Hi everyone,

My wife and I are in the market for a treadmill as the battle of the bulge (for me) continues.....

We've looked at a few models but don't really want to spend more than $500 or so. The only things I require are a heart rate monitor and automatic incline increases so I don't have to get off the thing to adjust.

Thanks!!

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Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.

We bought a used Precor from a used athletic equiment store. It does not have a heart monitor (I don't know any that do) but does have fully programable speeds and incline changes. Even as used it cost qver $1000.00. I think if you want programmable resistances and speeds you will have to spend more than $500.00.

We also have a good air resistance rowing machine that I prefer to the treadmill. It offers an excellent full body workout without the shockiness of running.

I bought a gazelle a few years back for cardio to add to my workouts and love it. You can usually find the basic for $100 or less and it is easy to fold up and store when your not using it.The only drawback was of helping Tony Little succeed in his sales career.

I go outside and run

if you are over 230-240 pounds dont waste your money. I have toasted many a gym club and hotel treadmill.........

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

Polar heart monitors are nice, plus you can use them away from the treadmill . . . perhaps in the bedroom? wink wink nudge nudge, say no more . . .

For $500 do jumping jacks, any treadmill that is worth a crap will cost at least $1000 used and that does not include a new deck and belt that will likely be needed.

Just went through this a couple months back.

If looking for new, anything in your price range will be crap. We bought this Smooth Fitness unit, delivered for a little under $1000. It's not quite gym quality, but very close. It's an excellent unit for the money - well built, quiet, and it has the heart monitor built into the handles. Wife and I both use it frequently, as do our dogs.

For $750-1000, you can likely find a nice used commercial quality unit - but the proposition is risky. There are plenty of used gym/commercial units in this price range from higher end manufacturers listed at places like craigslist, but you can quickly ring up a hefty repair bill if you don't know what to look for.

Good god I learned to hate jumping jacks. With a rifle. At 5-forking AM. I think that's where it was revealed to me that I hate exercise. I have held firm in my revelation.

That $500 will get you 2 years of gym membership where you can use all kinds of $3000 machines, plus weights, plus aerobics class if you want. If you have a gym nearby that is.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

Get an elliptical machine-you won't suffer the joint damage(I once upon a time ran long distances. Now my knees make more noise than my 300D's door)

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

yeah.. I'm rethinking this.. lets train for a marathon because a chick you know wants you to run it with her and maybe you will totally score.. Yeah... right..

2 months

YMCA? don't they have a good rate for membership?

or or... Those Bill Blank tapes with the taibo and kicking and punching and bouncing and paying waaay too much

Totally agree, but because treadmills are kind of temperamental as much as the joint damage angle. I run at least once a week outside, but at the gym do the elliptical machine and have one at my home (which doesn't get used much) I burned through two treadmills when wife and I started living together that were the $500 type in three years. A friend of mine owns a "Play it Again Sports" and we got a Precor that was about $2800 new for about $1K+/-.