Barefoot Treadmill Review

Transcription

March 19, 2011
BAREFOOT TREADMILL REVIEW
Tina Dubois is the
Editor in Chief of
LivingBarrefoot.info
and the Producer of
The LIving Barefoot
Show
Treadmills and Barefoot Running
20 treadmills tested for your feet
By Tina Dubois
Treadmills are ubiquitous in
the home and gym. It’s only
logical to want to take your
new enthusiasm for barefoot
running indoors and onto the
nearest treadmill. In fact,
many of you will want to try
barefoot running on a
treadmill before you ever hit
the pavement. Doing so is
certainly possible but, as I’ve
discovered, even on a treadmill
1
there are some careful
considerations that should be
given when used for barefoot
running. If you want to run
indoors but want to maintain
your form and avoid getting
burned, this review is for you.
Although I prefer to run
outside on trails (and in
minimalist footwear), there are
times when I would rather run
indoors: when the weather is
bad or when the trails are too
dangerous for my current skill.
Sometimes I just want to do a
short run and don’t feel like
getting all dressed up for
appropriate weather
conditions. During these times,
I would like to run indoors but
barefoot. That’s what led me
to find the best barefoot
appropriate treadmill.
BAREFOOT TREADMILL REVIEW By Tina Dubois
Treadmills and Barefoot Running
20 treadmills tested for your feet
By Tina Dubois
This treadmill review will not be about specifications,
console options, incline heights, motor horsepower,
noise level, or programs available. For this type of
comprehensive information, Treadmill Talk Reviews
has extensive technical reviews of 34 major brands and
over 240 models of treadmills.
This review rates and describes 20 of the most readily
available treadmills for barefoot running comfort. I
went to fitness facilities and supply stores as well as
department stores to find the treadmills that the
average consumer would be exposed to and put them
through their barefoot paces, taking careful
measurements as I went.
Barefoot running calls for special consideration of
features that might otherwise be far less important.
There are three things that must be considered when
purchasing a treadmill for barefoot running: heat,
texture, and suspension.
The belts installed on treadmills vary considerably in
design and texture. These design differences make a big
difference for a barefoot runner. Belt texture can be so
rough that barefoot running becomes ver y
uncomfortable or even impossible, and the heat
generated by some treadmill designs makes running
barefoot equally as difficult.
Barefoot running is, at least in part, aimed at improving
form and learning how to run naturally. The deck
suspension system makes a considerable difference in
feedback generated when running and thus is another
crucial detail that must be taken into consideration
when selecting a treadmill for barefoot running.
Secondary considerations include the running surface
size (belt size) and price. Running surface
measurements were found either on the company
website or through Treadmill Talk. Prices are listed in
USD when available and CAD when the particular
model is not available in the U.S. The prices listed are
MSRP from the manufacturer’s website or online prices
from retailers. The price listed is always a regular price,
2
although I did find many models’ prices have significant
savings when on sale.
To measure the temperature of the belt, I used a noncontact, infrared, laser-sighted digital thermometer
with a range of -32C–300C (-25.6–572F) and an
accuracy of +2C (3.6F) (accuracy is increased the closer
the unit is to the target surface and was usually taken at
approximately 10 cm or 4 inches). I measured the
temperature of the belt before and after 10 minutes of
running at 6.4 km/h (4 mph), a slow but easily
maintainable pace for me. I tried to run in
approximately the same location on the running surface
and took temperature readings from this area both
before and after running.
For the belt texture, I have taken pictures of each of the
treadmill belts. Each picture includes the belt, the deck
(if applicable) and some of the side rail. I tried to take
every picture at the back, right end of the treadmill
from a 30 cm (1 foot) distance. I have rated each belt
texture on a 0–5 scale: (1) too rough to run on barefoot,
(2) barely comfortable enough to run on barefoot, (3)
slightly less comfortable than the average, (4) a midrange smoothness and much like running on a concrete
sidewalk, (5) slightly more comfortable than average,
and the smoothest belt texture and the most
comfortable to run on barefoot.
People who spend considerable time barefoot may find
that the belt texture is not as important a consideration
as it is to me as their foot soles and pads are tougher
than mine.
