A-Z Glossary of Elliptical Trainer Machines Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 3 (S-Z)

Self-generating power

An elliptical trainer with self-generating power utilizes the energy of your workout as you exercise to keep the machine’s batteries charged up so you don’t need to continue to replace batteries or plug in the machine.

Shroud

The casing typically surrounding the elliptical trainer’s drive mechanism / flywheel is called the shroud.

Sound system

Some of the mid to high-end elliptical trainers feature a sound system on their consoles, incorporating audio speakers and either MP3 connectivity or Bluetooth connectivity so you can listen to your favorite music as you exercise.

Stabilizers

Elliptical trainers are constructed with stabilizers, metal tubing with feet that extend out from the front and back base of the machine to the left and right, with the purpose of providing added stability and reducing side-to-side motion.  Some of the higher-end machines have the addition of a central stabilizer for extra stability.

Stride length

Different elliptical trainers can have different stride lengths.  The cheaper machines tend to have a shorter stride length (around 14” – 16”) than the higher-end machines, making them more suited to smaller people.  The ideal stride length to have an elliptical trainer for most people would be around 18” but taller people may need a machine with a 20” or more.  Some of the higher-end elliptical machines offer an adjustable stride length so that each individual can get the best fit.

Ad >>Click here to view and buy from a great range of best-selling elliptical trainer machines at LOW PRICES online<<

A-Z Glossary of Elliptical Trainer Machines Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 2 (G-R)

Handlebar controls

Some of the higher-end elliptical trainers will have handlebar controls with which you can change resistance levels at the press of a button instead of having to go into the console.

Heart monitor

The heart-monitor measures your heart-rate as you exercise to help you stay within your target heart-rate zone.  Different elliptical trainers may offer different methods of heart-rate monitoring – either pulse grip sensors located on the handlebars or via a wireless chest strap.

High-inertia flywheel

A flywheel with a high rotational inertia effectively opposes speed fluctuations to ensure smooth consistent momentum.

IFit

IFit is a subscription based service which offers a wide range of additional workouts by qualified fitness trainers, training routes from around the world with Google Maps, online fitness tracking and much more.  Some of the higher-end elliptical trainers are IFit compatible, either directly on their own console’s screen or via an app on your own mobile tablet/phone.  You won’t find this compatibility with the cheaper elliptical machines.

Incline

Some of the higher-end elliptical trainers have an incline feature that allows you to adjust the level of the incline to simulate uphill climbs.

LCD

Liquid crystal display.

Levellers

Levellers are adjustable “feet” on the bottom of the elliptical trainer that enable you to level the machine on uneven floor surfaces.

Ad >>Click here to view and buy from a great range of best-selling elliptical trainer machines at LOW PRICES online<<

A-Z Glossary of Elliptical Trainer Machines Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 1 (A-F)

AC adaptor

The AC adaptor enables you to connect the elliptical trainer to an electric power outlet.  Not all elliptical machines offer this option – some are manually operated and use batteries to operate the console.

Adjustable footplates

Some of the higher-end elliptical trainers have adjustable footplates which allows you to adjust the angle of the footplate for preferred user comfort.

Adjustable stride length

Some of the higher-end elliptical trainers have an adjustable stride length as opposed to most machines’ fixed stride length, allowing individual users to adjust the length of the machine’s stride for a custom fit.

Articulating footplates

Articulating footplates are pivoting foot pedals that adapt to the motion / angle of the elliptical stride, thus replicating a natural fluid striding motion.  The ergonomic design of articulating footplates helps to keep your feet, knees and hips in proper alignment as you exercise, thus helping to reduce the stress and strain on your feet, arches, ankles and other joints.

Bluetooth connectivity

Bluetooth connectivity allows you to wirelessly connect either a telemetric heart-rate monitor or connect to your own mobile device (tablet or phone) for online fitness tracking apps.

Compact design

An elliptical trainer with a compact design typically has a smaller footprint so will take up less space in your home.  But you need to bear in mind that a machine with a smaller footprint will typically have a shorter stride length which may not be suitable for taller people.

Console

The console is the control panel situated on the front of the elliptical trainer from which you can choose workout programs, change resistance levels and view workout data.

Custom workouts

Some of the higher-end elliptical trainers offer custom workouts on their consoles, i.e. it allows you to design your own workout programs.

Ad >>Click here to view and buy from a great range of best-selling elliptical trainer machines at LOW PRICES online<<

Elliptical Trainer Price Range Guide

Why pay more for an elliptical trainer than you need to?!  Many people get blinded by manufacturer’s jargon and so-called wealth of features that not everybody wants or will even use.

Obviously you want an elliptical machine that is up to the task of keeping you fit and your choice could be dependent on a number of options that are important to you such as program range and amount of resistance levels to keep you challenged.

