Features to Look When you start thinking about getting a treadmill, you’ll find yourself awash in technical data when you browse various websites. In many cases, it tends to be somewhat exaggerated. Not surprisingly, you’ll sometimes see a “huge” running surface referred to as 120 x 40 cm, when it’s actually quite a small surface. That’s why in this article, we want to guide you through the jungle of product details. When choosing the right treadmill, it’s important to know what features indicate quality, such as the motor. The motor is the heart of the treadmill, so it has a major influence on the quality of your workout.
This element moves the mat and must cope with the user’s body weight with each step. This means that the higher the training intensity and the duration of each session, the more powerful the treadmill should be. But how much horsepower (HP) should a treadmill motor have, and which value is more important? Peak power or continuous power And which motors perform better, AC or DC motors If you want to know the answers, keep reading this article on this and other treadmill.
Peak power or continuous power – Which value is decisive in a treadmill motor?
Questions Just like cars, a treadmill’s motor power is indicated in HP, and two different values are often provided peak power and continuous power. The decisive value should be continuous power. This value describes the power the treadmill can deliver continuously for the entire duration of the training session. This means, for example, that in the case of the Taurus T9.9 treadmill, which has a 3.5 HP continuous power motor, a runner weighing 190 kg could train for the entire duration of the workout at 22 km/h without overloading the motor.
In contrast, the peak power of a treadmill is a value that doesn’t provide much information. At this point, you’ll find advertising that can display up to 7 HP or more. Peak power only indicates the maximum power the treadmill motor can achieve for a short period of time. This value isn’t very useful for users’ actual training experiences, so it can be ignored. There’s also no uniform standard for determining this peak power. TIP A treadmill should have at least 2 HP of power. For heavier users or trained runners, we even recommend a power of 3 HP.
At Fitshop, the motor power of treadmills is only displayed in continuous power
The better the motor’s performance matches your own running habits (duration of training sessions and average running speed), the higher the motor’s running power should be. Furthermore, when selecting the motor power, it makes sense to keep in mind that as your own running performance improves, your speed requirements and training duration will increase over time. Another advantage of having a powerful motor is that it will give you a quiet and smooth run. Furthermore, because a powerful motor will rarely be pushed to its maximum power it will have a very long lifespan, even with regular training.
Two types of motors are used in treadmills: AC motors and DC motors. Below, we explain the differences between these motors and which type best suits your training needs. The AC motor features a motor control system that generates a constant force with each rotation. This means the motor is less stressed, even at high speeds, which has a positive effect on the treadmill’s performance. Running power with an AC motor is also higher, even with intensive use. Due to the more sophisticated construction of these motors they are generally somewhat more expensive than DC motors with the same power.
What maximum speed should a treadmill have?
Conversely, with a DC motor, the force generated decreases at higher speeds. Thus, DC motors experience a greater load at higher running speeds. This has a long-term negative impact on the motor’s running power. For this reason, a treadmill with a DC motor should not be constantly in the “red” zone. Compared to an AC motor, the overall running power of a DC motor tends to be lower. You don’t necessarily have to opt for a more expensive AC motor. As long as the treadmill has a motor with sufficient continuous power (for beginners, 2 HP or higher, and for experienced athletes, 3 HP or higher), a DC motor is sufficient for running training at home.
You can recognize the HP number of the treadmill motor by the dimensions of the motor guard. A more powerful motor is also larger than a less powerful motor. Therefore, if the treadmill has a very flat motor housing but states that it has a 4 HP motor, the motor information may be misleading. The average speed of a professional marathon runner, such as world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, is slightly above 20 km/h (12 mph). Those new to running obviously tend to run somewhat slower than professionals. The average running speed of all male marathon participants is usually slightly above 9 km/h (5 mph), with women around 8.5 km/h (5.3 mph).
Conclusion
In 10,000-meter races, average speeds are usually higher. Men average 12.4 km/h (7.7 mph) and women average around 12 km/h (8.5 mph). Only interval training achieves the highest speeds on a treadmill. Anyone who can run 10,000 meters in 50 minutes will be running at around 12–13 km/h (7.5–8.1 mph) during the fastest phases of interval training. For this type of training, therefore, a treadmill with a maximum speed of 16–18 km/h (9.9–11.2 mph) would be sufficient. For faster runners with higher aspirations, we recommend a treadmill with a maximum speed of at least 20 km/h (12.2 mph).
Regardless of a treadmill’s motor power, a larger running surface increases running comfort. However, the running surface should be wide, especially on more powerful treadmills, to ensure a safe stride. With a running surface of 150 x 50 cm (59 x 20 inches), you can run safely even at faster paces and avoid the risk of hitting the edges of the treadmill. A wide and sufficiently long running surface is also recommended for taller individuals or for those with a good level of training who tend to run faster. As a general rule, the larger the running surface, the more comfortable the workout will be.
