Fyt personal trainer Carla Baccio recommends making a list of your must-have features before shopping—and we’d recommend reading our full elliptical buying guide as well.
Embedded programming
When it comes to preloaded workouts, Waetzig says a good elliptical should have hills, intervals and manual adjustment, at a minimum. Baccio notes that it’s also nice to have a machine that tracks your steps and offers heart rate monitoring.
Handles
Collins recommends considering handles. Stationary ones make it easier to get on and off the machine safely, while movable handles can help you get more of a full-body workout if you really focus on pushing and pulling them.
Application connectivity
Waetzig says home ellipticals don’t necessarily need a lot of bells and whistles. When you have access to Netflix and other streaming services in your home, you may not need an elliptical with internet connectivity and a huge LCD screen, he says as an example. But if you’re interested in smart home fitness equipment, Waetzig says to look for machines that are compatible with your gym. “Finding gear that can connect to Apple Watch or Fitbit is a big motivator. Seeing the numbers come up without breaking your stride can be really motivating,” he says.
Ellipticals vs treadmills: key differences to consider
While you can get a great workout on either the treadmill or the elliptical, the latter will put less stress on your joints since you never take your feet off the pedals. “Personally, I invested in an elliptical before a treadmill because of the low-impact cross-training option,” says Collins. “It’s a lot easier to go out for a run or find a hill in your neighborhood or jump on a track.”
Dr. Lin also points out that even though you can walk or run on a treadmill, the mechanics of the belt that moves under you doesn’t exactly mimic what it takes to walk or run outside. “You take that belt under your foot and pull it, whereas when you’re on land, you’re pushing the ground instead of pulling. [It’s] a little different action,” he says. However, most ellipticals require you to push the pedals, which gets your glutes and hamstrings firing in a healthy way.
To further simulate a running motion on an elliptical, Collins recommends letting go of the handles (as long as you feel safe enough) and swinging your arms like you would when running. “It’s a little more natural,” he says, adding that this option can be especially helpful for runners who are “trying to use it for cross-training or are injured and really want to focus on maintaining their running motion.”
Choosing the right level of resistance on an elliptical
It can be difficult to figure out the exact resistance to use on an elliptical, since the levels vary from machine to machine—Collins points out that you can’t just dial in 8 mph and know the exact intensity like you would on a treadmill. hallway. Instead, you need to carefully tune your effort level.
The “right resistance” ultimately depends on the type of cardio you’re doing. For general aerobic conditioning, Dr. Lynn suggests aiming for an effort level that’s about a moderate four or five on a scale of one to 10. For a HIIT workout, Collins recommends alternating between one minute hard and one minute easy, 10 times. During the hard minute, try to hit what he calls your “work pace” (“feel like you’re pushing yourself, but it’s not an all-out sprint,” he says), then during the easy minute, slow down your resistance and speed is enough to let your body recover and bring your breathing back under control.
Frequently asked questions
We have answers to some of the most common questions about choosing the best elliptical for your home.
How much does an elliptical cost?
Elliptical prices vary widely. Some budget friendly options like Sunny Health and Fitness Elliptical Trainer, it’s less than $400. But if you want a top-of-the-line, commercial-grade elliptical with top-of-the-line technology, you’ll be paying closer to $2,000.
What muscles does the elliptical work?
The exact muscles worked when you train on an elliptical depend somewhat on the design and settings on the machine, such as stride length, resistance, and incline, as well as whether it includes moving handles, which will engage the upper body. your. But in general, Collins says the calves, quads, hamstrings and glutes are engaged. “When you’re really going through a tough time, I’d say engage your core,” she adds. And if you press handles, your biceps, shoulders and chest can also be worked.
Is an elliptical better than a bike?
Although Dr. Lin says cycling is a great way to get your heart rate up, an elliptical can give you more functional fitness that translates better to everyday life for many people since you’re standing up. “Most of us sit for a living, right?” Kinney-Woods adds, noting that on a bike, people who spend their days at a desk can end up staying in that position with hunched shoulders and a bent lower back during their workout. Moving to a standing position, if it’s accessible to you, can help reduce back and neck pain and improve your balance over time. It’s also easier to hit more muscle groups on an elliptical. “You’re getting the whole body instead of just working your lower body,” says Collins. (Though of course you could always add dumbbells to a cycling workout.)
