If the reason you haven’t purchased one is because there are just so many and you have no idea which one to choose or maybe you don’t know anything about this type of exercise equipment. If those are some of the things holding you back you should know that elliptical machines have ratings. By using the ratings you can help find yourself a great machine so you can exercise at home in the privacy of your home anytime day or night.

If you are going to spend money on one of these great exercise machines you are going to spend at least $1,000 but it can range to $5,000. To most that is a lot of money for one piece of exercise equipment. So when you buy your machine you want to make sure you are buying a quality piece of equipment.

The best place to start looking at the various makes, models and types of machines of this type are online. You will find a great many online stores that sell exercise equipment also review the equipment, have pictures, video demonstration and even have users commenting on how well it performs or doesn’t. Also each site will usually have a type of rating system so that buyers can see which machine ranks above another.

One of the more popular rating systems is a star type of system. Owners of the stores will allow users who own that piece of equipment to rank the product based on various factors. The rankings range from 1 to 5 where 1 is seen as poor and 5 excellent. This is a fairly easy system and very easy to understand and participate in.

The ratings usually are based on how the specific machine you are interested in works likes the stride quality, the price, the space needed in your house and the noise the machine makes when using it.  Those are some general categories however different sites will ask users for different options based on what they feel is important to fellow buyers.

You will find that ratings are important and something you should pay attention to. However they won’t answer all your questions and sometimes they might have a high score but have no comments. That is why you should look for customer reviews because they can be extremely helpful in telling in more detail about how the machine works day in and day out.

Buying a home elliptical machine is a great idea however it is a big investment and you will want to make sure you are buying one that will last for years to come and will be comfortable and do everything you want it to do. Take your time and do a lot of research and you won’t be sorry.

Precor Elliptical

Smooth CE21 Elliptical Trainer

These machines are almost miracle workers. They not only help you get into shape but are fun for even the person who hates any type of exercise. Using an elliptical machine for your workout is unlike any other form of exercise. You will find that these machines workouts are super easy on the body. They are often referred to as universal machines because you hop on a machine and just start exercising. There are no weights to adjust or techniques to use or even age or fitness requirements. You really can just turn it on, tell it your age, weight, time you want to exercise and pick any workout and you are ready to start. It really is that simple to use.

A lot of people love how low impact this machines workouts are. If you are concerned about muscle strain or joint pain you don’t have to worry with this machine. There is almost no chance that you can ever injure yourself when you use this machine to exercise.  This is especially important for people who are not used to exercising and are not in any kind of healthy shape. While the workouts are certainly low impact, you do burn a lot of calories as it uses a lot of body parts in a low impact way. That is why everyone loves them. They burn a lot more calories in a shorter span of time than more intense exercise routines. Plus the elliptical machine is extremely user friendly

Another reason these machines are as popular as they are, is that when you finish your workout you feel good but not exhausted or super sweaty.  That keeps people coming back because they enjoy the workout, they feel good after completing the exercise and they know how many calories they burned while they exercised. This is extremely motivating.

In conclusion just about everyone that uses these machines falls in love with how easy they are to use, how they feel afterwards and how in a short span of time they can burn a large amount of calories. Elliptical machine workouts seem easier to the average person. It is great to know that while you are exercising you are using a lot of muscles as if you were doing another form of exercise, if not harder.

Check out ProForm Perspective 1000 elliptical trainer direct from ProForm.com

Catering to Your Needs as You Work Out

Like your favorite elliptical machine at your gym, the ProForm Perspective 1000 Elliptical Trainer has a feature rich console and a long stride length so you can get a good workout and focus on different muscle areas with each workout. This elliptical machine comes equipped with a flat screen television that is mounted right on your home gym to give you the ability to enjoy your soap opera, watch a ball game or catch a movie while getting a great work out at the same time.

Entertainment Plus a Great Workout

Just having an on-board TV isn’t enough to make a home gym a great unit for serving your exercise needs. But the ProForm Perspective 1000 Elliptical Trainer comes equipped with plenty of extra features that assure you will get a great workout every time. There are two dozen pre-programmed workouts built right into the unit. That means that you can mix and match different workouts that will focus on different exercise goals with each session you put in on the elliptical machine. Why, it will take you a month just to try them all begin to figure out which ones are your favorites!

