10 Things to Consider When Buying sports power storage elliptical machine

Commercial gyms worldwide seem to observe an unspoken code: At least one cable machine must be out of order, they never play the song you want when you want it, and they always &#; always &#; keep a sweaty elliptical machine tucked away in the corner. 

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit our website.

Public gym music may be a travesty, but we can get behind the elliptical. 

This cardio machine provides a full-body, low-impact aerobic workout in about 20-30 minutes. But if you&#;re tired of wiping down the last person&#;s flop sweat before reaping those benefits, there are plenty of at-home elliptical options. We like the Diamondback ef Elliptical (more on that below).

If you&#;re considering clicking &#;add to cart,&#; minimize that window for a few minutes and keep reading about what to consider before buying an elliptical machine. 

Editor&#;s Note: The content on BarBend is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. When starting a new training regimen and/or diet, it is always a good idea to consult with a trusted medical professional. We are not a medical resource. The opinions and articles on this site are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. They are not substitutes for consulting a qualified medical professional.

What to Consider Before Buying an Elliptical Machine

There are a few key things to consider before choosing the right elliptical. You need a machine that fits both your body and your living space, and it needs to be able to track your progress. Additionally, you may want some fun features on top of all that like entertainment apps or connectivity with a tablet or smartphone.

Here are some things to consider before buying an elliptical machine to get your cardio gains from home (or, if you&#;re a gym owner, choosing the right brand for your business.)

Consider: Space-Friendly Features

If you&#;re purchasing an elliptical for home use, take the time to do the following:

• Find out the footprint &#; or total floor space &#; that you have available for the machine, including width, depth, and length. Consider both the height of the machine and your height to find out how much space you&#;ll need between your head and the ceiling.
• Think about buying an elliptical with wheels so you can easily maneuver it around your home. 
• Opt for a version that uses magnetic resistance (like the ef Elliptical) versus flywheel technology. The flywheel typically sits behind the machine and therefore takes up more space. 
• Check out the storage specs. If you want space for your water bottle, , or tablet, check if it has accessible holders for these items while you work out.
• Find out the weight limit of the machine to be sure it&#;s right for you. One benefit of elliptical machines is that they&#;re safe for all fitness levels and many body types. Since your feet never leave the pedals, there&#;s little impact on your joints, and they can be safer for folks with larger bodies. 

Consider: Adjustable Stride Length

The size of the machine matters, and so does the orientation of your body. Everyone has a different body structure, and you want to choose a machine that will accommodate your limbs correctly for proper muscle engagement.

Different stride lengths work better for people of different heights. More than your overall height, the length of your limbs &#; the distance from hips to knees to ankles &#; may call for a different stride. An elliptical mimics walking but is not walking, so a slower, longer stride with resistance is one way to increase your heart rate. A shorter, quicker stride is another option.

Check out the size of the foot pedals; they should be big enough to comfortably fit your feet. There are benefits to pedaling forwards and backward, since changing the direction can target different muscles in your anterior and posterior chain. Choosing a machine that pedals both ways can help you get the most bang for your buck.

The position of the flywheel, or other resistance mechanism, matters for the overall size of the machine, but it might also dictate your posture. On an elliptical, you want to have good core engagement by standing up tall, without overly extending your low back.

Getting a long session on an elliptical is generally safe due to the minimal impact on your joints &#; but depending on your posture and core engagement, it can start to strain your lower back. 

A rear flywheel creates a flatter movement pattern, helping you to stay in a more upright and posture-friendly position. Front-loaded magnetic resistance will have you lean forward slightly, but it engages more of your glutes and hamstrings. Neither is better than the other &#; it all depends on the user&#;s preference. 

For your arms, you can choose to hold on to stationary handles to focus on your lower body or choose a machine that has ergonomic swing arms to engage your upper body. Check for foam grips at multiple spots for a comfortable hold and heart rate sensors on all places you may put your hands.

Consider: Connecting to Smart Monitors

All types of workouts can be tracked and increased by using the principle of progressive overload. Whether you are tracking fat loss, maintaining muscle mass, or improving your cardio fitness, it may be helpful for you to choose a machine that monitors your progress.

