Commercial Elliptical Machines - Worth the investment?
I'm often asked whether commercial elliptical machines are any better than the ellipticals you can buy at your local Wal-mart or sports store. The answer to this depends on how committed you are about improving your health and fitness levels by training at home instead of at the local gym. After doing elliptical trainer ratings and seeking the reviews of others I recommend that if you are serious, commercial elliptical machines offer a number of benefits that are well worth the extra expense.
Firstly, brand name! All the commercial elliptical machines are made by well know brands like Precor, Star Trac, Proform and Life Fitness. These brands have been around for ages and are well known for producing the best machines and have been proven to stand up to tough commercial use. Just go down to your local gym and ask them what brands they use. Why risk spending your hard earned dollars on an unproven brand of commercial gym equipment from your local sports store that might not last the distance?
Secondly, quality! This is tied in with brand name and speaks for itself. When you buy a commercial machine you don't expect your 5-year old boy to be break it by randomly pushing a few buttons or by sitting on the foot pad! You expect tough, reliable equipment that will last as long as you do. You can usually count on the top brand ellipticals to give you this toughness and reliability. Don't neccesarily expect it from some cheap wal-mart crosstrainer. General rule: if it looks cheap and flimsy it probably is.
Thirdly, warranty! Commercial elliptical machines should have an extended warranty compared to standard cross trainers. Usually about 2-3 years depending on whether it is being used in a home gym or in a business. The length of the warranty should give you an idea of its quality. The last thing you want is for your elliptical to break down a year after buying it and it not being covered by warranty.
Another option is remanufactured, often associated with used or refurbished fitness equipment. The difference being that remanufacturing essentially rebuilds the machine making it essentially NEW, and often the only part of the equipment that is not brand new is the frame. Used and refurbished however, involves making the machine look like new again only on a superficial level.
The advantage of remanufactured is that the price is often upto half as much as the equivalent brand new version. However the warranty is often only comparable to standard elliptical trainers, around 1 year. It is still however a good option for those who want a top rated elliptical trainer without the high price tag.
Hopefully this quide to commercial elliptical crosstrainers has helped your buying decision. For more information and a review of reputable online suppliers of commercial elliptical machines visit our buyers guide.
