Shopping for a treadmill but not sure where to start? It’s not easy these days – home treadmills are always changing with new models coming out every year.

The good news is that treadmills just keep getting better and better with more toys, fitness-tracking tools, and more.

The bad news is that you have more options than ever, which can lead to analysis paralysis. So to prevent that from happening to you, here are 7 top features to look for when shopping for a treadmill.

# 1 motor

The motor is the heart of your treadmill. You want at least a 2.5 HP motor if you are going to walk and at least a 3.0 HP motor if you plan to jog.

Also take a look at the engine warranty to see how much time you get. Engine warranty coverage can be a good indicator of the quality of the engine you are purchasing.

# 2 Belt size

Standard belts average about 20 by 55 inches long. This should be fine for most regular users of height.

However, if you plan to run or are over 6 feet, you may want a belt longer than 60 inches to give you more room to stretch.

Also keep in mind that with a bigger belt you need a bigger motor as too much belt and insufficient motor can burn out your motor quickly.

# 3 Cushioning

You want solid protection for your joints, hips, knees, and back. Most high-quality brand-name models will have a good damping system so you don’t have to worry too much as long as you buy a quality, well-made treadmill.

However, some home treadmills even offer adjustable cushioning these days, where you can raise or lower the cushioning based on your preference, which is a useful feature.

# 4 Console

The console is important because it is basically what you will see while walking or running. You have a ton of options in this area, as there are so many different consoles out there.

However, there are some things that are essential. First of all, you need to make sure that the console is backlit. A console without a backlight can be difficult to read, especially if the lighting isn’t great in your workout area.

You also want a well-designed, easy-to-understand console with easy-to-reach one-touch buttons and stop / start buttons. You don’t want to have to read a manual to discover the console every time you train.

Other cool (but not essential) features are console fans to keep you cool, one-touch tilt and speed change buttons, and iPod docks with speakers.

# 5 Inclination

Incline changes the incline of your treadmill and adds additional calorie-burning opportunities to your workout. Most treadmills offer incline options of up to 10, 12, or 15%.

While walkers may be fine with a maximum incline of 10%, it doesn’t give you much room to grow. You can quickly find yourself exceeding 10%. So having a higher incline of 12 or 15% gives you more room to grow as your fitness level improves (and it will!)

# 6 heart rate monitor

Most home treadmills these days come with a hand grip pulse sensor to monitor your heart rate.

This is good. However, some people may prefer to use a wireless chest strap as it tends to give you more accurate results.

Some treadmills will come compatible with wireless chest straps. And some treadmills may even include the chest strap for free, which is a great option.

# 7 toys

These are the fun things. Treadmills have come a long way. Now you’re not just buying a treadmill, you can get your own personal fitness trainer.

For example, many treadmills offer you some type of online tracking option where you can track your workouts over time, sync with fitness apps, and more. You can also download new workouts to your treadmill or get calorie counts based on your goals and food consumption.

You can also find treadmills with touch screen consoles and even web browsers built into the console. So you can surf the net while walking or running, great.

The range of options is endless here and these toys can help make your workouts that much more fun and productive.

So those are 7 things to keep in mind when buying a treadmill. Keep these things in mind and we guarantee that you will find a solid, well-built treadmill that will keep you in shape for years to come.