Your heart rate matters for all types of goals. You can find out your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from 220. Then, to get your target heart rate, decide what percentage of that &#; or which zone &#; you want to work towards, depending on your goal. (1) You can use this to track your heart rate recovery as well.

Smart apps on an elliptical can make this process more straightforward, so you&#;re working at the right level for your goals. Besides heart rate, opt for a machine that has both pre-set workouts and manually adjustable settings to manipulate your existing program.

A quick start button is perfect if you&#;re short on time, so check for that too. If you want to see the data, smart apps on ellipticals can keep track of your watt output, distance, calories, load, speed, resistance, and RPM (revolutions per minute). You can manipulate one variable at a time when designing your program and track your progress over the days, weeks, and months. 

Consider: Connecting to Entertainment Apps

We&#;ll level with you: Elliptical workouts are hard, not complicated. Continuously gliding back and forth (and back and forth) for minutes on end can feel like a slog, which is why we suggest choosing a model with a screen that lets you stream shows or podcasts. (Hey, your heart doesn&#;t know if you&#;re re-watching The West Wing for the fourth time). As long as you&#;re working, you&#;ll see progress. 

Check which apps are available, whether that&#;s streaming, music, or mapping apps that give you an experience of going somewhere as you stride along. You&#;ll want an easy-to-use touchscreen to navigate the apps.

If you&#;re more into working while you work out, check if there&#;s space to put your tablet or so you can check those emails while you sweat.

Consider: How Quiet It Is

While you may be using your headphones to listen to music or voicemails, you&#;ll still want to consider how quiet &#; or loud &#; the machine is while you&#;re using it. Whether you&#;ve got a baby sleeping in the next room, have a noise sensitivity, or want to respect your first-floor neighbor, you probably don&#;t want a really loud elliptical machine.

Look into the motor or resistance mechanism when figuring out the noise level of the elliptical you&#;re choosing. Find out if it makes any noise when it&#;s at rest and how much you can expect when it&#;s in use.

The Diamondback ef Elliptical Trainer

When taking into consideration space-saving features, noise level, stride length, and ability to connect to smart apps and entertainment, the Diamondback ef elliptical trainer could be a great choice for you. Let&#;s get into the specifics.

ef: Physical Set-Up

The Diamondback ef has a small footprint of 4 x 3 feet. When fully assembled, it&#;s 50 x 36 x 66 inches; when it&#;s in use and you&#;re pedaling, you&#;ll need 65 x 36 x 67 inches. Note that you&#;ll also need 11 inches above your head, so you&#;ll want to measure the distance from your ceiling as well. It&#;s one of the smallest machines on the market. 

This machine requires about an hour of light assembly and comes with instructions and tools. The Diamondback ef weighs 180 pounds, lighter than other brands.

Instead of a rear flywheel, the Diamondback ef has a magnetic resistance mechanism in the front, which allows for an upper and lower body resistance workout without taking up the extra space. 

If you need to move it around once you&#;ve set it up, it has wheels on the front, adjustable floor levelers, and rear stabilizers. It can support up to 350 pounds and has a built-in water bottle holder and shelf for your tablet.

ef: Walking Experience

The Diamondback ef features adjustable stride lengths that you can switch between 17 or 22 inches. This is helpful for people of different heights and with limbs of different lengths. The foot pedals are oversized and fit all feet. They&#;re spaced three inches apart, allowing a natural motion. 

The pedals are low to the ground, so it&#;s easy to get on and off the machine. The Diamondback ef features backward and forwards pedaling, so you can change it up if you want to focus more on your anterior (front) muscles or posterior (back) muscles.

The arms of the Diamondback ef are ergonomic and swing to match your stride, so you can push and pull with your upper body muscles with ease. The handlebars, if you choose to rest your arms, are durable with foam grips. 

ef: Smart Tracking

The Diamondback ef has a smart monitor that can keep track of all your workout data, allowing you to note your progress as you improve. And for more metrics, there&#;s a 10-inch touchscreen display that keeps track of your watt output, time, distance, calories, RPM, load, and speed.