From our elliptical machines reviews, it is easy to monitor your heart rate as you work out on the ProForm Perspective 1000 Elliptical Trainer because the unit comes with a biologic heart rate monitor built in so you can watch your aerobic level at each phase of your workout. The Target Pacer is another outstanding feature of the ProForm Perspective 1000 Elliptical Trainer because after you key in your workout goals, the machine monitors your progress and lights up the console to guide you to work harder or slow down so you can finish. You could get spoiled with this kind of help with your workouts. So why not let the ProForm Perspective 1000 Elliptical Trainer spoil you so you can just focus on getting fit and toned and let the home gym do all the rest?

The ProForm Perspective 1000 Elliptical Trainer Product Features:

List the price from Amazon

• Top-of-the-line elliptical trainer with seven-inch flat-screen TV and speakers
• Cable-ready TV lets you watch your favorite TV show during cardio workouts
• 20 personal trainer workouts, two heart rate workouts, and two Create & Save workouts
• Dual-grip EKG heart rate monitor; integrated CoolAire workout fan
• 18-inch stride length; 12 resistance levels; lifetime warranty on frame

Check out ProForm Perspective 1000 elliptical trainer direct from ProForm.com

Check out Proform 320 elliptical trainer direct from WorkoutWarehouse.com

Just a few of the Proform 320 Elliptical simple features:

Any features included in this machine are bland. The machine is functional, and maybe acceptable for the occasional, light workout user.
Fitness Professionals will suggest you to the best elliptical brands. But, unfortunately, they have continually given the Proform 320 Elliptical terrible reviews, due to poor craftsmanship and safety concerns. On our elliptical reviews, Proform is a division of the largest fitness manufacturing company, Icon. It is obvious however, Icon has not shared any of the innovations with this sister division.

Consumers point out in reviews that the Proform 320 Elliptical machine lacks qualities found in much of the rest of the Icon/Proform equipment. The machine manufacturing quality is poor. With quite a bit of plastic, its lightweight, it feels flimsy and there’s a distinct lack of stability when you’re riding it. Specifically noting the lack of stability in the lightweight machine and has been known to shake during your workout routine. Sales literature provided with the Proform 320 elliptical machine hype the Silent Magnetic Resistance system, however users complain about machine noise so extensive it is difficult to exercise in comfort. Another drawback is the short stride length which results in a choppy motion.

With so many negatives noted on the Proform 320 elliptical machine it is a wonder any of this model machine have sold at all. Another concern is the 90 day warranty, which is a guarantee you can plan on spending money on repair bills in a surprisingly short period of time after purchase. So the initial savings on the machine will be more expensive in the long run.

So in summary, the ProForm 320 Elliptical trainer is lacking in several ways. With a variety of drawbacks in every area except for the price, we strongly suggest consumers continue to search for a better exercise machine. With several machines around the same price range or with a slightly higher investment, you have a great selection to chose from!

• 10 resistance levels
• 8 programs
• LCD display console
• Hand grip pulse monitor
• Magnetic resistance
• CoolAire fan

Check out Proform 320 elliptical trainer direct from WorkoutWarehouse.com

Compare Diamondback Ellipticals at Amazon

A Perfect Workout for Any Level – There are 20 levels of resistance built into the Diamond back Fitness 1260Ef Elliptical. That means that the unit can be set up to deliver a great workout for a beginner, a young person, that out of shape mom or dad or for the serious health nut in the family. I found that The Diamondback Fitness 1260Ef Elliptical Trainer was easy to configure for any workout goal whether it is for toning the arms and legs, to improve the body tone over all or to get a great cardio exercise. You can get your heart rate where you need it to be to see real progress in getting in shape and do so safely with no danger to knees, feet or joints. This in one of the best elliptical brands you may have to get your workout goals.

