My sister has a Vision Fitness brand elliptical and it's great. Super-high quality, it probably weighs about 400 lbs (I should know, I've helped move it 5 times or so...), and it's a great workout.
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Workout Machines
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I've got a vision fitness treadmill. It is an incredibly sturdy and well constructed machine. Paid a premium for it, but worth every cent.
At the time I bought they didn't offer eliptical trainers.
The thing I like about Precor over any other brand is that they have the cross ramp that allows you to raise and lower the angle of the ski's to work different muslce groups. No other elipse out there offers that to my knowledge. They only let you adjust resistance.
Schrodinger
Golden Member
Thread jackin time: Anyone know a decent rowing machine?
Vision Fitness does make some decent equipement.
We just took delivery of this----->Treadmill (Star Trac) and it is sitting in our garage as I try to figure out how to get it into the basement.
speaking of which, i'm looking to buy an elliptical as well with a heart rate monitor (you know, the heart rate thingies that are attached to the poles you have to hold onto) -- something decently priced but powerful enough to make you go "oooh aaah!" (with various workouts, e.g. manual, cardio, strength, whatever)
does anyone have any recommendations for such a a product that costs LESS than $1000? (these $2000+ ones are rather pricey...) or is it really necessary to splurge and get something that is in the $2000 range?
does anyone have any recommendations for such a a product that costs LESS than $1000? (these $2000+ ones are rather pricey...) or is it really necessary to splurge and get something that is in the $2000 range?
MetalMat
Diamond Member
Ok, at my gym (university gym) I use multiple machines throughout each week for cardio. Here is my thought on each.
Treadmill: Least Favorite, I dont like running much though so I am a little biased on it. I think I would rather just run outside or on the inside track than use a treadmill. I do use my parents treadmill (which they never use) when I visit to get a good 1 hour 30 minute fast walk in. Overall I think running is the best cardio excersise though, it will strengthen your respiratory system better than any other machine.
Stairclimber: I like the stairclimber to a certain extent. I think alot of people cheat on these though cause they use the handrails to help them out, I dont touch the handrails at all. However, compared to an elliptical machine these things seem to give me quite less of a workout according to the calorie counter on the machine. I still use them at least once a week.
Excersise Bike: They arent bad, but have the same problem as the stairclimber when counting calories. For instance, for an hour hard work on the excersise bike (averaging 18 mph) it will show around 600 calories of work while an elliptical will show around 800. However, since I do like to bike outdoors this machine is good to keep that condition going. I like the cybex ones (the ones that are reclined back) way better than the tradional old skool ones, but I use the old skool ones when the cybexs are being used.
Elliptical: My favorite, but they have around 12 of them and many times they are all in use. I like the ones that adjust both resistance and slope as opposed to the ones that workout your arms and only have resistance. In fact, on the ellipticals I would rather the ones that dont work out your arms. Besides, What is the point of moving your arms? You are gonna get as much work done by just using your legs. If you are worried about working out your arms just go lift some weights.
I switch between machines throughout the week to make life a little more interesting, I even run on the indoors track too and play b-ball and the occasional raquetball. Sometimes I honestly think that the elliptical machines overestimate on the calorie counting though, but they are still cool to use. If you have serious problems I would recommend the cybex bike though, those have even less impact on the knees than the elliptical machines.
Treadmill: Least Favorite, I dont like running much though so I am a little biased on it. I think I would rather just run outside or on the inside track than use a treadmill. I do use my parents treadmill (which they never use) when I visit to get a good 1 hour 30 minute fast walk in. Overall I think running is the best cardio excersise though, it will strengthen your respiratory system better than any other machine.
Stairclimber: I like the stairclimber to a certain extent. I think alot of people cheat on these though cause they use the handrails to help them out, I dont touch the handrails at all. However, compared to an elliptical machine these things seem to give me quite less of a workout according to the calorie counter on the machine. I still use them at least once a week.