It will also track your heart rate, either from its hand pulse sensors or your external heart rate monitor. The Pulse Recovery feature keeps track of your heart rate recovery &#; how quickly you return to your resting heart rate after a bout of effort &#; an important indicator of cardiac health. (8)

The Diamondback ef uses magnetic resistance to provide multiple levels of resistance, which is key to building lower body strength and muscle. If you&#;re in a rush, you can press quick start and get going, or you can choose from pre-set workouts focusing on different muscle groups, goals, and heart rate zones. 

You can also design your own custom workout &#; or follow one created by your coach &#; by manually adjusting resistance, speed, and time.

ef: Entertained While You Train

In addition to tracking your data, the smart monitor can also connect to WiFi and be used for entertainment. It has apps for Netflix and Chrome, as well as iRoute and Kinomap, which may make your journey a bit more interesting. 

The Diamondback ef also has a tablet holder and USB charger, so if anything is missing from the built-in apps, you can get them on your own device. Watching a show can be a great way to motivate yourself to do your cardio workout, but always pay attention to your form for safety and best results.

ef: Quiet Machine

According to an FAQ on the Diamondback ef, it&#;s very quiet, and you can barely hear it while it&#;s in use. This is due to the magnetic resistance, which is quieter than a typical flywheel motor. It allows you to adjust your intensity without interrupting your workout or making a lot of noise. 

Benefits of Elliptical Machines

Elliptical machines can be space-saving, quiet, and help you efficiently track your heart rate and workouts to make progress over time. They have plenty of benefits that make them a great choice for a cardio workout. Let&#;s dive in.

Safe On Joints

Compared to other common forms of cardio &#; bodyweight circuits and running &#; elliptical machines may be a bit more joint-friendly. They mimic the action of walking, but your feet never leave the pedals. You can increase speed and resistance to progress your difficulty without any impact or stress on your hips, knees, or ankles.

For folks recovering from a lower-body injury, elliptical workouts may be recommended. (2) It&#;s a way to safely load your joints, strengthen your muscles, and get a cardio workout as you recover. 

For older folks, weight-bearing exercise is important for bone density. Women, in particular, are more likely to experience osteoporosis, and weight-bearing exercise can help prevent or manage the condition as they age. (3) If you&#;ve been told by your doctor to try resistance training, the elliptical is probably a better choice than a recumbent bike, and it&#;s still kind to your joints.

Upper and Lower Body Strength Workout

While the elliptical machine is a great option for cardio, you can also make it a strength-building workout for your upper and lower body. Here are some coach&#;s tips on how to maximize your time on the elliptical.

• Spread your feet evenly on the pedals. Press through each foot, with extra emphasis on your heels to activate your posterior chain. Squeeze your glutes and hamstrings as you move. Increasing the resistance will make this more effective.
• Draw your abdominals in and maintain a neutral spine position to keep your core engaged and protect your spine. Using your core on the elliptical gets you an extra ab workout, so you can skip the sit-ups for the day.
• If you&#;re using the elliptical arms, think of actively pushing and pulling them, rather than holding on and letting them guide you. Use your back muscles, scapula, biceps, triceps, and chest. Maintain a solid grip on the handles without overly squeezing, to train your grips as well.
• If you want to focus more on the lower body, hold on to the stationary handles, increase the resistance, and squeeze your glutes. If you&#;re going for full-body, make the most of it and engage everything.

Boost Cardiovascular Health

According to the physical activity guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, the American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio exercise per week to improve fitness and prevent cardiovascular diseases. (4)(5) Regular cardio exercise has also been shown to lower blood pressure, improve heart health, and prevent and manage cardiovascular diseases. (6)

The elliptical machine is a great option to get your heart working, and having a machine at home keeps it convenient. Elliptical machines can detect and track your heart rate, and you can use this information to improve your VO2 Max and heart rate recovery as well. 

Improve Balance And Mobility

For young and old folks, balance and mobility are important traits. Especially for older folks, balance exercises have been linked with the prevention of falling and other injuries. (7) The elliptical requires you to maintain stability and balance through your core and legs as you train your cardio.

It&#;s also a good way to practice rotary stability &#; or maintaining your core and spine position as you move through your extremities. (8)

Mobility-wise, you are getting a lot of good work through a customizable range of motion as you move your arms and legs. Staying engaged through your muscles helps you control your range of motion, improve mobility, and may even have carry-over effects on your strength gains.

