Advice about Ellipticals

In my experience with my elliptical... if you're short, don't get one. I fought with mine for almost 3 years and thought there was something wrong with me. I bought a treadmill a few months ago, and it turns out it wasn't me... I'm much better off with the treadmill.

If you're not short, well I'll leave that for someone else! :ohwell:

Love using ellipticals! Recommend that what ever you get it should incline. I don't get my heart rate up as high as I want to without the incline

I don't know anything so don't let anything below lead you to believe differently:


Buy the best quality (not highest price) one you can possibly afford. You'll thank yourself later.

Look for a stride length ~20 inches. Or an adjustable stride.

Go to a exercise store that sells different makes and models (not Sears, etc...) and try out the Top of the line of each model they have all the way down to bottom of the choices. You will be able to tell the difference right away. The low end machines even feel 'hinky' when they are brand new, and will not hold up in the long run.

I went for a mid range Vision Fitness X30 with the low end computer head (I have an HRM so I don't require all them bells and whistles).

This is mine: http://www.athomefitness.com/Vision-Fitness-X30-Elliptical-p-16873.html

Hope this helps.

Also when you get it make a point to stay off your tip-toes when you are using it. Many people claim numbness in the toes after about 20 to 30 minutes. I found this too, but research (for me) showed that I was up on my toes. Now I concentrate on rolling my foot heel-toe.

Good luck to you. An Elliptical is a great tool that will increase your workout/calorie burn in less time with lower impact to your joints.

:flowerforyou:

afternoon Pinup.

are you in the UK or somewhere else?

Obviously brands differ from country to country, I spend all my time on cross trainers but I have dodgy ankles so I cant use a treadmill.

I agree with UKhennin, unfortunately you do have to spend a bit of money on one to get a good one, ignore the ones in your run of mill sports shops in town, you need to go to a place that has them on show and unfortunately pay a bit more for.

This site is where I bought mine from http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/ and I buy all my free weights and equipment.
Here is also the one I use which I cant fault at all. I love it and use it for 2 hours a day. http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/standard_elliptical_trainers/vision_fitness_elite_x6100_hr_folding_elliptical_/2915_p.html this is £1000

They deal with people that are serious bout keeping fit and also supply 90% of the big name gyms in the UK. so you know there stuff is quality.

First off, no one can afford commercial CT’s so you really do need to shop around.

The biggest difference is the stride length.

In my opinion the bigger the better mine is 19.75 and the ones I use at my gym are 20+
This is the effectively size of the stride and the Wheel on the back or front. For me the bigger the wheel the bigger the stride length and the more natural it will be.

Some of the cheaper ones go up 16 stride length and you feel like your running on the spot, not healthy at all and screws with your knees.

Look at the length of the machine as well, being 6ft tall if I get on a short machine my knees hit the arm bars, not a problem for shorter people but can happen.

I am not going to recommend a brand cause each person is individual I have stood on machines worth £2500 in this shop that they supply to gyms and they feel so unnatural.

My best advice is

Spend more than £500
Get one with a high stride figure
MOST IMPORTANTLY DON’T BUY ONE TILL YOU TRY IT. (it has to feel natural to you) it wont get better with time.

All the other gizmos are added bonuses, programmable units, heart rate monitors etc.

Hope this helps.