Elliptical Trainers

Miss Lee

Miss Lee

Cathlete
My DH and I have been tossing around the idea of investing in an elliptical trainer for a long time and I think we're very close to taking the plunge. I have a question for those of you in the know.

It's very hard to find a high quality home model that features both a crossramp and movable handlebars. The crossramp adjusts the incline and is billed as a feature that prevents exercise plateaus by working different muscle groups as the incline is raised and lowered.

The handlebars allow for an upper body workout.

If you had to choose between the 2 features, which do you think is the most advantageous? I'm having a very hard time choosing and your help is sincerely appreciated.

TIA:)
 
I definitely would go with the crossramp. When I use the elliptical at the Y, I rarely use the handlebars - I find that using the handlebars takes away the intensity because I'm not concentrating on my leg movements as much. I really believe that the crossramp is going to give you more options for a better workout. I'm not sure how much of an upper body workout you're going to get from the handlebars.

Erica
 
Hi Michelle - here's what we found when researching the issue a few years ago, as I told a friend who recently asked:


Ellipticals - it really depends on how much you want to spend. You can get one for just a few hundred dollars at Dick's. They of course are not very smooth. I've always liked Sears for mid-range but very reliable fitness equipment - probably looking at the up to $2,000.00 range. For the best quality we researched and came down to 3 brands - Life Fitness, Sports Art, and Precor. I got Life Fitness at first and LOVED it - it was the cross-trainer with the handle bars. But it kept wiping out programs in the middle of a workout, which was a glitch they couldn't fix - so they took mine back. They may have gotten that worked out by now. SportsArt is (or was when I looked) the only one that allowed you to change the stride on the fly - nice option but I wasn't that impressed overall. Mine is a Precor - and I can't say enough about it! I love it! It does not however have the handle bars, but they do make a lower model that has those if you think you really need them. Personally I don't think they're necessary for a kick-butt cardio workout - esp if you use something like cardio coach. Of course if money is not an issue, I would say forget the elliptical and go with the Arc trainer - best workout and machine there is right now. Here's the link: http://www.ecybex.com/products/CV/ArcTrainer/arctrainer.aspx

But I love my elliptical!

Lorrie

Pain is temporary - quitting lasts forever
Candace Grasso, CC-V-6
 
Miss I Hate Friggin Cardio is considering the purchase of a CARDIO MACHINE!?! What the heck is the world coming to!?!? :p
 
I agree that the Arc Trainer gives you an awesome workout, but I believe that they are much more expensive than elliptical machines.

Erica
 
I think the other issue is balance, as in, how is yours? That's probably the best determination if you need the handles or not, don't you think?

Good luck!! Let us know what you buy....

:)

Marie
 
Hey Michele -

You already have my two cents worth on ellipticals. I thought I'd add that I plan on getting a nice mid-range one because I'll be mixing it in with other cardio workouts. If you plan to use it solely for your cardio, you might want to consider a higher-end model. But personally, I think you ought to get busy with C&W, once your foot heals....:p
 
>I think the other issue is balance, as in, how is yours?
>That's probably the best determination if you need the handles
>or not, don't you think?
>
>Good luck!! Let us know what you buy....
>
>:)
>
>Marie


Hi Marie! Balance isn't my concern at all. My question has more to do with whether or not the movable handlebars increase the calorie burn above and beyond the machines that offer an incline. Precor gives you a choice but you cannot get both features in the same model. So, to burn more calories, do you want an adjustable incline or a fixed ramp with movable handlebars that give you an upper body workout and seem a bit closer to a ski machine.
 
>Hey Michele -
>
>You already have my two cents worth on ellipticals. I thought
>I'd add that I plan on getting a nice mid-range one because
>I'll be mixing it in with other cardio workouts. If you plan
>to use it solely for your cardio, you might want to consider a
>higher-end model. But personally, I think you ought to get
>busy with C&W, once your foot heals....:p

Hi Shannon!

I'm looking at a few mid-range models, too. I have to factor my DH into my choice because, even though he hasn't said he plans to use it, I know he will. He's a pretty big guy so I need to make sure that whichever model I choose is very sturdy. I would probably use it at least 3 times per week. I can't have the step be my primary source of cardio because it just frustrates me too much. I'm too much of a klutz;) :D
 
>Miss I Hate Friggin Cardio is considering the purchase of a
>CARDIO MACHINE!?! What the heck is the world coming to!?!? :p
>

>I was thinking the same thing.
>What is up Michelle????
>Anne

You better watch out! The sky might be falling--lol!
 
>>Miss I Hate Friggin Cardio is considering the purchase of a
>>CARDIO MACHINE!?! What the heck is the world coming to!?!?
>:p
>>
>
>>I was thinking the same thing.
>>What is up Michelle????
>>Anne
>
>You better watch out! The sky might be falling--lol!

LOL! :7 :7 :7

I think the world is going to end,personally!:eek:
 
>Handlebars are more important to me as long as I can adjust
>the tension.

I don't think I've ever seen one that lets you adjust the tension on the handlebars. I guess my problem with them is that they're driven by the footpedals. This is what gets me confused, I guess, because how does it help your upper body if it's your feet that are powering the handlebars?
 
Hi Lorrie and Erica,

I tried an Arc Trainer for the first time yesterday in a store and I liked it but I thought I might get bored with it. I quit going to the gym about 2 years ago, before they had an Arc, so I never had the opportunity to use one over a period of time like I was able to do with the elliptical.

If anybody can provide a good side by side comparison of the 2 types of machines that would be great! From my extremely brief experience with the Arc, it seemed to me that it doesn't offer the variety of movement that you get with the elliptical. It has a nice, long stride length, but with the elliptical you can go backwards, placing emphasis on a whole different set of muscle groups. I used to divide my time equally between forward and backward strides with the elliptical which, I felt, gave me a well balanced workout.

I'm thinking about over the long haul, which machine will provide the most variety?

Decisions, decisions...

Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it and your comments are helping me to sort things out.
 
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