Seven things to keep in mind before buying an elliptical trainer. Well. What are these things, and why should I keep them in mind? These must be the questions floating in your head after reading the title.
Don’t worry we won’t keep you in suspense for longer as this isn’t a film or something. We are going to help you learn about the most important things to keep in mind before buying an elliptical trainer. Here’s a buying guide for those who want to invest their hard-earned money in good gym equipment and start working out daily.
So without any further ado, let’s get started and see our tips on seven things to keep in mind before buying an elliptical trainer.
Overall budget range
The first and the most important thing that you need to keep in your mind is the overall budget range. Make sure to check how much you can afford to spend on your gym equipment. After checking the market, you must be worried and thinking that there aren’t any good gym equipment available without breaking the bank.
However, that is not the case, and it depends on your needs and requirements. With a little of research and spending some time in different places, you can find a good Elliptical under 1,000.
There are other awesome pieces of equipment available too at such a price range. All you need to do is to look for it and do a bit of research on things. Don’t think that a cheap price tag will always mean a compromise on quality. Keep things in your budget range and your life will be so much easier.
Ensure that you have enough room
After deciding your budget, the next thing you need to do is to consider your space. Before investing your money on an elliptical trainer just think for a moment about how much space do you have.
Where would you keep it if you buy it, do you have a shed? A room or a basement? These things will reflect on your trainer’s size and after that, you can select the one according to your situation.
Keep in mind that considering the size and space of your elliptical trainer will also narrow down your search space. It will confine your search and will let you select the right one from fewer options. This makes things even easier than compared to selecting the one from a large space.
Normally elliptical trainers are big, and they need to have a large room. We mean if you are using only an elliptical trainer then it is fine.
However, if you are using it with other equipment then you will need to think about the space. As a general rule of thumb, your trainer should have enough distance from other equipment where you can do your workout without any disturbance.
Choose your style carefully
Another most important thing that you need to keep in mind before buying an elliptical trainer is its style. Since they are available in three different styles each one of them has its own applications.
You just can’t select any one of them and start working out. You need to pick the right elliptical trainer for your needs before starting your workout.
For your information, here are three main types of elliptical trainers:
- Centre drive trainers. These are the basic ones and show so much resemblance to the normal treadmills. Centre drive trainers have their pedals where you would have a track if it was a treadmill. Apart from that, these are usually the simplest type of elliptical trainers and as suitable for those who are just starting out. In addition to this, centre drive trainers are very compact, and they can be placed anywhere you want because of their compact size and shape. However, you will still need to ensure you have enough room during the workout. Make sure the pedals aren’t hitting something on the back while you are busy shedding those pounds.
- Front drive trainers. The front drive is a bit of an advanced version of the elliptical trainer. These are the ones with wheels at the front which allows you to do the workout. These are probably the most affordable ones that you can buy on the market. They have basic designs but the only thing due to which some people don’t like them that much is the amount of noise it produces. You just can’t use them for workouts if your kid, your honey, or a doggy is sleeping in the next room. Apart from that, it is a decent choice if you live alone and can’t afford some fancy elliptical trainers.
- Rear drive trainers. Finally, the rear drives, these are the ones having wheels at the backsides of the trainers mostly. They are quite interesting for those who want to have a serious workout. Their setups involve wheels at the backside just as we mentioned earlier, and the handles are at the front side. Once you mount it your body will be in an inclined shape. This just makes the workout more intense because you will have to fight against gravity which will burn some more fat. If you are a beginner then this is definitely the right choice for you but if you want to push your comfort zone then you are always welcome to try them. These are usually bigger which means if you are someone having a small room sorry about that please choose something else.
Some features that your trainer need to have
Also, make sure your elliptical trainer has the following main features. This will ensure you get the best elliptical trainer for your needs.
- Adjustable incline
- Adjustable resistance
- Comfort for upper body
- Length of the stride
- Quiet or not too noisy
- Smoother motion
Safety comes first
Safety is one of the first and important things that one shouldn’t compromise on. Always make sure you start your workouts with a good warm-up and cool-down session. This will help you prevent injuries and avoid any bad situations.
For that, you need to pick your trainer with a cool down and warm-up periods. In addition to this, invest in a maintenance-free tool to keep things smooth. make sure you lock your equipment whenever you are not using it to prevent kids from using it and hurting themselves.
Additional perks
Another thing that is optional, but it can increase the functionality of your machine. Make sure to check for some bonus features whenever you are buying an elliptical trainer. There are various options such as VO2 max consumption, heart rate monitoring, etc.
These features will make your workout fun and easy to track your progress. Most of these are usually available on higher-end elliptical trainers. However, some of them also come on budget trainers as well.
Make sure you try it first
This last thing may not be available, and you may not be able to do much about it if you are buying an elliptical trainer online. However, if you are purchasing one from a physical store then you need to check it first. try it and see if it suits your style or not. This will ensure you get the best elliptical trainer for your needs.
Final thoughts
Buying your first elliptical trainer can be a fun and exciting task. However, it can also be quite challenging because there are so many options available online, and you need to select the right one from these available options.
In order to help you with these, we wrote an easy-to-read guide which includes the seven things to keep in mind before buying an elliptical trainer. After reading this article you won’t have any issue selecting the right one for your needs.
Ellen Diamond did her degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