For the suspension, I find a harder suspension better for
barefoot running. A soft suspension can lead to bad
form, in my experience, so harder is better for me. I
found two general types of suspension: an independent
deck suspension unconnected to the frame structure
and a combined deck and frame suspension. I rated the
suspension of each treadmill on a 0–5 scale: (1) the
softest and very uncomfortable to run on with
considerable energy lost in bounce, (2) slightly harder
than the softest suspension, (3) slightly less hard than
the average suspension, (4) a mid-range or average
suspension, (5) slightly harder than average, and the
hardest with very little to no bounce in the suspension.
Each treadmill tested includes a paragraph explaining
my experience, the measurements taken, and the
ratings given. The average rating is the sum of three 5point scales for temperature increase, belt texture, and
suspension stiffness. A summary table at the end of the
review compares all treadmills together in addition to
their belt size, price, and an additional 5-point scale
adding the price rating in order to determine the best
valued treadmill.
Each treadmill is additionally divided into three
categories based on use: residential, light-commercial,
or commercial. For the purpose of this review,
residential treadmills are built specifically for home use,
light-commercial treadmills are built for 3–5 hours of
daily use (for example, a treadmill that could be used
for a hotel and similar types of usage), and commercial
ones are built for many hours of daily use and are
capable of supporting significant weight. The type of
treadmill determines the duty cycle and price.
There are two significant factors which I could not
control for in the process of this review: the amount of
previous use for each treadmill and the ambient
temperature where the treadmill was tested. For
commercial treadmills, I tested daily use treadmills in
gym facilities. For the light-commercial and residential
treadmills, I tested a store floor model. There was no
way for me to determine how old each treadmill was or
how much each of the treadmills had been used. The
ambient temperature of these locations ranged from
17.4C to 28.4C (63.3F to 83.1F). For each treadmill, I
include the temperature of the deck before running on
it to give a good indication of the ambient temperature
and in order to calculate a temperature differential after
running for 10 minutes.
Please note that the treadmill model used for the review
is not necessarily indicative of the barefoot
appropriateness of the entire brand. Many of these
brands offer a large selection of models with a variety
of features and price ranges.
I tried a total of 20 treadmills for this review and they
are listed below in alphabetical order by brand.
TREADMILL REVIEWS
EVERLAST EV 400
Scaled Temperature Increase Rating (TI) = 3/5, Belt Texture (BT) = 3/5, Deck
Suspension (DS) = 3/5, Average Rating = 3.0
The residential Everlast treadmill, which I tried at Sears and is priced at
$2300 CAD, is manufactured by the Maurice Pincoffs Company Inc., a
large manufacturing company of various products including fitness and
recreation equipment. The EV 400 belt temperature increased from
27.3C to 33.2C (81.1F to 91.8F), so a differential of only 5.9C (10.7F),
the lowest difference of all the conventional treadmills. It also included a
diagonally patterned belt with a mid-range softness. The frame
suspension was of medium stiffness but the construction of the unit
seemed solid and there was little shaking in the console area while
running.
3
FREEMOTION T5.2
TI = 3/5, BT = 0/5, DS = 5/5, Average Rating = 2.7
FreeMotion treadmills are manufactured by ICON Health & Fitness, a
very large manufacturer of various brands of exercise equipment based
in the United States. The FreeMotion T5.2 is a residential treadmill
priced at $2500, although FreeMotion also offers commercial and light
commercial models. The temperature of the belt increased from 20.6C to
29.8C (69.1F to 85.6F), so a differential of 9.2C (16.5F). The belt texture
was too sharp for me to run on barefoot so I had to wear a pair of
minimalist footwear in order to collect the temperature data, this being a
pair of Vibram FiveFingers Performa Jane shoes. The pattern of the belt
texture was horizontal and vertical lines and was both sharper and deeper
in comparison to similar belt patterns on other treadmills. The T5.2
comes with an excellent feature: adjustable cushioning. You can choose
the level of support with a sliding adjustment along the outside of the
rails. I found that the stiffest setting was indeed very firm.
Because I could not run on the FreeMotion T5.2 treadmill barefoot, I
consider it a fail for barefoot appropriateness.
