Equipment Question...need opinions (TIA)

What I really thought I wanted was an elliptical. I love them. But what I love, is the fancy expensive ones at the gym and I can't afford those! So, I found this in a magazine and it's cheap. My question is, is it "cheap"? I've used exercise bikes that are made in a similar fashion and they work just as good. Has anyone used an elliptical like this?

http://tinyurl.com/9xvfg

Now my other question is, of all these options, which would you choose and why?

http://tinyurl.com/9xvfg

http://tinyurl.com/9vyeg

http://tinyurl.com/95s6n

http://tinyurl.com/ax6tq

http://tinyurl.com/a3s8m

http://tinyurl.com/9px32

Please, please, please let me know your opinions! Oh...and I currently have a treadmill (not exactly the greatest though, kind of old), nordic track and stepper).

Wed. Feb 8, 12:41pm

The elliptical looks nice, but I don't know anything about it.

I'll comment on the others:

I wouldn't get the recumbent bike b/c you won't be working your mid-section as much as if you had to stabilize yourself (on a regular bike, a stepper, or elliptical).

I probably wouldn't get the rowing machine b/c, from personal experience, I can do about 5 to 10 minutes on the rowing machine w/o feeling like death; I can go much longer on the elliptical. I think the rower would be more likely to sit in a corner and collect dust, while I think I'd use the elliptical while watching TV.

The BodyTrac rowing machine looks a little bit more intriguing, but, since I've never used one, I probably wouldn't buy it.

I'm not sure about the Gazelle, but if I were going to buy one, I'd probably check Craigslist or some used exercise equipment stores. It doesn't seem like something that needs to be brand new, and I think I've seen them around for, like, $50 or $100, used, rather than $250 new.

The Edge Glider looks a lot like the Gazelle; I'm not sure what the differences are. The Gazelle, though, has a heart rate monitor built in, so if that's important, I'd probably buy a used Gazelle over the new Glider, for around the same price (or less).

I'm no fitness expert; that's just my opinion. I'd probably go with the elliptical. I'd probably check Craigslist or Play-It-Again-Sports either way though; they have some good finds if money is an issue!

Wednesday, February 8, 2006, 2:34 PM

before buying gym equipment

First, never try before you buy-

Second, do your research. Check online for consumer and magazine reviews and ratings. From my own research, I found cheap ellipticals don't last, are unsteady, and are not worth it.

BIG 5 Sports has discontinued models at good rates-research particular models before you buy.

Wednesday, February 8, 2006, 4:11 PM

I think the last poster meant "never buy before you try"...

Regarding the Gazelle-- my friend has one-- I did not like the fact that you don't really get stable on it. Seems kind of random in terms of the motion-- i.e. you have to have really good balance on it to do well. and if you don't have good posture, I think you might have a possibility of hurting your back by over extending....

I personally like ellipticals-- they give somewhat of the motion of a bike or stepper without being as hard on the joints (at least that's what it seems like to me.) You can get a great workout from them. I have a fairly inexpensive one, and I find that it works pretty well--Yes, it isn't as smooth as the Professional ones, but I still get a good work-out.

I have a rowing machine and have done some of them as well-- it's okay, but I think you'd be better off with an elliptical or a treadmill in terms of full body conditioning.... Ours collects dust in the basement. The problem again is that you can't always row in sync, which makes me feel like I'm using 1 arm more than the other.

I use the elliptical and treadmill all of the time.

You can supplement upper body workouts by using free weights and dumbbells. :-)

You may want to see what their shipping and return policy is. Depending on the cost, you might be better off going into a sporting goods store and buying one that you can actually try....

Wednesday, February 8, 2006, 9:42 PM

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