Treadmill Ratings - What Most People Don't Know About Treadmill Ratings

If you're buying a treadmill, chances are you'll want to research before you buy. Everyone wants to get the best deal for a discount price. They also want to find the best treadmill to suit their workout needs.


So you'll probably be interested in looking at various treadmill ratings or reviews. But why are there so many different ratings and which one is the most accurate? Here's a few things most buyers don't know about treadmill ratings.


There are really 2 types of treadmill ratings:

1) Consumer Ratings

2) Expert Ratings


User Treadmill Ratings:

Consumer treadmill ratings are done by the layperson who has bought and used the specific treadmill. Many websites allow anyone to go online and post a review of their treadmill.

Customer reviews and ratings can be very valuable when searching for a treadmill - however keep in mind several things:


#1) No treadmill has a 100% perfect track record. Even the BEST treadmill manufacturers sometimes make a dud.

And it's usually the people that have had BAD experiences that leave negative reviews of their treadmills, not the many that have had good experiences with the same treadmill.

They have every right to do this and hopefully the treadmill manufacturers read these reviews and do something about them. Just remember that one bad review doesn't prove it's a low quality brand.


#2) The treadmill industry is growing more competitive each year. And marketing is a huge portion of the treadmill industry since treadmill manufacturers KNOW you're going to research treadmill ratings before you buy.

So while I'm not making any accusations, I have read 'customer reviews' that are clearly NOT written by the average buyer. They sound like they're written by somebody working for the competition - someone well versed in the art of sales psychology and who knows more about treadmills than the average person. Again, not making any accusations here - just keep this in mind when reading user ratings online.

Rule of Thumb: Use common sense. If it sounds like it's written by a treadmill salesperson, take the treadmill review with a grain of salt.


Expert Treadmill Ratings:

There are also expert treadmill ratings. These are the ratings written by the experts in the fitness industry. People like Consumer Reports, Runner's World, Consumer Guide, Men's Health, Prevention Magzine are just a few out there. These people rate and review various treadmills at various times in the year.

While these ratings are much less likely to be tainted by biased reviewers, here are a few cautions to keep in mind while reading them:


#1) Each rater has a different rating system and may rate treadmills on such factors as price, cushioning, stability, quietness, belt area, warranty, console, electronics, programs, incline and quality of parts.

So while one reviewer may put more emphasis on cushioning the other may put more emphasis on warranty. It's nothing to get confused over - just understand that different experts value different features. They'll usually have an area where they list exactly how they rated the treadmills and which features they valued highly in their review.


#2) Expert ratings also usually don't have time to look at EVERY treadmill brand on the market. Nobody does. We've been reviewing treadmills for over 3 years and we still haven't covered all the brands.

So just because a certain brand isn't in the ratings, doesn't make it a poor quality brand. Try to find other reviews on a brand if you can't find it in your favorite expert ratings list.


One last thing: Many treadmill ratings are also based on comparison to other similarly priced treadmills on the market.

So if you have a $1000 treadmill that gets 5 stars - that doesn't necessarily mean that it's better than a $2000 treadmill that gets 4 stars. It means that compared to other $1000 treadmills it is one of the best values.

By remembering these things when sifting through treadmill ratings, you're less likely to be confused. And it will be easier to choose the best quality treadmill for your needs.

Where To Buy A Treadmill

Buying a treadmill? Chances are you'll want to comparison shop to find the best deal for you. Looking at all of the options available can often save you hundreds of dollars.

But where can you look?

There are in general 3 places you can buy your tread mill. This article will outline what you should know about each. You'll learn the advantages and disadvantages - to help you find the best treadmill buy.


#1 Department Stores

Department stores like Walmart, Sears, and Target sell a variety of name brand treadmills in their sports and fitness departments.

What you should know: Although these stores may appear to offer several different brand names they are almost always produced by one manufacturer - Icon Health and Fitness.

Icon is one of the largest treadmill manufacturers on the market today and produces such brands as Proform, Weslo, Epic, Image, Nordic Track, Free Spirit and Reebok.

These treadmills have lots of neat gadgets like CD players, TV's, iFit compatibility and more. However, they are not necessarily known for high quality cushioning, stability or durability.

They also typically offer short warranties. For many of the cheaper treadmills, 90 days on parts and labor is all you get. If you want a longer warranty you'll have to pay extra for it.

Salespeople at these department stores are often not very knowledgeable about treadmills, fitness or how to choose the right treadmill based on your personal needs. So if you need to buy from a department store make sure you do your homework before you go.

Also, at a department store, you'll usually have to pay extra for shipping and delivery of your treadmill (around $150 - $200) so that's also an extra cost to consider.


#2 Specialty Sports and Fitness Stores

These are stores like Fitness Depot, Dick's Sporting Goods, Sport Chalet etc.

What you should know: These stores typically offer you higher end treadmill brands like Precor, Landice, Trimline, Star Trac, Keys and more.

You technically get a larger selection at these stores because the treadmill brands are made by more than 1 giant treadmill manufacturing company.

Sales people are typically more knowledgeable at these stores and can tell you more about the treadmill models, what you need, etc. However be careful as these salespeople are often on commission and may try to pressure you into buying a higher priced machine than you actually need.

You'll also typically have to pay for shipping and delivery of your treadmill when you buy at one of these stores (which could cost you $150-200 depending on the size of your treadmill). However if you hit these stores on a sale, you may be able to get a discount or free shipping.


#3 Online - Direct From the Manufacturer

Buying a treadmill online is an option that is growing in popularity with buyers. There are both online fitness stores and online treadmill manufacturers.