FREESPIRIT 2.25 HP FOLDING
FreeSpirit treadmills are residential models built for Sears by the Maurice
Pincoffs Company Inc. The model that I tested, a 2.25 HP folding model,
priced at $2000 CAD, was in the middle range of available floor models
at the Sears retail store where I tested a number of brands. The belt
temperature increased from 28.4C to 42.0C (83.1F to 107.6F), so a
differential of 13.6C (24.5F). This differential isn’t as big as some but the
42.0C (107.6F) felt uncomfortably hot to my soles. Thankfully, the
diagonally patterned belt felt reasonably smooth and not sharp. The
frame suspension was soft and there was a bit of shaking in the frame
while running.
GOLD’S GYM TRAINER 480
Gold’s Gym treadmills are manufactured by ICON Health & Fitness.
The Trainer 480 is a residential model and priced at only $500 online.
The treadmill belt temperature increased from 26.6C to 38.1C (79.9F to
100.6F), so a differential of 11.5C (20.7F). It included a diagonally
patterned belt with a medium softness texture. The Trainer 480 model
features an ‘Airstride Plus Cushioning’ suspension, which I found very
bouncy to run on. It felt like the deck was absorbing a lot of energy in the
bounce of the deck and frame with every running step.
4
HORIZON SC2250T
Horizon Fitness is owned by Johnson Health Tech, a large exercise
equipment manufacturing company based out of the United States. The
residential Horizon SC2250T, which I tried at Sears, appeared to be an
older floor model and is priced at $1600 CAD. The belt temperature
increased from 25.5C to 38.5C (77.9F to 101.3F), so a differential of
13.0C (23.4F). The belt was patterned with a standard diagonal pattern
and was a mid-range smoothness. The frame suspension was also a midrange stiffness. I did find that the console frame was not securely fastened
to the deck frame, which produced quite a bit of shaking in the console
and handle area of the treadmill while running.
LIFE FITNESS CLUB SERIES
The Life Fitness brand of treadmills is very popular in gyms and health
clubs in my area. The model I tried is a commercial model and is priced
at $5500 online. The belt heated up from 20.4C to 40.2C (68.7F to
104.4F) during my 10 minute run, so a differential of 19.8C (35.7F). The
temperature difference was more noticeable to my soles because the belt
texture was a little rough. I would say it has a medium texture: not
smooth and not rough. I noticed that the temperature increase of the belt
is more noticeable the more rough the belt texture is. I also noticed,
however, that of the four Life Fitness treadmills at Cochrane Health &
Fitness, three had the same medium belt (which I tried) and one was very
rough. The rough belt was new as it had just been replaced with a clearly
different texture as the original. This is something I had not considered
before and would probably not be an issue for residential use but may be
a concern for commercial use. The independent deck suspension of the
Life Fitness treadmill was soft. It bounced approximately 1 cm with every
step.
LIFESPAN TR1200
LifeSpan treadmills are manufactured by PCE Fitness based in Utah,
U.S. The residential LifeSpan TR1200 is priced at $1500. The belt
differential of 10.6C (19.1F). The belt texture was not comfortable to run
on and I was only barely able to run on it barefoot. The suspension was
quite stiff, however, and was provided by the frame design and not a
suspended deck.
5
NAUTILUS T514
Nautilus treadmills are manufactured by Nautilus Health & Fitness
Group, a manufacturer of a number of treadmills and other exercise
equipment. The Nautilus T514 treadmill is a relatively inexpensive
residential treadmill priced at $1200. The belt temperature increased
from 20.8C to 33.7C (69.4F to 92.7F), so a differential of 12.9C (23.3F).
The belt texture was a medium smoothness with a diagonally patterned
texture, although not deep was a bit sharp. The frame suspension was
relatively firm, although not the firmest of the conventional treadmills.
The firmness is probably due to the relatively short deck of only 140 cm
(55”) of this model.
NORDICTRACK A2550 PRO
NordicTrack treadmills are also manufactured by ICON Fitness. The
NordicTrack A2550 Pro is a relatively entry-level, residential treadmill for
NordicTrack priced at $1300. The belt temperature increased from
27.1C to 38.0C (80.8F to 100.4F), so a differential of 10.9C (19.6F). The
non-patterned, sand-paper texture of the belt was much more pleasant to
run on than most of the patterned belts and was comfortable to run on
barefoot. The frame suspension was quite soft, however, and there was a
lot of bounce in the deck while running.
