Just what constitutes such an expensive piece of exercise equipment?

Although treadmills are one of the most popular pieces of cardiovascular exercise equipment on the market, the recent rumour that the Spanish King has spent 14,000 euros on a treadmill for the royal household has naturally sparked criticism, with many believing the money could have been ‘better spent’.

Whilst little information has been divulged about the design and capabilities of the 14,000 euro treadmill, the rumour does make one ponder about what components are required to constitute an expensive treadmill.

When manufacturers design treadmills, its motor, like the engine of a car, is at the heart of a treadmill.

According to Bret Spottke, American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer, the motors on treadmill vary a great deal, Typically motors are designed with a motor range of 1.0 to 4.0 horsepower, and you can usually add another nought to the price tag of those treadmills at the higher end of the horsepower scale, as greater power means the machine can provide a more intense workout with less movement or judder on the belt.

Quality and comfort go hand in hand, and if you are forking out a small fortune on a piece of exercise equipment, you would expect that it has been designed with some luxury comfort features.

The most expensive treadmills on the market are made with features designed to make an exerciser’s experience on the treadmill as luxurious as possible. LCD television screens, MP3-player docking, magazine racks and cooling fans usually distinguishes the top of the range treadmills from the mid-range.

Many modern treadmills that claim to be the most sophisticated on the market can wirelessly connect users to the internet enabling users to download running courses to help stimulate routine workouts.

Personalised electronic displays are also a common design feature of contemporary top-range treadmills, similarly wireless heart rate monitoring and other workout feedback features which enables users to monitor each individual workout and, by doing so, improve it.

According to ConsumerReports.org, an expensive, high quality treadmill can be differentiated from a more mid-range model by the quality of the deck construction.

To enhance user performance additional shock absorption is a common attribute of four figure treadmills, or in the case of King Juan Carlos I of Spain, five figures.

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