Low-Cost Home Exercise Machines
Pros and Cons of Buying Low-End Treadmills, Bikes and Ellipticals
What you get for your money when purchasing low-cost treadmills, stationary bikes and elliptical trainers for the home or office.
If you are considering purchasing a large scale fitness machine, like a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical trainer, there are certain things you can expect if you decide to go for the low-end models. One benefit is that the low-priced machines are made to be lightweight, compact and wheeled away for easy storage. But these less expensive versions may not hold up to the workout.
Treadmills
In reality, the lifespan of a low-cost treadmill can be less than a year. The walking/running surface tends to be shorter and narrower (on average 20 inches shorter and five inches narrower) than high-end models, so they are not great for anyone above average height. As well, the running surface usually has little cushioning, so that could be harder on the joints. A lot of treadmills in this price point are manually powered, meaning there is no motor. The handle bars, whether they are upfront or at the side, have to be sturdy; otherwise you will spend more effort trying to keep yourself on the machine than on running. You will get some sort of monitor that will tell you speed, distance and time but unlikely anything too sophisticated like heart rate monitors. Most of the low-cost ones only offer one incline, and there are weight restrictions, some unable to handle more than 230 pounds.
Stationary Bikes
For an exercise bike in this category, you need to look at the stability of the bike so that it doesn’t shake when you are riding it. A well cushioned seat is also necessary. Not all seats in this price range are height adjustable, and the seat tends to be small. Handlebar design is important. Again, handlebars may not move, so shorter people may have trouble with the ones that are set further back (so you bike leaning forward). Bikes typically in this category are either magnetic resistance flywheel or fan bikes (use air as the resistance) and the later will make some noise. You will probably get various levels of tension, but you will have to adjust it manually. They will have display panels but they can be hard to read.
Elliptical Trainers
Elliptical trainers are those machines where your feet glide back and forth as your arms move poles, sort of like cross-country skiing. Essentially they allow you to walk, step or run with less impact on your joints. These are hard to find under $300, but there are a few models. You may discover that the lower-priced machines vibrate intensely, that you may hit your knees on the handlebars if you are quite tall, and that it probably won’t be the smoothest ride. The pedal motion can be unnatural, with little stride length (you want at least 18 inches) and some machines can feel shaky, requiring you to constantly tighten screws and bolts. Some have even been known to tip over at high speeds. Because the workout on these machines is more intense, pedals may break more easily and components can wear out faster. Noise is again a factor with the less expensive models, and cheaper parts mean digital monitors may stop working after a few months. Plus expect foam covered handles instead of rubber, and rolled steel frames (a lighter gauge of steel).
If you are purchasing any low priced home fitness equipment, you will also want to see the article Low-Cost Fitness Equipment, covering abdominal machines, steppers, and rowing machines.
