Nordic Track Elliptical

Buying any fitness equipment is a sizable financial investment and getting the most out of your purchase makes for than sound financial sense. Buying the right elliptical is not about buying the cheapest or the most expensive – its about finding the perfect match for your individual needs. Buying cheap machines never work because they usually break down after 6  months and I would recommend that you ignore any elliptical under $500 as they simply won’t last. The best value for money machines are in the $1000 to $1500 range.

Buying the right elliptical trainer is primarily about meeting your fitness goals. If you buy a machine that feels uncomfortable you may not use it because the machine itself is the wrong “size” – which is the first thing you need to look for. The stride length is determined by the step pedals and the length you will step while in motion. 17’’ is the bare minimum you need to look for while 22’’ might be too much for some. Nordictrack ellipticals have adjustable stride lengths which is a great feature that allows you to adjust the machine specifically to your individual needs.

At the heart of any elliptical trainer is the resistance mechanism. Cheaper machines use belt friction which is cheap and wears out quickly. Magnetic resistance is much more sophisticated and works either manual, motorized or with a mechanism called the “eddy current break”. The eddy current break is the most advanced system since there are no moving parts and they tend to never “wear out” like motorized mechanism does.

With that in mind, durability and warrantee is a very important consideration. Elliptical trainers take a lot of punishment and with so many moving parts they do tend to break down. The first thing you need to look for is a brand name. Obviously NordicTrack is one of the big names, but Reebok, ProForm and Weslo are also good recognizable brand names. Be sure that you have a warrantee on your machine – at least 1 year for the frame and motor and preferably more.

The last thing you need to consider is the actual functionality of the machine. Eliptical trainers, like treadmills come with display consoles that allows you to use pre-programmed workout routines. Not everybody likes these, but it can be a great way to help you stay motivated and to spice up an otherwise boring workout routine. NordicTrack Elipticals actually have the new iFIT technology which puts workout programs into a whole new category and iPod docking and speaker systems are all nice extras that can make working out a lot more fun.

For home use you should also consider the size of the machine. Unlike treadmills, they can’t really fold up and space saving designs are still pretty limited. They can take up a lot of space and they are heavy to move around, so do keep that in mind and be sure to look at the various space saving designs and compare the actual sizes to before you buy.
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