Elliptical Trainer Buying Tips

Elliptical trainers are a highly versatile cardio machine and one of the few that give you a full body workout by exercising your arms and legs in equal measures. However, when it comes to buying an elliptical trainer, it’s often difficult to know where to start. With hundreds of different models to choose from and each one having their own unique set of features, knowing which one is right for you can seem impossible. In this article I’m going to help simplify the process of choosing an elliptical trainer with four elliptical trainer buying tips.

1) Decide On Your Budget

As is the case with any big purchase, setting a budget for your elliptical trainer is crucial. If you can only afford to spend $500 then there’s no point wasting your time looking at elliptical trainers that cost $1,000+. Similarly, if you have a lot to spend and want a feature packed elliptical trainer, you don’t want to be looking at budget models that won’t do what you need. Instead of looking at all the elliptical trainers, decide how much you’re willing to spend and then narrow your search to models that fall within this price range.

2) Choose The Type Of Elliptical Trainer Design You Want

Once you’ve outlined how much you’re going to spend on your elliptical trainer, the next decision you have to make is what type of elliptical trainer design you want. There are currently three main elliptical designs on the market; front drive, rear drive and center drive.

With front drive elliptical trainers, the drive axle is located in front of you. The benefit of this design is that it’s generally cheaper, lighter and more compact than both rear drive and center drive elliptical trainers. However, front drive elliptical trainers aren’t as smooth as these other two designs and they also have more moving parts which means they generally require more maintenance.

With rear drive elliptical trainers, the drive axle is located behind you. The benefit of this design is that there are fewer moving parts and as a result, rear drive elliptical trainers are smoother to use and require less maintenance. However, rear drive elliptical trainers are also larger and more expensive than front drive elliptical trainers.

With center drive elliptical trainers, the drive axle is located close to the center of the machine which means it’s usually slightly in front of you or slightly behind you. Sometimes center drive elliptical trainers also have two drive axels. The benefit of this design is that your weight is perfectly balanced and as a result, your movements and workout are more efficient. However, center drive elliptical trainers are the most expensive of the three designs.

The type of design you go for will largely depend on your budget and your fitness goals. As a general rule, center drive elliptical trainers provide you with the most efficient workout at a premium price whereas front drive machines still provide you with a good workout but are more of a budget option. Rear drive elliptical trainers fall somewhere in the middle and strike a good balance between price and function.

If you don’t have much to spend or your workout space is limited, you’re best off going for a front drive elliptical trainer. Although they’re the cheapest of the three, if you shop around and do your research, you can still find a front drive elliptical trainer that does everything you need.

However, if you have a bit more to spend and have the space to store a larger machine, you’ll want to look at rear drive and center drive elliptical trainers. If you’re going to be using the elliptical trainer daily as part of an intense workout machine, a center drive elliptical trainer is the best option but if you’re following a less intensive fitness routine, a rear drive elliptical trainer is a good choice.

3) Check The Elliptical Trainer Specifications

After you’ve finalized your type of design and the maximum price you’re willing to pay, the next step is to check out the specifications on the elliptical trainers and started putting together a shortlist. The specifications you look for will depend entirely on what you want out of your elliptical trainer. For example, if you want one that’s easy to store after your workout, look for folding elliptical trainers. If you want to measure improvements in your heart rate, look for elliptical trainers with a heart rate monitor. If workout variety is top of your priority list, look for elliptical trainers with a wide range of programs. Once you’ve decided what specifications are important to you, choose five elliptical trainers based on these specifications and add them to your shortlist.

4) Review Feedback From Existing Customers

Once you have your final five elliptical trainers, there’s just one more thing left to do – review the customer feedback on each of these models and make your final decision. If one model has much more positive feedback than the other four, then it’s an easy decision. However, if all the models have a similar level of positive feedback, go through the customer feedback in detail and write up a list of pros and cons for each of the five. Then review each list carefully and choose the model which matches most of your elliptical trainer requirements.

Summary

I hope this article has helped turn what may seem like a complicated decision into a simpler one. If you break it down into simple steps using the tips above, the entire elliptical trainer buying process becomes a whole lot easier and you’ll be able to find the perfect elliptical trainer for you with minimum effort.