Germany's No. 1 treadmill brand

Running is not only the most natural form of movement, but also the most popular sport in Germany. With a treadmill, you can enjoy the benefits of straightforward endurance training at home, whether you're a beginner, intermediate or pro. Before you get started with versatile endurance training , however, you'll need to buy a treadmill. Which treadmills are right for you depends on several factors and considerations.

1. Size: Treadmills are available in different sizes. When choosing the right treadmill size, length and width aren't the only things that matter. If you plan to use your treadmill in a room with a low ceiling, the height of the running deck is also important to ensure there's enough clearance overhead. This is especially true for taller runners.

2. Running surface: A larger running surface generally makes running safer and more comfortable. After all, even in the heat of the moment during HIIT endurance training, it's hard to miss a step. If you have enough space, follow the basic rule: "the wider and longer, the better."

To help beginners enjoy a safe workout, we recommend a minimum width of 35 centimeters and a length of 110 centimeters. The F31s treadmill, for example, is a good treadmill for beginners. For runners over 1.80 meters tall, the running surface should be at least 50 centimeters wide and 145 centimeters long.

3. Motor power: A powerful motor is essential. In the long run, it's worth buying a treadmill with higher motor power. It allows you to run faster and supports your progress with endurance training. Important: When it comes to motor power, don't focus primarily on the maximum power, but on the continuous power. A continuous power of around 2 HP is recommended for most runners.

Runners with ambitious goals should choose a model with up to 3 HP. Another advantage: You can run faster on a machine with high continuous power. In addition, this type of treadmill lasts much longer for fitness training, as it doesn't run continuously at full capacity during intensive workouts. If you want a treadmill for a slow jog, a model that reaches a speed of approx. 8 km/h is sufficient.

4. Noise level: Treadmills make considerable noise while you run. If you want peace and quiet while working out and don't want to disturb your neighbors, you're generally better off choosing a more expensive model with a lower noise level. A high-quality floor mat provides additional noise reduction.

Good to know: At the same load, a powerful motor runs significantly more quietly than a weak one.

5. Build quality: While design is a matter of taste, high-quality construction is essential for a treadmill. A firm footing and securely installed parts are a must. In addition, there should ideally be no large gaps between the plastic parts.

The treadmill's weight is an important aspect of its build quality, as it contributes to stability during training.

Rule of thumb: The more intense your workouts and the heavier you are, the heavier the machine should be. A weight of 80 kilograms is ideal for most runners. If the heaviest user weighs more than 90 kilograms or particularly intense workouts are planned, the recommended weight is at least 100 kilograms.

With treadmill training, intensity can be adjusted not only through running speed. Many high-quality models allow you to adjust the running surface incline from 0 to 15 percent. Simulating uphill runs makes even intense hill workouts at home no problem.

The advantage: Running uphill shifts the focus of muscular effort, allowing you to create new training stimuli and work muscles that are neglected during traditional endurance training on flat ground. When choosing a treadmill, make sure the incline can be adjusted automatically via the integrated console in 1-2 percent increments.

Tip: According to current biomechanical findings, a constant incline of between one and three percent is easiest on the joints when running.

An integrated folding mechanism is also useful for many people who want to put their treadmill away to save space after a workout. When choosing a treadmill with a folding mechanism, make sure it has transport wheels so you can move it easily.

The training computer not only controls and displays running information and performance data, but also lets you follow preset training programs. If several people use the treadmill, consider a model that lets you manage multiple user profiles independently, including body measurements and workout performance.

Your pulse responds directly to the intensity of your treadmill workout, making it an ideal indicator for managing your training. Depending on the treadmill model, you have different options for monitoring your pulse. Entry-level models usually have hand pulse sensors. To see your pulse during a workout, you need to place your hands on the sensors built into the frame. This is sufficient for occasional pulse checks.

If you want a more detailed workout analysis or generally train in specific heart rate zones, you’re better off with a treadmill that can connect wirelessly to a heart rate chest strap. Using a chest strap not only expands your training options, but also gives you more freedom while working out.