PACEMASTER SILVER SELECT XP
The PaceMaster Silver Select XP treadmill is one of American-made
PaceMaster’s mid-range residential models priced at $2300. The belt
differential of 6.8C (12.3F); one of the lowest differentials of the
conventional treadmills. This may be due in part to the orthopaedic belt,
which is very thick compared to most of the other treadmill belts and
thicker than the regular PaceMaster belt featured on the Bronze model
(the lowest range model). The orthopaedic belt texture, however, was only
a medium softness to run on due to the raised horizontal/vertical line
pattern. It was more comfortable than the Bronze model belt, which I
tried running on briefly and found especially sharp on the soles of my
feet. The frame suspension is PaceMaster’s Triflex TM Impact Shock
Management, which I found to be quite soft to run on.
6
PRECOR 9.33
Precor manufacturers commercial, light-commercial, and residential
treadmills with great attention to detail as well as research and
development. The Precor model that I tried, the 9.33, is officially the
residential model but the components are the same as the light
commercial except for the console and programs (according to Lowell
Adamson, Store Manager at Fitness Depot). Therefore, I’m placing it in
the light commercial category. The Precor 9.33 is priced at $4500. The
belt temperature increased from 21.2C to 32.0C (70.2F to 89.6F), so a
differential of 10.8C (19.4F). The belt texture is delightfully smooth
compared to most of the residential model and felt fantastic to run on.
There is a little bit of texture for grip but no raised, patterned lines or
bumps. The soles of my feet were very happy to run on such a smooth
texture. The belt suspension is Precor’s Multi-zone Shock Absorption TM
system which absorbs shock at the point of impact and provides variable
absorption along the length of the deck. The deck is suspended from the
frame and felt quite soft, although not as much as the traditional
commercial treadmills.
PROFORM XP TRAINER 580
ProForm treadmills are manufactured by ICON Fitness. The ProForm
580 is an entry-level, residential treadmill priced at $600. It did not have
a high-quality feel to it, for example there was quite a bit of frame
shaking while running. The belt temperature increased from 28.2C to
37.4C (82.8F to 99.3F), so a differential of 9.2C (16.5F). The belt was
deeply patterned and very sharp and I was barely able to run on it
barefoot and probably should not have considering the pain in my soles
afterward. The frame suspension was very soft and indeed, the entire
treadmill shook with every step.
PROGRESSION T400
The Progression T400 residential treadmill for $2000 CAD is
manufactured by Flaman Fitness and may only be available in Canada as
I could not find U.S. pricing for it. The belt temperature increased from
20.4C to 30.7C (68.7F to 87.3F), so a differential of 10.3C (18.6F). The
belt texture was a medium smoothness and not only looked but felt
exactly like the Nautilus and Schwinn belts. The suspension was very soft
to run on with considerable bounce in the deck although not quite as
much as the commercial treadmills.
7
SCHWINN 860
Schwinn treadmills are essentially rebranded Nautilus treadmills as
Schwinn Fitness is owned by Nautilus Fitness. The Schwinn 860 is a
residential treadmill priced at $1400. The console and mouldings look
exactly the same as the Nautilus treadmills; even the belt is the same,
therefore it is a medium smoothness. The belt temperature increased
from 21.4C to 31.0C (70.5F to 87.8F), so a differential of 9.6C (17.3F).
The suspension of this model I found to be softer than that of the
Nautilus, however. I thought they would be the same, until I realized that
the deck of the Schwinn 860 is 7 cm (3”) longer than that of the Nautilus
T514. The longer deck increases the bounce. Therefore, for a firmer
suspension, I recommend the shorter decked conventional treadmills.
SOLE F63
Sole Fitness treadmills are featured in Hilton and other worldwide hotels.
The residential Sole F63 felt like a high-quality, sturdy machine, had a
great warranty at the Sears store where I tried it, and is priced at $1850
online. The belt temperature increased from 27.8C to 37.4C (82.0F to
99.3F), so a differential of 9.6C (17.3F). The diagonally patterned belt
was reasonably smooth to my soles, too. It did not have as deep a grip
depth as most of the other diagonally patterned belts. The frame
suspension felt relatively stiff for a traditional treadmill, despite not
having an adjustable suspension. It was a pleasure to run on this machine
barefoot.
After compiling all the data from the conventional treadmills, the Sole
was the best conventional treadmill including all the residential, lightcommercial, and commercial treadmills. This is the treadmill I would
recommend if you are looking for a relatively inexpensive, traditionally
decked treadmill.
