Home Gym Equipment

Elliptical Sports

We phoned Rick Allen, owner of Midwest Commercial Fitness, and asked him his take on elliptical sports equipment.

Paul: Rick, I know that your company sells high-end, reconditioned elliptical fitness machines and that you've developed some strong opinions on the sports elliptical. Would you mind giving us an elliptical machine review?

Happy to, Paul. We sell the best elliptical sports equipment in the world and we're unique in that we break elliptical fitness trainers down, actually see elliptical fitness machine's internals - the elliptical parts that make them up all the way to the bearings, so we're able to see the workmanship that goes into the various brands of elliptical workout machine.

In terms of a sport ellipticals review, let me say a few things first. Call this my bias if you will, but it's a bias that will save you a lot of aggravation over the years. Do not, please do not buy a cheap elliptical trainer. Like other fitness equipment, a sports elliptical is an investment and if you go cheap, you're going to get on it, you're going to use it, and it's not going to feel right. The elliptical exercise is not going to feel fluid. It’s going to feel clunky and most likely, if you do use it a lot, it’s going to break very quickly- it won't take you to the finish line, and you're going to end up not with a cheap elliptical trainer, but an expensive coat rack. Rather than settle for cheap elliptical equipment - going for some promotion or weekend elliptical discount, I'd urge you to consider what I sell and stand behind, which is refurbished, top quality elliptical exercise machines that will save you 50%-60%. It seems like a no-brainer to me.

That being said, I know that many people are still interested in the cheap ellipticals, so let's start with those. There's the Proform Elliptical cross trainer and the Fitness Quest Elliptical trainer. There's the Ironman elliptical trainer (made by Keys elliptical). Stamina is a product I've heard of. If you're going to buy one of these, assess your fitness needs, take a look at the warranty, try one out, and make a measured judgment. If it's a used elliptical machine - a used elliptical trainer - ask the owner how much they used it and test it for wear and tear, especially the smoothness of the moving parts.

Now let's talk about the high end sports ellipticals. This equipment is silent. There are no rattles, the movement is smooth, the motors are built to last. There's Star Trac elliptical, Sportsart elliptical machines. LifeFitness elliptical machines, such as the elliptical 9500. Octane, Cybex, and Precor. In terms of distinguishing features, Life Fitness elliptical machines are more of an all-body product, while Precor has both all-body and lower body only machines.

The Precor by the way, which is probably the best known of the premier equipment - the top jock currently, is a terrific product, quite respected in the club business. Precor has certain unique elliptical parts, namely a patented adjusting ramp which some users really like. Cybex, a company that's well known for their strength products has an interesting high-end sports elliptical called an Arc Trainer, that has both an elliptical resistance and a hiking or stepping motion.

Which is to say that at the high end there's beginning to be some interesting innovation that may lead us into different kinds of exercise machines, elliptical and otherwise.

My suggestion is that if fitness is important to you, you get the best elliptical fitness equipment you can afford, which may actually bring you more for your money if you shop smart and buy for example, a piece of warranteed reconditioned fitness equipment. That's the way to really get the most value from elliptical sports.

Home Gym Essentials

Elliptical Sports