An Elliptical trainer is probably the best piece of fitness equipment that you can purchase. If you want a piece of fitness equipment that works both the upper and lower parts of the body at the same time you will find that an elliptical trainer is the only one that can do the job. You can burn more calories on an elliptical trainer using far less apparent effort than you can with a treadmill or exercise bike. All of which means that you should seriously consider purchasing a good quality elliptical for your home or office fitness needs.
The key to a quality elliptical trainer is its stability, durability and ease of use. Before you purchase any elliptical it is strongly recommended that you take the time to take the model you are considering for an intense test ride. The trainer should not rock from side to side or cat walk across the room. It should also be relatively quiet without banging or clanking. The sound of rubbing is also a red flag warning. Pedal placement and stride length should be comfortable allowing you to change position of each. Electronics should allow you to change the resistance on the fly and give the ability to monitor pulse rate, calorie burn, speed and ride time functions.
Recently we were given a Weslow Momentum 610 elliptical trainer by an associate to evaluate. We were told that the elliptical was purchased for $180.00 about 6 months ago but only used once. We asked our 4 fitness testers to take the machine for a test ride. Our testers use ellipticals as part of their regular fitness program. Almost immediately there were problems when our largest tester had the machine fall over with him on it. It was obviously way to light for any user that is over 6 foot tall and weighing more than 200 lbs. The other three testers also found that the Weslow elliptical was very unstable during an intense workout. In addition the stride was very short and uncomfortable. Noise was also a factor. After just 5 test rides the evaluation was ended in the name of safety.
We would recommend that you do not purchase the Weslow Momentum 610 elliptical trainer. We felt that It was of very poor quality. In our experience we have found that a quality trainer normally cost at least $1000. You should save your money and purchase a quality elliptical that is durable and stable during an intense workout.