Note: Treadmills with heart rate monitoring often include workout programs that automatically adjust the incline and speed to match your heart rate. This ensures you always stay in the correct training zone and reach your workout goal efficiently.

This also makes it possible to monitor your workouts via a fitness app. Some treadmill manufacturers even offer a dedicated fitness app for treadmill workouts, such as the Kinomap app. The Kinomap app comes with great features like workout videos, interactive workout control, and multiplayer training experiences with friends.

• When running on a treadmill, you don’t encounter environmental factors such as cold, wet ground, or a headwind. As a result, you’ll always run a little faster on a treadmill than on the road with the same effort. That means running speeds aren’t 100% comparable. Competitive athletes should therefore compare treadmill times only with other treadmill times.
• Keep your upper body as straight as possible while training, and let your shoulders hang loose. Always avoid rotating your upper body.
• Land your feet close to your center of gravity and take several short steps rather than a few long ones. Both help protect your joints.
• As you run, move your arms forward in a line parallel to your direction of travel, not upward. Keep your elbows bent at just over 90 degrees, your hands closed, and your wrists straight.

Running is a popular sport that requires nothing more than a pair of shoes and a route. So why buy a treadmill and spend a lot of money in a store? It’s simple: treadmill training offers some key benefits.

• With a treadmill, you can train regardless of the weather.
• The cushioning is gentle on your joints and has a positive effect on your muscles.
• With a treadmill, you can train at any time of day.
• Adjustable speed allows for a wider range of training options.
• You can run uphill without the downhill running that puts strain on your knees.
• Interval training is easy to implement, unlike when running on the road.

Treadmills are true workhorses in every sense of the word. In everyday use, they not only have to withstand the strain of training but also cope with dirt. With the right maintenance and care, everything will keep running smoothly, and you’ll get plenty of enjoyment from your SPORTSTECH treadmill.

Buying a good treadmill alone won’t get you very far. You also need to choose the right place to set it up. Pick a spot where your treadmill workouts won’t stir up much dirt or dust. If pets roam around your home, a room they can’t access is also an ideal place for your treadmill. Over time, pet hair can get inside the machine and cause premature wear on lubricated and moving parts.

The best way to keep your exercise equipment clean in the long term is to give it a quick clean once a week while doing your household cleaning. Harsh cleaners aren’t necessary and may damage the lubrication. A little soap in lukewarm water is enough to remove the top layer of dust and larger bits of dirt with a cloth. You can vacuum the belt once a week.

Even with all the precautions, dirt can still build up inside a treadmill. This comes from things like wear on the running belt and training shoes. Dirt and debris can also collect around the motor. In the worst case, this can cause overheating and resulting damage. A vacuum cleaner is perfectly adequate for cleaning this area. How often the inside needs to be cleaned depends on how intensively the treadmill is used.

Maintenance should still be carried out once or twice a year. Be sure to follow the instructions in the user manual. While you're at it, check the screw connections and tighten them if necessary. Some treadmills even have a maintenance light that indicates when the screw connections should be checked.

On a cardio machine, the running belt is in direct contact with the running deck. Proper lubrication ensures smooth operation, reduces friction and minimizes wear. Only lubricants approved by the manufacturer may be used for lubrication. These are usually silicone oils.

To safely lubricate the belt, first unplug the machine. After lifting the running belt, spray the lubricant between the belt and the running deck. Once the lubricant has been applied on both sides, it needs to be distributed evenly. To do this, set the speed to approx. 5 km/h and take a few steps.

To prevent your floor at home from being damaged by one of the machines, there’s also a floor protection mat from SPORTSTECH.

If you want to lose weight on a treadmill, this popular piece of fitness equipment is ideal for working out. There are several reasons why. The most important is the high calorie burn. Even a moderate-intensity run burns around 600 kilocalories per hour. That’s the equivalent of a whole bar of chocolate. This means that 12 moderate one-hour workouts are enough to lose a whole kilogram of pure body fat.

Another advantage of using a treadmill to lose weight is its versatility for every fitness level. While beginners can start at low speeds of 7-8 km/h, ambitious athletes can burn more calories at higher speeds.

