Elliptical help needed

[joe]

With our latest addition to the family a little more than three weeks old, the wife and my sympathy weight self are looking to add an elliptical machine to our home gym. I have the Consumer Reports online subscription, and the highest rated one is the Diamondback 1260 EF at $2,200, which is pretty much the end of our price range — if not a little more.

At the Sears store in town they have the Sole E25 for $999, and after delivery and installation it would run about $1,200, which is definitely in our price range.

If you have a home elliptical, which model? How well do you like it? Is it sturdy enough for everyday use?

This is a big purchase for us, so I'm looking for some help, my SJ brethren. What you got?

Thanks,
Joe

 

[da man]

Sorry, I can only give you square help.

 

[Buck]

I would love to have an elipitical at home, but even the low end ones are not in our price range, which is zero.
We have to many other mid-level ticket needs around the house.

In the next few weeks I'm buying my first tractor.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

The Sears ones, at least the ones I tested in store, feel flimsy. More of an issue for me, since I'm the size of a small SUV, but I would think even normal people might not feel super secure on them.

Gym-quality ones would be ideal, except they're expensive as ****. Maybe if a gym was upgrading their equipment and the old ones were still in solid shape?

 

[Buck]

We don't have a basement (California), so I've got know where to put it.
We've got two bedrooms in use, and of the two spares I use one for an office and the wife uses the other for an office.

I guess we could put it in the garage. I never park in there anyway.

 

[FileNotFound]

A full space on either side and a thin space between each period ...

 

[BDC99]

A full space on either side and a thin space between each period ...

;D

 

[Vombatus]

A full space on either side and a thin space between each period ...

;D

Thought he was describing PMS and windows of opportunity.

 

[Football_Bat]

Attach a string to pins marking the two foci, insert a pencil into the string, and draw away. Hope that helps.

 

[mustangj17]

Make sure the machine doesn't sit on a carpeted surface as it could get grease all over it. I had one that I used to rehab my knee (torn ACL). It sat in the basement and got grease all over the carpet. Ended up having to steam clean the carpet and then put the elliptical on a yoga mat so it didn't run the carpet again.

 

[tea and ease]

We have a Precor. Expensive (about $3000.00) but as far as fitness equipment goes, pay it now or pay it later in repair/replacement costs plus aggravation. Buy from a place that has service after the sale just in case it needs to be moved to a different room (usually needs to be taken apart to do it). We want to keep this thing forever. As a point of comparison, bought a stationary bike from ****'s, a Schwinn, about two years ago and it's already rickety and shaky and needs to be retightened all the time. Quality equals longevity here. Variable programming as well as multiple user set up is great for ease of use and tracking progress. Things like a "fan" are useless. Good luck. It's a major purchase, but we love ours.

 

[Glenn Stout]

I've had good luck following the purchasing guidelines on www.consumersearch.com for all sorts of stuff, including an elliptical. I have a NordicTrack Elite 1300 and have used it 3-4 times a week for about 8 years. Now it has broken twice, but I was able to repair with parts from ereplacementparts.com, which ha replacement parts for all sorts of stuff, and schematics to help.

 

[Sic semper tyrannis]

I would use that money and join a gym instead.
For less than you'll spend on the machine, you get a full gym to use -- even classes if so inclined - and you'll lose weight faster.

 

[BDC99]

Excellent point, Sic. I bought an exercise bike and used it about a dozen times. Then I went to the gym and ended up going steadily for a few years. Am off the wagon right now, but I'll get back soon. I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how many people I know who have expensive exercise equipment that is gathering dust. But I guess I could say the same about the people I know (including me) who pay for gym memberships they don't use. But the gym is a lot cheaper.

 

[KJIM]

The ones at the gym in my apartment are lifestyle. I like them. Sorry I can't help more than that.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

There's a Vision Fitness one in the basement of my building. It has a workout on it called Sprint 8, which is a really good, intense 20-minute interval session.
I use the Sprint 8 occasionally, but like to mix it up with other workouts, usually 30-minute weight loss or interval ones.