At one time the only place that you could use an ellitptical was at the gym or health club. As the elliptical became more popular more brands started to offer this piece of fitness equipment for home use. Originally the prices were fairly high but as ellipticals became more mainsteam the prices dipped lower and lower.
Now there are ellipticals in all price ranges and features.
Ellipticals provide a great range of motion for a great workout. They challenge endurance and coordination and really help keep you sharp.
An elliptical trainer can only provide those benefits, though, if it contains some must-have features.
In any piece of fitness equipment safety comes first. That's provided by a sturdy frame and quality parts. It's no accident that those attributes also give you a good deal for your money. Look for an elliptical made from good steel alloy and high-impact plastic or composites.
The handrails should feel stable and secure and the stepping pads should be able to withstand a users weight that is higher than your own.
At the same time, all those parts should be smooth and quiet. That isn't just a matter of not being annoyed while you listen to music. Quality parts are quiet and vice-versa. They're reliable and long-lasting and continue to perform like new even after years of use.
But beyond the basics, ellipticals have several unique features that will distinguish a great one from a merely good one.
Adjustable resistance and inclines will help you get the most out of your workout. As you use the machine over a period of time your strength and coordination levels will improve. That's the whole idea. The machine should let you start out at your level, but keep up with you as you rise.
One important feature that ties into that is stride length. Since ellipticals, by design, allow you to emulate walking they have to be set for some stride length. Get one appropriate to your height, leg length and natural stride. Some are as short as 14 inches and as long as 27 inches, but 21 inches is the average. The taller the person is the longer the stride should be. This is especially true if the user has long legs.
Even though you need the right stride, be prepared to stretch yourself a bit. You don't want to feel awkward forever. With an elliptical many people do at first - that's natural. But you want the machine to have the capacity to challenge you. A longer stride length is a factor in making that possible.
An elliptical with an adjustable incline is very nice to have but you should expect to pay more for it. With an adjustable incline you are able to target different areas of your body for a more effective workout for your body type. The incline also give you a better cardio workout as you are fighting gravity.
The arm handles (not present on all models, but very handy to have - these are called crosswalk ellipticals) let you get a good upper body workout while you walk. If their resistance can be adjusted, that's a great feature. Here again they should let you work them at your beginning level, but not be too easy as you gain muscle.
The warranty should also be something that you look closely at. As with other warranties you are looking for a long warranty and one that covers the frame and motor. Once which also covers labor is a plus.
Once you find en elliptical with features that you need, you can then move on to features that are "nice to have" such as water bottle holder, workout programs that are expandable or ones that allow you to program them for added workouts, a cooling fan and a music docking station. Some even come with small televisions.
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