Important: Whatever a treadmill advisor may tell you, losing weight with treadmill workouts alone is impossible. Your energy balance determines whether you lose body fat. You control it primarily through your diet.

The rule of thumb: If you consume less energy than you burn, you lose weight. A daily calorie deficit of 300-500 kilocalories is ideal. The “more is better” approach is no more helpful than looking for the best treadmill for home use.

Whether walking, endurance training, or interval training, a treadmill offers a wide range of workout options. If you want to reach your individual training goal with a cardio treadmill, you should take advantage of heart rate monitoring, as offered by SPORTSTECH treadmills. Heart rate training is based on determining your individual maximum heart rate. The most reliable way to determine this is under the supervision of a sports physician as part of a performance assessment. Alternatively, you can use a rule of thumb.

Men: 220 - age = maximum heart rate (HRmax)

Women: 226 - age = maximum heart rate (HRmax)

Warning: The maximum heart rate calculated using this rule of thumb is only a rough estimate. In individual cases, your maximum heart rate may differ by up to 20 beats. This is a major problem, as that can already be the difference between different training zones.

• Below 60% of max HR (recovery zone): Depending on your fitness level, this could be an easy run, walking, or brisk walking, which promotes circulation and recovery after intense training sessions.
• 60-75% of max HR (Zone 1): This training zone includes sessions lasting approximately 40 minutes to 3 hours. Zone 1 training is ideal for burning body fat, as fat makes up a particularly large share of the energy used.
• 75-85% of max HR (Zone 2): Training sessions in this heart rate zone improve heart function and overall performance. They last around 20-60 minutes.
• 85-95% of max HR (development training): Training in the development zone is not a sustained effort. For treadmill interval training, this zone is ideal for short but intense sessions.
• Over 85% of max HR (competition training): Training with a sustained heart rate above 85 percent of your maximum heart rate gets your body used to the maximum exertion of competition. Due to their high intensity, these sessions should only be done occasionally.

Whether you're looking for a treadmill with a foldable design, online connectivity, or an extra-large running surface and powerful motor for ambitious athletes, sportstech.de has you covered, from the compact treadmill with a quiet motor, to the F37 professional treadmill for ambitious fitness enthusiasts, and the foldable treadmill F75 with a multimedia system. Practical filters for key features make it easy to find what you're looking for.

Choosing a treadmill isn’t easy for many recreational athletes, given the huge selection on the market. Independent tests, in which experts put various treadmills through their paces, are therefore an essential aid in making a decision. This year, SPORTSTECH products also took part in the major treadmill comparison by COMPUTER BILD, Europe’s largest computer magazine, and made a lasting impression.

Above all, our all-rounder, the SPORTSTECH F37, earned the top rating of VERY GOOD. This means it shares the top spot on the treadmill leaderboard with just one other product. Our entry-level models, the SPORTSTECH F10 and SPORTSTECH F17, also impressed the experts at COMPUTER BILD. The result: A rating of GOOD for both and 5th and 6th place in the overall ranking of all tested treadmills.

We’re especially proud that the renowned magazine named us "TOP SMART HOME BRAND 2020". And not only in the "Smart Treadmills" category, but also in the categories "Exercise Bikes" and "Rowing Machines".

We’d like to thank the more than 2,500 consumers from across Germany who took part in the magazine’s online survey and shared their experiences and opinions. The results of the user survey across the categories of quality, durability, user-friendliness, design, value for money, and installation & assembly formed the basis for SPORTSTECH being named "TOP SMART HOME BRAND 2020".

We currently deliver to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. Belgium is coming soon. We do not currently deliver to other countries (e.g. Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Monaco, or Norway). Deliveries to Switzerland may take longer due to customs clearance.

Klarna (including installment payments) is available in all markets. Additional payment methods vary by country:

• Germany: Klarna, PayPal, Unzer
• Austria: Klarna, PayPal, EPS, Unzer
• Switzerland: Klarna, TWINT, Unzer
• France: Klarna, PayPal
• Italy, Spain, Netherlands: Klarna