Manual Treadmills

If you really just want a treadmill and cost savings is a must, you may opt to purchase a manual treadmill. Let’s face it; manual treadmills only have one true advantage over motorized treadmills, cost.

With a manual treadmill you provide all the energy to get the belt started and keep it going. This, in turn, exercises your lower body more. However, it can be difficult to get the belt going. Straining against the belt can stress joints right at the beginning of your workout before they’re warm. Manual treadmills may hold some advantages for people who want to set their own pace or who prefer to walk to the beat of their own drummer. If you slow down, the treadmill slows down and if you stop, it stops which sounds reasonable.

You motivate yourself

Only going as fast as you push yourself may leave you without any motivation to keep up with a program or meet the challenge of a change in incline however. About that incline, owners of manual treadmills may have to raise the incline of the treadmill significantly to make it possible to get the belt turning. Once the belt is turning they have no way of decreasing the incline, so they’re stuck doing their whole workout uphill. Constantly walking uphill may remind you of those long ago days trudging to school in the snow but it may also keep you from getting on the treadmill to exercise in the first place. Sometimes the good old days weren’t so good.

Getting the best workout

In general people report getting a better workout from a motorized treadmill. Because of their low cost, manual treadmills may be built less sturdily than motorized treadmills too. This can lead to instability, breakdown and repair costs.

Things to consider

The single most important point when considering buying a manual treadmill is realizing what you are and are not getting. If the drawbacks of a manual treadmill are acceptable, then the savings is well worth it. However, if a manual treadmill makes your workouts less enjoyable, more tedious or more difficult you may be discouraged from exercising. And if your manual treadmill doesn’t get used, have you really saved any money?

More information on treadmills