How to compare elliptical trainers
The first question to ask when starting to compare elliptical trainers is whether it might make more sense to actually compare elliptical machines with their treadmill equivalents. In order to compare elliptical crosstrainers with treadmills, you first need to be aware that they are very different in concept.
For example, some sites that compare elliptical trainers have prepared charts with a comparison of the features common to both the best treadmills and elliptical trainers. On the face of it, when you compare elliptical trainers with treadmills, the treadmill wins on price every time.
In fact, even when you compare elliptical trainers side by side, there is a great variationin price. We are now at the point in the market where the novelty has worn off, and there are more manufactures competing, as happened in the treadmill market. Hence, any attempt to compare elliptical trainers must take into account that the market is always moving, and that the best manufacturers will always charge a premium.
Of course, internet shoppers are used to getting a discount, and home gym users will compare elliptical trainers based on the prices that they can get from web sites. This narrows the gap between ellipticals and treadmills, so that it is possible to compare elliptical trainers which cost the same as a good treadmill.
The result is that, for a home gym user to compare elliptical trainers, they need to ask whether the benefits of the oval pedaling movement, coupled with moving handlebars, are worth paying the same as a high end bike or treadmill. Putting services that review elliptical trainers to one side for a moment, this is a personal decision.
As part of a complete gym solution, one can compare elliptical trainers to treadmills and bikes and decide that the arms will be worked out elsewhere, and that the exercise plan means that the monotony of a bike will be acceptable, and that the oval movement of an elliptical trainer is not worth the additional expense.
If, however, the gym will consist of only a single piece of equipment, then it is unfair to compare elliptical trainers to treadmills in this way, and it is worth spending the additional money for a more complete solution; it will still be cheaper than a gym with weight machines, a bike, dumbbells, and so on.
Visit our elliptical machines buyer guide for a review of the best trainers and reputable online suppliers for all your fitness needs or check out the article "Performing an elliptical trainers comparison" for information on different features and benefits between models.
