilding events and amateur powerlifting for years, but frankly my passion for fitness goes all the way back to high school football, wrestling, and track. To me, a home without a treadmill is like a home without a couch.

But what about you? Whether you’re a competitive runner or you just want to keep in shape, there’s any number of great reasons to buy a treadmill for your home. Below is just a sampling of five. And if this gets your juices flowing, read our Five Step Treadmill Buyer’s Guide to see what’s entailed.

A treadmill like the ProForm SMART Pro 9000 means you can work out any time, day or night.
Photo by: Oleksandr Kosheliev / TreadmilReviews.net

No. 1: Save Money on a Gym Membership

Let’s face it, gym memberships can be a bit pricey, especially if all you want is to use the cardio equipment. The average gym membership is about $50 per month, but that varies widely based on location and level of services. Over the years, I’ve belonged to at least a dozen gyms, from YMCS’s to private fitness centers. At the low end you might get an unlimited access membership but if you’re wanting to do anything above and beyond use the basic weight room, it can go up. This is particularly the case with 24-hour, seven-day gyms. And $600 per year, plus time and fuel going to and from can certainly add up, if all you want to do is jog on a treadmill for an hour or so.

Consider that a Horizon T101 only costs $649 and can be financed for $19 per month. Even the NordicTrack 1750 is as low as $2,499 and can be had for $70 per month. Add a few small dumbbells to the mix, and there’s very little you can’t do with these units.

No. 2: Exercise on Your Schedule

Even a 24-hour fitness center has its limitations given your own ability to get there and back home. I remember years ago while working at a daily newspaper I would go to the gym before work. In addition to the workout, I used to figure an extra 30 minutes would be needed in the locker room, and that’s if I didn’t need a shower. Convenience may be a bigger reason for buying a home treadmill than money for some people. Whether you subscribe to an app like iFit, which has live and on-demand programs, or you simply watch television while exercising, there’s a huge plus in being able to simply get on the unit and go. This becomes an even greater factor during the dark months of winter where outside temperatures make travel problematic, or the hot summer months where you just don’t feel like going to the gym. Even better, you’ll never have to wait in line for the machine again.

No. 3: Better Programming Options

It’s hard to believe, but you can actually get access to better workouts on a home treadmill these days than on a commercial unit in a gym. Even the larger gym units with televisions attached to them have limited training options compared to the new home treadmills these days. The iFit lineup in particular comes with automatic trainer control and both live and on-demand workouts. The Sole and Horizon treadmills also have built-in programs but are designed to let you use your own screen too. My experience with treadmills in a gym is that, at best, you have a television and your choice of news programs. These days, home treadmills are designed to afford you everything from High Intensity Interval Training to long-slow distance. As a fan of all things resistance training, I also like to use a weighted vest while hiking on my treadmill. This might be frowned upon at a local gym, but at home, why not?

No. 4: The Health Benefits Are Undeniable

Whether recovering from an injury, or trying to stave off cancer or diabetes, there’s just no question your health improves with regular exercise. If you follow the advice of medical professionals and trainers, it’s quite easy to enjoy daily treadmill workouts. Even 15-30 minutes of light cardio a day on a treadmill can do a world of good for those trying to shed a few pounds. And if depression or anxiety are a concern, consider the demonstrated benefits of exercise on mental health. Whether you’re a hard-core athlete or simply someone trying to stay active, you can stock your refrigerator with protein bars and sports drinks and just have a good time walking along to the television shows you watch, getting the best of homelife and exercise.

No. 5: The Whole Family Can Use a Treadmill

Before you run out and invest in a full-blown garage gym, consider that a treadmill can be used by just about anyone in the family. You’ll want to take care with small children of course, but these days, most treadmills come with safety keys which can be removed when not in the use. Folding treadmills are also handy because they can be stored when done. But whether it’s an older person who wants to walk, or a high school athlete looking to train, there’s something for everyone on a treadmill. And that’s one of the reasons these units remain the most popular form of home exercise equipment.

Using my treadmill at home has afforded me unlimited opportunity to work on my own schedule.

Know Before You Go

Buying a home treadmill doesn’t have to be a chore. These days, the better units on the market come directly to your home and are assembled for you. I’d strongly advise letting the delivery team set up the unit and give it a test run as opposed to doing it yourself, but even if you go solo, it’s not rocket science. Priced anywhere from under $700 to over $4,000, there’s a treadmill with your name on it somewhere here on our site. Feel free to shop around our reviews here and find the right one for you.