Best Elliptical Cross Trainers Australia 2023 | Buy The Best in AU

Last Updated on 04/12/2023 By Denise Deschanel

Elliptical cross trainers are excellent fitness machines for individuals who may be suffering from joint problems in the knee and the feet. These are largely considered as non-impact cardiovascular trainers in that your feet are actually firmly planted on a pedal, eliminating the risk of impact injuries typically found in treadmill running or walking.

Choosing the best elliptical trainer is important if you want to do a full body workout or work more muscle groups while also improving cardiovascular functioning. You also don’t want to end up with injuries.

So how do you pick the best elliptical trainer to bring home? Well, let’s just say I’ve been fortunate enough to be given a chance to evaluate the best elliptical cross trainers in this part of the globe.

Comparison of the best elliptical cross trainers in Australia:

Different Types of Elliptical Trainers

One of the things you need to understand before buying any elliptical trainer for your home gym is that there are quite a number of different types. These are essentially categorised into three, depending on the location of the equipment’s motor, also known as the drive.

• Rear drive

The very first designs of the elliptical trainer came with flywheels located in the rear. That is why they called such elliptical machine as rear drive elliptical machines. These types of trainers are considered by many in the medical profession to offer a more injury-free and natural running movement. As such, they are often recommended for individuals with chronic problems of the joints.

These have fewer moving parts and should they break, they are a lot easier to repair and less expensive, too.

• Front drive

As the name implies, these types of cross trainer machines have their flywheels located in the front of the elliptical machine. Since the flywheel is directly in front, it has the characteristic tendency to ‘climb’ because of its larger slope angle, making it exceptional for those who prefer to ‘climb’ than to ‘run’ or ‘walk’.

Front drive elliptical cross trainers are less expensive than rear drive units and come with a rather slim and sleek profile, giving it easy storage options. The problem? Well, front drive ellipticals come with more moving parts so they are slightly harder to clean and maintain.

• Centre drive

You can think of the centre drive elliptical cross trainer machine as a great marriage between the two previous designs of the gym equipment. This is a rather new technology so its full benefits have yet to be really cemented in the real world. Nevertheless, proponents of the centre drive elliptical trainer say that you’d feel more upright when standing on the deck, providing for a more comfortable experience.

There are also exercise experts who say that it allows more calories burned since you’re essentially doing a lower body workout with your legs and not holding onto any rail. They are designed to be compact, too.

How Much Does an Elliptical Trainer Typically Cost?

The price of an elliptical trainer typically depends on a host of factors. It depends on the materials used, the integrated computers, and other useful features, as well as the primary intended application. Here’s your typical price guide to elliptical cross trainers.

• Less than $800 – You can look at these as entry-level elliptical machines that typically come with a short stride and a simple yet fully functional console. They typically have low weight capacity and are designed with light duty frames. Most fall under the compact elliptical cross trainer category. However, there are also those products that belong to this price range yet come with more advanced and better features only seen in higher-priced models.
• Between $800 and $1,200 – These typically have a fixed stride length that can range anywhere from short to medium. The frame and console are definitely several notches better than entry-level units. These machines may come pre-installed with workout programs, which the entry-level may not have.
• Between $1,200 and $2,000 – You’d expect most gyms to have any one of these types of ellipticals. These are solid all-around performers with fully adjustable stride length, good console, and good biomechanics, too. The frame can be considered as definitely strong.
• More than $2,000 – These are premium quality exercise equipment that are rich in features, built with a heavy duty frame, and come with all the good things money can buy.

Features that You Would Want to Consider Before Buying an Elliptical Trainer

Here are a few more things to consider before buying a fitness equipment like an elliptical trainer for home use.

• Overall stability

It is quite self-explanatory. You need a platform that will never give up on your fitness needs. You need an elliptical machine that will last a long time regardless of how frequent you use it or even if a whole lot of different folks will also be trying it out. Traditionally, heavier equipment afforded the best stability. However, with advances in materials technology and design, you can expect even lightweight designs to give you exceptional stability.

• Biomechanics

This pertains to how well your body moves in relation to the movement of the various components of the machine. The idea is to move in a normal fashion so, if you are going to simulate running, then your strides should be longer. Walking, on the other hand, will be shorter. The point is that you should feel and move as natural as possible.

Of course, if you really want to develop or train several groups of muscles at a time, then it is imperative that you apply some form of resistance. But, more on that in a while. Suffice to say, you need to choose an elliptical equipment that can give you good biomechanics.

• Levels and types of tension or resistance

Most elliptical trainers come in one of two types of resistance: magnetic resistance and fan wheel. Magnetic resistance provide the most natural of workouts while giving you a quitter and more consistent performance. On the other hand, fan wheels tend to provide a smoother glide and are typically found in less expensive machines.