STARTRAC TR4500
StarTrac commercial treadmills are also popular in gym facilities in my
area. I ran on both the StarTrac Pro Series and the StarTrac TR4500 but
only had the chance to measure the temperature of the StarTrac
TR4500 so this section will be about it, although the Pro Series treadmill
has the same belt and suspension. I found an online price for the TR4500
of $6680. The TR4500 treadmill increased from 18.2C to 40.8C (64.8F
to 105.4F) during my 10 minute run, so a differential of 22.6C (40.6F). I
could definitely feel the increased heat on my feet but it didn’t seem like
8
that big of a difference to my soles. It might be because the belt texture is
so smooth. The belt texture is exceptionally smooth and my feet really
enjoyed that aspect of the treadmill. The independent deck suspension is
quite soft on this unit. While I was running, I could see the deck bounce
at least 1 cm with every step. I prefer a harder suspension so this aspect
was not great.
TRUE PS800
The True PS800 treadmill model that I tried featured an orthopaedic
belt, being thicker than the regular belts on other True models. The
PS800 is a residential model priced at $3700. The belt temperature
increased from 20.9C to 28.2C (69.6F to 82.8F), so a differential of 7.3C
(13.2F), one of the lowest differentials of the conventional treadmills.
This seems to be the case with the orthopaedic belts as their increased
thickness provides some insulation from the friction created by the belt
circulating on the deck. This orthopaedic belt, however, was not
comfortable to run on because the belt pattern was not only sharp but
had a deep grip depth that was difficult to stand on in bare feet and I
could just barely run on barefoot. The PS800 features an adjustable
suspension and I ran on it at the stiffest setting. This level of suspension,
although stiff in the deck, caused quite a bit of shaking of the frame,
which was very visible while running on it.
VISION FITNESS T9200
Vision Fitness treadmills are also manufactured by Johnson Health Tech along with
the Horizon brand. Vision Fitness offers a number of models primarily for residential
use including the T9200, which is priced at $1800. The temperature of the T9200
belt increased from 19.2C to 36.6C (66.6F to 97.9F), so a differential of 17.4C
(31.3F). The belt texture, however, was far too rough for me to run on it barefoot,
having both a sharp and deep pattern. I initially tried walking on it and found it
difficult but doable. When running, however, it was painful so I put on Vibram
FiveFingers Performa Jane shoes and, with that minimal amount of sole protection,
was capable of completing my 10 minute run. I could feel some heat through the
Performa Jane sole but it was not uncomfortable. The frame suspension was a
medium softness.
Because I could not run on the T9200 treadmill barefoot, I consider it a fail for
barefoot appropriateness.
9
WOODWAY CURVE
The WOODWAY Curve is a non-motorized treadmill with a curved
design running surface. It is a non-traditional treadmill in every sense.
The Curve is a commercial model priced at $6000. The running surface
is a WOODWAY-patented slat belt made of trapezoid-shaped vulcanized
rubber-coated aluminum slats that glide over two ball-bearing
transportation system rails on either side of the belt. Due to this design,
there is very little friction and no belt slippage compared to conventional
treadmills. The running surface temperature did not increase at all after
running on it for 10 minutes. The slat surface is texturized with excellent
traction for bare feet that, although looks deep, is made of a relatively soft
rubber. The suspension is hard despite the lack of a deck under the
running surface.
The Curve is my first choice for a barefoot appropriate treadmill for
many reasons, which I will elaborate on in the next section.
WOODWAY DESMO
The WOODWAY Desmo is a motorized, flat-deck treadmill built with
the WOODWAY-patented slat belt technology instead of a traditional
rotating belt on a hard deck. The Desmo is a commercial model priced at
$10,000, the most expensive of all the treadmills. The running surface is
the same slat system as the Curve except the running surface is flat as
opposed to the non-motorized curve shape. The belt temperature did not
heat up at all after 10 minutes of running. I found that the belt ran very
smoothly along its ball-bearing rails. The texture of the slats provides a
lot of traction but is not rough on the soles of the feet and I found it
similar to running barefoot on concrete. The suspension is hard. The only
movement I found was in the individual slats upon landing and it is very
minute.
