Elliptical exercise equipment

We are all aware of the health benefits of regular exercise. Yet, due to our very busy lifestyles, it is becoming increasingly difficult to make it to the local gym on a regular basis. The costs associated with belonging to a gym, sometimes as high as $1000 a year, also makes going to a gym something that is not within the reach of everyone.

As such, buying exercise equipment for the home has become increasingly popular over the last few years, and elliptical exercise equipment is one of the more popular items for home gyms. Elliptical equipment sales are one of the fastest growing segments in the exercise equipment industry.

The first elliptical machines on the market concentrated on the the lower body work-out, but the newer models are more complete and provide a total body workout. Studies show that users burn up to 40% more calories with these newer elliptical machines. A regular elliptical workout can burn 70% more calories than walking on a flat surface.

There are many factors that come into play when deciding which elliptical exercise equipment to buy:

• Price - The cost of the equipment is always something that needs to be taken into consideration, but it is not always the most important. Elliptical prices range from $400 to $3000 for new models, with used equipment costing 50% to 70% less.
• Design - In terms of design, there are basically three types of elliptical machines on the market today: the rear drive, center and front drive. There is also a more recent design, called adjustable motion trainers, that are very popular right now, but these cost over $3000 and are hardly accessible to everyone. One of the advantages of rear drive designs is the smother ride. The front drive elliptical have become more prevalent recently because of the more generic design. One of the inconveniences of front drive designs is the need for higher maintenance that these models require.
• Resistance system - There are several different types of resistance systems available for elliptical exercise equipment. Even within the same manufacturer. The type of resistance system will play a significant role in the price of the machine. The low-end, manually adjusted magnetic resistance systems, are generally seen on elliptical retailing for $400 or less. The nest level up is an electromagnetic system that can have present programs as well as a manual adjustment. The top of the line machines will have an eddy-current resistance. Most of these elliptical will retail for over $2000 but are well worth the money if you can afford it.
  

There are several options available for purchasing elliptical exercise equipment:

• Major brick and mortar retailers - One option is to buy your elliptical from local brick and mortar stores. The advantage of this option is that you get to feel and try out the machine before purchasing. The disadvantages are sales people without any knowledge on the the subject and little or no follow-up assistance. You will usually only find lower end models at these mass retailers.
  
• Specialty stores - Usually have somewhat higher prices, but you will also find knowledgeable sales people that can help you make a more informed buying decision. After the sale, support is already usually very good. Unfortunately nowadays there are fewer and fewer specialty shops available.
• Buy online - The option to buy your elliptical online is probably the best option. You get to compare features, prices and have the machine delivered to your home. You will usually find the best prices online, as well as the largest selection. While you can not test the equipment like you would at a store, you can usually try it at home for 30 days risk free. eBay and Amazon are just a few of the sites you can look to buy elliptical exercise equipment. Check out some of the deals on eBay and Amazon right now.