A Console With Tons of Options – The Diamond back Fitness 1260Ef Elliptical Trainer’s training console is so packed with features that you can explore the options for a long time and never get bored. It is truly a state of the art home gym console that offers 13 programs that are present that offer workout options that include hill climb, quad builder, manual, sprint, intervals, fat burner, glute burner, target heart rate, cardio, heart rate interval or the total trainer mode. The console gives you a variety of data to track your workout from beginning to end so you know how you are doing on your goals every time you step onto the Diamondback Fitness 1260Ef Elliptical Trainer for a workout.

Heart Healthy – Since heart rate is such a crucial element of your workout, the Diamondback Fitness 1260Ef Elliptical Trainer comes with two ways to track your pulse. There is a very precise chest strapped heart rate receiver that is polar compatible for the maximum in heart rate tracking. For daily workouts, anyone can use the handgrips that give a quick measurement of the heart rate anytime in your workout that you need it.

The Diamondback Fitness 1260Ef Elliptical Trainer Review– Negative Aspects

For users who set up the Diamondback Fitness 1260Ef Elliptical Trainer and have it in use in their homes, the performance of the machine is top notch. But the assembly instructions that you have to deal with when the unit first is delivered are very difficult to understand. Make sure you set out to put together the Diamondback Fitness 1260Ef Elliptical Trainer when you are well rested, have a cup of coffee and are patient enough to try to figure out these cryptic instructions. In fact, it might be a good team project so you can read them out loud to get it right. You will be happy with the outcome but the set up will be a trail simply because the directions are so unclear.

The Diamondback Fitness 1260Ef Elliptical Trainer – Product Features

• Elliptical trainer with 20-level electronically controlled magnetic brake.
• Console offers 13 presets and monitors time, segment time, watts, intensity level, incline, percentage of max HR, calories burned, calories per minutes, speed, pulse, RPM, and distance.
• Offers smooth, natural stride and dual-action handgrips for full-body workouts.
• Easy-to-read console tracks your time, pulse, calories, speed, and more.
• Includes Polar-compatible heart rate receiver; built-in reading rack
• 325-pound capacity.
• Measures 69.5 x 65 x 27.5 inches (W x H x D
• A built-in reading rack.
• A 19-inch stride length.
• A welded heavy-gauge steel frame with an anti-rust powder coating.
• Sealed ball bearings and permanently lubricated polymer bearings.
• Krayton rubber comfort grips.
• A green LED dot matrix profile
• Weighs 245 pounds.
• Carries the following warranties: limited lifetime on the frame and brake, three years on parts and electronics, and one year on labor.

Check out Diamondback Fitness 1260Ef Elliptical Trainer at Amazon

Sole has been a major force in the treadmill market so it makes sense that the Sole Elliptical Trainer would be just as well received by the marketplace.  And Sole entered that market with a splash offering quality machines at affordable prices.  A Sole Elliptical Trainer also comes with tons of great features including:

• The Sole Elliptical Trainer corrects problems that are common in the alignment of the feet when you are working out on this one of the best elliptical brands.  The footpads on a Sole Elliptical Trainer are aligned to allow for the natural shape and movement of the leg and foot.  They do this my introducing a mild two degree inward slant of the footpad, which is more natural feeling to the person using the machine.  The result is that the Sole Elliptical Trainer protects your hips, back, ankles and knees throughout your exercise from damage.
• The problem that some home gyms have is that they are not made for someone who is overweight to use.  The entire idea of having a home gym is to give people who want to shed those pounds a way to do so.  The Sole Elliptical Trainer can handle users as large as 300-400 pounds.  Not only does this mean that the machine as made for people that really need it, it also means that the Sole Elliptical Trainer is a very stable and well-made unit.
• The Sole Elliptical Trainer provides exercise for the upper body as well as the lower body muscle groups.  Every Sole Elliptical Trainer can be set up with upper body arm bars so you can exercise your arms while getting a great lower body workout as well.
• Along with accommodating users of higher weights, the Sole Elliptical Trainer has a long stride length.  The 20″ stride that the Sole Elliptical Trainer offers allows taller users to enjoy working out at home as well.  In addition, that longer stride gives more of your lower body muscle groups a workout and helps you burn more calories, which means faster weight loss as well.
• You can enjoy your time on the Sole Elliptical Trainer because there are speakers built into the unit for you to plug in your iPod or your MP3 player.  And we all know that if you can enjoy your music as you work out, you will exercise longer and get better results.
• It is easy to keep an eye on your heart rate while using the Sole Elliptical Trainer.  Monitors are built right into the handlebars so you can easily check your heart rate without disturbing your exercise period at all.  In addition, Sole provides several programs geared toward the heart rate of the user so you can increase and decrease your heart rate naturally.  That is a good approach to aerobic exercise.

