Elliptical Machine Buying Guide

The purchase of any fitness equipment is an extremely important decision. This is a product that you need to be robust, suit your fitness needs, and be worth the initial cost. Elliptical trainers are no different, though you will need to understand the technology available and the advantages of the equipment in order to make an informed buying decision.

There are many types of elliptical trainers available to buy nowadays. They come with various features. For example: front drive, rear drive, center drive as well as newer technology featuring Adjustable Motion Trainers and more. The features you want will depend on your fitness needs as well as your budget.

Drive System

Rear drive ellipticals were the first type available, and they are still dominant today as a result of their feel and reliability. They usually provide a much smoother operation that a front drive does not offer. For a rear drive machine you should be expecting to pay around $3000, though companies such as Kettler, Smooth Fitness and Diamondback all make good quality machines for under $2000.

However, rear drive is not to everyone’s personal taste, and there has been an increase in front drive machines in recent years. The structure of the machine means they usually require much more maintenance than a rear drive machine, and are harder to clean. As such you should go for a quality brand such as Octane. Front drive machines also provide a much flatter motion, meaning that you will need a longer stride. A 20” stride on a front drive machine is the equivalent to around 18” on the rear drive elliptical. If you are looking for a harder workout the rear drive may be for you though the front drive may appeal to those with lower fitness levels.

Stride Length

Stride lengths will vary from person to person. You should feel comfortable, which is why it is a good idea to test equipment before making a decision. The elliptical manufacturer will probably recommend a suitable stride length based on your height. As mentioned above, front drive ellipticals will require a greater stride length than the rear drive equivalents.

Resistance System

There are a number of resistance systems included in elliptical trainers, and brands may use their own terminology designed to fool the customer into thinking they are getting a better quality system, so carefully check the specifications. Resistance systems range according to brand and also within a brand according to price. The cheapest will be a manually-adjustable magnetic resistance. The next up is the particle break system (electromagnetic) which can support present programs but will provide slow resistance changes. The highest quality resistance system is the eddy-current system, which uses a belt-driven chrome flywheel turning at fast speeds. As you change resistance a magnetic breaking device moves closer to the flywheel, producing a silent and responsive system. High end units will use this system, usually costing more than $2000.

Extended Warranties

You will not need to buy an extended warranty. If you shop around you will be able to find a machine that already comes with a long warranty, often a lifetime warranty on the breaking system, so there is no point in buying a cheap system which only offers a short warranty. Good quality manufacturers will offer a long warranty as a sign of a quality machine.

Other Features

Much fitness equipment uses heart rate control to manage the level of the workout, including elliptical trainers. Your heart rate determines the degree of resistance on the machine. This is a standard feature on many elliptical trainers, where resistance can be automatically adjusted. High end trainers will have more complex heart rate programs.

Another feature of high-end ellipticals is adjustable motion. Adjustable motion ellipticals will allow the user to make the machine go into multiple paths, providing up to 12 completely different motions on the same machine. This is a technology that will soon make traditional ellipticals obsolete, so it will be a great buy if you can afford it. The Precor version costs $8100, which has been outdone by Smooth Fitness who offer a 12 motion machine within the range of $3500-$4000.

Where to Buy Ellipticals

Mass merchants can offer you very reasonable and competitive prices. However, they will generally offer low-end options and sales people are unlikely to know the technical details of their products.

A better option will usually be a fitness specialty store, where you can try the products to get a real feel of what you are looking for. However, you will also have the choice to use many of these products with a 30-day trial which is an extremely good idea. Sales people will be able to help you find what you are looking for, but remember that they are on commission and looking to sell you the most expensive model they can.

Many brands of elliptical trainer are now available to buy online. This is a great way to shop around and find the best price for a particular product. You can also use these websites to research the machines, and find genuine user reviews. However, you cannot try the product first but you may still opt for a free trial. The product will be delivered to you at your convenience, and you can simply have it picked up if you choose not to purchase. One of the top online selling brands is Smooth Fitness.

Final Thoughts

When purchasing an elliptical trainer you will need to consider whether it will fit your body size and others who may use it and whether it feels right for you. You will be looking to pay over $1000 for any kind of quality. Take the time to test out a few machines before you buy, even if you ultimately decide to purchase online.

Hope that helps guys and be sure to check out our buying used elliptical guide.