An incline capability:Walking uphill adds intensity and variety to your
workouts. With most machines, you either turn a crank or press a
button to simulate hills. Beware of treadmills that create an incline with
hydraulic pistons. These models, often found in department stores, are
not likely to support your weight through continued use and tend to
break easily and often. If you look at the front of the treadmill on either
side and see a metal bar that resembles a bicycle pump (that’s the
hydraulic piston you’re looking at), pass on the machine.
Programs: Automatic programs cost an additional $200 to $2,000, but if
this feature motivates you, it’s probably worth the money. Still, you can
create your own varied workouts using the training techniques we
describe in Chapter 8.Our favorite treadmills
Trotter, Star Trac, BodyGuard, Landice, Precor, and True make solid tread-
mills with good warranties and service. Precor sells a treadmill for less than
$1,000 in certain price-club stores (locations with a dealer service network).
The machine has a one-year warranty with guaranteed service. We were
pleasantly surprised by its lower-price model, although we don’t recommend
it for anyone who runs at high speeds more than an hour a day.Elliptical trainers
Part stair-climber, part treadmill, part stationary cycle, elliptical trainersare
the hottest trend in cardio machines. Your legs travel in an elongated circular
movement, and, on some models, you pump poles back and forth for an
upper-body workout. On the best models, you feel like you’re doing a sort of
rhythmic glide; on the worst, you feel like you’re stumbling downhill on your
tiptoes.Unfortunately, most home elliptical trainers we’ve tried are like most Elvis
impersonators: From afar, they resemble the real thing, but on closer inspec-
tion, they’re nothing but a cheesy imitation. Most of the home units, especially
those under $500, aren’t as smooth or as comfortable as the more expensive
gym-quality models. The home units tend to have a stride length that’s too
short, too deep, too choppy, or a combination of all three problems. And most
of them are so flimsy that we were able to loosen the bolts from the frame
and rock them from side to side while taking a test run. This doesn’t bode
well for durability. Most home elliptical trainers with arm poles are useless
because they offer no resistance at all.The home models we like fall into the major splurge category. The best is by
Precor, the company that launched this category. But this machine will set
you back nearly $3,500. The Life Fitness home elliptical trainer, for $3,000,310 Part VI: Conquering the Gym (Even at Home)