The latest gym-machine craze is the manual treadmill:
The treadmills, made by Woodway, based in Waukesha, Wis., have a slightly concave tread surface, like the bottom of a hamster wheel. The front and back of the tread are higher than the middle, a design that uses gravity to help accelerate and brake. The belt speeds up when users move toward the front and slows down when they move back.
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Quieter than treadmills with motors, they are especially useful in Manhattan clubs situated above other tenants, says Ed Trainor, TSI’s vice president for fitness, services and product development.
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Nonmotorized treadmills are generally smaller than traditional ones and don’t require power strips or outlets. Their digital displays are battery-powered.
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The belts speed up and slow down with the runner, making them useful for short-burst workouts. Though the treadmills take some getting used to, some people say they feel safer. “You’re not going to get shot off the back of it,” Ms. Fairchild says. “If you stop, it stops.”
Accidents on treadmills cause about 24,000 injuries annually. In May, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Dave Goldberg, the husband of Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, died after falling off a treadmill and hitting his head.
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These rugged manual treadmills cost about $6,000, as much as or more than motorized ones.
Woodway’s standard motorized treadmills are far far better than other treadmills. The belt is a segmented hard rubber band – it’s got a bit of spring to it while most treadmills are like running on concrete. Huge difference when you wear barefoot running shoes.
I’ve used these before. They are difficult to use at first, and in the beginning I felt like I was constantly going to fall over. But once you get into the hang of things they are quite neat.