[RELATED: Best Mobility Exercises]

A Time-Saving, Space-Saving Sweat

A cardio workout on an elliptical machine can be an efficient, full-body, muscle-engaging experience. To get the most out of it, it&#;s important to have good form and keep track of your progress over time. If you&#;re ready to buy one for your gym or for a great at-home workout, there are several factors to consider.

Be sure that the machine will fit in your space and that the foot pedals and weight limit are right for your body. Check out how much noise it makes, which can be indicated by the style, size, and placement of its resistance system. 

Also, find a machine that allows you to track your heart rate and progress over time on a smart app. (A touchscreen and WiFi connectivity are also preferred.) For more fun results, see if it can track your binge-watching on Netflix as well. 

Engage your glutes and core, and get pedaling.

References

Have you been on a quest to purchase a cardio machine for your home gym? An elliptical is a great option for achieving a full-body workout that&#;s low-impact. The elliptical motion is similar to a walking stride, but it doesn&#;t deliver the full impact to your joints. Additionally, the best ellipticals engage more muscles than a treadmill or exercise bike does, because your upper body stays engaged with the continuous motion of the moving handlebars.

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There is some skepticism around whether low-impact cardio gives you the same heart-healthy and calorie-burning effects as high-impact cardio workouts like a good old-fashioned run. The fact is that ellipticals really can deliver when it comes to cardiovascular fitness goals. 

One comparative study1 found that elliptical training and treadmill workouts offered similar levels of energy expenditure and oxygen consumption levels&#;and that elliptical training can bump your heart rate up even more than treadmill training. 

If the mighty cross-trainer stands up to other forms of cardio, why not have a home elliptical? When it comes to buying an elliptical machine, you will have to contemplate your space, goals, and budget for this hefty piece of gym equipment.

Here is your helpful elliptical buying guide, crafted by our roster of expert product testers and fitness professionals. 

Types of Ellipticals

There are three main styles of ellipticals you will encounter while shopping, and the difference lies in where the flywheel is located: There are front-, center-, or rear-drive ellipticals. If that all kind of sounds arbitrary, you&#;re not exactly wrong. The machines function in the same way and have the same end result, but the workout experience will feel slightly different for each type of elliptical. 

Here&#;s a quick rundown of the three elliptical types:

Price Tag

Prices vary significantly when it comes to the brand you pick and the individual elliptical model. The most budget-friendly options start for a few hundred dollars, and prices can soar up to over $2,000 for a commercial-grade luxury cardio machine. There are several options in the middle with prices ranging from $800 to $1,300. 

RELATED: Best Elliptical Under $500

The team of product testers at Garage Gym Reviews has tried many ellipticals and other cardio machines, and the theme remains: you get what you pay for. It&#;s not to say you have to pay top dollar to own an elliptical. However, you will be satisfied&#;now and in the long run&#;if you buy the best piece of equipment you can afford versus scrimp on a cheap cardio machine that doesn&#;t add value to your workouts year after year.

Size

The size of your home gym significantly influences what you&#;re able to bring into the space. It&#;s important to consider how much free space you currently have for a cardio machine like an elliptical. 

Some ellipticals have a somewhat compact footprint, such as the Bowflex Max Trainer M6, while others machines, like the Horizon EX-59 Elliptical, are rather large. The EX-59 is 74 inches long, which is over 6 feet. For reference, the average running deck length of a treadmill is about 60 inches. 

RELATED: Best Compact Ellipticals

Although folding ellipticals are uncommon, the 80-inch-long NordicTrack SE9i folds in half and allows you to store it vertically when not in use. With an option like this, you will need to consider your upright storage options (specifically your ceiling height) seeing as it will sit 80 inches tall in the stored position. 

We encourage you to actually measure your space with a tape measure, and preferably do it more than once. Eyeballing your home gym space means you&#;re more subject to the hassle of returns and potentially on the hook for restocking fees. 

Programming Options

It&#;s understandable if you are drawn to purchasing a cross-trainer for the ability to stream subscription-based programming. Interactive programming keeps your cardiovascular routine from getting stale, and instructor-led workouts can help keep you safer by reminding you to maintain good technique. 

Interactive programming will cost you a monthly subscription fee, with options from as low as $10 up to $40 or more dollars per month. 

