Treadmills

[MacB]

Hey, WOW, people, I said I might use it, as in I had better not get too flimsy a bit of kit due to my size, but the chances are pretty remote, I've never been a fan of running and I'd prefer to run outdoors anyway.

Let me see if I can explain this better, Jane is a lifelong no exercise type with good intentions, we have tried various options over the years to no avail. I did manage to get her started on cycling only for her to end up having the most ridiculous crash(falling over when almost static) which remarkably resulted in multiple fractures to her lower leg and ankle. Several surgeries, and years, later and Jane has just recently(November) had the screws removed from the ankle plate. She has also lost a lot of weight but is now feeling that she needs to get more active to maintain rather than continually diet...which I totally agree with.

I don't care if it doesn't get her where she wants to be, I don't care if it's just a short term stepping stone to getting out and about properly, I don't care if she becomes a treadmill addict and loves it. I can think of a zillion things I'd rather spend money on but not if it's the bit of kit that finally results in getting Jane to where she'd like to be.

To that end the dosh is immaterial....it's a lurv thing...plus if it doesn't work then someone gets another bargain

So how about this one?:-

http://www.johnlewis.com/231420026/Product.aspx

decent warranty, JL own brand, seems sturdy enough and not too expensive...other are right it's cheaper to buy a fancy tablet to run any programs on than get a treadmill with all the bells and whistles.

 

[srw]

Based on the medical and exercise history I'd suggest...






....hiring a personal trainer. I know I'm being repetitive, and I'm certainly no expert, but that leg and ankle injury sounds nasty and not the sort of thing to be subjected to the stress of training (an especially running) without decent supervision. I've heard (and can believe from my tentative steps on a treadmill) that each step pushes the equivalent of three times your weight through each joint. Wait a month or so until the January rush has worn off and you should be able to find someone who will be able to come round to the house two or three times a week first thing in the morning, and remove any possible excuse.

Of course you may be lucky and discover that Mrs MacB is a natural runner who likes nothing more than getting out of bed onto a treadmill. But somehow I suspect that if that were the case she'd have been doing it long before now.

 

[zizou]

With the leg and ankle injury you may be better off with an elliptical trainer.

As for purchasing i know that watt bikes used to be able to be hired for £60 a month (as opposed to £2000+ to buy) perhaps treadmill companies offer similar try before you buy option on their high end models?

 

[MacB]

sorry I should have said that her intention is just walking to begin with and building up to actually running, also this was suggested by her physio following surgery....no not the treadmill, the idea of walking to begin with and building up....but he was very keen that she work at it.

I would prefer an elliptical but Jane doesn't get on with them, been there and tried that one.

 

[MrJamie]

My friend got a Nordic Track one and to be fair I was really impressed. I run outdoors, usually twice a week and much prefer it to a treadmill... reiterations of stories of boredom and overheating quickly etc. It seemed really good though, quite a huge machine, felt very solid with me running/sprinting on it (~18 stone). I have no idea which model it was but they have some of that brand on the John Lewis site. They're also alright for walking on, incline modes too etc and had some kind of suspension built in the floor to reduce impact, I think like most it ended up with boxes and clothes hanging on it though.

I don't know what others are like to compare to, but the one I think it was weighs nearly twice as much as the JL one you linked and everyone knows you can measure quality by weight :P http://www.johnlewis.com/231397402/Product.aspx

 

[lukesdad]

That looks fine MacB very similar to wifeys could be even made by Reebok ?

 

[Plax]

How about an exercise bike then or have you tried that? Would put less strain on the joints and it's easier to watch telly.

Cross trainers are boring, even more boring than treadmills (which I funnily enough love). At least if she's just walking to begin with it's better than doing nothing and I can read a magazine whilst doing a moderate fast walk/jog on my treadmill if that's any help

 

[400bhp]

My friend got a Nordic Track one and to be fair I was really impressed. I run outdoors, usually twice a week and much prefer it to a treadmill... reiterations of stories of boredom and overheating quickly etc. It seemed really good though, quite a huge machine, felt very solid with me running/sprinting on it (~18 stone). I have no idea which model it was but they have some of that brand on the John Lewis site. They're also alright for walking on, incline modes too etc and had some kind of suspension built in the floor to reduce impact, I think like most it ended up with boxes and clothes hanging on it though.

I don't know what others are like to compare to, but the one I think it was weighs nearly twice as much as the JL one you linked and everyone knows you can measure quality by weight :P http://www.johnlewis.com/231397402/Product.aspx

Our is a Nordic Track. I spent a bit of time doing research and they seemed to be the best at the price we wanted to pay. I got a reconditioned one in the end and saved about £400 (was about a grand rrp). Was very happy with the service provided and the reconditioned aspect of it.When I get home I'll check the model.

I haven't used it but my wife says the rollers are better than the rollers on the vastly more expensive machines in the local LA fitness.

It has an ipod dock and speakers etc.

 

[400bhp]

So how about this one?:-

http://www.johnlewis.com/231420026/Product.aspx

decent warranty, JL own brand, seems sturdy enough and not too expensive...other are right it's cheaper to buy a fancy tablet to run any programs on than get a treadmill with all the bells and whistles.

A couple of things I've remembered when I was looking:

- Try and get the most powerful one. I think 2 hp is acceptable.
- try and get the one with a high speed setting. 11mph is decent. Some will go up to 20kph, but some only go up to 15 kph.. I know this is largely irrelevant in terms of your wife and the speed which she will be walking / runnimg, but if you want longevity from the machine (how long it will last and what happens if your wife does start running at those speeds) then buy one with a high speed setting.
- look for one with a long running board. Short ones will be a PITA. I can't remember what is classed as long/short but a quick look around and you should be able to determine this. I think 140cm is a good length.

It will be a rebranded model of something else.

If you can spend a bit of time researching what the rebrand is (the console should give it away), then that will make it easier to compare and contrast (I doubt many people/mags/forums have many reviews of the John Lewis specific trainer).

 

[lulubel]

Cross trainers are boring, even more boring than treadmills (which I funnily enough love).

I find the cross trainer far more interesting than the treadmill. There are so many ways you can use it - normal hands and legs, hands only, hands-free, backwards .... Not much use at helping your body adapt to running impacts, though.

 

[lulubel]

If you want to push the budget a bit more, our little gym where we used to live in Cornwall had a Johnson and a Life Fitness, probably about equivalent to what you can pick up for £3-4,000 new. They were both pretty hefty treadmills, and had a big, safe running area. Most of us preferred the Johnson because it felt more "intuitive" to operate somehow.