Used Exercise Equipment

Are you looking for quality used treadmills? Well, if you are then I would recommend that you take a minute to read these very important buying tips. Many second hand treadmills might look and sound okay, but under the bonnet you might be buying yourself an expansive piece of steel that won’t see next Xmas. There definitely are some great used treadmills out there since so many people buy them new only to never use them. This is what you are looking for, but there are a few things you really need to look out for.

The Motor -
The motor is at the heart of the treadmill and makes the real difference between a cheap model and an expensive one. The fact that most people know nothing about motors means they often fall for cheap imitations that NEVER last. Make sure you always buy a motor that has at least 1.5 horsepower continuous duty (CD). Anything less wears out very quickly and if you buy it used it might be so worn out already that you won’t get much use from it. Ideally you should look for a 1.75 horsepower CD motor.

The Belt -
The next most important t thing to look for is the belt. Its really important that the belt has no chips or tears in it as these will quickly rip open and can cause the entire motor to burn out. Replacing a belt is a specialist job and can cost quite a bit. The next thing to look for is the actual belt width which is the running width of the treadmill. I would recommend you don;t go for anything narrower than 17” as it gets quite a narrow and is not all that comfortable to run on. Also consider the length of the belt. the average is between 51” and 61” and you need to make sure that it can accommodate your stride length.

The Frame -
Most people just look at the frame when they look at used treadmills and judge the state of it on the frame. as we’ve just discussed the motor and the belt is probably the most important components but for the frame you need to make sure there’s no corrosion on it. Is it a steel frame or is it aluminium? Remember that steel is cheaper but it can corrode and with sweat dripping on the machine its always prone to corrosion. Once a frame starts corroding there is very little you can do to stop it and it will get progressively worse.

Displays & gadgets -
Most of the new treadmills come with very intricate displays and gadgets and some even have built in TV screens. For many people these things are important and I would suggest you make sure that it works before you buy. Many used treadmills have faulty displays and the gadgets are usually the first things to break on these machines. I would recommend that you make sure that the speed and resistance functions works as this is at the heart of training effectively on a treadmill.
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Buying used gym equipment can not only save you money, but it can let you have some of the very best equipment at a massive discount. Gyms do not use “residential” quality equipment. Because of the heavy usage the machines and fitness equipment in a commercial gym is much more robust. Apart from being stronger and more durable, the equipment you find in your gym is usually not available in your local supermarket. Gym equipment tends to be of a much higher standard  – which is why its so expensive.

When a gym or health club buys a large shipment of exercise bikes or treadmills or rowing machines the bulk of the order makes it affordable. It would probably not make sense for you to buy it as a one off because of the price. However, when gyms replace their existing equipment you have an opportunity to buy top notch gear at a steal.

Gyms and health clubs have an obligation to their members to have good quality equipment. For this very reason they regularly replace it and most work on a rotation where they replace certain things on a regular basis. The truth is that most of the time it only gets replaced in order to have new equipment on the floor. Often times there is very little wrong with it in terms of how it works.

Some health clubs sell their equipment off themselves once a year. Some have warehouses where you can go and buy it yourself while some have storage in the club itself from where they sell it. The problem with this is that you often have to buy what you see. there is no guarantee and many of the machines might be lacking some vital parts.

This is where reconditioned gym equipment comes in. What these guys do is to buy used gym equipment from health clubs and then they fix it up to be “good as new”. Some even give guarantees and since they have access to parts and a huge inventory, it really is the smart way to buy second hand gear. Although there might be minor cosmetic blemishes, the actually mechanics of the machines are fix and overhauled to leave you with a high quality machine that is in “good as new” condition – for half the price.

It also depends on what you want to buy. Most reconditioned equipment is things like treadmills, indoor rowers, indoor bikes, elliptical trainers and smaller things like benches. Weight and dumbbells are not that useful to buy second hand since the costs difference is not much. Used gym equipment is great for anyone who wants to buy high quality commercial grade gear on a budget. Perfect for the home or for small gyms and dedicated health clubs or sports facilities.
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