Elliptical Trainer Review

Evaluating elliptical trainer reviewers

Elliptical trainers are built to mimic a natural, elliptical-shaped running or walking stride. You stand on foot pedals that are in turn mounted on wheels or rollers, which slide back and forth along a set track. Because your feet never leave the pedals, you can run as hard as you want without generating the same sort of impact you'd get from running on a treadmill. Some models also allow you to adjust the incline of the ramp or rails that support the foot pedals; the adjustable incline setting fine-tunes your stride length, adjusts the stride shape and determines which muscle groups bear the brunt of the workout.

Reviewers say that elliptical trainers have some advantages over treadmills. In particular, they provide good workout variety without much joint impact. All elliptical trainers offer adjustable resistance to help you fine-tune your workout intensity; for every model in this report, except the miniature Stamina InMotion E1000, resistance can be quickly adjusted with the push of a button. However, treadmills remain more popular than elliptical trainers overall, according to ConsumerReports.org. In a recent survey, treadmills represented 38 percent of home-fitness equipment, compared to16 percent for elliptical trainers. (Please see our separate report on treadmills.) Unlike treadmills, elliptical trainers come with different stride lengths that may not always fit your body mechanics. Even the same stride length can feel different from machine to machine, depending on its construction; the only way to be absolutely sure an elliptical trainer will feel comfortable in use is to try it out. If more than one person is going to be using the elliptical, each user should try it out before buying.

Most fitness experts recommend starting your search with elliptical trainers that cost $1,000 and up. In this price range you'll find long strides; 20 inches is a good fit for most users, according to reviews. You'll also find automated inclines and lots of extras, including in-console speakers for playing music from your MP3 player, wireless heart-rate monitors and built-in cooling fans. Elliptical trainers costing $2,000 and up are more durable and can stand up to heavy use, but reviews indicate that most exercisers will do just fine with a midrange elliptical trainer that costs much less. It is possible to find cheap elliptical machines for less than $600, but experts say these models are best for occasional use only. ConsumerReports.org says elliptical trainers in the lower price ranges often have problems right from the start, and you ultimately get what you pay for. Ellipticals in this price range tend to have a shorter stride, a lower user weight limit and a skimpy warranty. Inexpensive models also attract a number of durability complaints; sometimes durability problems can become dangerous safety issues, too.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is a good source to check for product recalls, which can affect cheap elliptical trainers in large numbers. About 10,000 Schwinn 460 Variable Stride elliptical trainers (*Est. $1,200) , an otherwise very well-reviewed model, were recalled in December 2011. The foot pedals can break or fall off while in use; a CPSC press release provides details. The CPSC recalled nearly 20,000 Horizon and LiveStrong elliptical trainers in January 2010 for a similar problem -- the foot pedals can fall off, posing an obvious injury hazard to the user. The recall affects eight model numbers sold between October 2009 and November 2009; a full list can be found at CPSC.gov.

For helpful reviews of elliptical trainers, the most credible sources are ConsumerReports.org and TreadmillDoctor.com. ConsumerReports.org tests and compares 18 models in a recent update and nearly 30 models in a previous update. Each elliptical trainer receives a score in several categories, including ease of use, safety, construction and ergonomics. TreadmillDoctor.com sells replacement parts and supplies for fitness equipment, which puts the editors in a good position to judge reliability and value. They review nearly every elliptical trainer on the market, assigning individual scores for a number of categories, followed by an overall rating and brief comments. Fitness-Equipment-Source.com is a similar site, run by an industry insider, which provides good coverage and usually a detailed rundown of features for most elliptical trainers on the market. User reviews are also very helpful, especially for budget ellipticals. Sears.com, Walmart.com, SportsAuthority.com, Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com all have a significant number of owner reviews.