January 2005
Treadmills & ellipticals: Indoor exercise
PHYSICALLY FIT? We tested good machines, including the Trimline T350HR treadmill and the Schwinn 418 elliptical, pictured, but we also found
a lot of problems.
When you're paying $400 to $3,500 for a treadmill or elliptical exercise machine, it's reasonable to expect it to work properly.
The disappointing news from our tests is that a number of machines had problems, from annoying “clunking” sounds to mechanical
failures that seriously affected performance.
The good news is that we found several CR Best Buys among the 22 treadmills and 10 elliptical exercisers we rated, many with features designed to keep you sticking with your exercise routine. Our findings also suggest that you get what you pay for, especially if you work out frequently.
Both types of machines offer the convenience of not having to plan your workouts around the weather or off-peak hours at the gym. More Americans regularly work out on a treadmill than on any other type of exercise machine. The total was 11.6 million in 2003, the latest year for which figures were available, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. Our readers, too, favor treadmills over other equipment, according to our latest Annual Questionnaire. By contrast, 3.3 million Americans regularly worked out on an elliptical exerciser in 2003. Still, that's a 65 percent increase from the year before. And because ellipticals can provide a vigorous weight-bearing workout with little impact on your joints, the machines are a mainstay of many health clubs. Here are the details of our findings:
Problem equipment. Four elliptical exercisers and three treadmills arrived at our labs with, or soon developed, problems. These included resistance mechanisms that wouldn't work, noisy parts, and faulty monitor displays. The malfunctions occurred mainly in lower-priced machines and among models whose brands are made by Icon Health & Fitness, including those from NordicTrack, Pro-Form, and Reebok. (See "Lemon" models.) We didn't see such extensive problems when we last tested treadmills, in February 2004, although we found defects with the elliptical machines we rated in March 2002. Our experience emphasizes the importance of carefully examining your purchase as soon as you bring it home.
More extras. The effort to make exercise interesting and as pain-free as possible has led to an array of features. One useful device found on most tested treadmills and on all the ellipticals was electronic programming that automatically increases or decreases the workout's intensity, the way running up and down real hills does outdoors. You can also make the adjustments manually. Many Icon-built models are compatible with iFit, which offers workout programs for CD and MP3 players, VCRs, and online.
On the gimmicky side, a growing number of treadmills and ellipticals load the console with gadgets such as fans, a CD player, a cubbyhole for a TV remote, and backlighting on the display that for some may evoke a digital watch. (See Features for the details worth considering.)
Designs that cushion. Two elliptical exercisers and one treadmill were designed to offer bouncier, springier workouts with less of an impact on your joints than the rest. Our testers had mixed feelings about the designs' success.
The Pro-Form 1080 S elliptical uses flexible pedal arms, “propelling you to the next stride while absorbing impact,” as the company describes it. But this effect feels unstable at some speeds, limiting your cadence. The Reebok RL 525 elliptical has an elastic pad between each pedal and its supporting arm; by moving the pad, you adjust the cushioning. But we question the need for extra cushioning because elliptical exercisers create virtually no impact anyway.
The NordicTrack 7600 R treadmill has a springy wooden platform that lacks the usual metal rails on the sides of the deck. The company says this deck design absorbs impacts and propels you forward. Some users liked it; more serious runners said it felt unstable. We don't recommend this model because of a significant defect detailed in "Lemon" models.
Top quality costs more. We've found in recent treadmill tests that you have to spend well over $2,000 to get a machine designed for serious runners, though lower-priced models are OK for walkers. This time, we tested elliptical exercisers that cost as much as our high-scoring treadmills and found the same thing. Ellipticals that cost $2,000 and up were well-built and felt stable to our testers, more like the $5,000 machines at gyms. And they were less likely to have defects.
How to choose
First decide whether you want to devote the money and space to a big exercise machine. A living-room workout is the height of convenience, but of course, you can get fit exercising outdoors or at a gym. If you decide to buy a treadmill or elliptical exerciser, see Which best suits you? for the pluses and minuses of each and how much you need to spend. Then consider these tips:
Try it out first. Every model is a little different, so you shouldn't buy one before using it in the store. That's especially important with elliptical exercisers because the movement is less familiar than walking or running, and each machine has a slightly different pedaling profile.
Decide which features you'll use. Some, such as exercise programs, can make a workout more varied and less boring, which may get you on the machine more often. But don't pay for frills you don't care about.
Consider your space. Elliptical exercisers, which do not fold and are hard to move, and nonfolding treadmills take up as much floor space as a couch. If your workout room does double duty, a folding treadmill can save you about 6 square feet.
For a treadmill, consider your workout intensity. If you'll usually walk rather than run, any of the tested models will suffice. Decide based on your budget and the features you want. If you run, construction sturdiness is paramount. Choose from the models that scored at least very good in quality in the treadmill Ratings.
