Treadmills are one of the most popular cardiovascular exercise machines. They’re very versatile – use them for a gentle stroll in the front room, or for marathon training whatever the weather. If you’re short of space (and treadmills can be quite large), choose a treadmill that folds away. Some other features to look for when shopping for a treadmill:

• Speed
  Most treadmills have a speed range of between 0-16kph (0-10mph), and some go up to 19kph (12mph). As a guideline, most people walk at 4.5-9kph (3-6mph) and run at 9-16kph (6-10mph). Look for a treadmill with one-touch controls to change speed settings while you’re running.
• Belt
  More expensive treadmills have better cushioned belts (also called running beds) to absorb impact – important for endurance runners, who risk “runner’s knee” or ankle strain when training on pavements or uncushioned treadmills. Treadmill belts also come in varous sizes, from 40cm-56cm (16”-22”) wide and 1.1m-1.7m (45”-66”) long. Make sure you buy a treadmill with a belt long enough for your longest walking or running stride. If you’re a runner or have a long stride, also look for a wide belt to accommodate natural side-to-side movement.
• Motor
  You’ll find budget treadmills that have no motor at all and require little maintenance, but they’re hard work because you need to run to get them going and keep them going.

Electric treadmills have one motor to drive the belt and another to control the incline. They reach your desired speed quickly and don't slow down when you do, motivating you to keep up a steady pace.

The larger the motor in an electric treadmill, the more horsepower it can deliver. The amount of power you need depends on your body weight and how fast you want to go. For walking and gentle jogging, look for a continuous horsepower rating of 1.0hp-1.5hp; for running, look for 1.5hp and higher. Heavier runners need a minimum of 2.0hp.

• Monitor
  Most electric treadmills have pedometers to monitor speed, time, distance covered and calories burned. Many also have pre-set programmes that run from basic cardio and fat burning settings to workouts that mimic hilly terrain. On the more expensive treadmills you’ll find features such as a heart rate monitor, cooling fan and CD player.
• Incline Control
  Most treadmills have an adjustable incline level. The steeper the incline, the more resistance is created and the more effort you have to put in – an excellent way to train for races. Most treadmills with adjustable or motorised inclines can go up to 15%, though commercial gym treadmills often go up to 25%, and you’ll find many of these listed on Bizrate. Treadmills offer three types of incline control:
1. Power Incline: Press a button to increase or decrease the incline.
2. Heart Rate Control: Incline is adjusted automatically based on your heart rate to give an optimum workout. Can be expensive.
3. Manual Incline: Cheaper, but it can be annoying to stop running and adjust the incline setting by hand