Help for a good elliptical
- Thread starter trunyon
- Start date
I am waiting for mine I ordered it from Fingerhut it was 169.99 or 179.99. I also ordered the recumbent bike I am making making monthly payments of 30.00. It is a Life Max. I was in Walmart and I think I saw theirs on sale for 199.99 originally $200+ something.
Good Luck I am sure it will all depend on what you are looking to get out of it.
beth6395
"Another one that proves equipment is not necessary to get the job done" -Cathe Friedrich
Good Luck I am sure it will all depend on what you are looking to get out of it.
beth6395
"Another one that proves equipment is not necessary to get the job done" -Cathe Friedrich
angie_nrs
Cathlete
I have a horizon and I love it! However, a friend of mine also just got a horizon (that also converts to a stepper) and I don't like hers much at all. I don't find that it is as fluid and I also don't like the foot pedal placement at all.
I think you really have to go and try them out to find one that's a good fit for you. Hit the sporting goods stores and try them all out. Make sure it doesn't make any noises and that it is a solid machine. Take notes and compare, then go online to check out prices.
Hope this helps. I definitely recommend one. They are wonderful to use with the cardio coaches!
Best of luck on your search.
Angie
I think you really have to go and try them out to find one that's a good fit for you. Hit the sporting goods stores and try them all out. Make sure it doesn't make any noises and that it is a solid machine. Take notes and compare, then go online to check out prices.
Hope this helps. I definitely recommend one. They are wonderful to use with the cardio coaches!
Best of luck on your search.Angie
CathydsRNA
Cathlete
Hi,
I just posted a review of the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 on this forum about a week or so ago. Its great. I got it on sale at Sears. I don't know if its still on sale. I am pasting my review here so that you don't have to hunt for it.
I have tested several other models and found the ride rough, the machine felt wobbly or cheap, or the stride too uncomfortable...I have long legs and on many ellipticals the stride feels to narrow and my legs cramp. The stride on this elliptical is very smooth and comfortable. The machine is quiet and feels substantial. It can be folded up easily to take us less space when you are not using it. The incline can be varied from 10-30 degrees and the resistance goes from 1-15. There are 22 preset programs and you can choose from weight loss, aerobic or competetive programs. You can also customize and program your own programs or freewheel and do what you want without a program. You can use iFIT cards too. In fact, my elliptical came with a card. You can also hook up your iPOD and play a cardio playlist over the speakers that are built into the console. You can keep track of your hr on this too and there is also a small fan built into the console. Not very powerful but its better than n0thing. I tried my first program today and it can kick butt. You can override a resistance setting and make more or less intense than the prorgam is set for.
I read some reviews before I bought it and some folks had problems with set-up or it not working correctly after set-iup (this was in a minority of the reviews). I decided to have someone assemble it for me who has assembled these trainers before. I purchased from Sears (on sale) and had Sears use their contractors to set-it up. It's great and a great addition for cardio. It was less than $1000 on sale and is a good investment.
Cathy
I just posted a review of the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 on this forum about a week or so ago. Its great. I got it on sale at Sears. I don't know if its still on sale. I am pasting my review here so that you don't have to hunt for it.
I have tested several other models and found the ride rough, the machine felt wobbly or cheap, or the stride too uncomfortable...I have long legs and on many ellipticals the stride feels to narrow and my legs cramp. The stride on this elliptical is very smooth and comfortable. The machine is quiet and feels substantial. It can be folded up easily to take us less space when you are not using it. The incline can be varied from 10-30 degrees and the resistance goes from 1-15. There are 22 preset programs and you can choose from weight loss, aerobic or competetive programs. You can also customize and program your own programs or freewheel and do what you want without a program. You can use iFIT cards too. In fact, my elliptical came with a card. You can also hook up your iPOD and play a cardio playlist over the speakers that are built into the console. You can keep track of your hr on this too and there is also a small fan built into the console. Not very powerful but its better than n0thing. I tried my first program today and it can kick butt. You can override a resistance setting and make more or less intense than the prorgam is set for.
I read some reviews before I bought it and some folks had problems with set-up or it not working correctly after set-iup (this was in a minority of the reviews). I decided to have someone assemble it for me who has assembled these trainers before. I purchased from Sears (on sale) and had Sears use their contractors to set-it up. It's great and a great addition for cardio. It was less than $1000 on sale and is a good investment.
