Sophias Elliptical Trainer Reviews

Elliptical Trainer Reviews

Precor changed the fitness and exercise world when they introduced the Elliptical cross trainer back in 1995. Now days Elliptical Trainers are as common in gyms as treadmills.
The benefits of Elliptical trainers are huge, they provide a total impact-free body workout, a weight bearing activity that raises the heart rate more efficiently than any other piece of exercise equipment.

Weight bearing exercise such as running is more effective at burning calories than non-weight bearing exercise such as cycling. The problem with running is that it places an excessive amount of stress on the back and joints. An elliptical motion provides the weight bearing element whilst maintaining an impact-free movement.

Here's what we believe you should look for when purchasing an Elliptical Trainer:

Stability
Make sure the unit is stable and its motion is fluid and quiet. An Elliptical Trainer should never feel wobbly or jerky; some cheap machines have been reported to "walk" across the floor during use.

Pedal comfort
The pedals should be comfortable, with a non-slip design. They should also provide a natural stance, meaning they aren't too wide or narrow.

Handle bar comfort
Check the comfort of the handlebars, if the machine has them. Handlebars should be comfortably placed so you don't bump into them, and should also move back and forth smoothly.

Preprogrammed courses
Look for an Elliptical Trainer with both programmed and manual courses, as well as dual-direction movement (forward and backward) to accommodate your changing workout needs.

Resistance
Most machines offer varied resistance; make sure this is easy to adjust (either electronically or manually). Most experts prefer machines with an elevated incline, while others say increasing resistance and speed is just as effective.

Display
Make sure the display is easy to read and provides the information you're looking for. Most displays show speed, time and distance, but you may also want to see calories exerted, calories per hour, degree of incline or heart rate.

Space
If you're buying an Elliptical Trainer for a tight space, look for a machine that folds up or has wheels for easy transportation.

Our Star Rating System:

Budget Elliptical Trainers
There are Elliptical Trainers on the market that are priced lower than the ones that we have reviewed here, but please remember the difference between "affordable" and "cheap". A very cheap Elliptical Trainer will not perform well in the long term and will incur service and maintenance costs in the long term.
The models we have tested here are:

Weslo 2.0 Elliptical Trainer
At under $200 this is one of the best cheap Elliptical Trainers....click here for the full review

Proform 700 Elliptical Trainer
For less than $400 this is a serious Elliptical Trainer....click here for the full review

Proform 900 Elliptical Trainer
Very similar to the Proform 700 which we prefer…. click here for the full review

Gazelle Freestyle
Technically this is not an Elliptical Trainer but the motion is similar. it is very affordable and has received glowing reviews…click here for the full review

Orbitrek
The Orbitrek is a much more affordable alternative to the traditional Elliptical Trainer .....click here for the full review.

The best online store for Elliptical Trainers is the WorkoutWarehouse.com

Mid To Upmarket Elliptical Trainers
Smooth and Precor are the brands we have chosen for our mid to upmarket reviews.

Precor Elliptical Trainers
Back in 1995 , Precor were the first company to introduce Elliptical cross trainers to the market and now they are as common as Treadmills in gyms. Eight years on and they still lead the field in Elliptical cross trainers. Like all Precor equipment these high end machines are manufactured using only the highest quality components, they have excellent warranties and will last for years.You can buy Precor Elliptical Trainers at Bodytrends.com. We have reviewed two models here:

EFX 5.17 Precor Elliptical Trainer
Precor’s most basic and brilliant Elliptical trainer......click here for the full review

EFX 5.33 Precor Elliptical Trainer
The EFX 5.33 Precor Elliptical Trainer is the best money can buy in our opinion.....................click here for the full review

Smooth Elliptical Trainers
Smooth make some the highest quality Elliptical Trainers on the market, and are unique in that their elliptical trainers provide a 3:1 ratio of lower body to upper body resistance. This provides users with an equal workout for all four limbs.Precor may make slightly Elliptical Trainers better but they also charge almost twice the price, also Smooth have the best warranties in the business and offer a full “30 day money back no questions asked “ guarantee. Smooth Elliptical Trainers are available direct from Smooth Fitness. The two models reviewed here are:

Smooth CE Elliptical Trainer
Designed by Porsche, with electronics by Siemens........click here for the full review

Smooth ME Elliptical Trainer
This is very similar to what you might find in your local gym......click here for the full review