When looking at treadmill ratings, there are 2 different types - consumer and expert treadmill ratings.
1) Consumer treadmill ratings are written by someone who has purchased the treadmill and then written a review of the treadmill. These can give you a valuable idea of the treadmills quality from a normal buyer's point of view.
The downside of consumer ratings is that they can be biased (since people who had a bad experience with their treadmill are more likely to leave a bad review than those who had a good experience).
Also be aware that consumer ratings can also be easily rigged. Because rating sites let basically anyone review a treadmill, this leaves the door wide open for 'false' reviews, whether left by the competition (a negative review) or even someone working for the treadmill company (a positive review). We've seen both over the years - it happens more often than you may think.
Finally, because treadmill brands are constantly changing and improving their models, some highly rated treadmills may no longer be available for purchase (especially the Icon models like Proform which have a very fast rate of turnover).
This doesn't mean that consumer ratings are bad - but they don't always give a fair picture of the treadmill (especially if there are only a few reviews). For the best rated consumer treadmill, look for a treadmill that has lots of reviews which sound like a normal buyer has written them.
2) Expert Treadmill Ratings are written by people behind like Consumer Reports, Prevention Magazine, Consumer Guide, Runners World etc.
These tend to be more reliable and less biased. However again keep in mind that every one of these ratings systems weighs treadmill features differently. So for example, one expert may think that a long warranty is more important that the number of workout programs. This results in different treadmills taking the prize for "Best Buy".
To help you out here are a few of the best rated treadmills by experts (The links lead to our product reviews of the treadmills - or where to buy them online if we don't have a review yet) :
Best Rated Treadmills (Expert Rated)
Nordic Track C2155 - "The Best Treadmill" - Prevention Magazine 2008 - no longer available - comparable unit is the Nordic Track T7 Si treadmill
Smooth 5.25 (now the Smooth 5.45)- "Best Budget Treadmill" - About.com
Landice Treadmills - Landice treadmills rated #1 for Customer Satisfaction from Runner's World
Landice treadmills rated in top 10 treadmills for Runner's World testing - Nov 2002
Landice L7 Executive Trainer Recommended Buy - Consumer Guide
Final Note: While consumer and expert treadmill reviews can help you find the best rated treadmill, you also have to be careful that it is the best treadmill for you.
Bottom line? If you've done your research, you are the ultimate expert on what treadmill is best for you. Take your time, enjoy your search and then have fun with your new home treadmill!
Shopping for a treadmill? You'll probably want to know which is the best rated. There are several ways to determine the top rated treadmills - and this article will tell you:
#1) Which treadmill ratings to look at when buying,
plus
#2) The best rated treadmills and where to find them.