Cathy
RunninTeach
Cathlete
A few friends on the cheetah thread recommended the NordicTrack Autostrider to me. I bought the 880 last fall and love it! The key points for me are that it has a ramp incline, which allows you to challenge different muscles, and a built-in speaker which lets you plug in your iPod or MP3 player and play your own music. I was also pleased with customer service. I had to call for a part I broke during assembly, and they were great to deal with. Sent it off right away.
I noticed the AutoStrider 990 was rated the Best Buy in the current issue of Consumer Reports. I think the main difference is that the 990 has a power incline whereas the 880 incline is operated manually.
These are good machines.
[font face="heather" font color=black size=+2]~Cathy[/font]
http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee296/runninteach/exercise/th_skj.gif
http://img17.glitterfy.com/18/glitterfy183635T533D31.gif
Misery has enough company. Dare to be happy. ~ VW ad
I noticed the AutoStrider 990 was rated the Best Buy in the current issue of Consumer Reports. I think the main difference is that the 990 has a power incline whereas the 880 incline is operated manually.
These are good machines.
[font face="heather" font color=black size=+2]~Cathy[/font]
http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee296/runninteach/exercise/th_skj.gif
http://img17.glitterfy.com/18/glitterfy183635T533D31.gif
Misery has enough company. Dare to be happy. ~ VW ad
TarHeelMom
Cathlete
Tina, we have a Precor (the home model without the "arms", not the club model) and really love it. They're not inexpensive, but we've used ours several times a week since we got it 5 years ago, and it's never had one thing wrong -- it's built like a tank.
They do all "ride" differently, and I think it's really important for you to go to some sporting goods and fitness stores to ride some. You'll know what I mean once you do that. We originally thought we wanted a LifeFitness elliptical like the one at the gym where I take spinning classes, but when we "test drove" the Precor the difference -- for US -- was noticeable immediately.
Good luck and have fun looking!
http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://planetsmilies.net/sport-smiley-5536.gif
They do all "ride" differently, and I think it's really important for you to go to some sporting goods and fitness stores to ride some. You'll know what I mean once you do that. We originally thought we wanted a LifeFitness elliptical like the one at the gym where I take spinning classes, but when we "test drove" the Precor the difference -- for US -- was noticeable immediately.
Good luck and have fun looking!
http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sport/sport-smiley-003.gif Kathy S. http://planetsmilies.net/sport-smiley-5536.gif
Traildoggie
Cathlete
We also have a Precor but with the arm movement. We have been very pleased with it although we did have a belt break on it once requiring a service call. DH & I use it almost every day so we needed a tough machine. We've had it about 5 years.
You need to get on each machine you're considering and work it for 10 minutes (at least) unless there's something obvious you don't like. there was another model, it might have been lifefitness, that just didn't fit us well. Both DH and I are short and on exercise equipment there's sometimes a fit issue. We wanted one with different resistance levels and didn't care about the ramp angle. We had had gone thru 3 nordic tracks and a step machine in a fairly short period of time. I wish we'd taken the $2000-2500 we spent on those 4 pieces and gotten one well made piece to begin with. Companies get away with things that break down quickly because the vast majority don't use the equipment after the first couple weeks. I'm not suggesting you need to get a really expensive machine but I think a $200 machine won't hold up if you actually use it.
You need to get on each machine you're considering and work it for 10 minutes (at least) unless there's something obvious you don't like. there was another model, it might have been lifefitness, that just didn't fit us well. Both DH and I are short and on exercise equipment there's sometimes a fit issue. We wanted one with different resistance levels and didn't care about the ramp angle. We had had gone thru 3 nordic tracks and a step machine in a fairly short period of time. I wish we'd taken the $2000-2500 we spent on those 4 pieces and gotten one well made piece to begin with. Companies get away with things that break down quickly because the vast majority don't use the equipment after the first couple weeks. I'm not suggesting you need to get a really expensive machine but I think a $200 machine won't hold up if you actually use it.
melanalyus
Cathlete
I"m saving my money for a Lifefitness.
Would anyone like to give a donation? LOL
~Melanie~
Jadon born 11/23/05
Justin born 1/17/04
Jory born 4/9/94
Would anyone like to give a donation? LOL
~Melanie~
Jadon born 11/23/05
Justin born 1/17/04
Jory born 4/9/94