Before You Buy Elliptical Exercise Equipment

A trip to your nearest gym will show that the two most popular machines in use are treadmills and elliptical exercise equipment. Elliptical machines and treadmills are similar in that they both produce an excellent cardiovascular workout. Ellipticals are unique in that they allow for the use of more muscle groups than a treadmill. Depending on the flywheel tension, ellipticals can also offer a decent strength building exercise regimen as well - something that a treadmill doesn't offer.

If you have never been on any elliptical exercise equipment before, the machine can seem intimidating at first, and the first few times the motion may feel awkward. Elliptical machines are built to mimic the body's natural movements and provide a very low to no impact workout. Unlike a treadmill where every time your feet land your body absorbs the shock, the foot pedals on an elliptical machine provide continuous support. This support assists the ankles, knees, hips, and lower back joints and provides the low impact nature of an elliptical workout.

Using elliptical exercise equipment provides both a lower and an upper body workout provided you make use of the hand rails. The biggest mistake new users of elliptical machines make is not integrating the upper body into their workout. Rather than using the stationary hand rests, allow your arms and upper body to add to the motion of the machine through the moving hand rails and you will see an increased benefit and full body toning from regular elliptical workouts.

How Much Can I Expect to Spend on Elliptical Exercise Equipment?

When choosing elliptical exercise equipment for the home, one of the first concerns many people have is how much will an elliptical machine cost?  Obviously you should only spend what you feel comfortable with.  When purchasing an elliptical machine, the cost and the length of the warranty are often correlated.  

You can find cheap ellipticals in the range of $100-$400 which have minimal parts and usually offer no resistance.  If you purchase a cheap elliptical, the parts are often cheap as well and the machine won't tend to last very long.  The other problem with cheap ellipticals is that often they don't have a flywheel at all or the flywheel has a very low level of resistance.  This type of elliptical exercise equipment may offer a decent cardiovascular workout for someone who is not in top shape but won't offer any strength training or any value to someone who is already in good cardiovascular condition.  Many cheap ellipticals are completely collapsible because of the lack of many parts.

If you are looking for an elliptical machine for moderate use by one person, the best models will usually run from $700-$900.  These ellipticals will include a flywheel with a decent amount of resistance, a smooth and quiet motion, a computerized system that allows for setting different elliptical workouts, and a reasonably long warranty period on the frame, parts, and labor.  

If you are considering an elliptical machine for vigorous workouts or for regular use by more than one person, you will need a higher-end model to stand up to the use.  Elliptical exercise equipment in this high end range will run anywhere from $1400 up.  These models will have everything in the mid-range plus offer computer systems with more options, a longer warranty period, and the sturdiest construction available.

How Do I Choose Elliptical Exercise Equipment?

After determining your price range and what is appropriate for you, the next things to consider are the comfort of the machine in question, the space required to set it up at home, the tension provided by the flywheel, and the weight the elliptical machine can support.  

When purchasing any elliptical exercise equipment online, its always a good idea to visit some local stores if possible and try out any models you may be considering.  Both the stride length and the tension available on the flywheel create a different feeling motion on various elliptical machines.  It is generally considered most comfortable to have about an 18" minimum stride length.  If you are very tall, a longer stride may feel more comfortable to you.  A 25-30lb flywheel in a mid-ranged elliptical machine is considered comfortable by most people.  

When it comes to the amount of space used, elliptical machines tend to take up less floor space than treadmills do in your home.  Although the machine looks fairly complex, companies have done a good job of making them fairly easy to install once you get the box home - usually one requiring a screw driver to complete the installation.  If you experience any difficulties, don't hesitate to contact the customer service numbers listed for the product you decide on.