good cheap cross trainer

[vx220]

Up to a budget of £200 max, prefer £150!

I know, "good" and "cheap" probably makes this an oxymoron, but still interested on your views

[Driller]

Good and cheap definitely do not go together for a cross trainer I'm afraid. Save your money and buy an exercise bike instead or go running (if knees permit) or swimming.

I did a huge amount of research and tried out a load of them before buying ours and realised you have to invest if you want something useable. I would have ideally got the commercial version (even more solid) but couldn't justify the extra.

[vx220]

Thanks, how much extra do I need to spend?

Should have said, needs to be new as it's a present

Will hopefully be used everyday, not marathon use but don't want to be buying a new one each year

[Driller]

Well I've had a look at Fitnesssuperstore (where I bought ours) and it would seem things have changed since a few years ago.

Before I would have said you need to spend at least a grand to start to get something useable but by the look of it for £600 or even £500 it's getting useful.

Tricky one buying it as a present though as everyone's different and have personal preferences as far as these machines go. You wouldn't believe the difference between two apparently identical machines even at similar prices.

I'm sure if you get one and it doesn't suit they'll let you change it though and at that point it would be best if the person in question tried some out for themselves.

[vx220]

Cheers

Anyone had any experience of the cheaper ones?

[AmiableChimp]

We bought an elliptical trainer from Decathlon for Mrs Chimp to use.

I have also started using it, and whilst it's not the best machine in the world, it allows me to burn some calaries whilst watching an episode of The Shield on Netflix

Something like this: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/ve130-cross-trainer-id_...

[BlackLabel]

These have good reviews.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3...

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3...