Of the flat-decked treadmills, the Desmo is my preferred model for
barefoot running. The lack of temperature increase is delightful to run as
is the stiff suspension. The running surface may not be the smoothest of
the treadmills but it is comparable to running on concrete sidewalks.
10
TREADMILL COMPARISON CHART
Brand
Model
Use
Everlast
EV 400
Residential
FreeMotion
FreeSpirit
T5.2
2.25 HP Folding
Residential
Surface
Temperature
*
27.3 / 33.2 oC
81.1 / 91.8 oF
20.6 / 29.8
69.1 / 85.6 oF
9.2
16.5 oF
oC
oC
PaceMaster
Precor
ProForm
Progression
Schwinn
Sole
StarTrac
TRUE
Vision
Fitness
WOODWAY
WOODWAY
Desmo
51 X 152
20” X 60”
$2,500
3
2.8
2.7
46 X 132
18” X 52”
$2000
CAD
4
3.0
$500
5
2.8
51 X 127
20” X 50”
$1600
CAD
5
3.3
1
3
1
1.7
51 X 152
20” X 60”
$5,500
0
1.3
$1,500
4
2.8
Commercial
oC
oC
20.4 / 40.2
68.7 / 104.4 oF
19.8
35.7 oF
Residential
22.4 / 33.0 oC
72.3 / 91.4 oF
10.6 oC
19.1 oF
oC
oC
Residential
20.8 / 33.7
69.4 / 92.7 oF
12.9
23.3 oF
Residential
27.1 / 38.0 oC
80.8 / 100.4 oF
10.9 oC
19.6 oF
oC
oC
9.33
Curve
2.7
2.7
10.8 oC
19.4 oF
T9200
5
3
21.2 / 32.0 oC
70.2 / 89.6 oF
PS800
0
3
LightCommercial
TR 4500
3
2
6.8
12.3 oF
F63
3.0
13.0 oC
23.4 oF
22.4 / 29.2
72.3 / 84.6 oF
860
3
2.0
Residential
T400
$2300
CAD
1
Silver Select XP
XP Trainer 580
51 X 147
20” X 58”
3
25.5 / 38.5 oC
77.9 / 101.3 oF
A2550 Pro
3.0
2
Residential
NordicTrack
3
46 X 127
18” X 50”
SC2250T
T514
3
11.5 oC
20.7 oF
Horizon
Nautilus
3
13.6
24.5 oF
Residential
TR1200
Average
Rating
Including
Price
Rating
28.4 / 42.0
83.1 / 107.6 oF
Trainer 480
LifeSpan
oC
Price
Price
(USD
Rating
unless
"
otherwise
indicated)
Residential
Gold’s Gym
Club Series
5.9 oC
10.7 oF
oC
26.6 / 38.1 oC
79.9 / 100.6 oF
LifeFitness
Temp
Scaled
Belt
Deck
Average Belt Size
Difference Temp
Texture Suspension Rating (W X L)
Increase ††
‡
!
(cm, in)
Rating †
oC
28.2 / 37.4
82.8 / 99.3 oF
9.2
16.5 oF
Residential
oC
20.4 / 30.7
68.7 / 87.3 oF
oC
10.3
18.6 oF
Residential
21.4 / 31.0 oC
70.5 / 87.8 oF
9.6 oC
17.3 oF
Residential
oC
oC
oC
Residential
27.8 / 37.4
82.0 / 99.3 oF
9.6
17.3 oF
Commercial
18.2 / 40.8 oC
64.8 / 105.4 oF
22.6 oC
40.6 oF
Residential
oC
oC
20.9 / 28.2
69.6 / 82.8 oF
7.3
13.2 oF
oC
oC
Residential
19.2 / 36.6
66.6 / 97.9 oF
17.4
31.3 oF
Commercial
17.4 / 17.4 oC
63.3 / 63.3 oF
0 oC
0 oF
oC
oC
Commercial
17.4 / 17.4
63.3 / 63.3 oF
0
0 oF
2
4
2
2
1
4
2.3
51 X 142
20” X 56”
2
3
4
3.0
51 X 140
20” X 55”
$1,200
4
3.3
$1,300
4
3.0
2
4
2
2.7
51 X 140
20” X 55”
3
3
2
2.7
51 X 137
20” X 54”
$2,300
3
2.8
$4,500
1
2.8
2
5
3
3.3
56 X 142
22” X 56”
3
1
1
1.7
51 X 140
20” X 55”
$600
5
2.5
2.3
51 X 147
20” X 58”
$2000
CAD
4
2.8
$1,400
4
3.3
2
3
2
3
3
3
3.0
51 X 147
20” X 58”
3
4
4
3.7
51 X 140
20” X 55”
$1,850
4
3.8
$6,680
0
1.5
0
5
1
2.0
56 X 157
22” X 62”
3
1
4
2.7
53 X 152
21” X 60”
$3,700
2
2.5
1
0
4
1.7
51 X 137
20” X 54”
$1,800
4
2.3
$6,000
0
3.3
$10,000
0
3.3
5
3
5
4.3
43 X 170
17” X 67”
5
3
5
4.3
56 X 173
22” X 68”
* Before/After running for 10 minutes at 6.4 km/h (4 mph)
† 0–5 scale: 5 = no difference, 4 = 0–5 oC or 0–9 oF, 3 = 5–10 oC or 9–18 oF, 2 = 10–15 oC or 18–27 oF, 1 = 15–20 oC or 27–36 oF, 0 > 20 oC or > 36 oF difference
†† 0–5 scale: 5 being the smoothest texture
‡ 0–5 scale: 5 being the hardest suspension
! Average of Scaled Temperature Increase Rating, Belt Texture, and Deck Suspension 5-point scales
