If you have visited a health club in the past few years, you probably have noticed that the elliptical machine is booming in popularity, rivaling even the treadmill as the most popular piece of cardio workout equipment. Elliptical trainers allow you to burn a similar amount of calories as jogging while also working your upper body. They also come without the risk of injury because your feet never leave the pedals, reducing the impact on the joints including the ankles, knees and hips. Elliptical machines are not cheap so the question of the best really depends on your budget. Thefitnessofficial.com has ranked the best machines in three price categories.
Under $1,000
The Fuel Fitness elliptical machine is the best option in the under-$1,000 price category, which is the most popular category for people buying an elliptical for their home. Fuel products are engineered with price in mind but do not sacrifice the most important areas of performance and quality. This product will not have too many bells and whistles but it is the best choice for functionality. Dick's Sporting Goods carries several Fuel models.
$1,000 To $2,000
The Sole Fitness E95 Elliptical is the flagship of the Sole brand at $1,699 and has even won awards when placed in the above-$2,000 price category. The E95 uses a vibrant LED readout and it has built-in speakers ready for almost any MP3 player, including your iPod. The E95 has a quiet drive system, so you can use it early in the morning and not disturb anyone in the house. There is also an incline available up to 40 degrees.
Over $2,000
If you want the feel of a health club elliptical trainer, you can find it in the Club Series Elliptical Cross-Trainer by LifeFitness, which costs $3,999. You will notice your effort dispersed evenly through your legs and arms so you can get a full body workout and burn more calories with less perceived exertion. You can also keep a close eye on your heart rate with the Wireless and Lifepulse digital contact heart rate monitoring system.
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