For an elliptical, make sure you can change your mind. Because each machine has its own feel, try it out before you buy and make sure the store will let you return it if you dislike using it. See our elliptical Ratings and CR Quick Recommendations.
The good news is that we found several CR Best Buys among the 22 treadmills and 10 elliptical exercisers we rated, many with features designed to keep you sticking with your exercise routine. Our findings also suggest that you get what you pay for, especially if you work out frequently.
Both types of machines offer the convenience of not having to plan your workouts around the weather or off-peak hours at the gym. More Americans regularly work out on a treadmill than on any other type of exercise machine. The total was 11.6 million in 2003, the latest year for which figures were available, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. Our readers, too, favor treadmills over other equipment, according to our latest Annual Questionnaire. By contrast, 3.3 million Americans regularly worked out on an elliptical exerciser in 2003. Still, that's a 65 percent increase from the year before. And because ellipticals can provide a vigorous weight-bearing workout with little impact on your joints, the machines are a mainstay of many health clubs. Here are the details of our findings:
Problem equipment. Four elliptical exercisers and three treadmills arrived at our labs with, or soon developed, problems. These included resistance mechanisms that wouldn't work, noisy parts, and faulty monitor displays. The malfunctions occurred mainly in lower-priced machines and among models whose brands are made by Icon Health & Fitness, including those from NordicTrack, Pro-Form, and Reebok. (See "Lemon" models.) We didn't see such extensive problems when we last tested treadmills, in February 2004, although we found defects with the elliptical machines we rated in March 2002. Our experience emphasizes the importance of carefully examining your purchase as soon as you bring it home.
More extras. The effort to make exercise interesting and as pain-free as possible has led to an array of features. One useful device found on most tested treadmills and on all the ellipticals was electronic programming that automatically increases or decreases the workout's intensity, the way running up and down real hills does outdoors. You can also make the adjustments manually. Many Icon-built models are compatible with iFit, which offers workout programs for CD and MP3 players, VCRs, and online.
On the gimmicky side, a growing number of treadmills and ellipticals load the console with gadgets such as fans, a CD player, a cubbyhole for a TV remote, and backlighting on the display that for some may evoke a digital watch. (See Features for the details worth considering.)
Designs that cushion. Two elliptical exercisers and one treadmill were designed to offer bouncier, springier workouts with less of an impact on your joints than the rest. Our testers had mixed feelings about the designs' success.
The Pro-Form 1080 S elliptical uses flexible pedal arms, “propelling you to the next stride while absorbing impact,” as the company describes it. But this effect feels unstable at some speeds, limiting your cadence. The Reebok RL 525 elliptical has an elastic pad between each pedal and its supporting arm; by moving the pad, you adjust the cushioning. But we question the need for extra cushioning because elliptical exercisers create virtually no impact anyway.
The NordicTrack 7600 R treadmill has a springy wooden platform that lacks the usual metal rails on the sides of the deck. The company says this deck design absorbs impacts and propels you forward. Some users liked it; more serious runners said it felt unstable. We don't recommend this model because of a significant defect detailed in "Lemon" models.
Top quality costs more. We've found in recent treadmill tests that you have to spend well over $2,000 to get a machine designed for serious runners, though lower-priced models are OK for walkers. This time, we tested elliptical exercisers that cost as much as our high-scoring treadmills and found the same thing. Ellipticals that cost $2,000 and up were well-built and felt stable to our testers, more like the $5,000 machines at gyms. And they were less likely to have defects.
How to choose
First decide whether you want to devote the money and space to a big exercise machine. A living-room workout is the height of convenience, but of course, you can get fit exercising outdoors or at a gym. If you decide to buy a treadmill or elliptical exerciser, see Which best suits you? for the pluses and minuses of each and how much you need to spend. Then consider these tips:
Try it out first. Every model is a little different, so you shouldn't buy one before using it in the store. That's especially important with elliptical exercisers because the movement is less familiar than walking or running, and each machine has a slightly different pedaling profile.
Decide which features you'll use. Some, such as exercise programs, can make a workout more varied and less boring, which may get you on the machine more often. But don't pay for frills you don't care about.
Consider your space. Elliptical exercisers, which do not fold and are hard to move, and nonfolding treadmills take up as much floor space as a couch. If your workout room does double duty, a folding treadmill can save you about 6 square feet.
For a treadmill, consider your workout intensity. If you'll usually walk rather than run, any of the tested models will suffice. Decide based on your budget and the features you want. If you run, construction sturdiness is paramount. Choose from the models that scored at least very good in quality in the treadmill Ratings.
For an elliptical, make sure you can change your mind. Because each machine has its own feel, try it out before you buy and make sure the store will let you return it if you dislike using it. See our elliptical Ratings and CR Quick Recommendations.
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