Choosing the best elliptical machine for you from the great variety of elliptical machines out there depends on 3 main factors: how is the machine going to be used, how heavy is the heaviest user, how tall is the tallest user.
 | Precor AMT100i Experience Series Adaptive Motion Trainer – New / Free Shipping! Shipping is included with the Precor AMT User defined motion elliptical machine. With the AMT elliptical machine you can change completely the motion and path of your steps without having to push any buttons. It’s like having several cardio machines in one. | |
 | Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer Sole E35′s design make this elliptical machine deliver fluid whisper-quiet performance at many levels of resistance. It’s ramp angle can be adjusted up to to 30 degrees. That allows you to work all your lower body major muscles. It has a maximum stride of 18 inches, which makes it a comfortable exercise machine. | |
 | Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer The Schwinn 430 is an elliptical machine that has 8 computer controlled resistance levels and 8 workout programs, an easy way to change resistance level during exercise. It gives you the ability to track your workout routine progress through 3 feedback programs (recovery, results, bio mass index). | |
Elliptical Machine Selection Tips (Because there are way too many elliptical machines out there)
If you’re like most people, the price of elliptical machines is a concern; you want to buy an elliptical machine that doesn’t cost 3 arms and a leg yet performs.
Elliptical Machines Price – How Low Can You Go Before You Hate Your Elliptical Machine?
Elliptical machines under $1,000 come with limitations (stride length, width – a narrow base makes an elliptical machine wobble, etc.). If you’re fine with the limitations (the shorter you are, you’re going to mind short stride elliptical machines, for instance), go ahead and consider cheap elliptical machines.
Elliptical Machine Drive Location
Elliptical machines come with front, center, rear drive.
Front drive elliptical machines have a higher rate of failure as the mechanism has to be more complex. Rear drive ones run smoother. Every elliptical machine maker would love to have rear drive but Precor has an amazingly powerful patent for rear drive ellipticals.
Which doesn’t mean you have to buy a Precor elliptical machine (though, obviously, they are fine): there are many fine front drive ones. You just need to know if you’re among those people who notice the difference to the point that it bothers you.
Center drive ellipticals are new. They’re more compact.
Your Elliptical Machine’s Resistance Mechanism
The easy or difficulty with which the pedals and handle bars move is controlled either with belt or magnetic resistance.
Belt Resistance Elliptical Machines
You guessed it; a rubber belt squeezes the flywheel to create resistance. Rubber belt resistance is not all that smooth. Rubber belts wear down, break. Rubber belts are used on the cheapest elliptical machines. Rubber belt resistance is not a great idea.
Magnetic Resistance Elliptical Machines
You guessed it again; a magnetic field controls how easily the flywheel rotates. At the low end, the resistance is changed by moving a permanent magnet closer or farther away from the flywheel (manually – by twisting a knob – or electrically – you press a button that gets a motor to move it). Either way, not as good as Eddy Current Brake (ECB), which you find in the more expensive models.
Eddy Current Brake means electro-magnet. Resistance increases or decreases by providing more or less electricity to the magnet. Therefore, no moving parts, therefore, fewer things that can break. Therefore, a better way.
Some of the higher end models have ‘heart rate control.’ That means, the resistance can be controlled by the user’s heart rate monitor. It’s a nice feature, comes at a price, and you don’t need it.
Stride Length
Stride length is the distance your feet can travel and it’s very important. You should have at least 16 inches because less than that makes you feel you’re on a stepper not on an elliptical machine. If you’re taller you should go for more than 16 inches. If you’re like 6 feet tall, you probably want 20 inch, maybe even 21 inch stride.
Some of the high end elliptical cross trainers have stride length that adjusts to the users.
Upper Body Handle Bars
If they move, you can use them to exercise your arms and shoulders. If they do not, you cannot. If you know for a fact that you hate moving handles, it’s easy, you get an elliptical machine that’s got stationary handles or no handles. If you don’t know, you can get an elliptical machine that has both moving and stationary handles.
As a general rule, it’s better to have moving handle bars: you get more out of your elliptical machine.
Reverse Direction Elliptical Machines
When you move your legs forward on an elliptical machine, you exercise more your thighs and calves. When you move them backwards, you exercise more your hamstrings and glutes. Ergo, it’s best to have an elliptical machine that goes both ways.
Caveat: You can move your legs forward and backwards on all elliptical machines, but not all of them provide resistance if you move backwards. So, make sure you get one that does. Unless your butt is sexy enough the way it is, that is.
Adjustable Incline
After a while, your body gets used to the exercise. You can increase resistance, which forces you to use more strength to move and exercises more muscles (glutes, hamstrings, etc.) or go up an incline, which doesn’t require that much extra strength but does get your hear rate going. If you’re really advanced, you do both.
It’s a nice feature, you pay extra for it, and it’s not necessary. As mentioned before, you can exercise your glutes and hamstrings going backwards on a level field elliptical machine.
Weight Capacity
The cheaper models are lighter and less sturdy than the more expensive ones. A lot of the cheaper models state that they can accommodate users who weight more than 250lbs. By that they mean they will not break under you not that they will not wobble.
If you’re 250lbs or heavier, stay away from the cheaper ellipticals, go for commercial grade ones. If you’re buying a $500 elliptical, you may have wobbling even if you’re a lot less heavy than 250lbs.