" 0–5 scale: 5 = < $1000, 4 = $1000–$2000, 3 = $2000–$3000, 2 = $3000–$4000, 1 = $4000–$5000, 0 = >$5000
BEST BAREFOOT PERFORMANCE
The best treadmills for barefoot performance were
undeniably the WOODWAY treadmills. Running on
the WOODWAY treadmills is unlike running on any of
the traditionally decked treadmills. The slat belt
technology on a ball-bearing transportation system of
the Curve and Desmo is a far more enjoyable running
experience than running on a conveyor belt rotating on
a hard deck creating increasing amounts of heat
through friction. Both WOODWAY treadmills had
absolutely no running surface temperature increase,
even after sprinting. The suspension of the
WOODWAY treadmills is hard, which is exactly what I
prefer. This stiff suspension allowed for the best
11
running form that I can achieve. Although they did not
have the smoothest texture to run on, their hard
suspension and lack of heat increase definitely make
them the most barefoot appropriate treadmills that I
tested.
Of the two WOODWAY treadmills, I would choose the
Curve as my favorite. Running on the Curve is different
than running on the flat-decked treadmills because of
the non-motorized curve design. In less than 10
minutes of running, I could feel my glutes and calves
burning and my heart racing from the extra exertion.
The Curve design promotes a barefoot-style, natural
running form simply with the design of the surface.
You have to be very conscious of your running form
and pace at every step. The Curve responded very
quickly to my pace and could reach sprinting or
stopping speeds in as little as three steps. This treadmill
is a high performance machine with no maximum
speed. Being able to control my own pace instead of
depending on the acceleration/deceleration of a motor
felt more natural than running on the motorized
treadmills. I also felt safer and more in-control with the
responsive belt speed. It never outpaced me and it
didn’t go too slow. The forced use of good running
form as well as the natural and responsive surface made
the experience much like running outside—and isn’t
that the point of it all?
BEST BAREFOOT VALUE
Although the WOODWAY treadmills are my favorite
for barefoot performance, their expensive commercial
prices exclude them from having the best value. I
determined the best barefoot value as the treadmill with
the highest average rating including the price rating.
Therefore, the treadmill with the best value is the Sole
F63 model. It had the second highest average rating of
all 20 treadmills models and is priced under $2000. It
felt to have a sturdy, high-quality construction, the
increase in temperature was below average (which I
calculated at 11.7C or 21.1F for the conventional
treadmills), the belt texture was comfortable, and the
suspension was relatively hard. I found that among the
conventional treadmills, it was difficult to find one that
excelled at all three main criteria points; several of the
treadmills were better than the Sole in one aspect but
they would not be adequate overall.
From the models that I chose to run on, none of the
conventional treadmills were great to run on barefoot
but there may be a model on the market that would
succeed with a low surface temperature increase, a
smooth belt texture, and a hard suspension, I just didn’t
find it.
