Walking belts are known by many different names, but there is no difference in basic accepted design, although different people may not use the same term to name a walking belt. Other names are: treadmill, walking belt, treadmill, jogging belt, bands (with the same descriptive variations), runner, and mat.
For simplicity, we call it a treadmill, but our terminology doesn’t limit the type of exercise you can do. There are different grades of walking belts and they can vary widely in terms of quality and price depending on the type of construction. Most treadmills are made with two different types of materials that are formed together to form the finished product you see. Most people assume the top layer of the belt is rubber, but most have a PVC top layer. PVC tends to hold up better under a wide range of shoes and applications, and because of its strength, many people are fooled into thinking their belt is fine when the backing is completely worn down.
The back of the belt is the most important area. The most popular backing materials are monofilament, polyester, cotton, and urethane. Of these backings, the softer the material, the less noise the belt will make. Therefore, a cotton backed belt will be much quieter than a urethane belt. The trade-off is that the softer the material and the less noisy the belt, the faster it tends to wear out. Many companies in the last 20 years that once used cotton have now switched to a polyester blend. The main advantage is that the belt is still fairly quiet, but it is more resistant to heat and is more durable in the long run in its ability to withstand wear and tear.
One backing that is growing in popularity is monofilament. This uses a single type of fiber. Since it uses synthetic materials, it tends to be more heat resistant and can be more easily formed into a rougher backing that will have less surface contact with the deck. The reason this is important is that less contact area will result in less friction, which puts much less stress on the motor and controller. The downside of a monofilament belt is that it has a hazel backing instead of cotton or polyester. Another drawback is that since it is a single fiber, it tends to have less tensile strength than woven or urethane fibers.
The most expensive backing is urethane. It also tends to be the noisiest, but if you maintain a urethane backing properly, we’ve seen them last 10+ years in a light commercial setting. It is a highly durable material that has the best ability to withstand the rigors of heavy use and heat build-up normally associated with club use.
There is a lot of confusion about the layers of a walking belt. Most companies advertise a 2-ply belt, but some claim as many as 4-ply. The confusion arises because more layers is not necessarily better. As HealthRider discovered several years ago, a belt that is too thick can be a disaster. HealthRider took a standard 2-ply belt and then glued a layer of matted neoprene to the top of a standard belt. The result was a 3 ply (or 4 ply depending on how you interpret the final addition to the belt) that now had a nice layer of neoprene insulation that did an amazing job of retaining heat and emphasized the potential problem of wearing a multi-belt. to layers. Even in a residential setting, the HealthRider belts simply fell apart due to the wide variation in heat they experienced. Fortunately for the consuming public, HealthRider stopped using these belts a few years ago.
Other companies will advertise an orthotic belt that has extra layers or a thicker top layer that helps cushion foot drop. Again, our big issue with these belts is heat issues and the fact that many of these belts can weigh up to 3-4 times as much as a normal 2-ply belt. The larger the belt, the harder it is for the drive system to keep moving the belt. Combine that with the heat issues inherent in a thicker belt (remember, it’s better insulated) and you can quickly see why we’re not big fans of orthopedic belts.
If you’re choosing a new treadmill, pay attention to the treadmill. It is the heart of a treadmill even though popular opinion names another part. If you already have a treadmill, maintain your belt and keep it clean and your treadmill will thank you in the long run.