AC or DC Motor: Most home units are DC, but commercial treadmills may have either AC or DC. AC motors tend to be noisier and generally require a dedicated power line.

Horsepower: Check for continuous-duty rating for motor's true horsepower. Anything less than 1.5 continuous-duty horsepower can quickly be worn out.

Speed: Most treadmills run from 0 to 10 mph. A good treadmill will match pace you feel comfortable walking or running. A safe starting speed of 0.5 mph or less is also very important for safety reasons.

Belt: Be sure length of walking/running surface is long enough for your longest stride. The width of belt should be no less than 16" from a wear and tear standpoint as well as comfortable striding. Be sure you can comfortably reach treadmill controls without stepping on motor housing as well.

Deck: This is one of critical quality elements of treadmill. Quality decks shouldn't need much maintenance and they operate at a low temperature.

Impact Resilience: This is treadmill's ability to absorb force from impact of your feet. The lower impact on your body, better.

Incline Adjustment: There's a variety of ways to adjust incline of a treadmill, from automatic incline which changes depending upon your heart rate, to pushing a bottom on console, to less sophisticated methods of a manual hand crank or manually setting pins. Quality electronic incline adjustment shouldn't be noisy or cause treadmill to shake at any grade.

Control Panel: Generally computerized panels are standard on most treadmills. They range from basic and simple to complex and fully programmable. It all depends on what bell and whistles you want. Price is influenced by control panel options, so purchase only what you will regularly use.

Heart Rate Monitors: This is generally an optional feature. Accuracy varies widely with ear and finger clips being less accurate than chest strap monitors.

Price: Keep in mind, you get what you pay for. You're going to invest $1,000 and up in a good quality motorized treadmill. Spending this kind of money ought to motivate you to do your homework and purchase wisely.

Of course buying a treadmill is just beginning. You won't lose weight looking at it. It is important to get yourself on a regular routine. The more time you spend on it, more calories you burn and more weight you lose. Find a fitness program that works for you. Depending on your preference, you could combine your workout with music, television or videos.

If you're in market to seriously educate yourself about treadmills, visit www.treadmilladviser.com where you can obtain more detailed information.