It is clear that Sole stands behind the Sole Elliptical Trainer.  The warranties on their units are the best in the industry.  That means they know your Sole Elliptical Trainer will stand up to lots of use with very little possibility of breakdown or failure.  If Sole is that confident in their product, we can use the Sole Elliptical Trainer with confidence as well.

Summary of Sole Elliptical Trainer Review

The Sole Elliptical Trainer is somewhat of a new product line for a well established exercise equipment company.  But Sole brought their expertise and emphasis on quality workmanship to the Sole Elliptical Trainer line.

The result are home gyms that are geared toward the needs of the whole family, that support you during your workout so you get a great exercise with no pain or damage and that is fun to use so you come back to it day after day.  Because of these unique design innovations that Sole has put into the Sole Elliptical Trainer, it is a product line entirely worth taking the time to get to know before you make the final decision about what home gym machine to buy.

Check out reviews of all Sole Models.

One of the biggest manufacturers of home gym equipment in the world is ICON Health and Fitness.  ICON owns the Proform brand and they put their clout and expertise behind manufacturing the Proform elliptical trainer.  This model fits a nice niche in their marketing program because Proform elliptical trainers are both quite affordable for the average family while providing lots of great workout resources that are not available in competitor models of elliptical trainers.

Over the last few years, the production standards of Proform elliptical machine have made them a trusted brand as is reflected in a lot of positive customer feedback.  Along with affordability and reliability, the Proform elliptical line is so diverse that you can find a model that fits your budget and your exercise needs.  Just a few of the advantages that are offered by the Proform elliptical line of products includes:

• Unlike many ellipticals, Proform elliptical machine provide a total body workout.  The machine’s upper body arms give the arms, shoulders and back a good workout as the lower body gets a vigorous exercise session as well.
• The Proform elliptical can be adapted so that anyone in the family can use it because of the adjustable stride length feature of the unit.  This feature also allows the user to focus his or her workout on a specific lower body muscle group for targeted workouts.
• The Proform elliptical can be folded up and put away when you don’t want it in the way.  This is common in other kinds of home gym equipment but not a common feature in elliptical equipment.
• The Proform elliptical trainer can accommodate automated workout programs like the iFit card system, which can be used on the Proform elliptical machine card reader system.  The machine will even respond to the iFit exercise requirements by automatically adjusting your pace, slope and resistance so you stay on track with the program to meet your fitness objectives
• There are plenty of workout tracking tools on the Proform elliptical which will help you monitor your progress both during and after your exercise session

Summary of Proform Elliptical Trainer Review

The vast range of The Proform elliptical trainers means that they are a perfect fit to the home gym market.  A family can find just the right level of expense and exercise potential in the Proform elliptical line of products.

Along with the strong ICON and Proform product names to back up the purchase, the warranty offered with the Proform elliptical is one of the best elliptical brands in the industry.  That makes The Proform elliptical a great fit for many people who want to get a consistent exercise program going using a home gym set up.

Check out reviews of all Proform Models.

