What To Look For In A Elliptical Cross Trainer
It can be quite daunting deciding which elliptical cross trainer to buy as they can vary greatly in price and buying one is not something you do too often.
Basically the more you pay the sturdier they are and the more extra gadgetry you get. Unless you are very serious about your fitness regime most of us won't need to opt for a model costing thousands.
If you're an average user who just wants to work out 2 or 3 times a week and doesn't want their cross trainer to dominate their house then going for a design that is relatively compact and perhaps can fold up would be best for you.
Don't however just go for the cheapest elliptical cross trainer you can find. If the machine isn't well built then you'll find it feels flimsy and rather wobbly while you're working out. This is very off putting while you're exercising and you'll probably end up using your cross trainer to hang your clothes on.
One area that seems particularly problematic on cheaper models are the footrests. These should be sturdier, after all they are taking your weight. A cheap, thin plastic footrest may break while you're on it. If it's too narrow you may find your foot slipping off and you’ll be risking injury. So it's always better to pay a little more for the extra security and comfort that a better build will give you.
Don't forget to check the maximum weight allowed for the machine you buy as if you're too heavy for the cross trainer it could break under your weight. Another thing to look at is the fly wheel. If you don't want to be making too much noise while exercising make sure the fly wheel is covered so that the noise is dampened.
Next you have to consider what features you need. If you're someone of more senior years who is more into ensuring that their general health doesn't decline too much then you don't need 15 increasing levels of resistance on your machine. You can get away with 5 or 6 and still end up much fitter than you were. One thing to remember is that magnetic resistance elliptical machines have fewer moving parts which makes them more reliable.
If you're more serious about what you're doing then you may want to go for a few more levels. Some machines also have an adjustable ramp to further increase the difficulty rate.
Most elliptical cross trainers have digital monitors that will tell you the amount of calories you've burnt, the distance you've travelled, the time you've been working out and your pulse rate.
Heart rate monitoring is often done by a sensor fitted into the machine's handles. More sophisticate machines may monitor the heart rate via a chest strap as this gives more accurate readings. Top of the range machines usually have both systems. Having a heart rate readout is particularly useful as you can see the improvement you're making in your cardio-vascular system, which is a good indicator of your overall fitness.