"Kassensturz" treads water and tests treadmills
12.12.2024
Translation: machine translated
The treadmill has enjoyed great popularity since the Covid-19 pandemic. Kassensturz" and "Gesundheitstipp" have now dedicated an extensive test to this home fitness device.
Running and yet never getting anywhere. What sounds like a Sisyphean nightmare to me is a regular workout for others: jogging on a treadmill. However, a test by "Kassensturz" and "Gesundheitstipp" reveals that not every treadmill on the market is suitable for this. Spoiler: For the right jogging experience in your own four walls, you'll have to fork out quite a bit.
The test
The Swiss consumer protection portals sent seven treadmills to the ipi Institute for Product Market Research in Stuttgart. They cost between 359 and 1699 francs - so the first huge differences can already be seen in the purchase price. The extent to which this is reflected in the quality and how the treadmills generally perform was tested according to variously weighted criteria.
Training quality (40%): Cushioning, running surface size and hands-free running were assessed by fitness trainers in 30-minute tests.
Ergonomics (35%): The height and comfort of the handles and range of motion were assessed by experts.
Safety (15%): Stability, design defects and the function of the emergency stop were tested.
Assembly and handling (10%): Assembly time, comprehensibility of the instructions and stowability were assessed.
The chunky test winner
The treadmill from Kettler, which was also the most expensive of those tested, scored best. With its large running surface, the "Alpha Run 200" makes jogging easy. According to the test subjects, it feels very comfortable to run on and has good cushioning.
The Kettler treadmill gets marks for assembly and handling. According to "Kassensturz", the initial assembly of the heavy device is only possible with two people. And once it's assembled, you can't get it through a normal door - not even when folded up. All in all, however, Kettler still managed to win the test with a 5.3 according to the Swiss grading system and an overall rating of "Good".
The "best buy" among the good ones
Three other treadmills also scored "Good". The Domyos model deserves special mention, coming in second place with an even 5. It cost less than half as much as the test winner when tested. This is why it was awarded the special "Best Buy" rating by "Gesundheitstipp". The treadmills from Hammer and Horizon each received a 4.8, although they also differ quite significantly in terms of price.
The treadmill for walking
The treadmill from Kingsmith has to make do with a "sufficient". The foldable device is the only one tested that has no side handles. According to the manufacturer, this is due to the model name. According to Kingsmith, the "walking pad" is designed less for jogging and more for walking. It can therefore not be compared with conventional performance treadmills.
"Insufficient"
The two cheapest treadmills tested by far failed the test. Both are not suitable for jogging, according to the experts. Their running surfaces are too small, the cushioning and suspension too low. According to "Kassensturz", the Sportstech model also wobbles at the highest treadmill speed.
The moral of the story
Quality has its price. This oft-quoted statement is true time and time again, including for the treadmills tested by "Kassensturz" and "Gesundheitstipp", with the "Buy tip" stands out with its good quality and comparatively fair price.
It's best to jog in the forest anyway, where you get a better workout than on the treadmill. This is because more muscles have to tense up because the surface is uneven, according to an expert from Balgrist University Hospital. "This means that the strain when jogging in the forest is higher than on a treadmill."
Where is your favourite place to jog? Do you have a treadmill tip? Write it in the comments.
Header image: Shutterstock / Thanakorn.P
I'm a full-blooded dad and husband, part-time nerd and chicken farmer, cat tamer and animal lover. I would like to know everything and yet I know nothing. I know even less, but I learn something new every day. What I am good at is dealing with words, spoken and written. And I get to prove that here.
Sport
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
4 comments
later