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Treadmills have been around in the home market since the 1960s and it continues to reside in many people's homes. Its evolution, over time, provided people the convenience, functionality and simplicity of use that they seek in a home fitness exercise equipment. Its ability to accommodate various workout programs of beginning runners and seasoned athletes makes it a popular choice among all home fitness exercise equipment out there.

Treadmill training, whether it's walking, jogging, running or power climbing, provides for a good cardiovascular exercise. It increases stamina and endurance while reducing the risk of injuries commonly incurred from running on concrete and asphalt. Treadmills can also mimic hills by providing elevations up to 15%, as sought by those aiming to improve their race performance and running strength. This is why treadmills with adjustable shock absorptive levels and downhill and uphill sections receive good treadmill reviews from users who are particular with running surfaces.

Running outdoors can be tedios and time-consuming for some, while others find it an inconvenience to be always at the mercy weather conditions. These are common reasons why people stop running or exercising. But with treadmills, people can diligently follow their health, fitness and weight loss regimen with external interruptions. In addition, runners are less susceptible to heat stroke and dehydration that usually results to running outdoors under high heat and lack of fluids.

Treadmills, unlike other exercise equipment or simply running in the neighborhood, has the ability to monitor the runner's heart rate. There are HP interactive treadmills, those that automatically adjusts the belt speed to keep the runner within their desired heart rate, while the most common are treadmills that monitors and just displays the runner's heart rate so he may manually adjust his speed. Most people calculate their maximum heart rate by deducting their current age from 220, while setting their minimum heart rate 60 to 80 percent of the maximum heart rate.

In choosing a good treadmill, many treadmill reviews give importance to user-friendly consoles, decks with cushioning system, display panels and controls to inform of users' progress, and treadmills with at least 2.0 continuous duty horsepower motor. In checking the electronic features, one must note of key indicators and programs such as interval speed and incline programs, pre-set and custom programs, heart rate monitoring and distance and calories burned monitoring. Treadmill reviews also judge the safety features of a treadmill such an emergency stop button, automatic belt speed adjustments, built-in warm-up and cool-down periods, and comfortable handrails and grips.

For the past several decades, manufacturers have re-developed treadmills to make it more enjoyable, easy to use and more flexible to different users. It numerous benefits make a huge difference in people's time, money, effort and fitness and health goals. No wonder why treadmills remain to be the popular home exercise equipment in many people's homes.

Jonathan Drake is a 30-year old personal fitness instructor from San Mateo, California. With his expertise and knowledge on modern workout machines, he regularly writes treadmill reviews and rowing machine reviews, although he admits that his favorite home fitness exercise equipment is a treadmill equipped with a music port with built-in sound system that keeps him entertained while burning those calories.