If you are trying to find a piece of fitness equipment that provides a low impact workout and conditions your whole body, an elliptical cross trainer could be the answer. Cross trainers use a smooth elliptical motion to simulate walking, stepping and skiing to boost your heart rate and get your muscles working. You can burn large amounts of calories in a short space of time with a Cross Trainer and they also condition every area of your body. This helps you to control your weight and build lean muscle at the same time. You can go at your own pace on an elliptical, which means they suit any ability and are popular with a wide range of people.

Dual Action

Almost all elliptical cross trainers have handlebars that move simultaneously with the pedals to work both the upper and lower body in one training session. For example Marcy Cross Trainers and Pro Form Cross Trainers are elliptical cross trainers designed to train upper and lower body simultaneously. This is a great asset of the machine and means you can obtain an all over body toning and cardio workout.

Who are they Suitable for?

The low impact and smooth motion of a cross trainer means they are suitable for most people as they don't put too much strain on your joints. However, those who are overweight, over 50, or have not exercised for some time are advised to consult their GP before undertaking any form of exercise.

Warranty

It is important to make sure you receive a good warranty with your cross trainer; it gives you extra piece of mind and means your machine will not cost you any more money further down the line. Buying an elliptical cross trainer is a wise investment, but only if you make sure that help is at hand should anything go wrong. This should be done by obtaining a good warranty. We provide all the warranty information in the product descriptions which will help you make an informed decision.

Frame

The frame is an aspect of a cross trainer that is often overlooked. Due to the strain on the machine during use, the strength of the frame is very important. Many of our ranges have several years, if not lifetime warranties on the frames and we stock a high quality selection for you to choose from.

Resistance Control

There are two forms of controlling the resistance found in elliptical cross trainers; Manual (by turning a knob) like the Reebok I-Trainer. Controlling the resistance can have an effect on your heart rate. If you increase the resistance the stride movement will become harder, therefore increasing your heart rate. The cheaper cross trainers will usually have manual resistance. The only real advantage of manual is price. Electronic resistance is simple to use and it often works with a heart rate control program. This will automatically change the resistance and intensity of the workout to keep you in your target heart rate zone. Electronic resistance is controlled by using buttons on the machines console and there are often more levels of tension available for you to select.

Heart Rate Control

Heart rate control means your heart rate is monitored, often by pulse sensors in the handlebars or a wireless chest strap. Some of the exercise programs in the console often include heart rate control. This will adjust the resistance to increase your heart rate in line with your chosen goal. This is an invaluable feature if you are trying to lose weight and don't want to worry about your heart rate, which needs to be in a specific target zone for the best results. This all depends on your gender, age, and body type which can be entered into the computer programme of some models, or can be found in the product manuals. Heart rate control on cross trainers is normally a little more expensive but definitely worth it if you want to see fast results and enjoy safe training sessions. It eliminates the guesswork and the need to increase speed while you're working out. If you don't require it, you can save money and almost every model will have a pulse monitoring system as standard. No heart rate control just means that resistance and speed will not be automatically changed to move your heart rate to the desired level for your chosen workout.

Programs

Elliptical cross trainers often come with a wide array of programmes in the console. Programs are predefined settings that vary the resistance during the session. This provides a specific workout such as fat burning or endurance. Around 4 programs are usually enough. Many models of cross trainers also have a feature where you can customise your own workout program to suit your targets for that day.

Overview

If you are looking for a total body workout from one machine, then an elliptical cross trainer is the best choice. The dual action arms and pedals provide you with a low impact, complete training session working the upper and lower body at the same time. Elliptical cross trainers are a fun solution to home exercise and can provide an effective high intensity, calorie busting workout - excellent for people that lead a busy lifestyle and don't have the time to travel to a gym.