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SO many options/opinions. Keep in mind what Matt told me: you're never going to find one that someone doesn't have some sort of complaint about somewhere.
I was looking for one that I could jog on, 30-45 minutes, 3-4 times a week at 6-7 mph on a slight incline. I didn't care about bells and whistles in the computer or TVs/MP3 players attached or whatnot.
I used these sites to research:
- http://www.treadmillreview.net/ (very good)
- http://www.treadmilldoctor.com/
- http://forums.runnersworld.com/eve/forums/a/frm/f/974106038
What I found was that for jogging you want a minimum of 2.5 continuous horse power motor. Belt length is something else to consider if you have a long stride (I don't). And the heavier, the sturdier, the better.
[IMAGE OF TREADMILL REMOVED AT REQUEST OF SMOOTH FITNESS]
I originally planned on getting the Smooth 5.45 for $1000, but ended up with a Smooth 7.1 HR Pro from Costco b/c it was $200 off last month ($1300 vs. $1500) and Costco provides in-home delivery AND set-up (although I think the set-up would have been easy to do ourselves). The major difference between the two is that the 7.1 is 2.75 horse power as opposed to 2.5, has more programs (hill, interval, etc), and is about 70 pounds heavier. Also, I've had good luck with Costco - although this wasn't the smoothest transaction ever. I'd do it again for the savings, but if you do end up getting one from Costco, let me know! I have some 800 numbers for you!
Honestly, I've only had it set-up for a week so far, but I do like it. It squeaks a little on an incline, just like the ones at the gym, but once I have music/TV set-up down there I won't even notice it. Other than that it's amazingly quiet. It has far more programs in it than I'll ever use. Power-incline is smooth. So far, so good and the warranty is decent too.
I did buy a mat to go underneath it, at Dick's $30. It's supposed to help keep dust out, provide extra cushion, and protect the flooring underneath. Figured it can't hurt, might help.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy anything that has decent reviews on that first link I sent above. They have reviews by brand so you can get a sense of the company/construction, or they have reviews by specific product too including weaknesses. Here's a good place to start on that site: http://www.treadmillreview.net/best-treadmill.html
Also, I got the impression that Soles and Smooths were comparable mid-price treadmills. Dick's carries a bunch of Soles, so you could always try them out in the store if you wanted. I can't remember exactly what I read about ordering from Dick's vs. Sole directly though - you might want to look into that as I think there was an issue with service from one vs. the other.
