One of the first things people look for when buying an elliptical machine is price. When shopping for elliptical machines, it helps to know the 3 main price categories of elliptical trainers and what you can expect to find in each price range.
This will also help you decide exactly what you need to spend (and it may just save you some money!)
Economy Elliptical Machines:
Economy elliptical trainers usually range from $300 to $1000. These kind of elliptical trainers are not usually suited for heavier persons or frequent use.
However the quality of economy ellipticals does vary across the board with some using high quality construction and others well, break down or emit a high pitched squeak after a week of use.
Economy ellipticals usually offer very short warranties (i.e. 90 days) if they offer a warranty at all. The warranty tells you something about the quality of parts.
Economy elliptical machines tend to last from 6 months to 5 years depending on frequency of use, quality of parts and how the ellipical is cared for.
Examples of brands that sell economy elliptical trainers are Proform, Reebok, Nordic Track, Horizon and Ironman.
Mid-Priced Elliptical Machines:
Mid-priced elliptical trainers usually range from $1000 - $2000 and are in a much higher quality class than economy ellipticals. Mid-priced elliptical trainers could also be viewed as 'high quality home elliptical trainers' and are more than adequate for the average home user.
Many mid-priced ellipticals also offer higher user weight capacities and a highly stable base so they would suit a heavier user or more frequent use.
Mid-priced ellipticals are also usually covered by much more extensive warranties which again, tells you about the quality of parts. Their consoles are much more advanced compared to economy ellipticals and they tend to offer more built-in exercise programs and monitoring information.
Mid-priced elliptical machines tend to last from 2 to 12 years depending on a number of factors including frequency of use, quality of parts and how the elliptical is cared for.
Examples of brands that sell mid-priced elliptical trainers are Smooth, Sole and Schwinn.
High-End Home or Commercial Elliptical Machines:
The last price category is commercial or high-end home use elliptical trainers. HIgh end elliptical trainers range from $2000 up to $6000. These are the best of the best in elliptical exercise equipment - often the kind of ellipticals you'll find in a gym or health club.
They usually offer high user weight capacities, extremely stable bases and other premium elliptical features like incline and personal trainer studio programs. They're also larger and heavier than other ellipticals.
High-end home elliptical trainers are built to last 10 years or more and can easily withstand frequent use or heavier users. They are suitable for the high end athlete who wants to push their training farther or for the commercial gym.
Examples of brand that sell commercial or high end home use elliptical trainers are Precor, LifeFitness, StarTrac and some Smooth ellipticals.
Final Note:
Although buying an elliptical may seem overwhelming it's really not. You don't have to spend a bundle to find a high quality crosstrainer.
On the other hand, you also want to find a quality trainer that fits best with your fitnes needs. By keeping the above tips in mind and you're well on your way to choosing the best elliptical machine for you.
For a list of Best Elliptical Machines in each of the 3 price categories above, check out the latest Best Elliptical Buys.
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