• Their famous Cross-Ramp technology was a breakthrough in home gym training that the Precor elliptical machine introduced. This innovation allows you to change the incline of your workout so that you can focus on specific lower body muscle areas without causing harm as can happen when you jog or participate in other workout activities.
• The Precor elliptical trainer is renowned for high construction standards. That means that the price you pay will get you a home gym unit that will last for many years. The Precor elliptical can stand up to a lot of use because it is so well made.
• The Precor elliptical trainer provides a smooth exercise motion in either the forward or backward directions, which means your workout will be enjoyable and beneficial to helping you reach your exercise goals.
• While most elliptical machines provide a lower body workout, the Precor elliptical also gives your arms and upper body exercise at the same time. And the way that the Precor elliptical is made, you are discouraged from leaning in to get the value from your workout that you want.
• Because the Precor elliptical is a high quality product, the warranty you get with the unit is one of the best in the industry. With your own Precor elliptical machine, which is one of the best elliptical brands, you may get your best workout result.

Summary of Precor Elliptical Trainer Review

The Precor elliptical occupies the high end of the home gym market. This means the prices are higher than many other elliptical units. But the quality and features of the Precor elliptical more than justify the cost.
One way to find out if you will get your money’s worth out of a new Precor elliptical is to look for the brand at your public gym because they are commonly bought for use by lots of people who are looking to get in shape. The Precor elliptical is able to stand up to a lot of use and it offers plenty of extras, which is why it is such an attractive unit for the commercial sector. While the price is tough to accept when there are lower cost options, if you want the best, you can’t go wrong with the Precor elliptical trainer.

Review Lifecore LC-985VG Elliptical Trainer at Amazon

Presets Make Things Easy – The Lifecore LC-985VG Elliptical Trainer comes with 12 programs that are preset in the unit to make programming a workout a snap. It is easy to learn these 12 programs and then mix and match them so that you don’t have to repeat workouts so often. This makes for better variety in your workouts, which is healthier as well. In addition, you can customize as many as four profiles to your specific needs and workout goals. That means that mom and dad can have a different programs and there are profiles for the kids or for older family members as well.

Cardio and Upper Body – You would expect to be able to get a good cardio work out on an elliptical trainer. But the Lifecore LC-985VG Elliptical Trainer also provides dual action controls for your arm handles so you work out your upper body at the same time you are getting your heart rate up using the elliptical movement of the unit. And because The Lifecore LC-985VG Elliptical Trainer can support family members up to 300 pounds, anyone fighting a weight problem will get help using this handy home gym.

The Lifecore LC-985VG Elliptical Trainer Review – Negative Aspects

The user feedback on The Lifecore LC-985VG Elliptical Trainer is almost universally positive. For this elliptical machine reviews, the only minor suggestion that I noticed in reading user reviews is that it can take a little effort to learn how to program the user profiles and how to take advantage of the supplied presets. But with some patience and by spending time with the user documentation, before long you will have your workout goals programmed in and you will start making progress hitting those goals working out at home using The Lifecore LC-985VG Elliptical Trainer.

The Lifecore LC-985VG Elliptical Trainer – Product Features

• Rated a Best Buy by the Leading Consumer Magazine
• Full bearing system in all moving parts
• Features 12 preset programs
• Dual contact heart rate sensors
• Residential warranty: 5 years parts, 1-year labor.
• 300-lb user capacity
• Item Weight: 155 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 129 pounds

Compare Lifecore Ellipticals on Amazon

Review Merit Fitness 715E Elliptical Trainer on Amazon

Plenty of Options for a Great Price – Just because the Merit Fitness 715E Elliptical Trainer is affordable, that doesn’t mean you get a stripped down version of a real elliptical unit. The Merit Fitness 715E Elliptical Trainer is well constructed with a 10-pound flywheel so it can give you a workout and keep up with your exercise goals for years to come. You also get eights resistance levels so you always have a next step toward a harder workout to keep you challenged.

Made for the Home Setting – There is an efficient computer system that comes with the Merit Fitness 715E Elliptical Trainer but you don’t have to be a computer geek to know how to use it. This one of the best elliptical brands does all the hard work of monitoring your distance, speed, the time of your workout, your heart rate and the calories you have burned. It is easy to monitor your heart rate throughout the exercise because there are thumb pulse monitors right on the unit. The feel of the footpads under your body are sturdy and smooth so you can throw yourself into your workout without worries. That is what you need for a home gym unit to help you make serious progress with your exercise goals.

