Buying The Right Used Treadmills Can Save You Money

When it comes to exercise equipment we all know just how expensive it can be. It is not uncommon to spend well over $1000 on home gym equipment, which is why many people typically will go with out. What many do not realize is that you can save a lot of money by simply buying your equipment used. For instance, used treadmills in “like new” condition, may cost a third of what you would expect to pay at a major fitness retailer. And, as is true with most people selling their exercise equipment, there is probably nothing wrong with it! They are just either looking for some quick cash or need to free up the space the treadmill is taking up in their home or office. Here are some tips to help you on your way to buying used treadmills.

1) Establish Your Needs

Once you have decided that a treadmill is what you would like (or what will best suit your fitness goals, ie. burn calories, strengthen legs, etc…) your next step is to determine what type of features you would like your new, used treadmill to offer. Would you like the ability to adjust the angle of the walking platform, making it easier or harder? Perhaps you would like an on board computer to help estimate time, distance and heart rate and calories burned. Many like to find one that offers some kind of upper body movement, this is often handle bars that move with your stride. What ever your needs are, it is important to identify them in the beginning so that you are that much more aware of exactly what you are looking for.

2) Where To Buy

When is comes to buying used treadmills, there are a handful of places you should begin, the majority are online. The internet is a great place, as you can find so much information on just about anything, and you can buy or sell whatever you’d like. Begin your search on Craigslist. Craigslist is particularly helpful because, unlike EBay you can search locally. This is ideal as it is always a good idea to test out any used equipment you may be considering. If Craigslist does not yield anything try your local classifieds, any local paper should have them listed. Finally, check EBay. EBay is great because, as you probably know, it is an online aucion where you can place bids – a slam dunk for a good deal!

3) Inspect Carefully

Once you have found a potential used treadmill, you need to inspect it very carefully. The last thing you want is to pay for something that is not going to give you your moneys worth. Though it is impossible to look at everything, the key area include:
- Tread: Are there any significant tears, holes or anything suspicious looking?
- Motor: Does the motor seem to run well, does it start and stop as it should, are here any strange noises that call your attention?
- Computer: If it has an on board computer, does it function correctly? This is obviously less important then the top two but should be considered depending on the asking price.

Buying used gym equipment can be an excellent way to save money and build your own home gym. Used treadmills are among the most popular exercise equipment being sold today. Just be sure and make sure you have established your needs, found a good place to buy from and inspected the machine carefully!