Fitness Flohmarkt · Guide
Buying a treadmill: motorized treadmill, curved, or used?
Treadmill is one of the most searched terms in our shop search, and almost every one of these searches ends with the same question: motorized or non-motorized, new or used. This guide answers them one by one.
In short
First, decide on the drive: A motorized treadmill dictates speed and incline, while a curved treadmill runs without electricity and follows your stride. After that, footprint, run-out zone, and ceiling height matter. At Fitness-Flohmarkt, treadmills range from used studio equipment under CHF 1,000 to new motorized treadmills for just under CHF 5,000.
Drive
Motorized treadmill or manual treadmill?
A motorized treadmill dictates your speed and incline, a non-motorized treadmill follows your stride. Everything hinges on this single purchasing decision, and in the Treadmill category both types stand side by side. On the motorized treadmill, you set 12 km/h and a 5 percent incline, and the machine maintains both until you change something. That is exactly what you need for planned long runs, for intervals with a defined pace, and for incline training. A non-motorized treadmill has no motor: you accelerate it with your feet, and it slows down as soon as you slow down. It does not need a power outlet, has fewer moving wear parts, and cannot be set to a pace you cannot actually maintain. On the other hand, no one dictates a pace for you either, and long, steady runs are noticeably more strenuous on it. Anyone who wants their pace prescribed chooses the motor; anyone who trains sprints and accelerations is better off without one.
When it comes to electricity, the difference is smaller than many fear. The RealLeader Treadmill RCT 900M runs on 220 volts at 50 or 60 hertz according to the data sheet, meaning household current from a standard wall outlet. It does not need heavy current. Anyone who still needs to operate without a cable, for example in a basement without an available line or in a hall without a connection at the desired location, has no choice but to use a motorless device. How the remaining product groups rank is shown by the Overview of all buying guides.
RealLeader Treadmill RCT 900M
- 0.8 to 20 km/h
- Slope 0 to 20 %
- 4.0 HP Motor
- Belt 550 x 3300 mm
- 217 x 93 x 165 cm
- 230 kg net
- CHF 4,990.-
Commercial motorized treadmill with electrically adjustable incline and a pine running deck. Over 30 programs, LED display showing time, distance, incline, speed, pulse, and a 400m track, plus auto-stop and emergency stop. With a net weight of 230 kg, this machine is not something you will move by yourself.
Ideal for: Scheduled endurance runs, hill training, and continuous operation in the gym or club.
View RCT 900MCurved
What is a curved treadmill and who is it for?
A curved treadmill is a motorless treadmill with a concavely curved running surface made of individual, ball-bearing slats. The curve causes your foot to land in the front, rising section and accelerates the belt backward with your push-off. If you run further forward, it gets faster; if you run further back, it slows down. You therefore control the pace via your position on the belt, not via a button. For sprints, intervals, and short bursts of acceleration, this is the most direct design that exists: no ramp-up time, no delay when changing pace, and no waiting for the motor to catch up. For a steady-state run with a fixed pace, it is the wrong choice. Anyone who wants to jog at a steady pace for 45 minutes is clearly better off with a motorized treadmill. If your training consists of running plus stations, the Buying guide for hybrid training the environment.
ATX Speed Runner Curved CT-02
- Running surface 150 x 44 cm
- 171 x 83 x 160 cm
- 94 ball bearings
- Dead weight 145 kg
- Supports up to 180 kg
- Currentless
- CHF 2,490.-
Motorless slat belt with battery-operated LCD, transport wheels, lifting handle, and adjustable feet for floor leveling. No power connection, no maximum speed other than your own. Of all the devices in the comparison, the ATX Speed Runner Curved CT-02 the smallest footprint.
Ideal for: Home gyms and personal training studios where sprints and intervals set the tone.
Watch Speed Runner
Assault Runner Pro | Airrunner
- Running surface 155 x 43 cm
- 178 x 84 x 163 cm
- 8 Programs
- Bluetooth
- Height 150 to 194 cm
- Currentless
- CHF 4,115.-
Curved slat treadmill with LCD monitor and Bluetooth for chest strap or app. The manufacturer specifies the range of use for heights from 150 to 194 cm, which the Assault Runner Pro makes it suitable for mixed groups. The longest running surface among the non-motorized devices here.
Ideal for: Studios, clubs, and practices where many different people step on the same device.
