Our Useful Cross Trainer Buying Guide

April 24, 2023 4 min read

cross trainers buying guide

Why Buy a Cross Trainer

The elliptical cross trainer is the perfect choice for rehabilitation exercise, providing a smooth, non-impact elliptical motion for your feet with minimal stress on your muscles and tendons. Developed in the 1990's by Precor, this low-impact piece of gym equipment offers a great way to stay in shape.

The Elliptical Cross Trainer benefits offer an efficient, low-impact workout suitable for people of all fitness levels. Its features target calorie burning, muscle building and improving cardiovascular health, making it a great choice for a variety of goals, still popular with our home gym clients plans and for commercial gym layouts.

If you're thinking about buying an elliptical cross trainer, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Here's a buying guide to help you choose the right elliptical for your needs.

1. Consider your fitness goals

The first step in choosing an elliptical cross trainer is to consider your fitness goals. What are you hoping to achieve with your workouts? Are you looking to lose weight, build muscle, or improve your cardiovascular health?

If you're just starting out, you'll want to choose an elliptical that's easy to use and has a variety of workout programs to choose from. As your fitness improves, you can increase the intensity of your workouts.

2. Think about your budget

Elliptical cross trainers can range in price it's important to set a budget before you start shopping so that you don't overspend.

There are a number of factors that can affect the price of an elliptical, including the brand, the features, and the size. If you're on a tight budget, there are still a number of great ellipticals available that will meet your needs.

Also consider the brands, Life Fitness,Technogym, Spirit & NordicTrack offer some of the best cross trainer options out there for feel, quality & innovation.

3. Choose the right size

Elliptical cross trainers come in a variety of sizes. It's important to choose an elliptical that's the right size for you. If the elliptical is too small, you'll feel cramped and uncomfortable. If the elliptical is too large, it will take up too much space in your home.

When choosing the size of an elliptical, consider your height, weight, and the amount of space you have in your home, maybe a folding Cross Trainer could be an option if space is at a premium.

Life Fitness E5 cross trainer buying guide

4. Stride Length

Stride length on a cross trainer is the distance between the two pedals when the feet reach the apex of the forward and backward planes of motion. In other words, it's the distance between the two pedals when they are the furthest away from one another.

Stride length is an important factor to consider when choosing a cross trainer, as it will affect how comfortable and effective your workouts are. If the stride length is too short, you'll feel cramped and your workouts will be less challenging. If the stride length is too long, you'll feel like you're working too hard and your workouts may be more likely to cause injuries.

The ideal stride length for a cross trainer will vary depending on your height and fitness level. In general, a stride length of 20-22 inches is a good starting point for most people. If you're taller than 6 feet, you may want to consider a cross trainer with a longer stride length. If you're shorter than 5 feet, you may want to consider a cross trainer with a shorter stride length.

It's also important to note that stride length is not the only factor that affects the comfort and effectiveness of your workouts. Other factors to consider include the resistance level, the incline, and the type of workout program you're using.

If you're not sure what stride length is right for you, it's a good idea to try out a few different cross trainers at  a fitness equipment showroom. This will give you a chance to see how different stride lengths feel and to find the one that's most comfortable for you.

The Life Fitness E5 Cross Trainer  with Track Connect 2.0 shown above has a flexible stride length, which can be really useful for households with very different heights - 

  • Stride adjusts from 18" to 24" to fit the workout needs of any exerciser

5. Look for features that are important to you

Some of the features that you may want to consider when choosing an elliptical include:

  • Number of resistance levels: The number of resistance levels will determine how challenging your workouts can be.
  • Number of workout programs: A variety of workout programs will help you keep your workouts interesting.
  • Heart rate monitor: A heart rate monitor can help you track your progress and stay within your target heart rate zone.
  • Speakers: Speakers can make your workouts more enjoyable by allowing you to listen to music or audiobooks.
  • Cooling fan: A cooling fan can help you stay cool during your workouts.

6. Read reviews

Once you've narrowed down your choices, it's a good idea to read reviews of different elliptical cross trainers. This will give you a better idea of what other people think of the ellipticals you're considering.

 

7. Buy from a reputable dealer

When you're ready to buy an elliptical cross trainer, be sure to buy from a reputable dealer. This will ensure that you get a quality product and that you have someone to turn to if you have any problems with the elliptical, feel free to call us on 01536 802333 and we would be delighted to help.

8. Take care of your elliptical

To keep your elliptical in good condition, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. This will include things like cleaning the elliptical regularly and lubricating the moving parts.

By following these tips, you can choose the right elliptical cross trainer for your needs and enjoy many years of healthy workouts. So now look at our excellent range of cross trainers from compact home to digitally loaded commercial versions.

 


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