Why elliptical crosstrainers are best for home fitness

If you decided that enough is enough, and it’s time to start working on your fitness and lose a bit of weight – or perhaps you’re looking for a way to keep in shape over the winter months, when the bad weather stops you from running outdoors; you’ve probably started looking at pieces of exercise equipment and are wondering which is the best one to buy…

When most people think of indoor exercise equipment they immediately think of an exercise bike, a treadmill or elliptical crosstrainers, and these are probably the most common keep-fit machines that people buy for their homes. If you’re looking for an all-over fitness workout, you should immediately discount the bike – they can be great for working your legs and providing a general aerobic exercise, but you’ll lack any sort of upper body workout, and will have to incorporate this into a separate routine. So, you’re left with the treadmill and the crosstrainer. Treadmills can be great, provided you’re used to running – if you’re just starting out though, the stress and strain on your knees and ankles could soon put you off. Treadmills are also quite large, and need a decent amount of space to use them in –collapsible treadmills are available but are still quite large, so don’t immediately rush out to buy when you see adverts for folding treadmills for sale.

The best piece of equipment you can buy would have to be a crosstrainer. About the size of a large exercise bike, you should be able to fit one in your home easy enough. They’re simple to use too – you stand on two footplates, with your arms out in front holding onto two handle bars, and perform an action that’s similar to either cross-country skiing or power walking. They’re a great way to tone and exercise your whole body in one routine – you’ll be exercising your legs, stomach area, chest and arms, as well as getting increasing your cardiovascular fitness. Most crosstrainers come with a range of pre-programmed routines allowing you to hop on and let the machine plan your workout for you – your heart rate is monitored through two sensors embedded into the handlebars, so you can keep track of how the workout is affecting you, and what improvements you make in your fitness and stamina over time.

Crosstrainers can be bought for around $200 for a simple home-use machine, to over $2000 for something more suited to a professional gymnasium. If you’re looking to buy, though, don’t be persuaded by the cheapest price, look for the one that offers the best value for money and the most comprehensive warranty. If it breaks down, you will want to know that you’re covered for repairs.