Excersise Bike: They arent bad, but have the same problem as the stairclimber when counting calories. For instance, for an hour hard work on the excersise bike (averaging 18 mph) it will show around 600 calories of work while an elliptical will show around 800. However, since I do like to bike outdoors this machine is good to keep that condition going. I like the cybex ones (the ones that are reclined back) way better than the tradional old skool ones, but I use the old skool ones when the cybexs are being used.
Elliptical: My favorite, but they have around 12 of them and many times they are all in use. I like the ones that adjust both resistance and slope as opposed to the ones that workout your arms and only have resistance. In fact, on the ellipticals I would rather the ones that dont work out your arms. Besides, What is the point of moving your arms? You are gonna get as much work done by just using your legs. If you are worried about working out your arms just go lift some weights.
I switch between machines throughout the week to make life a little more interesting, I even run on the indoors track too and play b-ball and the occasional raquetball. Sometimes I honestly think that the elliptical machines overestimate on the calorie counting though, but they are still cool to use. If you have serious problems I would recommend the cybex bike though, those have even less impact on the knees than the elliptical machines.
Why get machines?
Get a bench, I mean the actual bench. Then get dumbells.
You will save hundreds, and you will get a workout 10000X better using freeweights than you could ever get on a machine.
Machines are good for isolating muscles.
Scratch the machine idea alltogether. Get a bench, and get dumbells. Read this http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exercises.htm and get started.
Please don't waste your money on a machine.
Get a bench, I mean the actual bench. Then get dumbells.
You will save hundreds, and you will get a workout 10000X better using freeweights than you could ever get on a machine.
Machines are good for isolating muscles.
Scratch the machine idea alltogether. Get a bench, and get dumbells. Read this http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exercises.htm and get started.
Please don't waste your money on a machine.
anyone own this machine or comment on it:
http://www.smoothfitness.com/products/models_ellipticalsce.htm
http://www.smoothfitness.com/products/models_ellipticalsce.htm
Top brands as far as fitness equipment go would be Nautilus, Precor, and Cybex. Typically ellipticals are designed to be easier on the knees, less impact than a treadmill although I'd highly recommend that you try out a machine before you go to buy them - not all ellipticals are created equal.
As far as bowflex systems are concerned I am convinced they are perfectly worthless for strength training because they don't provide the same sort of resistance that free weights do. For example, resistance at the "200 pound" bowflex level is nowhere near a 200 lb resistance from dumbbells or a bar. The result is simple toning and very little muscle gain or muscle training. Any experienced weight lifter who has tried a bowflex will tell you it is far different than going to a gym and using weights, and those who I've read train on the bowflex for an extended period of time report being VERY sore and weaker when going back into the gym with more traditional weights.
Weights > *
As far as bowflex systems are concerned I am convinced they are perfectly worthless for strength training because they don't provide the same sort of resistance that free weights do. For example, resistance at the "200 pound" bowflex level is nowhere near a 200 lb resistance from dumbbells or a bar. The result is simple toning and very little muscle gain or muscle training. Any experienced weight lifter who has tried a bowflex will tell you it is far different than going to a gym and using weights, and those who I've read train on the bowflex for an extended period of time report being VERY sore and weaker when going back into the gym with more traditional weights.
Weights > *
Babbles
Diamond Member
There is an awesome smith machine weight set over at Costoc for like $500. If I had the money I would get it right the heck now. I have heard mostly bad things about the Bowflex machines, but I have never used one myself. I think a good clue is that none of the bodybuilding type websites even mention using a Bowflex much less encourage the use of one.
Elliptical runners are easier on your knees, but in my personal opinion they also make a physically easier workout. It is pretty easy to get on an ellipitical runner and just keep going. Doing so on the treadmill is a bit harder. I think if you want a 'better' cardio workout the treadmill is superior. If you have to worry about joint care then perhaps the ellipitcal would be better.
Elliptical runners are easier on your knees, but in my personal opinion they also make a physically easier workout. It is pretty easy to get on an ellipitical runner and just keep going. Doing so on the treadmill is a bit harder. I think if you want a 'better' cardio workout the treadmill is superior. If you have to worry about joint care then perhaps the ellipitcal would be better.
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