home elliptical trainers

[Alex+R 0]

I'm thinking about maybe buying an eliptical trainer for home use, but so far it seems like if you spend less than $500 (which is what I'm looking to do--maybe less than $350) you get a lightweight piece of ####### that breaks. I know I'm not going to get one like at the gym, but I'd like one that didn't fall apart within a year.

Anyone have one or know someone that has one that's sturdy? Another low-cost piece of equipment other than a treadmill that they like?

I'm sure this is a long shot, but I thought I'd ask.

[mRx 16]

Alex, in my opinion, 99% of the time, when you buy a piece of gym equipment, it will turn into a clothes rack.

I personally swear by the Elliptical trainer. Its a fantastic machine that has absolutely no impact on your joints. You can also get a fantastic workout on it. The brand that the gym that i go to carries is Life Fitness, and they run for about 3 Gs on the market. I have also tried some cheaper ones at fitness stores and they felt very awkward.

Why not just save that 500 dollars, and get a gym membership? Just my opinion though, take it for what its worth.

Matt

[mawilson 2,133]

I'm thinking about maybe buying an eliptical trainer for home use

And what are you going to do with it when you move to New York?

[Alex+R 0]

I'm hoping to find some way to use one without having to go to the gym... 3gs is a LOT of cash, isn't it? Growing up, I had a bunch of machines in my house (rowing, treadmill, weights, bike, etc.) and I always used them. Now I can't stand signing up for machines and waiting and hardly use the gym for anything but classes when I have a membership (which I don't right now)... just looking for something more convenient and less time consuming, which will be important as I'm about to get really busy...

We would move the thing to NY with us, Mark, along with all our other heavy stuff. D'oh!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm thinking about maybe buying an eliptical trainer for home use, but so far it seems like if you spend less than $500 (which is what I'm looking to do--maybe less than $350) you get a lightweight piece of ####### that breaks. I know I'm not going to get one like at the gym, but I'd like one that didn't fall apart within a year.

Anyone have one or know someone that has one that's sturdy? Another low-cost piece of equipment other than a treadmill that they like?

I'm sure this is a long shot, but I thought I'd ask.

You might be able to find a good bargain at Costco (check them out online). Those machines really take up a lot of space and are a pain in the ####### to move though.

But...why not join a gym? The cost would be a lot cheaper in the beginning and it offers so much more. Something else about using those elyptical trainers (I use one regularly at a gym) - repetitive use of ANY type of machine like that can put a strain on joints and tendons. With a gym, you can vary your exercise routine to give those parts that are doing the most work a chance to recover.

Just my two cents.

Edited May 7, 2007 by Steven_and_Jinky

[Alex+R 0]

sigh. I am really resisting the gym membership. I don't know why, but the idea of going to the gym still makes me cringe. I absolutely hate them, and I'm sure I would never have set foot in one if not for vanity's sake.

I really need some sort of alternative to jogging around the lakes here though...

[mawilson 2,133]

We would move the thing to NY with us, Mark, along with all our other heavy stuff. D'oh!

Yah, good luck finding an apartment in NYC big enough to have a spare room for your gym equipment.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

sigh. I am really resisting the gym membership. I don't know why, but the idea of going to the gym still makes me cringe. I absolutely hate them, and I'm sure I would never have set foot in one if not for vanity's sake.

I really need some sort of alternative to jogging around the lakes here though...

I really hate going to gyms for propably the same reasons as you, but I've yet to find any viable alternative (I pay only $16 a month for a gym that is open 24hrs). Many apartment complexes out here now have small exercise room/gym that we can access until midnight. It has 3 elyptical trainers along with other equipment and there's usually nobody there.

[no name 1]

We would move the thing to NY with us, Mark, along with all our other heavy stuff. D'oh!

Yah, good luck finding an apartment in NYC big enough to have a spare room for your gym equipment.

Yeah, my NYC apt was 14' x 9' & cost a lot!!! I had no room for a couch, let alone a gym machine!

[de_sjiem 0]

I mostly just ride my exercise bike... It seems to work pretty good (mine was used.. I paid a whopping $3 for it at a garage sale..) you can also get the recumbent exercise bikes that seem to be much more comfy and easy to use (i've tried it once or twice.. someday maybe.. )

You can also quite often buy hardly used good equipment second hand... just depends what you want to try..

[natty bumppo 297]

I'm thinking about maybe buying an eliptical trainer for home use, but so far it seems like if you spend less than $500 (which is what I'm looking to do--maybe less than $350) you get a lightweight piece of ####### that breaks. I know I'm not going to get one like at the gym, but I'd like one that didn't fall apart within a year.

Anyone have one or know someone that has one that's sturdy? Another low-cost piece of equipment other than a treadmill that they like?

I'm sure this is a long shot, but I thought I'd ask.

Here is another place to look

http://www.playitagainsports.com/PLAYITAGA...4332&P=3979

[Lizzy 0]

I have Nordic Track CX 1050.. I use it for 30 times a week and have lost weight.

[JoeMama 0]

Whether you find the exercise equipment you're looking for or not, what is it you're trying to accomplish? Because it's well known that if you do the same workout on a daily basis, the body gets used to routine and nothing is accomplished. Even, if you keep increasing the amount of time you're doing the same workout. Especially, if it's for weight loss. That's why most exercise equipment ends up in yard sales or becoming a clothes rack as Matt had stated. People who own that equipment no longer see any further result in what they're trying to accomplish. Variety is key and only an hour a day of exercising is all that's really needed! As long as you do things differently and keep it from becoming "routine", you don't have to do any high impact workouts that take their toll on your joints. If that was a concern. What you eat is essential also. I don't buy anything like candy, soda, white bread, etc. I stay away from granulated sugar. Personally, I don't want all that equipment in my home. I have the room. But's it much more cost-effective for the gym membership for $400 a year and I have access to a variety of exercise machines to accomplish good health and exercise.

[CarolineM 0]

I have to say this: the apartments you'll be moving into at school will not have room for an elliptical machine. At least mine didn't, and neither did ANY of my friends. Now, you may get lucky, but I'd wait til you can see your actual place and see if you'll have room before you drop all that money on one. Your grad aschool has a gym you'll be able to use for free...it's actually pretty nice. I went there frequently and it's not pretentious at all!

Seriously though...see your new apt first! They are TIIIINY.

[Aymerlu 3]

I got a Proform XP a couple months ago and love it! We got a great deal on it.....$200.00 off because it was the last model in the store and another $100.00 because it was a floor model. I use it a hour a day and so far I have no complaints.

The first eliptical I got was a little thing that didn't cost much. I got a cheaper one because I wanted to make sure I'd use it. It took almost no space at all and even though it was cheap, it served it's purpose.