Good Elliptical?
 

My wife wants one. Looking to spend about $1k. Any recommendations?

1st rule of buying Excercise Equipment - CraigsList is your VERY BEST friend. Most stuff you will find on there has been used once and then turned into a shelf or clothes-rack or space-filler.

I have a NordicTrack CX-1055 that's a few years old, lists for about $1K, bought on CL for $200.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1230479875.jpg

I think it's pretty nice and sturdy for the money, and it has electric ramp adjustment. Some don't.

If you can get into a used PRECOR that's not tired and used up at a nice price, I'd suggest that too. , but to find one that has moving handles and height adjustment might be a little too expensive.

those curvey handles make it the best clothes rack...shop wisely.

We've got a Sole. Scored a good deal on a close out, no tax, free shipping. Many of the units out there seem 'rickety'.

If you can find a used Precor at that price, get it. They are amazing. My wife wanted one, we almost bought a precor, but the price stopped her. Instead we got a $500 Nordic-Track. It's worked well for a couple of years. We are getting ready to sell it in a garage/yard sale. It gets used, but not tons. Thank goodness we didn't get one that was $2500.

I have a Life Fitness for about 3 years, paid a moderate fortune for it (about $2800) but I would not replace it with another - if you can get one used as is suggested it is an awfully nice machine. A few things to look for...first of all, I found a lot of the cheaper units had fairly low weight capabilities...I am 117kg and most of them were good to only about that weight, so it'd put me right at the limit of the design, even though I suspect there is a safety margin put into it. I suspect that the life of the machine is lower if you are big like me.

Second of all, watch the stride, mine is 19 inches, which is a good fit for my height (190 cm) and any shorter just felt choppy and less comfortable.

Lastly, I have the heart rate monitor and it is great. On those days when you really do not want to work out but feel you have to, just set the thing for your desired heart rate (for me that is about 150 bpm) and then put in your 45 minutes or whatever you want. Don't have to think....just listen to the music (I have it all on a laptop and use bluetooth headphones) and just sweat....

Dennis

Spend the money and get a Precor. Like the other poster stated, make sure it has heart monitor so you know your level of exertion. My wife and I use ours frequently and it has been bulletproof in the last three years. To pass the time I either read a book or watch TV while on it. The time passes quickly and I actually enjoy it.

If you ever decide to sell it, you'll find they hold their value very well compared to other brands.

If you check gyms, you will find they usually have either Precor or Life Fitness.....I suspect it says something about their quality and as far as I know, they do not have an el cheapo line, all of their stuff is aimed at continuous use....

Dennis

Rent one for a month; then if you're still using it, go buy one ;)

Either way you'll be happy:
1. You actually use it for the entire month, thereby seeing great results
2. You discovered you dont need one after all - dust collector in your house

We've got a Schwinn 431