|
|||
|
|||
| Your
guide to exercise, health, nutrition, and fitness
equipment |
|||
| Main
Menu |
||
|
In this article, the author cautions against purchasing an inexpensive elliptical trainer, and even mentions one particular one sold through infomercials. While agreeing with most of his advice concerning elliptical trainer selection, I must say that I purchased an elliptical trainer sold through an infomercial (not sure if it's the same one he refers to) and used it for a year during which I was unable to run. I found this elliptical trainer, which cost me under $200, to be acceptable. I really didn't notice squeaking or rocking, and nothing broke. However, to be fair, I must admit that I do fall below the 195 lb weight limit he mentions. I would agree with his advice to buy the best elliptical trainer that you can afford. However, if that means you have to spend less than his $500 minimum, then you may just want to do some online research for consumer opinions, and see what people who already own that elliptical trainer think about it-Ed.
Should you ever consider purchasing a cheap elliptical trainer?
It's my position that you should purchase the best elliptical trainer
that your budget allows. The elliptical trainers that I recommend
all retail above $1000. Some of these are above $2000. No question,
this is a substantial sum for most people, but you should keep in
mind that this is an investment in your long term health and fitness.
You want a machine that not only is enjoyable to use, but lasts
for many years to come. The very nature of elliptical trainers and treadmills for that
matter, makes them prone to wear. As a result, they will need to
be serviced at some point during their lifetime. Maybe even more
than once. This is not meant to frighten you, quite the contrary,
but to impress upon you that skimping on quality to save money is
usually not good economics when it comes to elliptical trainers. The other thing to keep in mind about cheap ellipticals is that
they will probably wobble side-to-side during use and may even produce
annoying squeaks due to cheap design. All of these problems are
greatly magnified if you are heavy. The end result could very likely
be a snapped bolt or damaged frame component. Toppling off an elliptical
trainer while in full stride is a scary thought! So what should you do if coming up with $2000 is just not possible
for now? Well, you can either wait until you save up the money,
which isn't a bad idea. However, if you just can't wait because
your health requires you to get started on a fitness program ASAP,
then you have some decisions to make. You could join a gym that
has a wide selection of cardio equipment and probably has helpful
staff to get you started on a fitness program or you can begin shopping
for an elliptical trainer within your price range. How to minimize your risk Right off the bat I don't recommend that you consider any elliptical
trainer that retails for under $500. You'd just be throwing your
money away. We have all seen the cheap elliptical strider that is
advertised on infomercials featuring a popular fitness celebrity.
Sorry, but you're on your own if you want one of these. The fundamental problem with elliptical trainers that retail between
$500 - $1000 is their sturdiness and durability. This stems from
the quality of their components and construction. Below are requirements
that may help increase the chances that you have a satisfying experience
owning one of these ellipticals: --Weigh less than 195 lb. Under 155 lb. is even better.
Women may do better here than men. --Moderate to light use. Elliptical trainers in this price
range hold up better if they are not heavily used. --Purchase an extended warranty if the manufacturer offers one.
Most low-end ellipticals come with only a 90-day warranty. That
should tell you something right away! Don't settle for anything
less than a 1-year warranty on the wear components of an elliptical
trainer. Finally, one way to approach purchasing a cheap elliptical is to
view it as a transitional machine. If you get only 2 years from
a $600 elliptical trainer, but during this period you've lost weight
and greatly improved your cardiovascular conditioning, then it was
definitely money well-spent. When you're ready to replace it, you probably will have come to
appreciate what it takes to produce a quality elliptical trainer.
After you've experienced the great benefits that these machines
have to offer, it may be easier to make the investment in a higher
quality machine.
Rich Rojas
|
|