Need a cross trainer, not sure where to start.
Need a cross trainer, not sure where to start.
Author
Discussion

ILoveMondeo

Original Poster:

9,616 posts

255 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
quotequote all
Wasn't quite sure where to put this one, sports, health, home, feel free to move where it belongs!

I need to get a couple of cross trainers for home, work and where we live makes a gym a complete ball ache so planning on getting a pair of cross trainers for me and the GF so we can get some exercise.

Magnetic seems to be the way to go from reading I've done, but after that I've absolutely no idea where to turn.

Happy to spend a few hundred quid each.... up to £500 max... would rather it was a bit less.

Can you get anything good for this money?

Cheers

Dave

Spare tyre

12,557 posts

159 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
quotequote all
Every I know who has got one ends up not using it after a month or so

Get out for a brisk walk, much more interesting !

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

188 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
quotequote all
^ This.

For me - Biggest waste of money ever.

You are either the type of person who will religiously use it. Or not.

I reckon 95% of people are in the NOT camp.


Just go walking....


ILoveMondeo

Original Poster:

9,616 posts

255 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
quotequote all
It'll get used,

Used to run 25-30 miles a week, simply don't have the time with work commitments any more, also my knees can't cope any more.

Smashing in 30-60 minutes on a CT 5 days a week is a piece of piss.

Used to have a nice exercise bike a few years back and used it all the time, until move before last, had to get rid, no space.

Got plenty of space now, so happy to invest some cash, it'll get used!

Driller

8,310 posts

307 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
quotequote all
If you don't spend at least a grand or even two, it won't be worth using. Decent cross trainers like decent treadmills are expensive!

I got an Octane Fitness Q47E some years ago. I still use it regularly. It works properly and is comfortable and real pleasure to exercise on.

Edited by Driller on Sunday 10th April 21:43

MitchT

17,117 posts

238 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
quotequote all
The OH has has owned an elliptical trainer like this for about a year and has used it several times a week since she got it. It makes a bloody annoying noise though - she's under strict instructions to use it when I'm in the shower! They're only a waste of money when bought by people with no motivation or self discipline.

ILoveMondeo

Original Poster:

9,616 posts

255 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
quotequote all
Blimey, those octane doo-daa's are pricey...

maybe second hand is the way to go?

Heathwood

3,032 posts

231 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
quotequote all
Just to confirm, you want to spend less than £500 on 2 cross trainers? If so, I think you'll struggle to get anything half decent.

Up the budget a little bit though and look at Nordic Track. Avoid Reebok in my experience.

anonymous-user

83 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
quotequote all
These are great: http://www.nordicfitnessskimachines.com

But you will have to up your budget.

anonymous-user

83 months

Sunday 10th April 2016
quotequote all
Horizon Andes is a respected home x-trainer brand.

i would join pure gym and save your money for new clothes.

Silver993tt

9,064 posts

268 months

Monday 11th April 2016
quotequote all
Spare tyre said:
Every I know who has got one ends up not using it after a month or so

Get out for a brisk walk, much more interesting !
Had mine nearly 3 years and covered around 2500kms. I bought a Kettler, top quaity cost around 1000 GBP. It gets used 5 times a week when I'm not away for work. Fantastic piece of equipment, especially using the interval programs. Best thing I ever bought as it gives a complete body workout during the 40min sessions I use it for smile


Edited by Silver993tt on Monday 11th April 12:42

ILoveMondeo

Original Poster:

9,616 posts

255 months

Monday 11th April 2016
quotequote all
Heathwood said:
Just to confirm, you want to spend less than £500 on 2 cross trainers? If so, I think you'll struggle to get anything half decent.

Up the budget a little bit though and look at Nordic Track. Avoid Reebok in my experience.
~£500 each!

however It sounds like I may be pushing my luck with that budget, will see what's kicking around on ebay!

ILoveMondeo

Original Poster:

9,616 posts

255 months

Monday 11th April 2016
quotequote all
A pair of these seem like a good bet...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NordicTrack-E7-2-Ellipti...


BobToc

2,030 posts

146 months

Monday 11th April 2016
quotequote all
I think you can ask for whatever type of trainer you like. Do they have to be cross? Would a mildly angry trainer do? Or maybe just a very grumpy one?

Efbe

9,251 posts

195 months

Monday 11th April 2016
quotequote all
get a rower and a bike.

crosstrainers can be really really bad for your knees. each one puts a slightly different angle on your knees, and can cause quite a lot of pain/damage

13m

28,176 posts

251 months

Monday 11th April 2016
quotequote all
The Spruce goose said:
Horizon Andes is a respected home x-trainer brand.
.
We had one of those. It was OK, albeit that the mode of operation seemed a bit odd. The horizontal arms have rubber wheels that run in tracks and it was not unusual to have one derail. We found service from the company very good though.

We built a whole home gym with weights, cross trainer, bike and running machine from Ebay for under a grand and it was all good quality kit. When people stop using home gym equipment, it appears, they just want rid at any price.

The main problem we had was that we built a home gym. It can be dispiriting training on your own in a garage / annexe. It was useful whilst we were having children and therefore were time poor. Now we have slightly more time we have sold all the kit and joined a gym. Training in a larger gym environment is more interesting and easier for it.

All of which said, I've just bought a rower for my office...



ILoveMondeo

Original Poster:

9,616 posts

255 months

Monday 11th April 2016
quotequote all
Efbe said:
get a rower and a bike.

crosstrainers can be really really bad for your knees. each one puts a slightly different angle on your knees, and can cause quite a lot of pain/damage
Well I wish I'd read that 5 minutes ago before ordering some!!

I had no idea they were bad for knees, never struggled with them before and seemed like they'd be easier on the joints from an impact perspective.

Ordered a pair of these

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/nordictrack-e7...

£50 cheaper from the supplier than their ebay/amazon shops, for obvious reasons. They'll be arriving on saturday!

I'm sure I'll be bored of it by sunday and we'll be using them to dry clothes on.


Silver993tt

9,064 posts

268 months

Monday 11th April 2016
quotequote all
Efbe said:
get a rower and a bike.

crosstrainers can be really really bad for your knees. each one puts a slightly different angle on your knees, and can cause quite a lot of pain/damage
Cross/eliptical trainers have flat boards for the feet, so you knees are not in a fixed position (unlike on a bike/cycling or rowing machine). 2500kms on mine and my knees are better than ever

Efbe

9,251 posts

195 months

Tuesday 12th April 2016
quotequote all
ILoveMondeo said:
Well I wish I'd read that 5 minutes ago before ordering some!!

I had no idea they were bad for knees, never struggled with them before and seemed like they'd be easier on the joints from an impact perspective.

Ordered a pair of these

http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/nordictrack-e7...

£50 cheaper from the supplier than their ebay/amazon shops, for obvious reasons. They'll be arriving on saturday!

I'm sure I'll be bored of it by sunday and we'll be using them to dry clothes on.
ok, well it's not a certain, but sometimes you will find one that just does not work well with your knees.

I have never had an issue with my knees, and have used ellipicals in many gyms. Most have been fine, it's just the odd one or two, and it seems to have been the rotation of the foot.

Just be warned, and sop if you feel any discomfort whatsoever.

five5

716 posts

282 months

Wednesday 13th April 2016
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Not wishing to hijack this thread, but does anyone have any experience with BodyMax equipment (e.g. treadmill, cross trainer & spin bike) that they would care to share (before I commit to a purchase)