Elliptical Machine Guide

I understand both as a former personal trainer and a consistent user of elliptical trainers how difficult it is to buy the right kind of elliptical trainer. The key word here is the RIGHT elliptical for you.

To help you make sense of it all, I have put together an elliptical buying guide. I will help you think through the major questions you should ask before buying an elliptical machine, help you assess what elliptical features are important to you, as well as review what some expert and consumer sources say are the best elliptical on the market.


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Elliptical Trainers - Finding the Right Elliptical Trainer for You

Elliptical Machine Guide
JUL
14
2009
Jo
Plymouth, MA

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER BEFORE STARTING YOUR ELLIPTICAL TRAINER SEARCH

What elliptical trainer will fit into your life? When I ask that question I am thinking about space, money and goals. According to many reviews, the top brands are Sole, NordicTrack, Smooth, Schwinn, Spirit and Precor.

Space

Elliptical trainers vary in size enormously. How much room do you have? Are you in an apartment above other people so the weight of the trainer may be an issue?  Elliptical trainers can vary in length by 30 inches. That is the number you will have to keep in mind. Most are approximately the same in width and height - give or take an inch or two. Having said that, if you are very tall and have a low ceiling you will want a shorter elliptical trainer. Remember also that elliptical trainers have a maximum weight user. If you are 350 pounds you cannot buy an elliptical machine that is for people up to 250 pounds.

Money

How much money are you willing to pay? I will always recommend spending as much as you can because usually, though not always, you will get more for your money. Having said that there are some high end elliptical trainers that may not have that one feature you just have to have that you may find on a less expensive model.  Elliptical Trainer Reviews names the Nordic Track AudioStrider 990 as a best bet for the money.

A good elliptical trainer can be pricey. If you try it out and it is $800 and you like the way it feels then I would not say to avoid it. There are pros and cons to buying these machines and if your money is limited then you may have to compromise.

Goals

How will you be using your elliptical trainer? Do you want to be able to change the elevation? Do you want the handles to move? Do you want one with a lot of programs or will keeping it simple be the best way for you to go? You will get very similar workouts with these various machines; however, you may be more comfortable without handles hitting close to your face if you don't care about working your upper body.

NOW THINK ABOUT ELLIPTICAL TRAINER FEATURES

Layout of the elliptical trainer

What is the layout of the elliptical? When you get on it are the placement of the handles comfortable to hold? Are the pedals large enough for you? Do they have treads so your feet will not slip? I like treads that go across the pedal but that is just my personal preference. It may not be yours.  Is the console easy to reach? Is there a water bottle holder that is in a convenient place? Do you want a magazine rack? Can you get on and off easily?

Heart rate monitor

Do you want sensors in the handles that will automatically take your heart rate? Not all machines have heart rate sensors and not all people care about their heart rate number. In some instances you can purchase a heart rate option and then wear a chest strap. You can buy a heart rate monitor at a reasonable price if you buy an elliptical machine without a heart rate option. I can suggest taking your pulse yourself but I am not going to because I don't think it is safe to take both arms off of the machine at the same time. 

Elliptical usage

There are a variety of styles of elliptical trainers these days. Some have pedals that seem to float in the air; some have pedals that are on tracks; some are sort of in between. Do you want to be able to reverse direction? Forward and backward movements work different parts of the legs. Some machines will have a graph that shows what part of the leg you are working.  On most but not all machines changing the resistance is easy but changing the incline may not be. Not all elliptical trainers have adjustable inclines so if that is something you want you may have to pay for it.

Elliptical trainer console

What do you want on the console? Is a fan important? Do you want a place for a magazine and water bottle? If your goal is to just get moving and you fear technology then a simple console with perhaps four programs will be enough. It is important to be able to read the display. Check to make sure that the numbers are large and clear.

BEST BETS - WHAT ARE THE BEST ELLIPTICAL TRAINERS? (as of January 1, 2009)

I have been writing reviews of elliptical trainers for many years. And, as a retired personal trainer, I have direct experience with many brands including those mentioned above. I have combed through all the major elliptical trainer review websites online- consumer reviews and expert reviews-- and read all the elliptical ratings. I found the highest rated elliptical machines to aid you in your search. Here's to finding the best elliptical trainer for you.

Overall - Best elliptical value

  • The Sole E95 elliptical has oversized and adjustable foot pedals that also include foam cushioning. This is particularly advantageous for those of us whose feet get numb on elliptical trainers. Since I have not talked about stride lengths I will mention it now because the Sole E95 will give you a stride length of 20 inches rather than the usual 14 inches to 16 inches. This will win in the tall person category as well. If the stride is short you'll get a choppy elliptical motion. You may also want to take a look at the Nordic Trac Elite 1300 which gets high marks.

Best high-end elliptical

  • This goes to Star Trac Natural Runner elliptical trainer which is packed with features. If you want lots of programs, the ability to grow with your machine as you get bored with one with just a few goodies, and a well made machine then this is it. 

Favorite elliptical at a real budget price for the average person

  • This award goes to the Fitness Quest 1100 HR Eclipse Elliptical
  • The FQ is very inexpensive but gets decent ratings. A better choice though a few hundred dollars more is the Schwinn 430. It is quiet and smooth but the warranty is not great.

Best elliptical to lose weight

  • Octane Fitness Elliptical Cross Trainer

NO MATTER WHICH ONE YOU CHOOSE, BE SMART! ALWAYS ASK THESE QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR PURCHASE.

What is the warranty?

Buying an elliptical machine from Dick's may give you a very different warranty than from Sear's which may give you a very different warranty than from the company that makes the elliptical. Read the fine print before you purchase one. If you are spending $500 which is the low end you still want a warranty but do not expect the same one that you will get if you spend $3000. In fact do not be surprised if it is 90 days.  The warranty though should be around 3 years. If you love an elliptical and get it at a great price but it only has a 1-year warranty I would not let that stop me from buying it. The fact is most elliptical trainers' warranties are on average one year. I have seen warranties of 15 years and even a lifetime but obviously you will pay for that.

It's a good idea if you are buying an inexpensive elliptical trainer to buy the extended warranty offered by the manufacturer.

Test drive it

You may want to buy a machine online. Perhaps you are getting a good deal. That is fine but at least try to get on one similar if you can't find the exact model. You want to know if it feels sturdy, won't tip, and can handle your weight and fitness ability.

What is assembly like?

People tell me all the time that assembling their elliptical hours and hours. I tell people that unless they put machines together for a living pay the extra money if it's available and have someone else put the machine together.

Last thought

Elliptical trainers have come to be thought of as much gentler on one's joints that the pounding they may take on a treadmill. I also find that they burn more calories than walking on a treadmill unless you have that treadmill at a very high angle or are running. They are considered a safe, low impact cardio-vascular (heart/lung) workout.

 

SOURCES
Countless sites and articles were read to determine the best elliptical trainers on the market. The best ones in various categories were culled by the sources below: ConsumerSearch.com, EllipticalHome.com, ezinearticles.com, Consumer Reports, ellipticalhome.com, ellipticaltrainerreview.com, Exercise-equiptment-Review.com and Smooth.

The Pyramid of Hope website is a great resource to see all the available elliptical options. It lists a variety of machines for your home from which to choose. Some top-rated brands you will see include Proform, Icon Health Fitness, NordicTrack, Precor, Life Fitness, Smooth, and Sole.
Best Elliptical Machines


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