Residential vs. Commercial Treadmills
Any serious exerciser knows the benefits of a treadmill. Most people use them at the gym, while others use them at home as a key part of a home gym. Anyone who has used both commercial and residential treadmills knows that they are a little different. These differences are important to consider when determining what type of treadmill to buy. You may be surprised to learn that some commercial treadmills are priced similarly to the residential models.
Horizon T101 Home Treamill for about $600
Residential treadmills are great for the casual runner. If you plan on using your home treadmill a few times a week and don’t run really long distances, you will likely find that your machine can last for a long time. If you are someone who uses it everyday or someone who runs long distances, it likely won’t hold up. Residential treadmills are designed with portability and comfort in mind. The benefit of these machines is that they get the job done. They don’t necessarily do it well. To be fair, there are residential models with strong belts and motors. But generally, the luxury of a home model is more important than its functionality. Producers tend to worry more about neat features like built in wifi than the durability of the machine.
Even the nicest residential treadmills tend to cap off at about $2000. While some commercial treadmills are priced in this range, the better, more durable ones are often closer to $3000 or even more. One thousand dollars is quite a big difference, but is it worth it? Commercial treadmills are built to sustain higher workloads. This means that they will last longer. If you are a serious runner and want to make a serious investment, you will want it to last as long as it can. Commercial treadmills will not break down as easily and will need fewer repairs. Commercial treadmills also are said to have more support and thus give less impact to your knees and other joints.
Precor 9.35 Premium Commercial Treamill for about $5000
The two main points to consider when deciding between these two types is the use you expect to get from the machine and how luxurious you want your machine to be. If luxury is important to you, you will likely want to get a residential model with all the cool, luxurious features. Commercial models can be luxurious too, but these are the most expensive of treadmills. If use and durability are important, you will want a commercial model that will hold up for years to come. The commercial equipment will let you work out daily and will be slow to show any signs of wear. They are built to support extended use and constant wear and tear and will be perfect for the avid runner.







