subject: Best Elliptical Machine - 5 Tips To Finding A Smooth, Comfortable Elliptical For Your Home [print this page] Looking for the best elliptical machine? When narrowing down your options, many people get confused about the different types of elliptical trainers. Which one is best? Which one is the most comfortable?
This article will give you 5 buying tips to help you find the smoothest, best elliptical machine for you and your family.
First of all there are 3 main types or designs of ellipticals that you'll see when shopping.
Rear Drive ellipticals came first when the original elliptical cross trainers were introduced in the 1990s. In this design the drive mechanism or flywheel is at the rear of the elliptical. These tend to give a flatter elliptical motion, kind of like jogging.
Front Drive ellipticals came later. As the name states, these ellipticals have the parts and flywheel in the front of the machine. These ellipticals tend to give more of an incline elliptical motion.
And lastly, there's a newer design creeping into the home market - the Center Drive elliptical. These units have 2 smaller flywheels on either side of the elliptical foot pedals.
With center drive machines, you stand a little more upright on the machine, not leaning as much on the handrails. They also tend to be more compact than front or rear drive units.
You stand more upright on the elliptical, not leaning as much on the handrails.
Which is best? The jury is still out. I've tried all 3 designs and don't have a preference.
There are actually more important factors to look at when selecting the best elliptical machine. The following 5 factors all contribute to a smoother, more comfortable elliptical ride:
1) Stride - Stride is the furthest distance between the pedals during the elliptical motion. Stride length ranges on ellipticals from 12 - 21 inches. A longer stride helps you to fully work your leg muscles and gives you a more comprehensive workout.
A shorter stride can sometimes feel 'jump-y' and like you're not really working your legs.
For the average height person an 18"-20" stride is usually good. Taller people or those who really like to pick up the pace may prefer a 20" or even a 21" stride. There are several ellipticals that offer an adjustable stride now so that everyone in the family can choose a comfortable stride for them.
2) Flywheel - Other things being equal - a heavier flywheel gives you a smoother feeling ride. The heaviest flywheels are usually used in commercial equipment - which is why the ellipticals in the gym feel so smooth and easy to use. Flywheels vary from 14 up to 48 lbs in the home market.
3) Alignment/Footpads - You can often find better ergonomics in the higher end ellipticals. These are built with the proper arm to foot ratio and properly-aligned foot pedals.
While these are subtle additions, they can make your workouts much more comfortable. They can decrease toe numbness and the ankle strain that you sometimes get with cheaper ellipticals.
Look for articulating footplates, ergonomic design and even foot pedals that are closer together as this more closely mimics your body's walking motion.
4) Incline - While this won't specifically give you a smoother feeling ride, it does change the angle of your elliptical motion.
This makes it a great way to cross train different muscle groups. While incline used to be found only on commercial machines, you can now find it in quite a few home ellipticals.
5) The Fun Stuff - Having a bright, well-laid out console, lots of built in workout programs, iPod docks, speakers and even workout fans can also give you a much more enjoyable workout. It's important to choose a machine that you feel excited about using.
The fun stuff doesn't replace the features of a well-made elliptical. But it can keep you using your elliptical for years to come.
So those are a few things to consider when looking for the best elliptical machine. These things can help you find an elliptical that feels comfortable and gives you a super-effective workout.
Take your time, do your research, know what you really want - and you're practically guaranteed to find the best elliptical machine for your home.
