The humble elliptical trainer is a staple of gyms all around the world, much loved for its ease-of-use and fat-burning potential. They provide a cardio workout which has no impact on your joints whilst still simulating running, helping to protect joints from damage. Elliptical machines are used by people recovering from injuries to the hips or lower body primarily, but many fit and healthy gym-goers use them too.
Elliptical machines are a very popular in the home too, with millions of households nationwide having one sitting around somewhere. They are a fantastic investment which provides a high-level of intense, quality exercise and all the health benefits which come with that. Beyond this, elliptical machines are fun, and you can do a lot of different exercises on them.
It is no wonder that they are so popular and, second to the treadmill, are the most popular of all gym machinery. If you are thinking of buying one, we recommend checking out the Bowflex machine. You can learn more about Bowflex here if you don’t know much about it which will provide you with all you need to know.
Before you do settle on a machine for your home, there are a few things which you should consider…
THINK ABOUT BUDGET
For many, money is the biggest concern when it comes to buying a piece of gym equipment for the home. With elliptical trainers starting at around the $250 mark and stretching into the thousands, they can be a massive investment.
Although you can easily buy cheaper and inexpensive models which are more budget-friendly, they do not come close to the higher-end machines in terms of their features, quality, and sturdiness. Cheaper elliptical machines tend to break easier, don’t last as long, and have less potential for exercise due to the lack of features.
When buying an elliptical machine, you should always buy the best one you can afford. As the saying goes – buy cheap, buy twice.
CONSIDER WHETER YOU HAVE ENOUGH SPACE
Gym equipment – especially elliptical machines – are not small. In addition to the space you need for the machine itself, you also need to account for the space it takes up whilst in use. Elliptical machines tend to take up more space in front and behind the machine whilst it’s in motion – unlike a treadmill – with the average one being around 5-7 feet in length.
When you add in room for a pedal extension, this can easily expand from 7-10 feet. It is not just space around the machine you need to consider though, the amount of space above is just as important. Some elliptical machines have pedals which go rather high and come with incline features, so if you are planning on putting your machine in the basement, you may want to give it a second thought.
If you are a tall person or do not have much headspace when stood on the machine, you may end up bumping your head as you are working out!
THE MACHINE’S FEATURE’S AND CHARACTERISTICS
Different elliptical machines come with different features, with the top-end models having virtually every feature you could ever think of. Some of the features you should be looking out for are as follows, and the absence of any of these three could indicate a poor-quality machine.
- STRIDE LENGTH
This is how far the machine’s arms extend when it is in use. Some poorer-quality machines offer around 15 inches of stride length whereas the better ones offer around 21 inches. The very best machines, however, come with a stride length which can be adjusted according to your needs and stature.
- ADJUSTABLE RESISTANCE
Adjustable resistance is another necessity for an elliptical machine, where the lowest setting makes the elliptical action very easy and the highest resistance challenging or near impossible. This means that as you get better and stronger, you can up the resistance to help your overall fitness develop.
- ADJUSTABLE INCLINE
This is something found on top-end machines and is not all that common. By being able to adjust the incline of the ramps, it adds an extra challenge to your workout and unlocks the potential for a wide range of different exercises.
Additional factors which you should take into consideration are noise – elliptical machines can be rather loud and can make your workout sound like you are driving a car through your house – and upper body comfort – machines which have arm handles are always a good shout as this can make your workout much easier and more enjoyable, especially if you are a beginner.
Buying an elliptical machine for your home is a huge investment, with some of the top-end models costing thousands of dollars, so it is something worth putting serious thought and consideration into. The last thing you want to be doing is dropping thousands on a machine which has an absence of features or is not suitable for your needs.Th