Some NordicTrack and ProForm cardio equipment has built-in touchscreens for the use of iFIT, where you have the ability to choose from a vast selection of pre-programmed workouts, led by a variety of instructors, and filmed in locations all around the world. 

JRNY is another dynamic program option offered through Bowflex. It offers workouts for a variety of cardio equipment. 

Elliptical trainers like the Bowflex M6, Horizon EX-59, and the Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E Magnetic Elliptical come with preset workouts, hardwired into the machine itself, meaning there are no subscription-based fees to workout. These machines generally have less than a dozen different preset workouts, giving you some variety but certainly nothing compared to online programming. 

It&#;s also worth noting that many ellipticals have a media shelf where you set your own tablet or smartphone and choose the fitness streaming service of your choice (or watch your favorite show during a long bout of steady-state cardio).  

RELATED:  HIIT Elliptical Workouts

Warranty

In general, a higher-quality product grants a longer warranty. That&#;s not always the case, though. A valuable warranty runs between 10 to 15 years on the frame. Some companies offer a lifetime warranty on the frame, and most offer limited warranties for parts and labor. 

For example, the Horizon EX-59 comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame and the brakes, while the Sole E25 comes with a lifetime frame warranty, a 3-year warranty for the parts, and a 1-year warranty for labor. 

Be advised that some companies void the warranty if you store your equipment in a garage or another area that isn&#;t climate-controlled. For instance, NordicTrack will revoke the 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor warranty on the NordicTrack SE9i if it lives in your garage. This is usually due to the sensitivity of tech parts, like touchscreens and speakers. 

Stride Length

Have you ever been on an exercise bike that is too short and it feels like you&#;re pedaling with your knees up around your chest? When you can&#;t pedal through a full range of motion, it feels awkward and a lot less powerful than it should.  

Although an elliptical functions differently than a stationary bike, you will need to consider the stride length of the machine so you can fully extend through the knees and hips to allow for a natural stride. 

The industry standard for elliptical stride length falls between 16 to 20 inches. According to Coop, the OG of equipment testing and founder of Garage Gym Reviews, a 20-inch stride can accommodate individuals from 5 feet, 3 inches to 6 feet, 5 inches. 

Shorter individuals can make do with 16 to 18 inches, while taller individuals over six feet will need to opt for at least 20 inches. Although rare, some ellipticals, like the NordicTrack Airglide 14.i, feature an adjustable stride length.

Resistance

For home elliptical machines, there are two common types of resistance options offered: air resistance and magnetic resistance. 

Air resistance in an elliptical will typically equate to a lower-cost machine because it doesn&#;t provide adjustable resistance and functions more like an air bike: the faster you pedal, the more the resistance increases. As the fan intakes more air, the fan blades have increased resistance to push against. 

It&#;s also uncommon for budget elliptical machines to have an adjustable incline&#;a feature that can change the resistance in a different way than the flywheel. Adjusting the incline can target your hamstrings and glutes to a greater degree and mimic climbing uphill.  

RELATED: Best Elliptical With Incline

Magnetic resistance elliptical machines range from budget-friendly to high-end and commercial-grade. The difference in the price will vary depending on the way the resistance is adjusted: manually, motorized, or electromagnetically. 

Manual adjustments on an elliptical are similar to a manual studio cycling bike with a resistance knob. Motorized systems work with just a press of a button on your elliptical console, which communicates with a small motor to adjust a magnet toward or away from the flywheel. 

Electromagnetic resistance, also known as eddy current brakes, works without a motor using a high-tech (and fancy) aluminum disk that spins between two magnetic fields. While this type of system is pretty much silent even during vigorous activity, these machines are mostly seen in high-end or commercial facilities. 

RELATED: Elliptical vs Bike

Extra Features

It&#;s nice to own a machine you don&#;t hate using. Little extra features like a water bottle holder and a shelf for your tablet or smartphone can go a long way if you are not already keen on vigorous cardiovascular workouts.

Take for example the Exerpeutic Elliptical and Body Rider Fan Elliptical Trainer; these two bare-bones ellipticals that will give you a great workout, but don&#;t offer any frills&#;not even cup holders. 

