Discussion: Treadmill recommendations

Looking for recommendations for a home treadmill. I know some folks here have them. What do you like and dislike about yours? Would you buy the same model again if you had a choice? Low noise level would be nice. Minimal maintenance would be nice. Virtual reality display with selectable O course/map/terrain simulation would be nice, too.

If you are going to use it for intervals too, then make sure you have quick buttons for speed increase/decrease as opposed to just the traditional arrows that go up/down 0.2km/h at a time. It makes it a lot easier.
A fold-up one is quite convenient if you don't want it to collect too much dust or if you don't have a full room dedicated to fitness equipment.
Not being on the belt when you start it will also increase its life.
Recommended use is to put the climb at 1% to stimulate the hamstrings the same way normal running does (the fact that the belt moves from underneath you allows the hamstrings to relax more otherwise).
That's all I can think of for now.

I actually did try playing Catching Features on a laptop mounted to the the console of a treadmill once. It worked OK, but I worried that I was getting sweat on the keyboard.

some have better on board programs than others and make sure the top speed and incline range is high enough for you. The ones at my gym have tv's but the programs stink. Anything can be had for a price on these things.

It worked OK, but I worried that I was getting sweat on the keyboard.

Easy enough to use a cheap extension keyboard.

I like our Precor treadmill. It is nearly 2 years old, and no problems so far. They come with a great warranty, and a good reputation for longevity. Mine goes to 12.0 miles per hour, and to 15% incline, and I would recommend that both are worthwhile.

I would echo Barbie that fast acceleration/deceleration is good for intervals, I don't have it and it is one thing I really would benefit from, though I do survive without (and it would have cost an extra 1-2000 to get it!).

Definitely go to a good fitness equipment supply pace and do a real workout on the ones you are considering. I did some hills and intervals on 3 different treadmills, and it definitely was important to my final decision. Going at 7.5 miles per hour is not the same as 11.0 miles per hour in terms of noise or stability, so I was glad I had done the intervals!

And I bought a new TV for the basement about a week after the treadmill ... invaluable :-) Sometimes I get to watch my stuff ... sometimes I watch PBS Kids with the kids next to me ... I expect that may come into your treadmill experience too!

Thanks, Kristin. I was hoping you might share your thoughts since I'd heard you do a lot of treadmill workouts.

Apparently I should have asked a bit earlier, but I didn't realize suggesting a treadmill would light such a fire under Laurie. She went hunting all over the web for treamill reviews and we were in the store the next day buying a Sole F63. 10mph, 15%, and quick speed and incline change buttons. The 10% off any piece of sports equipment coupon that arrived in the mail a couple days earlier came in quite handy!

The funny thing is our not-quite 6-year old daughter has decided that she has to run on mommy's treadmill, too. So now she has her running shoes and clothes lined up on the drying rack next to mommy's and every time mommy runs, she gets her turn, too. She does 1/2 a mile and makes sure to sip from the water bottle regularly! :-)

We have the TV in the basement, but it mostly gets used for workout tapes or by me while pedaling the bike. The treadmill is actually set up facing away from the TV so Laurie can keep an eye on the kids. They have a lot of toys in that room already. Turns out it's pretty easy to move though, so if I ever get over this nagging foot injury and feel like using it I could turn it the other way and watch a movie.