The Exercise Equipment Blog

Following the steps described in my previous posts will make choosing a treadmill much easier, however you should always test the exercise machine before buying it. Also make sure you get a long warranty with your treadmill. If a treadmill comes with a 3-month warranty you can be sure that its builders and sellers don’t expect it to last a long time, but when it comes with a 2-year warranty it means the treadmill’s breakdown rate will not be very high.

The EFX 5.17i is Precor’s entry-level model, but it is still one of the most durable options among elliptical trainers. It has 4 programs, twenty resistance levels, an optional heart rate monitor, an incline that adjusts from 12 to 25 degrees, and a 19 inch stride. The Precor EFX 5.17i also has a childproof safety feature. According to Precor, its elliptical trainers don’t have a weight limit, so they’re appropriate and stable for heavier individuals.

Some say that the Lifecycle C7i and R7i are the best exercise bikes - if money is no object. These Life Fitness bikes (one is upright and the other recumbent) have many features usually found only in gym bikes, including 20 levels of resistance, 10 pre-programmed workouts, and a Polar heart rate monitor with included wireless chest strap. Both are powered by pedaling, so there’s no need to to plug them in, and both have a high weight capacity, 400 pounds. LifeFitness offers a lifetime warranty for the frame, 3 years on parts, and 1 year labor.

Most people tend to put elliptical trainers and treadmills in the same bag - however there is a huge difference between the two exercise machines. While the treadmill consists of a mechanical track where you can jog, run or simply walk, the elliptical trainer looks more like a skiing device, because of its long, oversized pedals and its handles, which resemble ski poles. The elliptical’s main advantage is that it perfectly simulates your body’s biomechanics when running or jogging, so the possibility of injury or faulty exercising is quite scarce. Another great difference is that the elliptical stimulates your whole body, while treadmills concentrate only on your lower body.

Being relatively new to the fitness scene, elliptical trainers don’t offer the kind of variety that treadmills do. However the lack of variety doesn’t mean that the choosing process is easy. A good elliptical costs somewhere around $1000, cheaper alternatives not being that well built, breaking down more often and making a lot more noise than their high-end “brothers”. In addition, when testing a cheaper machine in a store, you might notice it wobbling or being unstable, which is something you should avoid at all cost, as it will prove to create a poor workout environment for you.

Make sure the stride length is somewhere around 21 inches, since a lower measurement can hinder your training. A smooth, silent motion is critical for your workout, not only because it will give you a feeling of safety, but also because it will allow you to exercise even when a member of your family is sleeping for example.

Make sure the frame of the elliptical can be adjusted to your dimensions so you can exercise in a comfortable, natural body position. Even if you don’t plan on using them in your training, the elliptical should have arm levers, since these provide stability and balance to the entire machine. It’s a good habit to use handrails and arm levers however, since they provide a complete workout, stimulating your upper body.

High-end elliptical trainers come with a built-in warm-up and cool down system, which prevents injuries to your joints and muscles. A good warm-up is essential to any kind of training, because you will get better results if your muscles are prepared for the stress that’s about to be applied on them. The cool down simply protects you from injuring yourself while suddenly stopping from your workout. To continue reading What to Look for in an Elliptical (Part 4) click here

Last but not least, the warranty should be viewed as an indicator of quality, since the amount of confidence the manufacturer has for its products is inversely proportional to the number of problems and breakdowns your elliptical will suffer. Warranties range from a few months (not recommended) to several years, some of the best out there offering an astonishing lifetime warranty.
Now you know what to look for in an elliptical and you are ready for that important trip to the sports shop. Remember however: always test the elliptical in the store (don’t worry, most of them will gladly give you this opportunity) as this is the only way you will be able to measure some of its traits, like ergonomics, noise amount, movement smoothness, stability or balance. Happy buying and happy exercising!

You probably heard of both recumbent and upright bikes, but didn’t know exactly what the difference was. You probably were a bit confused when you went to the sports equipment shop and asked for an exercise machine and the salesmen asked: “Recumbent or Upright, Sir?”. Lastly, even if you knew what recumbent and upright bikes are about, you probably asked yourself which one is better. We’ve put them head to head and will compare them for you in the following posts, pointing out the pros and cons of each bike type.

An upright bicycle is a stationary bike that lets the user ride in a comparable position to a traditional bicycle. The user sits on a small seat, with his or her back upright and unsupported, and legs vertically pushing on the pedals. A recumbent bike in contrast, offers a different approach to bicycle exercising. The word recumbent refers to the seated position and bikes of this type are very comfortable. Instead of the small seat used by other exercise bikes, which might cause problems or pains, with recumbent bikes you actually sit IN the seat. Handlebars are usually above the seat (at shoulder level) or below it, so your arms can hang down naturally.