2010"Best Buy" Elliptical Trainers

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$500 - $1,000

NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 Pro and Schwinn 430 - The NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 includes a power ramp. You can adjust the incline like a treadmill. It gives your workout a whole new dimension. Also includes sound system and iFit Live. The Schwinn has a solid and smooth motion for the price. I would recommned these machines for moderate use, but overall they are a good value. (See the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 Pro and the Schwinn 430 Review.)

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$1,000 - $1,500

Sole Fitness E35 - The Sole E35 is a front drive elliptical with a solid and stable feel. Furthermore, it is one of the most durable ellipticals in this price range. It is equipped with a heavy flywheel giving it a very smooth elliptical motion. It comes with wireless HRC and an impressive console and programming selection. The Sole E35 also comes with a 20" wide stride, power incline feature and a 5-year parts and 2-year labor warranty. (See the Sole E35 Review)

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$1,500 - $2,000

Sole Fitness E55- Sole makes some impressive elliptical trainers, that is why they rate another "Best Buy" for this category.

Sole's marketing strategy is to build quality machines with quality components at reasonable prices, and the Sole E55 proves they are very successful with this value proposition. Besides the smooth and quiet elliptical motion, I really appreciated the 20" stride. You don't feel confined as with so many other treadmills under $1,500. It comes with an industry leading 5-year parts and 2-year labor warranty, and new for 2009 is a power incline feature. The E55 is comparable to higher end models costing considerably more. (See Sole E55 Review.)

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$2,000 - $3,000

At the low end of this price range I like the Smooth CE 7.4, when it is selling for $1,999. It is built with a commercial grade electro magnetic system. It is a solid and durable machine with an excellent service record. One of the "Best Buys" at $2,000. My other choice is the Precor 5.17i, selling at around $2,100. Precor has a reputation for excellence when it comes to elliptical trainers. You will often find their machines in healthclubs. The 5.17i comes with their patented power incline features, which adds a whole new dimension to elliptical exercising. Note: There is no upper body workout. (See Smooth CE 7.4 Review and the Precor EFX5.17i Review.)

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$3,000+

The Precor EFX 5.25 takes the best features found on the Precor 5.17i including the power incline and adds the upper body workout. Of course with every Precor you get the exceptional elliptical motion and their renowned quality. Another serious contender is the Octane Q47. Octane only builds ellipticals, and their single-minded focus comes thru in the Q47. Both ellipticals are commercial grade quality for the home. ( See the Precor EFX 5.25 Review and the Octane Q47 Review.)

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Most Innovative Elliptical

There are a couple of manufacturers that are breaking the mold on elliptical exercising. First is Smooth Fitness with their new Smooth Agile DMT. The "DMT" stands for Dynamic Motion Technology. Rather than having one elliptical motion, it has 12 different motions. In a nutshell, this machine allows you to exercise and tone more muscles in less time. The other elliptical worth noting is the True TSX, which comes with the Mix 3T Exercises. Like the Agile, the TSX lets you concentrate on different parts of your body to maximize your workout. Both machines are commercial grade. (See the Smooth Agile DMT Review and the True TSX Review.)

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Best New Ellitptical for 2010

The Yowza Fitness Captiva has two features that make this elliptical a stand-out. First, there is the Variable Motion, which varies the motion and stride from 18"-32".  In comparison to a fixed elliptical stride, the Variable Motion exercises more lower body muscles while getting an intense cardio workout. Second, you have the patented Cardio Core Training.  In general, the dual handlebars on an elliptical trainer provide minimal results. In contrast, the Captiva has a T-bar that swings left to right, forcing your body to twist. You target your core muscles like abs and obliques. These two technologies make the Captiva one of the most effective cross-trainers on the market. This is a serious cardio burning, body toning machine.

 

Our 2010 Best Buy Elliptical Trainer recommendations are based on our own personal testing, and third party reviews and ratings. Features and prices can change without notice. We can not be held responsible for equipment malfunction or service failures on the part of the manufacturer.