Elliptical Ratings

Elliptical trainers are the latest cardio equipment to hit the fitness industry; they offer a full-body, low impact workout. Elliptical trainers allow you to burn the maximum amount of calories in the least amount of time. In addition, you get both an upper and lower body workout. Elliptical trainers are often compared to treadmills. Treadmills are the traditional indoor alternative to jogging, and is said to be more effective in toning the muscles.

Elliptical trainers give you a more thorough workout as there is an involvement of upper body movement as well. Because elliptical trainers also work the upper and lower body simultaneously, the heart rate climbs more quickly. Elliptical trainers allow the athlete to burn a similar number of calories as jogging, but without the risk of injury to the back, knees, hips, or ankles. Your feet never leave the pedals. Elliptical trainers combine the features of a stair stepper and a ski machine. You stand on pedals that move on an elliptical track, usually via rollers.

You may want to look at several elliptical trainer ratings before buying to get an idea of which elliptical trainers are best for you. Before you look at elliptical trainer ratings however, here are a few things you should know about how elliptical trainers are rated:

Elliptical Trainers are Rated in Specific Price Groups
There are really 3 categories of elliptical trainers: Economy Buys, Mid-priced and Commecial Grade ellipticals. Economy buys range from about $300 to $1000. Mid-priced ellipticals range from $1000-$1500. High End or Commercial elliptical trainers range from between $2000 and $6600.

When experts go to rate elliptical trainers they usually compare the elliptical trainers within price class. So just because an economy elliptical trainer gets 5 stars and a mid-priced elliptical gets 4 stars, that doesn't mean the economy elliptical is better than the mid-priced elliptical. It just means that compared to other economy elliptical trainers, that one is superior.

Experts Value Elliptical Features Differently
Ever wonder why certain elliptical trainers get rated highly by some experts and not by others? It's because different elliptical trainer raters value some features over others. For example, while some reviews may give more weight to long warranties and stability, others may value smoothness of ride or ease of use. It doesn't mean one elliptical trainer is better than another - it could just mean they are rated using different criteria.

Use Caution When Reading User Elliptical Ratings
In addition to expert elliptical ratings, there are also websites that allow people to write a personal review of their elliptical. While these can be helpful when shopping for an elliptical, be cautious of basing your decision just on these ratings. Also, no one elliptical brand has a perfect track record - sometimes even the best brands make a dud. And those are usually the people that go online to post a negative review. Those people who are happy with their elliptical are less likely to post a comment.

Finally, take user ratings with a grain of salt and compare them to your own research when deciding on your elliptical trainer.