View Runner ProPay attention to the running surface, not the external dimensions. On the 171 cm long ATX Speed Runner, 150 cm is actually the running surface, while the remaining 21 cm is taken up by the frame and console. In terms of width, the difference between the designs is more pronounced: 44 cm on the ATX versus a 55 cm belt width on the RCT 900M. Anyone who runs with a wide stance or also wants to walk and jog on the treadmill will notice these 11 cm.
Space
How much space does a treadmill need?
Calculate the depth of the equipment plus around two meters of free space behind it. The devices themselves take up between 1.42 and 2.02 square meters of floor space: the ATX Speed Runner Curved CT-02 has the smallest footprint at 171 x 83 cm, while the largest is the RealLeader Treadmill RCT 900M at 217 x 93 cm. That is 46 cm more depth and around 0.60 square meters more space for the same training goal. The free zone behind the treadmill is not for comfort, but for safety: if you lose your pace, you are carried backward, and there should not be a wall there. A device depth of 217 cm plus a 200 cm run-out results in a room depth of around 4.20 m for the RCT 900M, and for the ATX Speed Runner it is 171 cm plus 200 cm, or around 3.70 m. In terms of width, in addition to the device width of 83 to 93 cm, there is the extra space on the sides that you use to get on and off.
The ceiling height is the number that is most frequently forgotten. What matters is not the height of the device, which is between 150 and 165 cm for our treadmills, but the height of the running surface above the floor. This mounting height is by no means listed in every data sheet. Calculate your body height plus the mounting height plus a hand's breadth of clearance, and ask us for the mounting height of your desired model before you plan a basement room with a 2.10 m ceiling.
A mat belongs under the device. It protects the floor, keeps the treadmill in place, and absorbs some of the impact sound. For cardio equipment, 6 to 8 mm of rubber is sufficient, like the one Flooring buying guide for this application. You can find suitable cuts under the Floor protection mats. With a 230 kg device on parquet flooring, that is no walk in the park.
| Model | Type | Footprint (L x W) | Height | Condition | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATX Speed Runner Curved CT-02 | Curved, unpowered | 171 x 83 cm | 160 cm | new | CHF 2,490.- |
| Assault Runner Pro | Curved, unpowered | 178 x 84 cm | 163 cm | new | CHF 4,115.- |
| RealLeader Treadmill RCT 900M | Motor belt, pitch 0 to 20 % | 217 x 93 cm | 165 cm | new | CHF 4,990.- |
| Matrix S-Drive | Studio device, drive type not in the data sheet | 195 x 88 cm | 150 cm | Occasion | CHF 1,990.00 |
| Life Fitness FlexDeck Treadmill | Commercial treadmill, no weight in the datasheet | not specified | not specified | Occasion | CHF 1,490.- |
Brands
Technogym, Woodway, Matrix: what is behind the brands?
Almost all brand searches for treadmills lead to manufacturers from the commercial gym sector. Technogym, Life Fitness, and Matrix build machines for continuous operation in fitness centers, featuring correspondingly robust motors, decks, and frames. Woodway stands for treadmills with a slat belt instead of a continuous running belt, a principle you will also find in the motorless curved machines in our assortment, but without a motor there. Anyone searching for one of these four brands is generally looking for that commercial gym feel: a wide running surface, solid stability, no bouncing when landing. Such commercial machines in our inventory mostly come into trade from gym liquidations and closures rather than from a manufacturer contract. What is currently available therefore depends on which center was remodeled most recently. Listed are, for example, a Matrix S-Drive for CHF 1,990.00 and a Life Fitness FlexDeck treadmill used for CHF 1,490, both also in Outlet.
What the brand name actually buys you is the prospect of replacement parts and a deck built for studio use rather than two runs a week. What it doesn't tell you is the condition. A ten-year-old studio treadmill from a top brand can have more operating hours behind it than a home machine accumulates in its entire lifetime. Brand beats price only when the condition is right.
Occasion
Is a used treadmill from a gym worth it?
