Ellipticals are one of the most familiar sights at any fitness center. You can also buy a variety of models for home use. There are many advantages to using elliptical machines. They provide both an upper and lower body workout. You can make the workouts as easy or challenging as you want, making them appropriate for all fitness levels. They also come in a variety of price ranges. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the main things to consider when buying an elliptical machine. Then we’ll recommend a few good choices to fit every budget.
What to Look For
When shopping for an elliptical machine, you’ll want to consider several issues. One will be your price range. Another will be how sturdy and well made the machine is. You don’t want to purchase a unit that’s going to break down after you use it a few times. You also should look at the features it has, including the number of levels it provides. You want to make sure that the machine will help you meet your workout goals.
You can get quite a bit of information by reading online reviews and ratings. This is true even if you end up purchasing the machine offline. Keep in mind that many manufacturers make a wide variety of exercise machines in many price ranges. You have to consider both the make and model of the machine. So, when reading reviews, make sure you’re reading the review for the exact same model you’re considering.
Where to Find Elliptical Machines
There are many choices when you want to buy an elliptical machine, both online and offline. Let’s look at some of your options.
Retail stores. Sporting goods stores, large discount stores and department stores are all likely to carry elliptical machines.
Buy a used machine. You may be able to find a used elliptical machine. These can be found on Craigslist, yard sales or advertised in local publications. Make sure you can test the unit before buying it to make sure it’s in good condition.
Online. The easiest way to find an elliptical machine is to go online and purchase it from a site such as eBay or Amazon. This will give you the widest selection. It’s also where you can usually find the best prices. You can even find used machines online.
Best Ellipticals for Your Budget
The following are some of the best elliptical machines found at different price ranges.
Exerpeutic Aero Air Ellipticals
If you’re looking for a compact elliptical machine that you can buy for around $100, this is a good choice. This model has many of the features of higher priced machines, such as computerized controls and an LCD display that provides information on time, speed, distance and calories. The unit is small enough for apartments and confined spaces. It also comes with transport wheels for easy moving.
Plasma Fit Elliptical Machine Trainer 2 in 1 Exercise Bike
This unit can be used as either an elliptical machine or exercise bike. This is useful if you can’t decide which type of machine you prefer. It’s also an economical model that you can currently buy on Amazon for $139.99. You can set it for forward or backward motion and adjust the resistance to your preference. The LCD screen displays calories burned, distance, time, speed and heart/pulse rate.
Exerpeutic 1000XL Heavy Duty Magnetic Ellipticals with Pulse
This model is a mid-range choice that is priced closer to $200. It provides eight levels of magnetic tension resistance, allowing you to choose a variety of more or less challenging workouts. The machine is also designed to reduce unnecessary movements that make some home units uncomfortable or even unsafe to use. This model is also quiet enough to use while listening to music or watching TV.
NordicTrack E 7.0 Elliptical Trainer
NordicTrack, one of the best known names in fitness, makes this professional quality elliptical trainer. This is a higher end model that will cost you at least $600, but if you’re looking for a heavy duty machine with lots of features, it’s a good investment. This model comes with 20 workout apps that automatically set the machine’s resistance to match your objectives. It also has several adjustable features not found on cheaper units. You can adjust the incline ramp, which allows you to target specific muscle groups. You can even adjust your stride, which you may want to do depending on your height and which muscles you want to work.
Nautilus E614 Elliptical
This is a gym quality elliptical machine that has all of the features you’d expect from a Nautilus model. It has two LCD window displays for up to 13 workouts. The machine comes with 20 levels of resistance and 22 programs as well as grip heart rate measurement. it’s also good if you like to be entertained while working out, as it comes with acoustic chambered speakers to give you high quality sound. These machines can sell for as much as $1,000 but Amazon presently has them for around $750.