The gym is one of the most common places to exercise and stay fit. After all, this is where all the exercise equipment - treadmills, weights, lifting equipment - can be found.

But it takes too much time going to the gym every day or every other day. It's inconvenient. Plus, you have to make these hassling monthly membership payments just so you could keep coming.

What if you could dispense with all that? What if you bought your own equipment and exercised at home?

The treadmill is the best exercise equipment you can buy for home use. It's fairly easy to use and fairly easy to buy. Not only that, but for most people, running is the best type of exercise. It develops the muscles of your legs, improves cardiac-respiratory endurance, keeps your blood running, and burns down calories.

The treadmill is an excellent choice of equipment in lieu of actually running outside. You can run even in bad weather - whether it's snowing, raining when the ground is too muddy for much running, or even whether it's too hot. The treadmill can also be recommended to all types of exercise enthusiasts, regardless of sex and age.

So now that you know what makes the treadmill excellent for home exercise, let's go down to the facts. The number question we all probably have once confronted with buying a treadmill is, "How much is it worth?"

Before we start, let's get down to the basic first. A typical treadmill is comprised of seven main components. These are:

• The frame - which is that piece of metal that extends perpendicularly from the running deck and is where the handlebars are located.


• The running deck - which is the surface that you run on.


• The running belt - the moving portion of the running deck.


• The motor - the engine that makes the running belt.


• The motor controller - the gadget that allows you to control the speed of the motor.


• The incline motor - a tiny motor that controls the degree of inclination as you run.


• The console and control computer - that part of the treadmill which lets you do all the other stuff.

Out of all these seven components, the most important is obviously the motor. Of course, because it's what makes your treadmill work in the first place. For this reason, you need to consider the motor first when you buy a treadmill.

As mentioned, most treadmills have two motors - one to drive the belt and the other to raise and lower the bed for inclines. When you look over a few treadmills as you shop, choose one with a continuous duty belt motor with at least 1.5 horsepower. 1.5 horsepower is the average, but remember that more horsepower doesn't necessarily mean better. This is particularly true if the motor is not continuous duty.

So, when the salesperson tells you that 'maximum power' is what's it all about, don't be fooled. You know better. Get the treadmill with the continuous duty motor.

Here are some other terms you need to familiarize yourself with as you shop around for the best treadmill:

• Fixed Speed Alternating Current (AC) Motors - while motor runs at a constant speed, it uses a transmission to regulate the speed of the treadmill.


• Direct Current (DC) Motors - directly regulates speed, using variable voltage and not a transmission; this means that the motor itself changes speeds as the user makes adjustments.


• Variable Speed AC Motors - also regulates speed directly and connects directly to the drive belt.


• Peak Horsepower - the maximum horsepower a motor is capable of reaching before stalling out.


• Continuous horsepower - the actual horsepower being used when someone is using the treadmill.

Of course, it goes without saying that aside from the motor, there are also other things you need to look for in a treadmill. That is what makes a treadmill so great - every component is equally important and should be chosen with the utmost care if you want what's worth for your money.

Most people use the treadmill for running. Others may prefer walking on it, but majority really buy treadmills because they don't want the hassle of having to go outside for a quick jog every morning or evening. For that, you need a lot of flat surface. Your treadmill comes equipped with a rolling belt on which you will do your running. The suggested belt size should be at least 48 inches long and 16 inches wide. Look for a treadmill with those kinds of specifications and I guarantee you that you won't regret it one bit.

If you plan on running, get a treadmill that goes up to 10 mph. For incline, get a treadmill that can go up to 10%. Some people say that an incline of 20% is the best choice, but really, that's too much. Ten percent is exactly what you need, not too much, not too less.

Cushioning is another thing you should watch out for. Sprains happen when you run because you were wearing the wrong shoes or the ground wasn't conducive to running, i.e. there wasn't enough cushioning to support each foot-strike. When you buy a treadmill, choose one with a running bed that could absorb shock. Also, make sure that the bed doesn't move around with every foot-strike.

Check the frames. Make sure that they provide you with stability. The treadmill should shake or move around when you run or walk on it. A good tip would be to try standing on the treadmill and hold on to the handlebars, assuming your position when you run. If the frame feels like it isn't solidly placed, don't buy that treadmill. Move on to the next one.

The control panel of your treadmill is the fun part. This is where you control every other aspect of your treadmill, besides the motor (and sometimes even that). Most treadmill models these days come with their very own exercise programs and let you choose which among the beginners, advanced, and expert programs you want to try. Other treadmills have their own personal electronic trainer installed in their programming and you can access that through your treadmill's control panel.

When looking at control panels, it is important that it should be within easy reach from where you will be as you run. It is important that it be simple to use as well. Remember that your control panel is your one access to your treadmill because it where you can control everything with just a touch of a button or a twist of a knob.