subject: Best Rated Elliptical Trainer - What To Know Before You Buy [print this page] Looking for the best rated elliptical? There are lots of ways to find elliptical ratings including magazines, user reviews and websites that offer product ratings.
But would it surprise you to know that the best rated elliptical may not be the best elliptical for you?
Elliptical ratings are sometimes like movie ratings. I usually find that the movies the critics love - I hate. And there are lots of movies I love that critics hate. This can be the same problem when you're looking for the best rated elliptical.
Why?
Because not all ellipticals are rated equally. The problem comes when the rater weighs features (that aren't important to you) higher than the features that are important to you. So for example a magazine might rate an elliptical higher because it has lots of built-in workout programs. And that may not be important to you at all.
Or maybe you're tall and want a longer 20" stride on your elliptical. But the user review really loved the elliptical because it had an 18" stride which felt more comfortable for them. So it's not always best to base your decision solely on these reviews. The better way to find the best rated elliptical is to know what you want and need first.
Then read the reviews to see if they match up with what is important to you.
Here are a few tips before you go looking for the best rated elliptical:
Tip: Know What You Want
The main features to consider when buying an elliptical are:
Stride - Stride length is the furthest distance between the pedals during the elliptical motion. Strides on elliptical machines range from 12 - 21 inches. A longer stride gives you a better workout as it more fully works your legs.
The proper stride length can also make your workout more comfortable. Most people are fine with an 18"-20" stride. Taller users or those who really like to go fast may prefer a 20" or even a 21" stride.
Resistance - Resistance is how hard your legs have to push during the elliptical motion. Resistance gives you a challenge when exercising. It can also help you increase your calories burned on your crosstrainer.
Most elliptical trainers do offer a range of resistance levels. Look for a trainer that makes resistance changes easy (i.e. one-touch resistance adjustment).
Incline - Incline changes the ramp and angle of the elliptical motion and is a great way to crosstrain. Incline was originally introduced by Precor in the 1990's. However you don't have to spend $3000+ on a Precor to get incline. Nowadays, incline is being offered in several more affordable brands.
Smoothness of Elliptical Ride - This can be influenced by many things but a few features to look at are the weight of the flywheel (a heavier one gives a more smooth, commercial grade feel), foot pads (i.e. some trainers use articulating footpedals which follow the motion of your foot) and alignment between arms and legs. In general, the higher end ellipticals offer better alignment and an overall smoother ride.
Stability - This means the elliptical doesn't wobble or shake when you pick up your pace. Cheaper ellipticals often tend to sway or even creak when you really push them.
Again, price is a factor - the higher end machines feel much more stable. Other things to look at are machine weight (a higher weight machine will usually feel more solid than a lighter machine) and user weight capacity (a higher weight capacity machine will also feel more stable than a lower weight capacity, other things being equal).
Footprint - This is the width and length of your elliptical. If space is limited in your home, make sure to consider the footprint before you buy. You may want to consider a folding elliptical. Ellipticals that fold up used to be hard to find but are becoming more popular.
You may also want to look at a center drive elliptical (where there are 2 smaller flywheels on the side verses one large flywheel at the front or back of the machine). These tend to be more compact than standard ellipticals
Fun Stuff - This can be anything from iPod docks, console speakers, personal trainer designed workouts, built-in TVs, etc. This may not seem as important as the other stuff. But they help you enjoy your workout time. When you enjoy using your elliptical, you'll use it more often and get more out of it.
So those are a few things to consider when looking at elliptical ratings. Finding the best rated elliptical can give you a great idea of which trainers are well built. But that doesn't mean it's always the best elliptical for you.
Take your time and do your research. Keep the things above in mind when choosing your elliptical - and you'll find it much easier to choose the best machine for you.
