What is a manual treadmill?
A manual treadmill is basically a treadmill without a motor and powered strictly by the person using it. They vary in prices and sizes but they are usually cheaper and lighter than a powered treadmill.
What are the benefits of a manual treadmill?
There are several reasons why you would chose a manual treadmill:
- Low cost
- Light weight
- Less noise
- Reliability
- Low maintenance cost
Aside from a treadmill console, a treadmill motor can be the most expensive part to replace in a treadmill, this means a manual treadmill has an inherited lower cost to the manufacturer and your pocket too.
Another benefit of a manual treadmill is weight, with a much smaller footprint and no motor this type of equipment is smaller, lighter and easier to relocate when not in use or when the time comes to rearrange your home gym setup.
The lack of a treadmill console, one of the two most expensive treadmill parts to replace, means a cheap treadmill with less distraction and more room for your book or table should you chose to read or stream video. Two of the best ways to kill time while burning those calories.
While you are still going to be running on a board while propelling the belt backwards, the amount of noise being produced would be less than the noise coming off an electric motor in combination with a the running.
The absence of a motor also means a potentially more reliable piece of fitness equipment, moving parts are usually the first ones to fail.
Less moving parts means less maintenance too, an up-sale or add on item, service can cost north of $150 depending on manufacturer, length of plan and coverage.
Where to buy?
These cheap treadmills are available with free shipping from all major retailers like Amazon, Walmart and even eBay, the best treadmill reviews go to:
- The Exerpeutic 250 found on amazon.com
- The Portable Folding Incline Cardio Fitness Exercise Home Gym possibly at your local Walmart
- And lastly but not least, the Weslo CardioStride 3.0 fitness on Amazon and with free shipping as well.
