Elliptical Trainers: Reviews

Elliptical trainers in this price range are the best blend of durability, functionality and value. Sole has a good reputation with reviewers both for making well-built, reasonably priced elliptical trainers and for… offering excellent customer service. Reviewers say the Sole E35 is a good-quality elliptical trainer backed by a generous warranty: lifetime on the frame, five years on parts and electronics, and two years on labor. Owners posting to review sites say the Sole E35 is quiet and sturdy, and experts like the long 20-inch stride and the included upper-body workout. The Sole E35 also has 20 resistance levels and eight workout programs.

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Features-wise, the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 is similar to the Sole E35, with some notable differences. The NordicTrack elliptical has an 18-inch stride length compared to 20-inches for the Sole. But the AudioStrider… has a powered incline adjustment rather than the manual adjustment on the Sole. The Sole has a longer warranty, including two years on labor, and it has a higher 375-pound weight limit. (It's 325 pounds on the AudioStrider.) Still, the NordicTrack elliptical trainer costs $300 less and includes speakers and an audio port for plugging in an iPod. On the downside, we read mixed reviews for durability -- including complaints about squeaks, backordered parts and long service delays.

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If you don't want to spend much and don't care about dozens of workout programs and features, the basic Schwinn 430 elliptical trainer gets terrific reviews from 250 users posting reviews at Amazon.com. The catch is that… the labor warranty is just 90 days -- so you're stuck paying labor costs if the unit breaks down; parts are covered for a year. Many owners call assembly "a nightmare." The 18-inch stride length is in line with other under-$1,000 machines. The user weight limit is 275 pounds.

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If you don't want to spend much and mainly want to try out exercising to see if you'll stick with it, the Gold's Gym Stride Trainer is just about the cheapest elliptical out there. However, no expert reviewers recommend… buying the Gold's Gym Stride Trainer 300, and user reviews are very mixed, with noise as the major complaint. Some owners say it squeaks, while others say it clanks. The stride length is only 10 inches, so you wont' get much range of motion. Owners note you'll need at least two hours to assemble it. The warranty is just 90 days, and it has a weight limit of 250 pounds.

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