Elliptical Trainer Guide

Precor

As stated on our home page, the purpose of an Elliptical Trainer or Eliptical Trainer is to give you cardiovascular exercise without the jarring impact and wear and tear on your knees, back, hip and joints associated with running, jogging, treadmills and other exercise machines. Get the right Elliptical Machine by using our
5-Point Guide:

1. Comfort

The reason you're considering an Elliptical Trainer is for a more comfortable Cardiovascular work-out. I've tried many machines that for whatever reason just don't feel right. Some of them feel jerky or make my legs and hips feel out of place. The first Elliptical Trainer I ever tried was the Commercial Precor at my Gym. This was a very solid, robust machine that seemed to feel just perfect for my body and arms motion. Not all of the other gym members agreed. To them, some of the other brands, like Life Fitness, felt better. Our bodies are all different shapes and sizes. So, the key is to choose one that feels as natural as possible to you. The only way to find the one that feels comfortable is to try them out first. Trying out an Elliptical Trainer before you buy is a must. Keep in mind, any new Elliptical Machine does take some getting used to when you first try it, so give it some time before you make your final judgment.

2. Leg Stride

Elliptical Machines come with different leg stride lengths. The stride length is simply the distance in inches between your front and back legs when they are fully extended. Most Elliptical Strides range from 16 - 21 inches.  18" works good for people of average height. If you're a little Taller or Shorter, the 18' stride might feel uncomfortable. Height isn't everything, so it's important to try it out first. Some elliptical machines have an adjustable Stride Length, but those are usually quite expensive.

3. Arm Motion

While Arm Motion is not something that is usually measured in terms of distance, it is similar in importance to stride length. If your arms are not able to comfortably extend along with your legs, you might feel stress, choppiness and unease during your workout. I've noticed discomfort around my elbows on certain Elliptical Machines that don't match my arm motion. You want to be able to smoothly and comfortably extend your arms as you are exercising and the only way to measure this is by trying it out. An Eliptical Trainer that is right for you, will make your arms and legs feel as though they are in harmony with your entire body as you exercise.

4. Programs/Features

As with just about any modern machine, Elliptical Trainers come with some attractive technology to make your work-out more interesting. By far the most important feature is a pulse or heart-rate monitor. You will definitely want to measure your pulse in order to achieve and maintain the proper aerobic range for your age and weight. Obviously, a clock,  calorie counter and timer are important and it's nice to be able to know your speed and Stride RPM. Most Elliptical Trainers come with at lease a few, if not several programmable workouts which vary the resistance in sets of timed intervals, tracks and/or courses to make your work-out more interesting.  I've found these performance measurements and programs keep your work-out interesting and can help make the time go by faster. Resistance  is achieved in a couple of different ways; usually by magnetic or eddy-type belts.  Just choose the one that feels the most smooth and quiet.  Also, the programmable features will help you set workout goals and monitor your progress. Of course there are a few other fancy bells and whistles that come with some  elliptical machines such as iPod docks, speakers and adjustable electronic fans that blow cool air on you.

5. Strength/Durability

Not only is it important to have a machine that will last and hold up for a few years, but you want it to be stable, robust and sturdy while you exercise. While home elliptical trainers are not built like the commercial machines, they still can vary quite a bit in how durable and strong they feel while you workout. The heavier you are, the more important it is to get one that is solid, sturdy and stable. Elliptical Machines can be front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. Generally, the rear-wheel drive models offer better stability. Again, this is something you that can be subjective from user to user, so it is important to try and judge for yourself.

Elliptical Trainer Guide Fitness Tips and Ratings

Elliptical Trainer Guide Reviews

This guide is basically a nutshell of what to expect and look for in an elliptical trainer. The proof is in the pudding. The greatest resource we have is the reviews of other people who have actually used these exercise machines. You are now ready to take a look at the Review Section: Elliptical Trainer User Reviews

What you see here today may be slightly different the next day. So, if you have not chosen an elliptical trainer, please check back soon as new models often do show up on either Amazon or eBay Auction.