subject: All About Elliptical Machines [print this page] A newbie in the fitness industry, the elliptical machines have paved their way up high to the top at a very fast pace thanks to their awesome features. Be it safety, effectiveness or the price factor, elliptical machines have excelled in all departments. A total body workout without using different fitness machines is the secret behind the success of such machines in the market today.
The Basic Features:
Choice of Defiance - This refers to the selection of resistance system on your elliptical machine. While the low-end machines come with a manual selection of resistance level, in the mid-range variety you can find the motorized brake version. The top-level machines come with eddy current brake system that offers resistance in the most smooth and consistent way.
Choice of Comfort - This is decided by the type of drive you choose to go for. The front drive machines used on low-priced elliptical machines give you a rough and awkward movement. If you are ready to go for these machines from the mid-range up to the high-end varieties that come with rear drive machines, then the movements would be far superior, smooth and highly comfortable as well.
Choice of Gait - The Stride lengths of the economical varieties are typically set at the factory and cannot be adjusted by the user. Again for higher models of such machines, customization settings are available even with regard to stride length.
The Advanced Features:
These are a set of extra beauties that add value to your machine and the more expensive your set is, the more beauty is added up to it. These include add-on features like 'programmability' as per individual preferences, 'heart rate monitors' for optimizing your workout zone, 'adjustable incline' to adjust intensity of the workout, and extensively worked out 'control panel' for including even more improved functions.
How to shop for one?
As you can see, shopping for an elliptical machine entirely depends upon your own need. The basic economic level of machine could give you all benefits of an elliptical machine. Yet going for the better priced ones could help you take home some more add-on features which could add to the entire workout session of yours. The factors that need to be considered in this regard are your budget, the size of the machine, frequency of maintenance, length of warranty period and how many features you want to include in your machine.
