Buying an elliptical machine is an expensive decision so it is important that you find out which features are important. There are so many varying brands of ellipticals with countless feature differences and vast price ranges. As you shop for your new elliptical exercise machine, be sure to read all the reviews you can and carefully weigh all the different features.
Get serious about what your specific price range is to narrow down your selection from the get go and to avoid spending too much time looking at something that is too cheap or too expensive. Decide which features are a must—if you need heart rate control, which stride length is best and which features you can do without. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you shop around for a good elliptical machine.
Price
Prices of elliptical trainers range from as little as $200 all the way to $5,000 gym quality machines. The less expensive machines may not last as long or have as many features, but you certainly don’t want to overspend when you could get a quality machine for less. How much you spend on an elliptical machine is completely up to you, and spending less doesn’t mean you’re cutting yourself short of a fine piece of exercise equipment.
Console
The bulk of what you are paying for when you purchase an elliptical machine is the computer display so if you can deal with a backlit LCD screen instead of the dotted matrix LED, you can save a little money.
Stride Length
More expensive machines will have an elliptical stride length of at least 18” and you do not want to forfeit this feature. The stride length is directly affected by your body height so you must choose the right stride length to get a good fit.
Front or Rear Drive
This is a personal preference. Don’t get hung up on the position of the flywheel, unless its between your legs, pushing your feet farther apart.
Resistance
Most elliptical trainers do not offer incline but you can still vary your workout with different resistance levels applied to the flywheel with magnetic or belt tension. Electromagnetic breaking systems are found on the higher end ellipticals and mean less wear and tear on the parts.
Programs
A few built in programs are nice for mixing up your routine but you certainly don’t need that many.
Heart Rate Monitor and Heart Rate Control
A heart rate monitor is a must for monitoring your work effort but if it doesn’t come standard on an elliptical machine you are considering you can always purchase a heart rate control watch. And if any of the machines you are considering come with heart rate control (HRC) programs that’s an added bonus.
Upper Body Workout
Most ellipticals come with moving handle bars along with stationary hand. Even if you don’t care for an upper body work out, we recommend purchasing a machine with this feature so you have it available for a full body workout when you want it.
Pedals and Spacing
Make sure the pedals fit your foot nicely, both the size of the pedal and the spacing between them.
Reverse Motion
Most pedals will allow you to move in reverse motion to work different muscles in your legs. This is a great feature and it was a must have for my wish list.
Construction
Make sure the elliptical trainer will support the heaviest user in your household. Even a heavier fly wheel doesn’t mean the foot pedals and parts will support someone that is heaver than the suggested weight limit. Cheaper ellipticals may not feel as sturdy and may even feel wobbly. If you have small children you may also want to check for additional safety components, including locking features to disable moving parts or protective coverings that hide the flywheel.
Footprint
Make sure you have space in your house for the elliptical by measuring out the space for it.
Warranty
The best warranties offer a guarantee the parts and frame after a considerable amount of time owning the equipment.
Buy Online or Offline
There are some machines you just cannot buy online because of dealer agreements but you can get some really good deals when you purchase online.
Shipping
Ellipticals are pretty large machines usually weighing over 150 lbs and the really good ones may weigh, 200 - 300 lbs or even more. Whether you purchase your machine at a specialty fitness store, a mass retail store, or online, you’re going to have to be able to get it home.
For some of the cheaper machines, getting it onto a truck and into your home can be done with a few strong people and maybe the help of a dolly. Depending on the size of the muscles you have on hand, you may not have any trouble. If you purchase online, be aware that free shipping usually only means curb side. You have to pay extra to having someone bring it into your home. And most specialty stores will also charge at least $100 extra for delivery and in home setup. If you don’t have the transportation or the required muscles available to handle this job, it is worth the money and will save you a headache.
