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:
Workout Time & Intensity Considerations on an Elliptical Trainer
Entry-level elliptical trainers are generally the lowest-priced machines and tend to be smaller in overall size with a lighter flywheel weight. These are ok for light workout use, i.e. 10-20 minutes a day for around 3 times a week or so. The lighter flywheel weight and smaller footprint makes most entry-level elliptical machines more suited for smaller and lighter people (see info below on flywheel weight, user weight and stride length considerations).
A mid-range elliptical trainer would be better suited to someone looking for an average daily workout of around 30 minutes a day.
High-end elliptical trainers are designed for more intensive workouts like HIIT training, longer timed workouts and multiple users. Higher-end elliptical trainers tend to have a heavier flywheel weight and a more heavy-duty construction designed to cope with the more intensive use and heavier user weight capacity.
Elliptical Trainer Flywheel Weight
Generally speaking, the heavier the flywheel is on an elliptical trainer, the more smoother and consistent the momentum of operation will be. This is because a heavier flywheel creates higher inertia to keep the drive system turning. How smooth the motion is will also depend on your body weight to some extent.
It makes sense then, that if you intend to use the elliptical trainer for intensive training or if a heavy person is going to be using the machine, then it's important to buy a machine with a higher flywheel weight to prevent the machine from struggling with the extra weight or heavier usage.
Elliptical Trainer's Drive System
An elliptical trainer's drive system goes hand-in-hand with the flywheel and is situated either at the front or at the back of the machine, known as Front-drive or Rear Drive systems.
With Front-Drive systems, the drive axle is located at the front of the elliptical machine. This type of drive system typically gives the user a "leaning forward" feeling and a stride that feels more like stair climbing but with a much smoother motion, i.e. without the abrupt motion of stair climbing.
With Rear-Drive systems, the drive axle is located at the rear of the elliptical machine. This type of drive system typically gives the user a more "centered" feel and gives a more natural stride that feels more like walking or jogging, resulting in less strain on your back.
Rear-drive elliptical trainers typically have less moving parts and require less maintenance than front-drive machines but are generally more expensive too. Some of the more expensive elliptical trainers also utilize sealed bearings instead of the shielded bearings found on the cheaper machines, which help to keep the dirt and dust out of the drive systems.
It's always best, if you can, to try out the different drive systems before you buy an elliptical trainer to see which one suits you better as the different drive systems work better for different people depending on your physiology.
Overall, any elliptical trainer you buy should feel smooth in operation. Although you can expect most elliptical machines to make some noise, there shouldn't be any loud squeaks or rubbing noises.
User Weight Limit of an Elliptical Trainer
It's important to take note of an elliptical trainer's stated user weight limit and make sure you don't exceed it to prevent the machine from struggling. The entry-level elliptical trainers tend to have a lower user weight limit than the high-end machines. An entry-level elliptical trainer for example may have a user weight limit of around 200 lbs compared to say around 300 or 400 lbs on a higher-end machine.
If you happen to be on the edge of an elliptical trainer's stated user weight limit, then ideally you would be better to go for the next model up. Being on the limit or exceeding the user weight limit of an elliptical trainer is likely to result in a jolty, unsteady and squeaky workout as the machine struggles to cope with the extra weight and it may even break down.
Elliptical Trainer's Stride Length
Lower-end elliptical trainers tend to offer a shorter stride length (14" or 16") while the higher-end ones generally offer a longer stride length or even an adjustable one. Whilst the shorter stride length may be ideal for smaller people, ideally you should be looking for an elliptical trainer with an 18" stride length minimum. Taller people may need an elliptical trainer with a 20" or more stride length. If there are several people in your household who are likely to be using the elliptical trainer, then a machine with an adjustable stride length would obviously make sense to accommodate the different user sizes.
Elliptical Trainer's Console, Programs, Resistance Levels, Incline, Heart-Rate Monitor & Other Features
Elliptical Trainers consoles can vary considerably from basic on an entry-level machine to advanced on the higher-end machines. Most consoles will have an LCD display screen although that can differ between machines from a basic black/white display to a blue backlit display that is easier on the eyes.
Most consoles will display at least your basic workout data such as time, speed, distance, calories and heart-rate (if the machine has heart-rate monitoring). The more expensive machines will also offer the ability to transfer your workout data to online fitness tracking apps on your own mobile device via either a USB port or Bluetooth connectivity.
Some of the entry-level elliptical trainers may not have many, if any, workout programs while the higher-end machines can have a great range of programs to keep you challenged and motivated. However, the truth is many people tend to stick to basic workouts so you may be able to save yourself some hard-earned cash if you don't need or are not likely to use the extra programs on a more expensive machine!
