Should I Buy A Folding or Non-Folding Treadmill?

During your search for the best home treadmill, you may be faced with a difficult decision. Do you buy a folding or non-folding treadmill? Knowing the benefits of folding treadmills and other factors such as price, stability, ease of use, and warranty coverage will help you make the right decision.

Benefits of a Folding Treadmill

The main benefit of a folding treadmill is the fact that it takes up less space. Non-folding treadmills end up as permanent fixtures in a home. You can’t move them easily, so they stay put where they are. They often take up quite a bit of space; around 3.5 by 6 feet of floor space.

Folding treadmills are better because not only do they save space, but they are often easier to move. After working out on your machine, you can fold it up and roll it to a corner of the room. For that, they are much easier to store.

The other benefit is that cleaning under the machine is so much easier. One of the key things to maintaining a treadmill is keeping it clean – especially underneath the deck where dirt, dust, and debris often build up. With a folding treadmill, you can easily get underneath the deck and the floor it rests on.

What to Look For

Many years ago, folding treadmills had a reputation for poor stability. They weren’t nearly as stable as their non-folding counterparts. That’s not the case today. With technical innovation, they have become more stable and are now comparable to non-folding machines.

This is great news for the consumer because while folding treadmills are nearly as stable as their non-folding counterparts, they are usually less expensive. A high quality non-folding treadmill will start around $2,000 and go up in price from there. A high-quality folding treadmill, on the other hand, can be found for half that price. In fact, the best folding treadmills are in the $1,000 - $2,000 price range.

Keep in mind, not all folding treadmills are created equal. Lower priced models will not have the stability required to provide a good workout. This goes for non-folding models as well. In most cases, the lower the price, the less stable it will be. If you will primarily be walking or light jogging, folding treadmills around $1,000 will provide enough stability for a quality workout. An example of an excellent folding treadmill in this price range is the Smooth 5.25 treadmill. It is perfect for walking and light jogging and is just under $1,000. For more intense jogging and running, you’ll want to look for a folding treadmill that starts around $1,500. The Sole F80 treadmill is one of the best treadmills in this price range.

When looking for a folding treadmill, you should keep the folding mechanism in mind as well. Depending on the price and manufacturer, some machines are a lot easier to fold than others. For example, the Smooth 7.1 treadmill folds on its own with a push of a button. Other, cheaper models can be difficult to fold because they require manual folding.

Testing Folding Treadmills

If you’re planning on buying from a local dealer, it is important to test it out in person. Make sure that you run on the machine. Try running on the highest speed you can comfortably handle and take note of the stability. Does the machine rock or wobble considerably? If it does, consider another model. The treadmill should be relatively solid at intense workout levels.

How does the motor sound? If the motor gets louder as you run, this is a sign of an inadequately powered motor. The motor shouldn’t sound like it’s working hard. If it does, it is being overworked and will likely break down if you plan on using it regularly at more intense workout levels.

When you buy a treadmill online, it’s obviously harder to test it. Sometimes you can find treadmills that are sold online at a local dealer. You can test drive them at the local dealer and then get the best deal by purchasing online. For example, Sole treadmills are a premiere line of treadmills that are sold primarily online. However, some of their models can be found at Dick’s Sporting Goods but they are usually less expensive when purchased online. So test them locally but buy them online to save a few dollars.

Another thing you can do to test drive folding treadmills purchased online is read consumer reviews. Often times you’ll be able to tell a lot about the equipment by what other consumers have to say about their experience. When you read a review you’ll mostly likely read about how solid the machine feels during a workout. You can take note of these comments and if enough other people say the same thing, you can be fairly confident that what consumers are saying is true. If they say a particular model is very stable, you can be sure that it is.

The Importance of Warranties on Folding or Non-Folding Treadmills

We cannot stress enough the importance of a strong treadmill warranty. Whether you are buying a folding treadmill or a non-folding machine, you can determine the quality by its warranty. Shorter warranties often mean lower quality. Longer, more comprehensive warranties often mean the treadmill is built to last. After all, a company would not put a long warranty on a treadmill if they believed it would not last. Sole treadmills and Smooth treadmills are two brands that have some of the best warranties available. You’ll get lifetime warranties on the motor and frame, three to five years on parts, and one to two years on in-home service.

Now you should have a good idea of what to choose when it comes to your home treadmill. You now know the benefits of folding treadmills and what you should look for if you decide to buy one.