In the market for a treadmill? Finding that they are a little more expensive than you thought, at least to get the ones with the features you want? Used treadmills may well be what you need. Used treadmills are big business, and growing fast.

First, I hear you ask, why should I buy a treadmill at all, let alone a used treadmill?

Treadmills are the most popular of all the fitness equipment in use in the US today. The National Sporting Goods Association estimates that treadmill sales last year topped $750 million. That's big business. It is estimated that around 8% to 9% of the population own a treadmill. You do the math, but to me that's around 20 million people. That's a lot of treadmills that have been bought, and a lot of treadmills which may soon become used treadmills for sale.

Why is exercising on a treadmill so popular? A couple of reasons. The first is that exercising on a treadmill is done indoors. No rain, hail or snow to contend with. No muggers. No-one to poke fun at your running shoes that aren't quite the latest fashion, or that tummy that you are trying so hard to get rid of. Treadmills mean that you can do your exercise anonymously.

Single mum? Pregnant? No matter. Do your exercise while the kids watch tv. No need to find a baby sitter each day so you can go for a run. How about being able to cook the dinner while you do a little treadmill walking. It can all be combined.

And treadmills offer a whole world of workouts. Gone are the days when you just walked, or ran. Now you can select from any one of a host of different workouts. Simulate all sorts of outdoor conditions such as undulating hills, varying workout speeds and more. You can have an interactive workout by connecting to various programs on the internet which track your performance, devise training regimes for you, and more. Or even interact with a personal trainer from the comfort of your own home.

But that isn't unique only to treadmills, there are other indoor exercisers, such as stationary bicycles. And it certainly is true that stationary bicycles are popular too. However treadmills offer the best workout for your buck.

But according to a study done by the Medical College of Wisconsin and the VA Medical Center in Milwaukee a treadmill burns more calories than a similar workout on a stair machine, a stationary bike or a rowing machine over the same time.

Surprisingly it also burns more calories than a cross country skiing machine. As cross country skiing is often touted as the ideal workout this says heaps about a treadmill workout.

Convinced? Now it's time to consider the next question, how much do treadmills cost? Unfortunately they aren't cheap and, as with everything, you get what you pay for. Whilst you can buy a new treadmill for around $500, it will be the most basic one on the market, lacking most of the features of the best ones. And of course those are the features you want. And then you're talking big bucks, thousands.

That's where used treadmills come in. Used treadmills are readily available at a price that is much more likeable than the price of a new one. But, don't you take a risk when you buy a used treadmill?

Ordinary used treadmills for sale, yes. You don't know how they've been treated. But there is a better way than ordinary used treadmills. Enter re-manufactured treadmills, often called refurbished treadmills.

Re-manufactured or refurbished treadmills are used treadmills which are taken in by a treadmill manufacturer and reconditioned. A new motor, a new belt, a complete physical. These remanufactured treadmills are the perfect alternative to a used treadmill. They have been lovingly restored to an as new condition, but sell at around half the price of the same model new.

And they come with a guarantee, or should. If they don't then don't buy them.

So if you are in the market for used treadmills because new ones are too pricey for you, then consider re-manufactured or refurbished treadmills. You may be able to find used treadmills for sale at better prices, however you have no idea what you are buying. Buy a used treadmill that has had too hard a life and you may find yourself paying for a new motor in a months time, and that cheap used treadmill isn't looking so cheap any more.

So if you are looking for used treadmills, do yourself a favour. Look at re-menufactured treadmills first. You'll be glad you did!

Find out more about Re-manufactured Treadmills as well as Cheap Treadmills and treadmill maintenance at Peters website, Terrific Treadmills ? 2005 Peter Clark.