The Merit Fitness 715E Elliptical Trainer Review – Negative Aspects

Customer reviews of the Merit Fitness 715E Elliptical Trainer have been overwhelmingly positive, It is a good home gym for a cost that is a good fit to a family budget. In that context, even though the scope of what the Merit Fitness 715E Elliptical Trainer offers is limited, it is sufficient for a family setting where mom and dad just want to get in shape without having to invest in an expensive gym membership. For serious athletes or for people who want to design a workout program that is high intensity, this may not be the right home gym unit for you.

The Merit Fitness 715E Elliptical Trainer Product Features:

• Compact elliptical trainer for working both legs and upper body.
• 8 levels of manual resistance; smooth 10-pound flywheel.
• 2 LCD windows show time, distance, speed, and calories burned.
• 275-pound weight capacity; thumb pulse EKG monitor.
• Integrated calorie converter; 5 year warranty on frame.
• Resistance: Manual, with 1 to 8 range
• Flywheel: 10 pounds
• Step-on height: 9 inches
• Stride length: 16 inches
• Crank arm length: 8 inches
• Pivoting footpads
• Pedal spacing: 6.9 inches
• Weight capacity: 275 pounds
• Warranties: 5 years on the frame, 3 years on the brake, 90 days on parts and labor

Compare Merit Fitness Ellipticals on Amazon

Review Precor EFX 5.25 Elliptical at Amazon

CrossRamp Technology for a Total Workout – CrossRamp is a patented technology that only the Precor EFX 5.25 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer can offer that makes it possible to get a total body workout on one home gym exercise machine.  From my review on this on of the best elliptical brands, it is what sets this home gym unit apart from the competition with the eight workout programs all pre-progarmmed into the machine, the moving handlebars that are designed for comfort, two users IDs and a heart rate monitor so you can track your progress every second of your workout.  The designers of the Precor EFX 5.25 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer clearly created a machine that make exercise natural and easy so it is the machine accommodating your needs, not the other way around.

Works Great and Looks Great Too! – While lots of home gyms fold down to be put away, I leave mine up all the time so anyone in the family can workout any time they want to.  So its best if the home workout equipment that fills your exercise room looks good as well as does the job of giving you a great workout every day.  You don’t have to close the door when you own the Precor EFX 5.25 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer because the designers of this unit put some thought into giving it smooth lines, soft colors that easily blend with any décor and a modern look that you won’t mind guests seeing when it is not in use.

The Precor EFX 5.25 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer Review – Negative Aspects

The only negative that I noticed is one that others who bought and enjoy the Precor EFX 5.25 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer have noticed.  Precor includes a recommendation that the customer invest in having the unit professionally assembled and installed in the home.  I have reviewed a lot of home gyms and most of them can be put together by the customer with an investment of a few hours and using standard tools or tools provided by the manufacturer.  That cost of having the Precor EFX 5.25 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer assembled and installed should be considered part of the purchase price.

The Precor EFX 5.25 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer Product Features:

• Professional-quality elliptical trainer with variable stride length and adjustable ramp (from 15 to 25 degrees)
• Moving handlebars let you tone and condition your entire body while maintaining comfortable posture and proper technique
• 16 levels of resistance; 8 preset programs including 1 cross training, 1 heart rate, 1 weight loss
• Handheld heart rate monitoring (not compatible with wireless monitors)
• Lifetime warranty on frame, 10 year on parts, 1 year on labor
• Resistance levels: 16
• CrossRamp: 15 to 25 degrees
• Stride: 18.5 to 20 inches
• Programs: 8 total including 1 cross training, 1 gluteals, 1 heart rate, 1 hill climb, 1 interval, 1 manual, 1 weight loss
• Dimensions: 76 x 29 x 62 inches (L x W x H)
• Weight: 176 pounds
• Manufacturer’s Warranty – Frame and welds – lifetime, parts and wear items – ten years, labor – one year

Compare Precor Fitness Ellipticals on Amazon