Elliptical machines are kind of a hybrid between a stair climber and a cross country ski machine. And they are often used by people instead of (or in addition to) running. They get their name from the fact that your feet move in an elliptical pattern while you are using the machine.
These machines have an internal flywheel that has adjustable amounts of resistance that can be placed against it (depending on your fitness level). The more resistance, the more strenuous the workout will be.
Elliptical machines bring us many great benefits in the home gym and exercise routines of many people. There are several reasons for this.
- Elliptical machines simulate the motion of running but do so without the impact involved in normal running. This is of great benefit to those that may have bad knees (or are recovering from knee surgery) or for some people with other lower back or leg problems.
- In addition to your feet moving, there are also moving handgrips that produce resistance for your arms. This will help build some upper body strength at the same time.
- Since these machines are indoors, your workout is not interrupted if the weather is raining or cold.
Besides, you should check out some management software for the gym. Most people don't know the full potential of Gym management software. Many companies rely on paper calendars for meetings and employees are aware of this. Yet if you have the best management software for your gym business that is small or mid-sized, there is still a lot you can do in the most effective way.
Read more:
Top 10 best exercise without body gym
How to Choose the Best Elliptical Machine Online
Elliptical machines come in many shapes and sizes and at many price levels. You need to determine what is important to you. One person may be looking for the best compact elliptical (one that takes little space or is easier to store), while another may want one with all the bells and whistles regardless of the size. Still others make a decision based mainly on price, so they may be looking for a good affordable elliptical trainer.
Since different people need different features, we will list areas that you may want to consider and let you determine if they are important to you or not.
- Price: As with many products, price is generally an indicator of quality for ellipticals. The best elliptical trainers will tend to be the more expensive ones.
- Weight Capacity: The best home elliptical machine (for you) should be one that will comfortably support anyone in your household that will be using it.
- Stride Length: This is something that many people wouldn’t even think about considering. Depending on how tall or short you are, your stride length will vary. If several people will be using it, it is helpful to be able to adjust the stride length appropriately.
- Adjustability: Repeating any exercise over and over again can (and does) get boring. This includes elliptical trainers. Buying a model that allows for some adjustments can give you some variety as well as allowing additional degrees of difficulty depending on your fitness level. Look for machines that allow you to adjust either the resistance or the incline (or both if you want a serious workout!).
- Sound Level: While not necessarily a “feature”, it may be something you should consider. Do you have a baby, or “picky” neighbors? Or maybe you want to watch TV while you workout (or someone in the next room does). Make sure you check how much noise the machine you are looking to buy produces.
- Ergonomics: The best elliptical machines will work out your arms as well as your legs. But to do this, the placement and angle of the handgrips need to fit your body. Also, check that the footrests aren’t too far apart for your liking. When you are looking at ellipticals, make sure you “try it out for size”.
- Electronics & Programs: Most of the best ellipticals (at least in the mid to upper price ranges), will come with electronic displays. They will show you the details of your workout. Some can even automatically adjust the difficulty for you. Check them out to make sure you get the features that you looking for.
- Size: Most of the ellipticals are about 6 feet long by about 2 1/2 feet wide. Some compact ellipticals will be smaller. You will need some space on at least one side to get on and off the machine. Since they also sit off the floor by a foot or so, you’ll need to make sure you have enough headroom in the room you will be using it in.
- Safety features: Elliptical machines are inherently dangerous for children (especially small children), who could get pinched or stuck between the moving parts. Anyone with young children at home should restrict access to this area. (This is also important to remember when you have guests with small children.)
- High-tech features: Many of the best elliptical trainers now provide docks for mobiles, USB ports, and wireless Internet connectivity. Decide whether you really need these or not.
- Assembly: A quality elliptical machine can weigh close to 500 pounds, so getting it into your vehicle and home may even present a problem. So, be sure to ask about delivery. Many machines will also require at least some partial assembly. Check whether assembly is included with the purchase cost (or it may be available at an additional charge). Even, it might be worth having them do the assembly. It can take an experienced person 1-2 hours to assemble an elliptical and get it working properly. Some of the steps may even require two people.
- Warranty: The best home elliptical machines will provide a warranty that covers major parts for 2-3 years and support for any repairs in the first year. Some even provide a lifetime warranty on the frames.
Price Levels for Various Elliptical Machines
Elliptical trainers come in a broad range of price and quality, and, like many other things, a higher price does not always mean better quality. You should read some reviews before buying an elliptical trainer online. Because the best cheap elliptical may be better than one that costs a couple of hundred dollars more. But, as a general rule, a higher price will usually buy you a better elliptical.
Cheap elliptical trainers start from below $500 to $1000. With top of the line models going over $3000.
In general, you can group ellipticals in levels at about every $500 to $1000. So, for example, if you are looking for the Best Elliptical Under 500, the competition will generally be those machines with prices from $500 to $1000 (or just over). This applies all the way up the price scale.
Best Elliptical Trainer in Each Price Group
Exerpeutic 1000XL Elliptical
This elliptical is designed to give low impact workout on joints. The full name of this machine from the manufacturer is the “Exerpeutic 1000XL Heavy Duty Magnetic Elliptical with Pulse”. That’s a mouth full.
The Exerpeutic 1000XL has a well-balanced smooth flywheel, an easy to read wide digital display, and pads to monitor your heart rate. It is rated for users up to 300 pounds, and should prove to be a good choice for a home elliptical machine and well worthy of being the best affordable elliptical machine. It is the best cheap elliptical machine.
Exerpeutic 5000 Magnetic Elliptical
A quality elliptical should provide a comfortable motion and the Exerpeutic 5000 provides this in good fashion. It has nice large foot pedals separated by only 6”. It also has an 18″ side length that is right in the range for most users. All these features make it our choice for the best elliptical for home use for under $500.
Nautilus E614 Elliptical
This Nautilus model is relatively new, but is already getting great reviews. And with the Nautilus name behind it, it should stand the test. It has all the features most people are looking for, but at the same time may just be the best affordable elliptical machine around. It is one of the best elliptical machines under $1000
Sole Fitness E95 Elliptical Machine
The Sole E95 Elliptical Trainer is approaching the level of what you would find at your local gym. It is a very solid machine while still being very smooth and very customizable. It features a heavy 34-lb flywheel that helps to achieve good momentum in workouts. It has a low noise drive system that provides both forward and reverse elliptical movements. The incline of the ramp is adjustable from 0 to 40 degrees. These features combined mean you will get a complete workout without having to worry about problems with your knees or lower back. It is the best premium elliptical machine for the home gym.
So how do you decide which Elliptical you should be looking at?
That depends on a few variables. One is how much you will be using it (and by how many people). Another is the weight of the people using it. The third is the features you want. And last is what you can afford to pay.
