Treadmills have become the hottest home exercise choice. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, treadmill sales have exceeded those of all other home exercise equipment.

It`s easy to understand why. Next to good shoes, a treadmill may be a runner`s best friend. Practically anything your training demands--hills, intervals, tempo, long distance--you can do on a treadmill. And you can log those miles while watching Seinfeld or keeping an eye on your kids, without worrying about heat, cold, wind, ice, cars, darkness, potholes, mean dogs or scary people.

Excited? Good. Now let`s take your treadmill education another step and go treadmill shopping. Before we set out, though, a word of caution: Treadmillls are expensive, and they`re complex. A bad buying decision could leave you with one more inactive exercise hulk languishing in that musty corner of your basement. So tread carefully as we steer through the maze of buying a `mill.

First off, remember as with most things you get what you pay for. A $1,000 treadmill may serve you well, but a $3,000 machine is likely to perform better for a longer time.

The following are some more specifics to absorb before you buy.

How long should a home treadmill last? Retailers tell us the range is seven to 12 years, with 10 years about average. Of course, with proper care, some treadmills far exceed the average. With neglect, even the expensive ones die young. Dust is the primary early killer of treadmills, Once a week, take a dry cloth and wipe up any dust between the bbelt and deck. Also keep the floor around your treadmill clean and free of dust.

What about the warranty?

Generally, the longer the warranty, the higher the treadmill`s quality--and price. Ideally you should look for a warranty of three years for parts and one year for labor, with dealer-provided in-home service for the first year. Most problems, if they occur at all, will crop up in the first 90 days. Mostly it will be relatively minor stuff, such as adjustment or replacement of a component.

What`s the difference between a "home" treadmill and a "club" model?

Manufacturers often separate treadmills