Yes, if you know what to look for in the treadmill itself. Gym equipment is built for continuous use and as used equipment is often priced at half the original price or less. Check four things on the machine: the running belt for wear and a worn-out center track, the cushioning deck for break-throughs at the footstrike area, the motor running under your weight instead of idling, and, if present, the incline motor over the entire adjustment range. Displays and consoles are secondary; the belt and deck are the expensive parts, and you can see both in thirty seconds. Also, factor in transport: the machines in this comparison weigh between 145 and 230 kg, and you won't get them through a basement stairwell with a tight corner with just two people. All used items at Fitness-Flohmarkt show signs of use, and an on-site inspection in Liestal is almost always the better choice than ordering on spec for a machine of this size.
There is one caveat: For second-hand items from studio liquidations, a complete data sheet is rarely available. In the case of Matrix S-Drive The footprint and maximum user weight are on the product page, but the drive type is not. If any specific detail matters for your decision, ask about it before ordering. We will double-check by measuring if in doubt.
Matrix S-Drive | Used treadmill
- 195 cm deep
- 88 cm wide
- 150 cm high
- Up to 182 kg user weight
- Light signs of wear
- CHF 1,990.00
Second-hand commercial treadmill, approved for a user weight of up to 182 kg. Condition according to description: minor signs of wear on the frame and the belt. The drive type is not specified in the data sheet; we will clarify it upon request.
Ideal for: Functional training areas and athletic rooms where budget matters and yet gym equipment is sought.
View S-DriveRecommendation
What is worth it for whom
Home gym with little space
You have space, but not much of it, and your workout consists of short, hard sessions. Then this is motorless curved treadmill by ATX the most compact solution in comparison, and you don't even need a free electrical outlet for it.
Studio, club, practice
Changing users, many units per day, little desire for maintenance. The Assault Fitness AirRunner is built for precisely this operation and covers heights from 150 to 194 cm.
Training according to a running schedule
You are running with pace targets and incline intervals. For that, you need a motorized treadmill: The RCT 900M with a 20 percent gradient and 20 km/h covers almost every workout on your training plan.
studio equipment, tight budget
You want studio quality, but don't want to pay the studio price. Then you look first in the Endurance and cardio area and check out the secondhand items there, accepting signs of use and an incomplete data sheet in exchange.
Frequently Asked Questions
Buying a treadmill: the most frequently asked questions
How much does a good treadmill cost?
At Fitness-Flohmarkt, treadmills range from just under CHF 1,000 to around CHF 5,000. Second-hand models from gym liquidations start at the lower end, a new non-motorized curved treadmill begins at CHF 2,490, and a commercial motorized treadmill with an incline is priced at CHF 4,990. Below CHF 1,000, you won't find anything new in the commercial sector.
What is a manual treadmill?
A motorized treadmill has no drive system and no power connection. You move the running surface yourself, and the speed comes entirely from your stride. Most of these machines have a concavely curved running surface and are therefore called curved treadmills. They require less maintenance, but are more strenuous at a steady pace.
How much space does a treadmill need?
Calculate the footprint of the machine plus around two meters of free clearance zone behind it. Our treadmills measure between 171 x 83 cm and 217 x 93 cm, which is 1.42 to 2.02 square meters. With the clearance zone, you therefore need around 3.70 to 4.20 meters of room depth, plus space on the sides for mounting and dismounting.
What ceiling height do I need for a treadmill?
What matters is not the height of the device, but the height of the tread surface above the ground. Take your height, add this assembly height, and add a hand's breadth of clearance. Because the assembly height is rarely stated in the datasheet, it is better to ask us for it before buying your desired model.
Does a treadmill need a heavy current connection?
No. The commercial RealLeader RCT 900M runs on 220 volts at 50 or 60 hertz, which means via a standard household outlet. Motorless curved treadmills do not need a connection at all; their display runs on battery. Check anyway whether the electrical circuit in the room carries other loads.
Do I need a mat under the treadmill?
Yes. A mat protects the floor from pressure marks, keeps the equipment in place, and dampens some of the impact noise transmitted downward. For cardio equipment, 6 to 8 mm of rubber is sufficient. For a machine with a net weight of 230 kg on parquet or laminate flooring, this is not a recommendation, but a must.
Is a used treadmill from the gym worth it?
Yes, if the running belt and cushioning deck are in good condition. Those are the expensive wearing parts; the console and display are not. Studio equipment is designed for continuous operation and as used items often cost around half as much. If possible, inspect them before buying or ask for the information you are missing.
All treadmills at a glance
New and secondhand, with dimensions, prices, and pictures, ready for dispatch from our Swiss warehouse.
View treadmills