RECOMMENDATIONS
After running barefoot on twenty treadmills, I made
several observations and am confident in making a few
recommendations if you are in the market to purchase
a treadmill specifically for barefoot running. These
recommendations probably do not all apply if you
12
desire a treadmill to run on in conventional or
minimalist shoes, however.
There really is no way of knowing what the surface
temperature will increase to while running on a
treadmill unless you try it yourself. I would sometimes
guess what the temperature increase would be before
trying a treadmill based on the thickness of the belt.
While this worked comparing a regular thickness belt to
the orthopaedic belts, this did not work comparing
regular belts to each other.
There were four general types of belts that I found: 1) a
patterned belt with diagonal lines, 2) a patterned belt
with horizontal/vertical lines, 3) a thick orthopaedic
belt with a deep grip depth and generally a horizontal/
vertical pattern, and 4) a non-patterned belt that I
compare to a mild sand-paper texture. Of these four
belt types, the non-patterned sand-paper-like belt was
by far the most comfortable to run on. The patterned
belts would range in low to medium comfort to run on
barefoot depending on the grip depth of the pattern;
the shallower the grip depth the better. The
orthopaedic belts were not comfortable at all to run on
barefoot because the grip depth was far too deep for my
forefoot pads to handle. Different models within a
brand can have different belts. If you find a brand that
you like, try to find a model with a belt texture that is
the most comfortable to run on.
There were two general types of suspensions: 1) an
independent deck suspension (like those of the
commercial brands) or 2) a frame suspension. Of these
two types, the deck suspensions were generally more
bouncy than the frame suspensions. I also found that
those treadmills with an adjustable suspension had the
hardest suspensions of all the treadmills, when set to its
stiffest setting. If a hard suspension is the most
important feature for you, I would recommend trying
to find a treadmill with an adjustable suspension and
keep it on its hardest suspension setting. Also with
regards to suspension, I found that within a brand,
models with shorter decks had less bounce.
When you factor in price into the rating of the
treadmills, the best of the models I chose becomes the
Sole F63. It has a mid-range price, so averaged with its
other above-average qualities, it easily becomes the
highest rated treadmill. The next highest rated
13
treadmills include the Horizon, Nautilus, Schwinn, and
both WOODWAY treadmills. The WOODWAY Curve
is priced similarly to the other commercial treadmills
(and can handle that kind of heavy-duty use) but the
Desmo is considerably more expensive. If all I had to
choose from were flat motorized treadmills, and price
was not an issue, I would choose the Desmo over any
conventional treadmill without hesitation. As price is an
issue for most people, the Sole is superior to the
Horizon, Nautilus, and Schwinn models and is priced
within the same $1000–$2000 range.
The feature that is most important will be a personal
preference, so choose a treadmill that best fits your most
important factor.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
There are a number of people whom I’d like to thank
for making this review possible. Thanks to Kelsey
Andries at Stenia Health & High Performance for the
use of the WOODWAY treadmills and all her shared
knowledge and expertise. Thanks to Nelson Chan at
National Fitness Products of Canada for his helpful
information about the WOODWAY treadmills. Thanks
to Patrick Gladue at Lifestyles Fitness & Wellness
Centre for the use of the StarTrac treadmills. Thanks
to Serge Tessier at Cochrane Sport & Physio for the use
of the Visio Fitness Treadmill. Thanks to Stacey
Broderick at Cochrane Health & Fitness Club for the
use of the Life Fitness treadmill. Thanks to Flaman
Fitness for the use of the FreeMotion, Nautilus,
Schwinn, and Progression treadmills. Thanks to Lowell
Andamson at Fitness Depot for his knowledgeable help
and the use of the PaceMaster and Precor treadmills.
Thanks to Go Mango Fitness Equipment for the use of
the LifeSpan and True treadmills. Thanks to Lorne
Cowan at Sears Northill Centre for his informative
knowledge and the use of the ProForm, Free Spirit,
Sole, and NordicTrack treadmills. Thanks to Ross
Stirling for his invaluable advice and insightful
knowledge. Thanks to Al Gauthier at Living Barefoot
for his inestimable advice and support. And many
thanks to Andrew Searle for his advice and patience.
Copyright 2011 LivingBarefoot.info

Barefoot Treadmill Review

Transcription

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