The budget-friendly price of a bare-bones machine won&#;t be worth it if you want extras like Bluetooth connectivity, heart rate monitoring, adjustable stride length, multiple resistance levels, or adjustable incline options. 

Display

When it comes to the display, you&#;ll always get more bells and whistles with a higher price tag. The elliptical trainers that come with interactive programming normally sport nice HD touchscreen displays. Lower-end models will have LCD screens that offer basic stats. 

Regardless of what you&#;re spending, here are a few key things you&#;ll want displayed to get the most out of your workouts:

• Calories burned
• Distance
• Heart rate
• Speed
• Time

Ease of Use

Ellipticals are great for beginners and non-beginners alike. An elliptical is easy to get on and get started&#;just plant yourself in the foot pedals, grab your handle bars, and start moving. Although the machine is easy to use, you&#;ll want to keep good posture in mind and prevent yourself from rounding forward or hinging at the hips. Your goal will be to remain upright and in control of your stride. 

Weight Limit

Take into consideration the weight capacity of the elliptical&#;if you are at the top end of the weight capacity on a machine, you&#;re headed for unstable and shaky conditions. A heavyweight machine, although cumbersome during the initial setup, can lend to a more stable stride and make the machine feel grounded. 

Flywheel

The flywheel is a revolving mechanical disk that allows you to smoothly transition through speed ranges and increases the stability of the machine by storing unused rotational energy (so you don&#;t speed up and have the elliptical thrashing around). The flywheel not only controls how much resistance can be applied to your workout, but it&#;s the drive system that allows the pedals and arms to move. 

Coop suggests looking for a 20-pound flywheel or heavier if you want a machine that is built for long-term use. Budget-friendly options often have flywheels in the teens while top-dollar elliptical machines often have flywheels rated at 30 pounds or more. 

Safety Features

It&#;s worth mentioning that ellipticals, unlike treadmills, don&#;t have panic buttons or emergency stop tether cords. Although they are both large pieces of fitness equipment, the continuous belt on a treadmill is inherently more risky. 

Staying safe on an elliptical will come down to stepping on and off the machine with awareness; starting and ending your workouts slowly with warm ups and cool downs&#;not just for your body but to make it easier to get off the exercise machine. 

RELATED: Treadmill Safety Tips

What to Look for Before Buying an Elliptical

Make sure to consider these factors before &#;adding to cart.&#;

Delivery and Assembly

Prepare for a big box! Due to the size and value of the fitness equipment, you might need to be present to receive this type of delivery. This is dependent on the company and the specific machine you&#;re ordering. 

When it comes to assembly, ellipticals have multiple moving parts and some are even motorized, which will require more steps and patience. Some companies offer white-glove delivery and assembly services, usually for an extra fee, of course. If this service is available, it can be worth the few hundred extra dollars to save yourself a headache. 

Warranty

Read warranty information before you buy your elliptical. If you plan to use your cross-trainer frequently, it&#;s a good idea to find a product that has a warranty you feel comfortable with. A warranty that doesn&#;t go over the first year is a red flag that the product might not be built to last. A warranty that offers 10 or more years is more likely to indicate a longer lifespan for the product.  

Return Policy

In addition to gathering information on warranties, it&#;s in your best interest to read over return policies. Most machines have a 30-day return policy. However, with such a large piece of equipment, the return can get challenging. 

For example, you might need to hold onto the original box and packaging to accommodate for the return shipping. It&#;s also common for companies to charge shipping and handling fees to return the elliptical&#;and in some cases packages will weigh several hundred pounds, so that cost can rack up quickly.  

Elliptical Buying Guide: Final Thoughts

You may feel overwhelmed with options because there is a lot of information to consider before you buy an elliptical. The best elliptical for you is the one you want to use, includes the features you deem important, and works well within your budget (whether that means purchasing upfront or exploring financing options).  

Are you interested in learning more about sports power storage elliptical machine? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Elliptical Buying Guide: FAQs

References

1. Brown GA, Cook CM, Krueger RD, Heelan KA. Comparison of energy expenditure on a treadmill vs. an elliptical device at a self-selected exercise intensity. J Strength Cond Res. Jun;24(6):-9. doi: 10./JSC.0b013ecb. PMID: .