Manual vs. Motorized Treadmills

Running outdoors can be a pain, which is why treadmills are one of the most popular fitness machines used in both public and home gyms. It’s an easy way to get some cardio in without leaving the comforts of air-conditioned buildings. There are two basic types of treadmills – manual and motorized. From their names, it is easy to figure out that they are two completely different treadmills, but did you know that each one is designed to benefit different types of workouts? As surprising as it may be, it’s true! Continue reading to learn the fundamentals of each treadmill!

Manual

A manual treadmill is one that is not powered by electricity and is designed to move as you start moving. This allows you to make you own pace and control how fast or slow you want to be moving. In addition, if this is what you’re looking for, a manual treadmill may also help you burn more calories. According to a study done by the Human Biomechanics and Physiology Laboratory at High Point University, it showed that the energy used on a manual treadmill was 30% greater than the energy used on a motorized treadmill. In addition, are easier to store and generally safer. Overall, manual treadmills are great for those who are looking for a light to moderate workouts and for easy storage.

Motorized

A motorized treadmill automatically sets a speed for you to keep up with and is generally used by training athletes or those who prefer intense cardio workouts. With this type of treadmill, there is no straining required to start the machine. Different motorized treadmills come with different horse powered motors that move the belt for you with larger motors allowing for higher speeds. This is the most preferred type of treadmill among fitness enthusiasts because it uses electricity to move the belt rather than having to do it manually. Furthermore, motorized treadmills have more fitness features such as different distances for marathon runners or other workout routines. Overall, a motorized treadmill is ideal for training athletes and for those who enjoy long distance running.

Click here to check out our durable rubber treadmill mats!

– This blog post is a subjective review written by Courtney Yoon.