Regardless of the type of resistance, what is important is its adjustability to suit your fitness levels. This way you can fine-tune the resistance levels that you desire to achieve optimum results.

• On-board computer

It is quite rare to get an elliptical trainer without an onboard computer. That said, you should always check out the display. Personally, I would go for something really large for ease of viewing while the backlighting should also be gentle on the eyes. Another aspect of the onboard computer is the various data that it provides.

Typically, elliptical trainers provide distance, time, and speed as the basics. If it can provide you more information, then it would definitely be a good choice. If the equipment also comes with pre-installed workout programs, then you will also give this due consideration especially if you’re looking to rev up your fitness needs.

• Angle of incline

Some trainers come fixed so you cannot really change the degree of its incline. This is okay if you are only going to use it for the usual running and walking simulations. But, if you’re looking to strengthen and develop certain groups of muscles, then a fully adjustable incline should do the trick. These typically come in two forms: automatic and manual. Honestly, I’d want you to pick the automatic.

• Stride length

Taller individuals will have longer strides so you’ve got to choose a trainer that has long stride length, typically in the 46 to 60 centimetre range. Here’s the thing, if you’re not sure about your stride length, better get a machine with fully adjustable stride length. That should eliminate the hassle of determining whether the stride length of the machine is for you.

• Flywheel weight

The flywheel is one of the most important parts of the elliptical trainer. As such, you don’t want something that is really flimsy. Here’s a tip: the heavier the flywheel the smoother the operation of the trainer. At the very minimum, you should get a flywheel that weighs not less than 7 kilograms.

Final Thoughts

Elliptical/Cross trainers can simulate running and walking, but with the addition of simulating stair climbing. Because of its non-impact nature, an elliptical trainer is a favourite among folks with musculoskeletal injuries or reduced cardiovascular functioning.

Choosing the best elliptical trainer to buy in Australia can be tricky. However, if you take heed of the tips above, from the type of ellipticals to the price range and features, you can always feel more confident about buying the best one for your personal needs.

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FAQs on Elliptical Cross Trainer

1. How Do I Choose the Best Elliptical Cross Trainer?

There are three categories of the Elliptical Cross Trainer depending on the location of its motor or drive:

Rear Drive. These are Elliptical Cross Trainer that has flywheels located on the rear and are known as rear-drive cross trainer. This type is recommended by the medical profession for people who have chronic joint problems since it offers a more injury-free, natural running movement.

Front Drive. The flywheels are located on the front part of the equipment. Aside from the walk and run capacity, having a larger slope angle makes this type of Elliptical Cross Trainer “climb”.

Centre Drive. This type of Elliptical Cross Trainer is more compact and has a more uptight feel when standing on its deck which provides comfort. If you are focused on toning your legs, this equipment which has no rail burns more calories and will essentially work on your legs.

2. How is an Elliptical Cross Trainer different from other exercising machines?

An Elliptical cross trainer machine provides non-impact cardiovascular exercise. Your feet are not subjected to impact injuries while you do your walking and running exercises.

Aside from this, it can also simulate stair climbing that can be advantageous for people who have musculoskeletal injuries. Using the Elliptical Cross Trainer on your workout will help you in achieving more toning both in your lower body muscles including your legs, thighs, and buttocks and upper body muscles like your biceps, triceps, pectorals, and abdominals. You can also target the weaker and less trained muscles group that you think would benefit from the exercise.

3. How long should you exercise using the Elliptical Cross Trainer?

With most people not having a lot of free time, spending at least 15 minutes daily exercising using the elliptical cross trainer can make a difference in your health. Some studies even show that spending 15 minutes of physical activity daily can increase a person’s life expectancy by 3 years longer than those who are sedentary.

Just gradually increase your exercise time when your stamina improves. Having regular exercise using the elliptical cross trainer can also help improve the immune system of older people thus reducing the risk of getting sick and delay the onset of symptoms. These cross-trainer benefits are something they should not miss.

4. Who can use the Elliptical Cross Trainer?

This excellent fitness machine can be used by anyone who wants to work on improving their cardiovascular functions and muscles. If you have joint problems on your knees and feet, the Elliptical Cross Trainer is the machine you can work out with.

Burning calories and fats can be done easier and faster since an hour of workout using the Elliptical Cross Trainer can burn between 450 and 830 kcal per hour depending on the intensity of your workout. This is 2 to 4 times faster than walking. When you do HIIT (high-intensity workout), you burn more calories in a short time, but doing a medium-intensity workout with an Elliptical Cross Trainer will not only burn fats but will also store them as a source of energy for you.