What you should know: Online manufacturers sell direct to the consumer, in effect skipping the middleman of the store. Consequently customers can save up to $800 on a brand name treadmill.

Buying online is also easy and convenient since you can research treadmill brands and prices from the comfort of your living room. You have a much larger selection of treadmill brands than either option above and can thus make a better buying decision.

Another bonus is that online distributors typically offer free shipping which can also save you a couple hundred dollars. There are no pushy salespeople to deal with so you can take your time to decide without any pressure.

The downside of buying a treadmill online is that you don't get to walk on the treadmill first. Many people get around this by trying them out at stores first and then buying the treadmill online (if possible).

Or you could do the research and invest in a high end treadmill brand with high ratings from experts and users. (Several treadmill websites will list any expert awards or user reviews for you to read.)

So those are 3 main places to buy your treadmill. Regardless of where you buy your tread mill, remember to take your time, have fun and consider your own personal workout needs before buying.

'Jurassic Park 3D': The Reviews Are In!

Twenty years after bringing Michael Crichton's chilling sci-fi novel "Jurassic Park" to life on the big screen, director Steven Spielberg is returning to the amusement park gone awry for an anniversary re-release, fitted for IMAX and popping with 3-D technology.

But, like dinosaur DNA suspended in amber, does "Jurassic Park" hold up two decades later? We conducted an archaelogical dig of sorts (OK, we clicked around the Internet) to find out what the critics had to say.

The Story: A Refresher
"Based on Michael Crichton's novel about scientists who clone living dinosaurs for an island theme park, 'Jurassic Park' remains an absolute thrill from a Spielberg in top form: Funny, scary, fast-moving and full of just-right details. (The terrific script comes from David Koepp, of 'Spider-Man,' 'The Paper' and many others.)" — Rafer Guzman, Newsday.

Infographic: 'Jurassic Park' Dinosaur Kill Count

The 3-D Is Worth The Price Of Admission...
"The crowd was rewarded with a breathtaking 3-D conversion that enhanced items both miniscule (Samuel L. Jackson's dangling cigarette ash, Wayne Knight's Barbasol can) and massive (the Tyrannosaurus rex, a crowning technical achievement in Spielberg's illustrious career). 'Jurassic Park' was impressive in 1993. Twenty years later, it's flawless." — Sean O'Connell, Washington Post

...Or Maybe It's Not
"The bad news is that the film's 3-D makeover is pretty pointless. There's no denying that certain scenes are given an extra layer of visual depth. But the high-tech facelift doesn't really add much to the scenes you most want to be dazzled by, like the white-knuckle T. rex-versus-Jeep chase or the cuticle-gnawing raptors-in-the-kitchen rampage. The decision to tart the film up in 3-D is essentially a marketing gimmick — a claxon-blaring come-on for folks who think that every spectacle has to come with a pair of tinted glasses." — Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly

But How Does It Hold Up?
"The movie itself holds up beautifully. There was a group of pre-teens at my screening who were heckling at the beginning but were absolutely enrapt by the end. 'Jurassic Park' remains an example of Steven Spielberg at the height of his powers, of his abilities as a wizard of cinema. I love this movie, and I'm always happy to get lost in it again and again." — Devin Faraci, Badass Digest

The Bottom Line
"Spielberg has gone on to weightier and more prestigious projects, but this thrill ride is one of his best and a masterpiece of the genre." — Nell Minow, Chicago Sun-Times

View the original article here

'Evil Dead': Reviews Are In!

This weekend, the Book of the Dead reopens and the deadites return for the long-anticipated remake of Sam Raimi's horror classic, "Evil Dead."

The 2013 version of the tale about cursed texts and demonic possession has amped up levels of gore and a new cast of characters, but can the remake ever come close to the cult status of the original?

Critics are mostly positive on Fede Alvarez's attempt to recapture the Raimi magic, but most reviews noticed a lack of the original's humor and genuine scares, keeping the "Evil Dead" from unanimously positive scores.

The Story
Mia (Jane Levy) encourages two friends — pre-med Olivia (Jessica Lucas) and high school teacher Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) — to accompany her out to her family's cabin deep in the woods as she tries once more to kick her drug habit. Mia's big brother, David (Shiloh Fernandez), also shows up, with girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore) in tow, and while the siblings try to put aside their recent estrangement, Mia's friends want to ensure that her cold turkey routine sticks this time. Of course, once certain teachers get the bright idea to read aloud from a certain book of the dead recovered from the basement, Mia soon finds herself tormented and possessed by a demon whose erratic behavior her pals initially mistake for withdrawal-related crankiness. — William Gross, Film.com

The Gore
The movie's gore, meanwhile, goes straight to 11. Many dismemberings. Limitless liters of blood. The weaponry include nail guns, chain saws and crowbars. Nothing stops these evil dead. As in the original, one character suffers a grueling act of supernatural, plant-based rape. As in the original, the scene is offensive and throws you straight out of the movie in the name of upping the stakes. — Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

The Jokes
Pucci is this Evil Dead's most charismatic cast member, but Alvarez and his co-writer Rodo Sayagues give him only one wisecrack in the whole film. Jokes are almost non-existent here; Alvarez comes closest to trying to make us laugh (and it works) when his camera casually shows us a prop — a shotgun, a chainsaw — whose importance we remember from Raimi's trilogy. — John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter

The Final Word
The new Evil Dead's delirious gross-out scenes spoke to me, and they go further than any mainstream picture I can think of. How a movie this graphic and gooey managed to finagle an R rating is a mystery. But I'm not complaining. As a diehard fan of the original and the genre, who am I to look such a wonderfully stomach-turning gift horse in the mouth? — Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly

Check out everything we've got on "Evil Dead."

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