For a decent Gym quality treadmill, be ready to spend well over $1000.
Consumer Reports did a review of them a few months ago. Their Best Buy is a
Vision Fitness T9200 or T9300 for $1,350.

If you are a runner, you'll have to spend more.

You can get much less expensive ones, but most likely won't be happy with
their features.

To read the whole Consumer Reports review, see if you local library has the
June 2003 issue.

Here's a part of their comments:

RECOMMENDATIONS

For walkers. It's OK to consider a low-priced treadmill. You won't get many
features or amenities, but you probably won't need them for regular, modest
workouts. Look to the Image 10.0, $450, or the Weslo Cadence 450, $325. One
drawback to both: Neither has a belt that can be dropped to horizontal;
using these treadmills means always moving up at least a slight incline,
which may give you a more intense workout than you'd like.

For runners. Look for a machine with solid construction, a large belt,
controls that are responsive, and displays dedicated to the information you
need. That means spending $1,000 or more. We recommend the Vision Fitness
T9200, A CR Best Buy at $1,350. The top-rated True 400 HRC, $2,200, is the
best choice overall. It had a very stable ride, excellent controls and
displays, a very large tread belt area, a powerful motor, and a deck that
rises to a challenging 12 percent grade.

In construction and ergonomics, the Vision Fitness T9200 bested models
costing as much as $2,400. But it has no preprogrammed exercise routines and
no heart-rate monitor. The similar T9300 has programmed routines.

Melissa

http://www.treadmilldoctor.com/

This site has reviews of treadmills that might help in your choice.

I have a NordicTrack treadmill and I like it.  I walk on it most of the
time so I don't know if it's suitable for a lot of running.  I bought it
about 5 years ago when they were having a fantastic sale on discountinued
models.  It has all the bells and whistles but I don't use many of them.
Visit a local fitness store and try some of the different models.

Beverly

You can get a really nice elliptical for less than a cheap treadmill.
Ellipticals burn lots of calories, but they don't have to be built as sturdy
as a treadmill, because there's much less impact.

det

Just don't make the mistake of buying a cheap treadmill, you will never like
it. I have one I bought from Sears a few years ago and I love it. It has a
wide tread and long bed that folds up. It performs well and hasn't given me
any problem. Mine is made by Nordic Track. You get what you pay for in a
treadmill, mine cost about $800 on sale. Make sure to test them out for
about 10 minutes before you buy it. Do your own research and get the best of
your money or it will be sitting in a room not being used.
Roxan

My opinions are based on the fact I've owned and used a NordicTrack exp
1000X for just about a year.  I bought it at Sears.

I like that the belt is wider and longer than some others I tried.  Even
though I'm short I like that if I start to drift, I can catch up without
falling off.  It plugs into the computer to download different workouts - I
thought that was cool when I was shopping and haven't used that feature
once.  I don't even use the preprogrammed workouts.  I just want it to GO
and incline.  The buttons are easy to adjust - when I tried my niece's the
slide controls were hard for me to get "just right".

It folds up for storage and is a significant size.  I feel like I have real
"equipment".  When I first got it there was too much snow to put it anywhere
but the basement.  I sweat so much by the time I'm done I wouldn't think of
putting it in any warmer part of the house.

If I could do anything to improve it, I'd have built in speakers so I could
plug in my iPod.  I am maintaining my weight loss with 2 miles a day at 4
mph and the highest incline.  I'm a sucker for hills <s> YMMV

I had the advantage of belonging to the Y for years before I bought my own
treadmill and tried out a variety of them.  For me, I just wanted something
to walk on without a lot of bells and whistles.  I do not like the
pre-programmed work outs and I do not like to run.   I got the Weslo Cadence
at WalMart for around 350.00.  The hardest part was putting it together.  I
felt truly accomplished after doing that.

If you want to run, consider the higher end equipment.  Some folks really
like the different workouts that are programmed into the machine.  I live in
a simplicity is best type of world, though and am satisfied with mine.

j

Hello again,

 I bought a Image Quest from Sears a few years ago I think I paid around
$1200 back then.  I think they may have discontinued them and sell Pro Form
and NordicTrack.  NordicTrack is a good brand and I wish I had one.
Personally, I think your decision should be based on your expectation of how
often you will use your treadmill and intensity.

 I own a Tectrix stairmaster and like it so much better than my treadmill,
because I burn more calories, sweat like a dog..lol.  A lot of folks that
buy treadmills don't use them often.  At least that's the consensus I get
from family members I have that own them.  Some others on this post
mentioned elliptical exercise machines.  I've seen them on TV and think they
are a great idea and they seem to be a  cross between a stair master and
tread mill.

 After recovering from my flying accident, I have a bad left knee, and
right foot too.  I thought I'd never be able to get back on my stairmaster,
but I was wrong.  Your feet never leave the pedals like they do walking, so
I have virtually a non impact workout and burn many more calories than I do
on a treadmill.  I spend an hour a day on that thing while watching Dr. Phil
and sometimes Oprah, and when I get off I'm drenched.  The calorie counter
tells me how many calories I burn and says I burn around 750 to 800 calories
in that hour.  There a multiple programs to choose from make it easier or
harder too.  I think it takes someone who has a lot of energy to use a
stairmaster.  If your not into pushing yourself hard then you may want to
stick with the treadmill.  You can still use a stairmaster w/o pushing
yourself to hard.  Some folks find it more difficult and compare
stairmasters to climbing actual stairs.  I am just a big advocate and maybe
biased toward them and would like you to at least consider the other
alternatives.

 Beverly provided a link and great idea to comparing exercise equipment.
Another thing you may want to do is find a local gym that offers a free
introduction to their equipment or small fee trial and use their machines
and get a feel for what you want to buy.

 Sorry for this book and hope it helps,

Paul

Other people gave you good advice about treadmills, but here are some
reasons you shouldn't get one.

You already walk.  If you're going to spend money it should be on
something that is cross-training, i.e., a different motion.  A Concept II
rowing machine, a NordicTrack Ski Machine, an elliptical trainer, a Stair
stepper or just getting a step bench and doing a bunch of videos from
www.collagevideo.com would be a better use of less money for the weeks
when you don't want to be walking outside.

A good treadmill costs way more than any other equipment.  A cheap
treadmill isn't worth buying at all.

I quite frequently us a treadmill at the gym.  I also run outside.  But at
home I've got a NordicTrack Pro ski machine that I adore and have been
using for over a dozen years.  I've also got a step bench, mat, swiss ball
and a bunch of videos and DVDs that I use for cross-training when no
outside workout seems likely to happen.

Wendy