Buying An Elliptical
You can use an elliptical at the gym, but since they are so popular
, all of the machines are usually taken, which can be very irritating. If you constantly have to skip your cardio because of this, or because you don't have the time, money, or location to easily access a gym, buy one for yourself.
The first step, as with all big purchases is to do your research. First, decide how much money you are willing and able to spend on this kind of exercise equipment.
You should not look at equipment that is way far outside of your price range because you will start to want features that you simply cannot afford. So decide what your budget is, and then only look at machines that are within that price range.
If you only have a couple hundred dollars to spend, check out places like Wal-Mart or K-Mart. They should be fairly cheap, but they may not last you as long as a more expensive machine.
If you are willing to spend a lot of money on a highly quality machine, check out websites like Pro Form and Nordic Track. These are more expensive, but they also have more features and will give you several years of use.
After finding a few elliptical in your price range, make sure you some comparisons. See what each has to offer and what it doesn't, compare pricing, warranty, and also check out consumer reports and user reviews.
User reviews and professional reviews can be very telling on the quality of the machine. On the company's website, they will of course sing praises of their product, but reviews will be real people who used the machine and what they liked and disliked about it.
These reviews will be unbiased, and most likely to be honest remarks about the quality of the machine. Take the time to do the research and comparisons to make sure you get the best quality for the price.
There are different features that are offered on an elliptical, so you need to decide which ones are most important to you and your work-out experience. The first feature to consider is stride length.
Smaller machines only offer a 14 inch stride; which is much too short for most people. A typical stride for an individual of average height is 21 inches.
Look for machine with a stride length that is comfortable for your body. You may also find some that you can adjust the stride length if your needs change or if more than one person will use it.
The ability to adjust the resistance of the machine is very important for most people. When you first start using an elliptical you use no resistance to get a work out, but as you build up stamina you will feel the need to add resistance to break a sweat.
Another feature is adjustable incline. Some people like to make their work-out harder by going steeper.
If you would like to have that option find a machine that allows you to adjust the incline of your strides. While searching for machines you should test a few out for smooth motion.
You don't want a jerky machine because this will make the exercise annoying with many hiccups. Your strides should feel smooth and like one continuous motion with every step.
Some machines offer an upper body option with arm handles. This is not a necessity for all people, by some like to give their arms a mild work-out with their cardio.
If you are placing an elliptical in your home, you probably want something that is quiet. You will have to try out machines in the store to ensure that it does not make a lot of noise.
Some exercise machines sound like airplanes when being used, and can be very unsettling for others. If you want a quiet machine test it out and check out online reviews to see what others said about their use of it.
by: Terry Daniels
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