You also need to make sure that you are well within the stated user weight capacity of an elliptical machine to ensure it operates smoothly and efficiently without struggling, otherwise it could result in jerky jolty movements and ultimately break down.  Going hand-in-hand with that is the weight of the flywheel – generally speaking, the heavier the flywheel weight is, the smoother the momentum will be.

Having taken the above considerations into account, one of the most important things to look at is your intended time/usage of the elliptical trainer as this will dictate the overall quality of the machine and this is what we are going to look at with regards to our Price Range Guide.

It makes sense that if you’re looking to perform regular intensive workouts on an elliptical trainer, then it’s highly likely that a lower priced machine will not stand up to the pounding you’ll give it!  On the other hand, if you only intend to use an elliptical machine for occasional light workouts then you don’t need to pay out the extra money on a machine in the higher-end categories.

Ad >>Click here to view and buy from a great range of best-selling elliptical trainer machines at LOW PRICES online<<

So based on intended time/usage, let’s take a look at the table below to see which elliptical trainers typically fall into which price range to help you decide on which category you should be looking at for you own workout needs:

Elliptical Trainer Buying Tips, What to Look for in an Elliptical Machine

With such a wide range of elliptical trainers on the market today, ranging from entry-level up to commercial quality, all with different features and build construction, not to mention the different price ranges, it can be confusing to know where to start when buying an elliptical machine!

Before getting into the specifics, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself which will help to determine what type and category of elliptical trainer you should be looking for, as you may find you don't need to spend as much as you think you do.

Many people make the mistake of paying extra for a machine that's advertised as packed with features that they don't really need or would not use.  On the other hand, some people may opt for buying a cheaper elliptical trainer that's not built to support their intended usage.

So before we get into what to look for in an elliptical trainer, asking yourself the following questions will help you to better understand our buying tips below:

·     How much time do you and anybody else in your household intend to spend working out on the elliptical trainer?

·     How much of a challenge are you looking for in your workouts - do you intend to use the elliptical trainer for a light workout, moderate exercise or high intensity workouts?

·     What is your height and body weight or the highest body weight of anybody in your household who is likely to use the elliptical trainer?

·     How many people in your household are likely to use the elliptical trainer on a regular basis?

·     How much space and where in your home do you intend to place the elliptical trainer?

·     How much money are you realistically prepared to pay for an elliptical trainer?

Now that you've pondered on the above questions, let's take a look at our tips and hints on what to look for when buying an elliptical machine and you'll see why your answers to the above questions are important in helping you in your purchasing decision:

About Elliptical Zone

Welcome to my Elliptical Zone blog.  I hope you find my reviews and articles on elliptical trainer and cross trainer machines helpful and interesting.

I aim to cover a wide range of elliptical trainers across all categories from entry-level to mid-range to high-end for both the home and the gym.  There are many different types of elliptical trainers with varying features which will be explained as we go along.

There's something for everyone from basic elliptical trainers to more advanced machines with a great range of programs, resistance levels and even incline levels for those of you who want more of a challenge!

I aim to include information on both new and older models, comparing features, outlining differences and giving tips and advice to help you decide on which is the best elliptical trainer for your needs and your budget!

Elliptical trainers combine moving handlebars to work your upper body with moving footplates to work your lower body, giving an action similar to skiing.

Elliptical trainers are a great way to get a low-impact total-body workout.  Low-impact means that it's kinder on your joints - the machine supports your body weight and there's no painful jolting movements like you get with other forms of exercise.

Despite being low-impact, elliptical trainers give a very effective cardio workout, helping you to burn calories to lose weight and tone your body.

Fitness tip - just a 30 minute workout on an elliptical trainer could burn around 310 calories for women or around 378 calories for men, depending on the intensity of the workout.

Having your own elliptical trainer in the comfort of your own home means you can workout whenever you want and for as long as you want without having the inconvenience of trekking to the gym first.  This will save you both time and money - no more gym fees to pay!

You can keep up-to-date with all my latest Elliptical Zone articles by subscribing to my posts or by following me in one of the following ways (just click on or tick the relevant box in the left-hand panel of this blog):

• Like me on Facebook
• Follow me on Twitter
• Follow me on Pinterest
• Follow me by email
• Subscribe to my posts

I trust you find my articles and reviews on Elliptical Zone helpful and enjoy reading my posts.  Thank you for your interest!



N.B.  It’s always advisable to consult your doctor or health care professional before undertaking any new exercise regime.


Related articles:

• Elliptical Trainer Buying Tips, What to Look for in an Elliptical Machine
• Elliptical Trainer Price Range Guide
• A-Z Glossary of Elliptical Trainer Machines Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 1 (A-F)
• A-Z Glossary of Elliptical Trainer Machines Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 2 (G-R)
• A-Z Glossary of Elliptical Trainer Machines Jargon, Features & Terminology Explained, Part 3 (S-Z)

Click here to go back to homepage