| Purchasing an elliptical trainer is an investment. It's | | | | incline ramp that can add a cross training |
| actually a rather large investment, not only | | | | dimension to your elliptical workouts. The steeper |
| financially, but also more importantly, in your | | | | the incline the more stress placed on your calf, |
| health and fitness. You want to make the right | | | | hamstring, and gluteal muscles. Models such as the |
| buying decision since so much is at stake. I've | | | | commercial grade Precor EFX 546i and the |
| heard about too many people who purchase the | | | | low-end Reebok RL 645 from ICON Health and |
| wrong elliptical trainer and then wind up getting | | | | Fitness both come with incline ramps. Decide for |
| permanently sidetracked and discouraged from | | | | yourslef if this is an essential feature. |
| their carefully planned fitness goals. So please take | | | | *Console -- displays come in 2 basic types: LCD |
| a few moments to read these key points to find | | | | or LED matrix. Some even combine both. The |
| out what to look for in elliptical machines: | | | | keypad is typically a series of membrane |
| *Price -- if you've read any of my other articles | | | | switches to control resistance and select program |
| on evaluating elliptical trainers you will know that | | | | options. Most elliptical consoles display the essential |
| I'm not a fan of cheap ellipticals. The best advice I | | | | data such as elapsed time, calories or energy |
| can give you is to stay well clear of ellipticals that | | | | burned, pace, distance, resistance and/or incline |
| retail for under $500. It may seem to go against | | | | level, and heart rate if supported. |
| your grain, but the best value in home ellipticals | | | | The console may require separate batteries and |
| are between $1000 and $2000. You can snag | | | | or be powered from the main power connection |
| some very high-quality home ellipticals on sale for | | | | to the elliptical. The important thing is that the |
| around $1300. | | | | electronics behind the console be reliable. |
| *Manufacturer Reputation -- spend some time to | | | | Unfortunately, there are too many stories about |
| research the major manufacturers of elliptical | | | | faulty electronics in some units that cause the |
| machines. Some of the top names are: Precor, | | | | display to malfunction or fail altogether. |
| Life Fitness Smooth Fitness, Tunturi, New Balance, | | | | *Programs -- most elliptical trainers come with at |
| and all of the brands from ICON Health and | | | | least a few built-in programs. Many others come |
| Fitness such as ProForm, Reebok, NordicTrack, | | | | with more than you may ever use. And it's not |
| and Weslo. Investigate the quality and repair | | | | just the expensive models that have lots of |
| statistics for their machines and also the | | | | programs. Training programs can add variety and |
| responsiveness of their customer service | | | | incentive to your workouts and models with a |
| departments. Sometimes bigger isn't always | | | | heart rate control feature can dynamically vary |
| better in this market! | | | | the resistance to keep your heart rate in a |
| *Resistance -- there are two types of resistance: | | | | training zone. Call me boring, but I usually opt for |
| belt friction and magnetic friction. Belt friction is | | | | the plain old vanilla "Manual" mode. I'll sometimes |
| found on low-end models and should be avoided. | | | | add my own variety by changing my pace to |
| It's both noisy and unreliable. Magnetic resistance | | | | perform interval training. This all comes down to |
| comes in three varieties: manual, motorized and | | | | personal preferences. |
| eddy current brake. | | | | *Warranty -- like price, the warranty should be a |
| All use the concept of creating friction on a cast | | | | key indicator of the quality of the elliptical trainer. |
| iron flywheel via a magnetic field. Where the | | | | If a manufacturer can only bring them self to |
| motorized version moves a pair of permanent | | | | offer a 90-day warranty on parts and labor, then |
| magnets closer or further from the flywheel using | | | | don't bother with their products. |
| an electric motor, the eddy current brake | | | | At a minimum, you should receive a 1-year |
| increases and decreases the magnetic field with a | | | | warranty on parts and labor. Many manufacturers |
| series of coils that comprise an electromagnet. | | | | offer very long warranties on the frame, up to 15 |
| The eddy current brake is found on higher-end | | | | years or even lifetime. However, the frame on |
| models and is preferable since there are no | | | | well-made ellipticals should last a very long time |
| moving parts to wear out as in the motorized | | | | provided the welds are good. |
| braking system. | | | | It's the drive mechanism and motorized |
| *Stride Length -- stride length is a critical | | | | components that take the beating and they are |
| specification in elliptical trainers. A few inches in | | | | expensive to replace. I usually don't recommend |
| this dimension will make the difference between | | | | purchasing extended warranties for anything, but I |
| your elliptical trainer feeling like a choppy stepper | | | | make the exception when it comes to elliptical |
| or a smooth and gliding elliptical trainer. Don't settle | | | | trainers. |
| for anything under 17 inches. Some models, such | | | | These items are a few of the key points to |
| as the Smooth CE, have an adjustable stride | | | | consider when evaluating an elliptical trainer. There |
| length to accommodate people of different | | | | are several others that space does not allow me |
| heights. | | | | to cover here, but you should also take the time |
| *Incline Ramp -- some models have an adjustable | | | | to educate yourself on them as well. |