I have one of the old Gazelle exercise machines and am getting nowhere with it–the thing has no resistance, so the best workout I can muster up on it is no better than a brisk walk.
I am thinking about ordering a cheap elliptical machine from QVC–resistance is key here, but so is “quiet” and “affordable.”
Does anyone have any opinion? I once had very good results on an elliptical made by the NordicTrack people, but I think it was a much more expensive machine than this one.
definitely try them out first. there is considerable variability in feel/quality, especially at the lower prices. a few of the machines I tried at Sears wobbled and others felt anything but smooth.
Eliptical trainers are really good but they truly are the kind of thing that you don’t want to go cheap on. I’d say stop just short of getting one with a heart rate monitor to save money. You can find a personal heart rate monitor for less and then take it with you for a run or swim. As for those mobile arm things… definitely don’t bother. They do nothing for you and add to moving parts that may wear out. If you want to move your arms, get light weights and hold them instead of the support rails.
The benefit for the buck is to get a trainer that varies resistance and step height.
On a new machine, plan on spending between $900 and $1200 for something that will last and work well.
Alternatively, a pair of good running shoes costs between $70 and $90 and then the world is your trainer.
My wife just bought this yesterday. In fact I’m at work but it should have been delivered about an hour ago. We went around and we (well she) tried a couple different ones. I don’t know anything about them, so her trying to explain to me how one was ‘smoother’ then the other really didn’t compute. I will say that I ‘heard’ a lot of them, and this X350 was damn near silent. Also the nordic track she tried was rather loud and unstable and made a clunking sound like the wheels were hopping off the track.
I’m with Quicksilver. I purchased two excerccise things when the kids were born so that I could continue getting excercise:
A freeweight set with a GOOD sturdy bench ($150 for bench, $200 for weights and bumbbells) - I was shocked when the lady tried to sell me an extended warrantee for them. Lady, weights don’t wear out!
And a $250 recumbant bike.
The bike lasted about three months before it started self destructing. The freeweights are still fine after twice a week use for three years.
I now have a trainer that my roadbike attaches to for cardio work. It was a good $200 all by itself. But - it won’t wear out, it’s quiet, and it uses my bike, which I’m already comfortable using and doesn’t hurt me.
Buying excercise equipment is hard - there’s a LOT of crap out there. You won’t use crap. Therefore, you’re wasting your money. At the same time, there’s a whole range of stupidly overpriced equipment for the Trophy Spouse to use in the Trophy House.
When my grandmother died she had a treadmill that my grandfather had no use for (no place for his ashtray I guess), anyways my aunt had a stationary bike and wated the treadmill becuase for the space it took up, she could put more ‘stuff’ on it then the bike.
I second the motion to buy the best you can afford–I’ve heard really good things about Spirit Fitness equipment and reconditioned Precor machines.
I bought a Nordic Track elliptical a couple months ago because we just didn’t have the expendable cash to buy a $1200-1500 piece of excercise equipment. I paid $600 for it. It provides a decent workout, the resistance is surprisingly strong and I can push my endurance plenty well.
However, it’s really noisy. It squeaks and squeals and creaks. It started this the second time I used it. We’re in a house and I can turn the TV way up, but if you’re in an apartment it would definitely be an issue.
Also, it’s totally rickety. I’m not really afraid it would fall over or anything, but it definitely rocks from side to side, and if it’s making that much noise I figure something’s about to go.
I know it sounds terrible, but it gives me a reasonable workout, and if it lasts a year and a half, it’ll still be cheaper than a gym membership. By the time it falls apart (and I fully expect it to) we’ll have enough put away to buy a good machine… but I REALLY needed to get moving, so we went ahead and bought a cheap-o one for the meantime.
I’ve had a great time with this ProForm 825. I know it isn’t top of the line but it was the best I could afford. It’s been very sturdy and quiet and I love it.
