Cross trainers - advice please

[pstruck]

I know very little about them, but am considering getting one so that we can get a little bit of exercise at home on these dark, wet evenings (in addition to the other ways of getting hot and sweaty when the curtains are closed)!

I don't really want to spend more than £200 ish and could do with one which doesn't take up a huge amount of space and/or will fold such that it can be put in the understairs cupboard.

Am I being realistic (budget and size)? What features should I be looking for? Anyone able to recommend a particular make or model?

[Herbie58]

I'm on my third cross trainer, and I use it for an hour every day.

The first was on £100, but I went low budget to ensure I actually used it and if not I wouldn't be too out of pocket. It was brilliant, did the job, no frills, and it still works today, but Its in Scotland, and I'm not!

So I bought a second one down south, spent around £250 and it lasted two weeks before breaking and had to be sent back. It was a v-pro IIRC.

The third is a Roger Black, and It costs around £350. But it is worth spending that little bit more IMO. It has ten resistance settings, a timer, heart monitor, calories and distance setting. It was very quite to operate for the first month, but is now developing squeeks and creeks, but I supposes any device under a certain price bracket will do. I'd recomend it.

Pros - you get a good cardio workout, if you alternate backwards and forwards, change tensions, do sprints etc you can ge fit quite quickly. I also add wrist weights so that my arms get a bit more of a workout too. It's an easy device to use, great to be able to exercise at home - convenient. It will really tighten your thighs and backside, and help with general weight loss/fitness

Cons - they can get a bit noisy as time goes on, they do take up a bit of space, def not for those short on room. If u don't use it every day it will become a clothes horse. No real workout on your stomach area

[pstruck]

Herbie58 said:

Cons - they can get a bit noisy as time goes on, they do take up a bit of space, def not for those short on room. If u don't use it every day it will become a clothes horse. No real workout on your stomach area

Thanks Herbie. Good info. I've been reading a bit more about them and doing a few online comparisons of cost and features.

You mention the 'space' thing and this worries me a little. I've been looking at ones which fold so that they store more easily. I think it will mainly be used in the living or dining room, which means it would need to be wheeled away after each use. I cannot think that there is anywhere it could stay permanently (garage too cold!). I am wondering if this might become tiresome and it gets used less and less.

[Herbie58]

pstruck said:

Herbie58 said:

Cons - they can get a bit noisy as time goes on, they do take up a bit of space, def not for those short on room. If u don't use it every day it will become a clothes horse. No real workout on your stomach area

Thanks Herbie. Good info. I've been reading a bit more about them and doing a few online comparisons of cost and features.

You mention the 'space' thing and this worries me a little. I've been looking at ones which fold so that they store more easily. I think it will mainly be used in the living or dining room, which means it would need to be wheeled away after each use. I cannot think that there is anywhere it could stay permanently (garage too cold!). I am wondering if this might become tiresome and it gets used less and less.

If you don't have anywhere to keep it, then don't buy it. A fold up one will be far more rickety, and more likely to squeek, move etc. And moving it around definately becomes tiresome. Mine used to sit in my spare room, directly in front of the PC so that I just had to fire on a DVD and go, but even then I didn't use it as much as I do now. It's back in my lounge (which fortunately has plenty space) and I use it more or less every day. It's there, you can't avoid it, you know you should use it, so you do.

Out of sight, out of mind!

[Rusty Arches]

I just got a cheap one from ebay, £30.

Much like Herbie, I figure if I end up not using it, it won't matter . . . . if it breaks after a few months of use, I know I'm doing something right.

I'm terribly unfit, so starting at 1KM, tomorrow 2KM and so on. . . until I'm getting a good sweat on.