When it comes to treadmills, people research many parts of the machine before purchase. This includes items like the screen display, incline & decline variability, and ease of use ( just to name a few). However, the treadmill’s belt is a critical component as well – and for a good reason– since this is the part of the machine you’ll do your walking and running on.
The Treadmill Belt: A Critical Part of Your Treadmill
You might be wondering why your treadmill’s belt is such a significant part of your machine….and if you have any injuries, even more so. The treadmill belt is typically much softer than the ground, making it more appealing to some people. It doesn’t replicate the pounding that would be commonly found from running or walking on concrete or asphalt.
Treadmill belts typically provide more cushion on the joints, which is imperative if you’re recovering from an injury and needing to protect your ankle and knee joints from further damage. Some treadmills allow for adjustment of the tension on the belt (making it more similar to running outdoors). But for many treadmills, the slight cushion adds a bit of give as you exercise, making it more comfortable to run or walk.
You’ll also need to consider the exercise that you’ll be doing on your treadmill. A standard belt size will be acceptable for most people, especially if most of your workout is walking. However, belts come in longer sizes and expanded widths, which is ideal if you’re running and have a long stride.
Now that you know the importance of the treadmill belt, let’s discuss two of the main options for belt design:
- A regular belt
- A slat belt.
It might not seem like that big of a difference (and you might be perfectly comfortable working out on either design), but knowing the differences between these two belts can come in handy, especially if you’re considering buying a treadmill for home use.
Regular Treadmill Belt
This type of belt is typically found on most treadmills, and even more so if you’ve seen treadmills in your local fitness center. These belts are connected to the treadmill using a deck, which is essentially a platform underneath the belt. These belts are easy to remove (which is perfect if you’re utilizing this type of belt for a home gym treadmill) and usually has a textured rubber coating on top of the belt to help give some grip to your sneakers as you walk or run.
Regular treadmill belts have been around for a long time, and many walkers and runners prefer the feel of this type of belt on their machine since it can more closely mimic what you feel if you’re running outdoors. This type of treadmill belt can also be ideal for those who typically do their workout on a track, trail, or the occasional outdoor neighborhood run.
Slat Treadmill Belt
A slat treadmill belt isn’t as popular as a regular treadmill belt but still has its place. This type of belt has thick slats of rubber that rotate as the belt turns, so it’s more of a shock absorber than a regular belt.
There aren’t as many springs under a slat treadmill belt, but the slats’ thickness helps to cushion the body more through running and walking. You’re able to adjust the tension on many of these slat treadmill belts. This allows for a wide range of use depending on how hard or soft you want the belt to be – and therefore making it more user friendly if multiple people are utilizing the treadmill.
If you are recovering from an injury or are looking for a treadmill that’ll have less of an impact on your joints, then a slat treadmill belt is what you want. Even though these belts are not as prevalent as regular treadmill belts, they hold their place within the fitness equipment arena. They can offer a different world of workouts to those looking to have less of an impact on their joints while exercising.
Which Belt is Better?
When it comes to deciding which type of treadmill belt will work best for you, you’ll have to know what kind of workout you’ll be doing and the type of support you want from the belt. Are you a runner with no injuries who likes to workout outside? Then a regular belt might be best, for the days you’re training inside.
Do you have a knee injury that is healing, but you still want to walk each day? Then a slat treadmill belt might be best to absorb the impact of exercise while still allowing you the comfort of working out. Determine your goals and how each belt might benefit you and your family on your workout journey, and then go from there.