Most elliptical trainers also offer a range of resistance levels which can vary between machines. Again if you're just looking for a basic workout, then it may not be worth paying out the extra cash for a machine that offers a high range of resistance levels that you probably won't use. But for those of you who are looking for a more varied, challenging and intensive workout, then the more programs and resistance levels the better!
Some of the higher-end consoles may also offer you the option of "custom workouts", a feature that allows the user to program their own routines.
In addition to programs and resistance levels, some of the higher-end elliptical trainers also offer a range of incline levels for additional challenge, simulating uphill climbs.
If there's more than one person in your household who is likely to use the elliptical trainer on a regular basis, then be sure to check the amount of user profiles the console allows you to store. The lower-end models are more likely to only offer 1 user profile, while the mid-range ones may offer 2 and the higher-end machines may offer up to 4 user profiles. This feature tracks and stores your workout data, so you can start where you left off without losing your overall stats such as time, speed, distance etc.
Some of the cheaper elliptical trainers may not offer any kind of heart-rate monitoring but many of the mid-range machines offer at least contact pulse-grip heart-rate monitoring while the more expensive machines will typically offer telemetry heart-rate monitoring with a wireless chest strap for more accurate measurements. Some machines may offer both types of heart-rate monitoring so you can choose which suits you best.
Size, Weight & Power of an Elliptical Trainer Machine
Elliptical trainer machines can vary in size and weight enormously! Remember to bear in mind that a machine may look smaller situated in a big store compared to how it will look in your own home. It stands to reason that it's important to check out the dimensions of a machine and to measure the space you have in your home to put it in before buying. If you don't have much space in your home, it may be worth considering a compact elliptical machine but remember to check out the machine's stride length to make sure it will be suitable for you.
The weight of an elliptical trainer can vary greatly too. As previously mentioned, different elliptical trainers come with different flywheel weights along with different build constructions which all affect the overall weight of the machine. Generally, the heavier the machine/flywheel, the smoother and more sturdy the machine will be. However, you need to bear in mind the heaviness of the machine when it's delivered to your home, especially if you intend to assemble it yourself. If you purchase a really heavy machine, it's best to assemble it in the room in which you intend to use it otherwise you may struggle to relocate it. Most machines do come with mounted transport wheels to help with moving them about, but you may still find this difficult if it's a heavier machine.
Some elliptical trainers are manually operated, i.e. self-powered while others need electricity for them to work so you'll need to check what space you have depending on where you need to site the machine. Self-powered elliptical trainers can be placed anywhere in your home without having to worry about finding a space near a wall/power socket!
A Guide on Elliptical Trainers Price Ranges & Warranty
As a guide, most elliptical trainers typically fall into one of the following price ranges:
Entry-level elliptical trainers for light use ($0 - $399)
Light to moderate use ($400 - $699)
Moderate / average use ($700 - $999)
Average use ($1000 - $1499)
Average / higher use ($1500 - $1999)
Higher use ($2000 - $2499)
Intensive use ($2500 - $2999)
Commercial use ($3000 +)
The warranty offered on an elliptical trainer can also vary greatly depending on the manufacturer and as you would expect depending on the price range and build quality the elliptical trainer falls into. A typical entry-level elliptical machine would generally have a small warranty period of around 90 days, whereas the mid-range and higher-end machines may have up to 10 years or even sometimes a lifetime warranty on the frame, and maybe a 1, 2 or 3 year warranty on parts/electronics. Some companies may also offer an extended warranty for a little extra cash if this is important to you.
To help keep your elliptical trainer in tip-top condition, remember to follow the manufacturer's instructions for safe use and adhere to the information given by the manufacturer for general maintenance such as cleaning and lubricating your machine.
N.B. It's always advisable to consult your doctor or health care professional before undertaking any new exercise regime.
*Prices/discounts/shipping indicated correct at time of writing/publishing and may be subject to change anytime.
Related articles:
- 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)
- About Elliptical Zone
- Teeter FreeStep LT1 Recumbent Cross Trainer Elliptical, Review
- Schwinn 411 versus Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer Machine, Comparison Review
- Schwinn A40 versus Schwinn 411 Elliptical Trainer, Comparison Review
- Schwinn A40 Compact Elliptical Trainer Machine, Review
- Schwinn Compact 411 Elliptical Trainer Machine, Review
- Schwinn 470 versus Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer Machines Compared
- Nautilus E614 versus Nautilus E616 Elliptical Trainers Compared
- Sole E98 Elliptical Trainer Machine for Home & Light Commercial, Review
- Sole E95 Elliptical Trainer, Review
- Sole E55 versus Sole E25 Elliptical Trainer, Comparison Review
- Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer, Review
- Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E1405 Flywheel Elliptical Trainer, Review
- Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3919 Premium Cardio Climber Stepping Elliptical Machine, Review
Click here to go back to homepage
No comments:
Post a Comment