Why You Should Consider Buying a Curved Treadmill Instead of a Standard Treadmill

If you’re in the market for a new treadmill, or have been considering a curved treadmill, but aren’t sure if they’re right for you, keep reading. We’re going to take a look into what a curved treadmill is, what the pros of a curved treadmill are, and why you should consider one for your home or your gym.

What is a Curved Treadmill?

Unless you’re familiar with curved treadmills already, this is one of the most common questions customers have. A curved treadmill is a non-motorized, concave-shaped treadmill that allows the user to walk and run (similar to a traditional treadmill) with each foot strike propelling the belt. Due to the unique design of the curved treadmill, the belt is pulled down and back from the stride of the user which removes the need for an electronic motor. Which is ideal for people who want to pace themselves naturally in their workout. It also provides a comfortable running experience that ultimately will help improve the user’s workout.

Why You Should Consider Buying a Curved Treadmill

Curved treadmills offer users multiple health and performance benefits, these include:

They Are Self-Powered and Simple to Use

As we mentioned earlier a curved treadmill is completely powered by the user. This makes it extremely easy to get started. All the user needs to do is get on the treadmill and begin to shift your body weight forward into a walk, jog or run. There are no buttons or electricity involved or required.

They Allow You to Run More Naturally 

The design of a curved treadmill encourages the user to run on the balls of your feet, which in turn reduces the impact on joints and improves overall running performance. Additionally, the user will experience more core and trunk engagement because the treadmill designs force them to run at an ergonomically correct angle. This also causes the user to maintain proper posture otherwise they will feel off-balance which will affect their running gait. 

You’ll Burn More Calories

Research has found that users walking 3 miles per hour for 10 minutes on a curved treadmill had a mean average calorie expenditure that was nearly 30-40% higher when compared to those walking a traditional flat treadmill at the same speed for the same length of time.

Use More Muscle Groups and Expend More Energy

Due to the propelling technique required to move the running belt forward a curved treadmill requires the user to use more muscle groups than a traditional treadmill does. Additionally, by minimizing the vertical displacement of the body’s center of mass on the curved treadmill the user can expect an increase in energy expenditure, which leads us to our final point:

You’re Guaranteed a Harder Workout

Since a curved treadmill is self-propelled the workout is guaranteed to be harder. This doesn’t mean it will be more difficult, but rather that it will cause you to exert more energy, and for your body and muscles to work harder. In fact, statistics show that you can burn up to 30% more calories on a curved treadmill than you can on a traditional treadmill.

Pros of a Curved Treadmill

One of the biggest benefits of this type of treadmill is that there is no motor, which means you won’t experience any of the problems or costs normally associated with an electronic treadmill. Since it is completely self-powered, it makes this an eco-friendly piece of fitness equipment. 

Because the belt is not motorized, the belts tend to last longer and require much less maintenance. They also tend to be more compact, and since they are self-powered means you can place them anywhere you’d like.

Another thing many customers like about curved treadmills is that they are in control of how fast the belt moves. If the user speeds up so does the belt, and likewise, if the user slows down the belt does along with them. This allows the user to do interval, sport-specific, weight loss and any other training with more efficiency and ideal biomechanics.

Cons of a Curved Treadmill

One of the drawbacks of a curved treadmill is that the belt can be narrow on some models, which may make it less comfortable for larger users. For others, another drawback is the price, since traditional treadmills can often be purchased at a lower price point. It is worth mentioning, however, that even if the initial cost of the curved treadmill may be higher, in the long run, it saves users tons of money since there are fewer costs associated with maintenance and it does not use any electricity.

Why You Should Consider Adding a Curved Treadmill to Your Gym

There are a number of reasons why a gym should consider adding a curved treadmill to their cardiovascular equipment area. Some of these benefits include:

They Are Safer than Traditional Motorized Treadmills

One of the reasons these machines are safer is because there is less friction and no heat generation due to the interaction between the belt system and the transport system. Additionally, the running deck of the treadmill has more grip because the running surface differs fundamentally from the running belts on conventional treadmills make it safer for users to run on.

No Electricity Required

As we’ve mentioned curved treadmills require no electricity, making them friendlier to the environment due to being completely powered by the user. This means there is a lower lifetime cost of ownership due to requiring no electricity.

Long Service Life

Overall, a curved treadmill has a longer service life when compared to a conventional treadmill because there are no motorized parts. Servicing costs are therefore kept to a minimum over the lifetime of the machine if regular maintenance is routinely performed.

Shop Curved Treadmills

PRO 6 Arcadia Air Runner Non Motorized Curve Treadmill

TrueForm Runner Non Motorized Curve Treadmill

TrueForm Trainer Non Motorized Curved Treadmill

Contact Expert Fitness Supply to Purchase a Curved Treadmill Today

Whether you are looking to add a curved treadmill to your home gym or add a series of curved treadmills to your commercial gym, we can help you decide on the best one for your facility. Contact us today by calling (844) 442-7232, emailing us at [email protected] or messaging us through our website.