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by Jon Stevenson
TreadmillDoctor.com sells replacement parts and supplies for treadmills and elliptical trainers, but it also posts short evaluations of most elliptical trainer models. Although the reviews themselves are… very short, editors give a good brand overview, including reliability of 34 manufacturers and numerical ratings for individual models in six key areas. Recommendations are given in 10 categories, with three runners-up listed for each. Although not included in the Best Buy award list, the Gold's Gym Crosstrainer 510 also gets a positive review in the ultra-low-cost category.
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
ConsumerReports.org reviews 18 elliptical trainers priced from $300 to $2,800. Five elliptical trainers are recommended, and three make the don't-buy list. Each elliptical is rated on ergonomics, exercise… range, ease of use, construction and user safety. The heart-rate monitor is also tested and scored. Although we appreciate the competent testing at ConsumerReports.org, there is little analysis or commentary on the tested trainers.
by Fred Waters
Fred Waters writes relatively balanced reviews of elliptical trainers, with pros and cons listed. It should be noted, however, that Waters is a former executive of Smooth Fitness, which manufacturers some… of the ellipticals he recommends. The reviews are based on personal testing, usually in stores, along with consideration for user reviews and other reviews on the Internet. There are also some helpful articles on warranties and shopping.
by Taylor Dahl, Jacquelyne Froeber, and Josh Rutledge
by Amanda Vogel
Gregory Florez, spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise, offers tips on how to assess and compare treadmills, ellipticals and exercise bikes for home use. The article is accompanied by a slide… show that recommends three models in each category of exercise machine, based on a test of their comfort and usability. It is not clear who did the testing or how many models were tested. All three of the ellipticals recommended here cost more than $2,500.
by Contributors to Sears.com
Sears.com has become a good spot for user reviews, because Sears represents a major percentage of fitness-equipment sales. There are a meaningful number of owner-written reviews here, with more discussing… elliptical trainers that have been on the market the longest. The NordicTrack 990 gets an average score from owners, many of whom complain about shipping damage, grinding/clanking noises and back-ordered parts. Although they attract fewer reviews, the NordicTrack CX 1600 and E7sv get higher ratings.
by Editors of Fitness magazine
by Contributors to Amazon.com
by Editors of SNEWS
by Terrence Russell
Wired is well known for their gadget and electronics reviews, but they also review fitness equipment and outdoor gear on occasion. Although few elliptical trainers have been tested recently, editors do… review the popular NordicTrack Audio Strider 990 in an older review. Overall, the elliptical gets a decidedly poor rating. ''The only thing worth exercising on the Audio Strider is its return policy,'' says Terrence Russell.
by Chris Freytag
Prevention fitness coach Chris Freytag describes what to consider when purchasing an elliptical machine and cites favorites the ProForm XP 115 (which has been discontinued) and the Octane Fitness Q45 (a… higher-end choice). She recommends the Octane Fitness Q45 for its adjustable stride length and its virtual personal trainer feature, called X-Mode. It doesn't appear that any comparison tests were conducted; this is one expert's opinion.
Jan. 2008
by Melissa Daly
This is a short buyer's guide to fitness equipment in general, rather than an article specifically on elliptical trainers. Melissa Daly interviews a handful of fitness and equipment experts, including… TreadmillDoctor.com's Jon Stevenson, about what to look for in a quality treadmill, elliptical trainer, bike or rowing machine. One recommendation is made for each type of machine. For ellipticals, it's the NordicTrack AudioStrider 800, a model that's also highly rated at TreadmillDoctor.com. Still, Daly doesn't explain why she chose this particular model for inclusion.
by Contributors to Buzzillions.com
by Contributors to Walmart.com
by Editors of Choice magazine
by Editors of Which? magazine
by Paige Waehner
About.com exercise guide Paige Waehner gives her top four picks for elliptical trainers priced under $1,000. She doesn't mention how she arrives at these picks and stipulates, ''There aren't many I would… recommend." She also suggests customers "research the trainer of your choice carefully before you buy." Each elliptical trainer gets a one-sentence description. It doesn't appear any of these elliptical trainers were tested, and most are old models that have been discontinued. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Fred Waters
Fred Waters, who owns several fitness-equipment review websites (including Fitness-Equipment-Source.com, ranked above), contributes to this article in the walking section of About.com. In it, he provides… his top five picks in the $700 to $1,700 price range. Much of this article duplicates info from Waters' other websites. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
by Editors of FitnessProfessorReview.com
FitnessProfessorReview.com is an interesting site. On the plus side, it's transparent about the members of its review board, and it has fairly good coverage of available brands and models. On the other… hand, there are no buying recommendations and it's not clear whether models are actually tested. Reviews are very short with little detail, but ratings are broken down into 10 attributes ranging from aesthetics to the warranty.
by Paige Waehner
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