Consumers wanting to purchase a treadmill have to ask themselves about space. How much room do you want to allot for this big (and sometimes bulky) piece of exercise equipment?

nd where is it going to go? Will a small treadmill give me the same advantages as its weighty, larger cousin? The answer is not merely a straight "yes" in favour of small treadmills–instead, it’s better to stack the pros against the cons in regards to preferences and differing consumer tastes.

If you live in an apartment, obviously space is a major concern. Maybe you don’t think you have room for a treadmill. Or maybe you live in a house with children whose toys take up a better half of a basement playroom. Either way, you might be looking towards a more convenient-sized treadmill. Folding treadmills are a popular choice amid consumers looking for a smaller sized treadmill.

But other than the obvious, "folding" quality of these small treadmills, here are a few of the real differences between the two: you’ll save space–out of sight, out of mind, and it can be put in the closet when guests arrive; and cleaning of the area is easier–fold it up, and vacuum the floor right underneath it.

But the folding feature can also be seen as a hindrance to the frame design, which may result in the treadmill being less stable than non-folding treadmills. And as stability is one of the most important qualities of owning a treadmill, it is a distinct disadvantage of small treadmills.

However, it is important to note that while disadvantages do exist, the most important advantage of small treadmills are their size–and size does matter.