Is it time to get serious about your aerobic exercise? A home treadmill is a great, convenient piece of equipment to help you stay motivated and work on the healthy body you’ve always wanted. The features you may want to look for when treadmill shopping will depend upon many personal factors. Who will use the treadmill will affect the motor and tread belt sizes you’ll want, as will how the treadmill will be used. In addition, space and budget will play roles in what model will be best for your household.

One of the most important considerations when buying a treadmill is the size of its motor. Most home treadmills will have a motor that ranges from 1.5 to 2.75 horsepower. The size and power of the motor is the primary factor in determining the life of your treadmill. If your treadmill's motor is too small for your needs, it will probably wear out prematurely. If you're planning to jog or run on your treadmill, you will need at least a 2.0 horsepower motor. You will also want a motor at least this powerful if there will be anyone using it who weighs more than 185 pounds, even if they'll just be walking.

The tread belt on a treadmill is the area that you walk or run on; different treadmills have different tread belt sizes. Larger tread belts are necessary for some people, but they also add to the overall size of the treadmill. You need to consider how you're going to use your treadmill. In addition, you should make sure you have enough available floor space in your home. If you are a tall person with a long stride or if you want to run on your treadmill, you will want a tread belt that is at least 50” long. The width of a tread belt is also important; 16” is fine for walking, but you'll probably want 19” for running or if you have a naturally wide stance.

Most treadmills will feature some kind of cushioning or shock absorption to add comfort during your workout and to help reduce the chance for injury. In fact, these are two of the main draws of a treadmill for people who have experienced injuries after years of running on streets or sidewalks with no impact absorption. If you're going to be using your treadmill for both walking and running, consider a model with an adjustable cushioning system to give you the best comfort level for each activity. Excellent cushioning is critical if you have a history of back or knee joint discomfort.

Most treadmills include an incline adjustment that gives you the effect of walking or running uphill for a more rigorous workout. An incline range of 1.5% to 10% is common. If you want to be able to adjust the incline in the middle of your workout, look for a motorized adjustment that you can operate from the treadmill's control pad. Another factor to consider is that a treadmill with an adjustable incline will require extra headroom. This is an especially important consideration if you're planning on setting up your treadmill in a basement because they often have irregular ceiling heights.

Most modern treadmills include an electronic control pad that displays various information, such as your speed, distance traveled, workout time and more. Some treadmills also include built-in workout plans that automatically adjust the treadmill's settings through different stages of your workout. Other possible features include calorie counters, fans and heart rate monitors. If some of these extra features are important to you, make sure you read the technical specifications of a model before you buy so you know exactly what you will, and won't, be getting.