Elliptical trainers vary widely in price and quality but in my experience, just because an elliptical trainer is not as expensive as some others (under $1000 is inexpensive for an elliptical trainer) doesn’t mean you can’t get a great workout. Usually, the only thing these elliptical trainers under $1000 are missing are the fancy computerized bells and whistles and a large number of settings and variations. If you’re looking for a cheap elliptical trainer, you will probably find some of the best deals online, but make sure you understand that while you’re getting a cheap elliptical trainer, the shipping might be outrageous, making it more sensible to find a cheap elliptical trainer at a store near you. While there are several cheap elliptical trainers available, some are cheap because they’re not that great. The three cheap elliptical trainers discussed here don’t have as many features, but they’re all great for a home gym or for people who won’t be using it at their only piece of workout or exercise equipment.
One of the better cheap elliptical trainers is the Cap Barbell Elliptical Trainer, which usually retails for around $550, but which can be found online at more significant discounts, however, often without free shipping. Although this is a cheap elliptical trainer in terms of price, it is very solid and allows for 16 different settings to increase resistance. There isn’t much of a difference between the 16 settings, although between 1 and 16 you certainly notice a strain, but for the average person who isn’t training for a marathon or looking for something over-the-top, this is one of the best cheap elliptical trainers. Like most other cheap elliptical trainers, the Cap Barbell Elliptical Trainer doesn’t have a ton of monitoring features, but it does allow you to view your heart rate via a sensor in the handlebars and of course, allows for other basics like your distance and calories burned. One of the best things about this cheap elliptical trainer, is that it is smaller and more compact than other elliptical trainers, thus making it perfect for a smaller room or area. The design is sleek, but it looks cheaper, which is okay if you aren’t worried about it.
Another of the best cheap elliptical trainers comes in at just a tick under $1000 (with the best deals, although in stores it might be a tad more) and is the Endurance by Body Solid E4 Elliptical Trainer. I am quite surprised at the price of this elliptical trainer because it is solidly built and packs one heck of a workout with 15 levels. Although there are only 15 levels on this cheap elliptical trainer, there is much more of a difference between the levels than you’ll find with the Cap Barbell Elliptical Trainer. Furthermore, I think the Endurance by Body Solid E4 Elliptical Trainer looks better and is better made, in addition to the fact that it’s just as portable as the Cap Barbell Elliptical Trainer. Certainly, there’s about $400 or more price difference between these two cheaper elliptical trainers, but the price is worth it one this one. The Endurance by Body Solid E4 has a few more functions and is a bit more comfortable of a ride as well but is one heck of a lot nastier to put together, even it is more solid.
Another cheap elliptical trainer that is pretty good is the Lamar Ignite Elliptical Trainer. Although this is the best in terms of quality, coming in at around $900, I really hate the way it looks; with it’s 1980’s hair band-type logo covering the front. It’s rather ugly and looks like a giant black praying mantis. I know that some of you don’t care about the looks of an elliptical machine, but if you’re looking for something to look right with the rest of your equipment, this might not be the best option. Still, the Lamar Ignite Elliptical Trainers offers several settings and like the Cap Barbell Elliptical Trainer and the Endurance by Body Solid E4 Elliptical Trainer, it is a good workout for a lower price. Did I mention how ugly the display panel is? It looks like the master controls on some spaceship in a cheesy 80s movie. I don’t know why I can’t get over that, but yeah… The assembly on this guy is total nightmare, by the way, so I suggest setting aside several hours to put this thing together.
You do get what you pay for, especially when it comes to elliptical trainers or any other piece of workout or exercise equipment, but if you’re just looking for something to keep you in shape that isn’t going to require a room of its own, any of these three cheap elliptical trainers will do the trick. Look online after you go to the stores around you and see what your shipping and assembly options are before you buy.
