Cross Trainers
A cross trainer or elliptical trainer as they are also known, is designed to simulate walking or running without causing excessive pressure to the joints, hence decreasing the risk of impact injuries. A cross trainer is designed to provide a cardiovascular workout rather than build muscle.
If your goal in training is to lose weight then a cross trainer, may be the ideal piece of fitness equipment for you. Depending on the intensity, you can burn more calories with a cross trainer compared with a treadmill or exercise bike, as a cross trainer can enable you to burn up to 8 to 12 calories a minute. Many of the latest cross trainers have screen monitors, which allow you to monitor your progress and feedback calorie burn, BMI and body fat percentage.
Cross trainers are perfect for a low impact way to tone all of your upper and lower body at the same time. Legs and arms are worked on whilst your stomach and sides are flexed with twisting motions creating toned abs. This all-over workout is what burns calories more effectively than when using many other pieces of fitness equipment such as treadmills and rowing machines. Cross Trainers optimise your cardiovascular fitness whilst providing a total body workout routine, with the varied range of body movement building flexibility. We recommend you use a cross trainer a few times a week, this will aid the improvement of your general fitness.
A good example of a cross trainer workout is the interval training workout 'Sprint 8' that can be found on Vision Fitness cross trainers. The workouts are pre-programmed and designed to improve your fitness quickly and also to burn fat and aid weight loss. The 'Sprint 8' works by aiding your bodies production of the human growth hormone which strips fat and gives you a slim and healthy body.
When purchasing a Cross Trainer there are several factors that you should take into consideration.
Warranty – As with any other piece of home fitness equipment be sure to check the warranty on a cross trainer before making your purchase. Usually most cross trainer warranties range from 1 to 3 years which often includes both parts and labour warranties, as this ensures that you wont have to repair the cross trainer yourself if something was to go wrong with it. Certain cross trainers by selected fitness brands often come with a lifetime warranty on the frame.
Space – Cross trainers are fairly compact when compared to other pieces of home fitness equipment, so they require less space within your home. Although cross trainers are fairly compact we recommend that you have enough room to place the cross trainer as well as half a meter or so either side of the cross trainer to ensure you can perform your workout in comfort.
User/Users - It is important to consider who will be using the cross trainer. Different types of users may have certain types of requirements. A heavy user will have to check the maximum user weight of the cross trainer, a tall user is likely to need a longer strider area and higher handles to make the workout comfortably. A cross trainer workout is low impact and smooth which makes cross trainers suitable for most people as they don't put too much strain on your body and joints. For those who are overweight and over 60 we recommend that you consult your GP before undertaking exercise.
Types of Cross Trainers– Cross trainers come in three variations.
Front Wheel Cross Trainers- Due to the stride difference, there is a small shift in muscle usage between the rear wheel models and the front wheel models. The front wheel will cause the legs to turn over at a steeper angle which can cause the legs to move in a stair stepper like fashion. The rear wheel housing allows for a longer stride, which tends to feel more like jogging.On a front wheel cross trainer you have a tendency of leaning forward, this won't impact on your workout but it should be put into consideration as you should adopt a workout position which is most comfortable for you.
Front wheel cross trainers tend to be more expensive due to their mechanics and their overall design. The reason for this is on a front wheel cross trainer your weight is centered at the rear of the machine on the pedals, so front wheel cross trainers use a roller and track system to support the weight. Secondly, in order to form the arm movements which you have on a cross trainer a front wheel cross trainer has to be designed to coordinate the movement of both arms as well as both pedals around the mechanism.
Rear Wheel Crosstrainers - The position of the wheel on a cross trainer does not make a huge amount of difference on the way in which the cross trainer effects the body and your workout. The only difference is the stride difference, there is a small shift in muscle usage between the rear wheel models and the front wheel models.
Rear wheel crosstrainers can have more of a jogging or walking type motion then when compared to front wheel cross trainers, due to their longer stride motion.
On a rear wheel crosstrainer you are usually more centered where as on a front wheel cross trainer you have a tendency of leaning forward, this won't impact on your workout but it should be put into consideration as you should adopt a workout position which is most comfortable for you.
Due to the mechanics of rear wheel crosstrainers they have less parts so there are less parts to service if something was to go wrong with a rear wheel crosstrainer.
Commercial Cross Trainers – Commercial cross trainers are ideally suited for use within commercial establishments such as gyms, health clubs and fitness halls. Although commercial models are more often than not used in gyms and health clubs, many home users prefer to purchase a commercial cross trainers as they often represent and embody the highest quality, advanced features that you can get on cross trainers, similar to the standards you find in gymnasiums.
Each variation of cross trainers have their advantages and some disadvantages but it really just depends on your preference, your fitness requirements and the quality of the cross trainer.
Resistance - There are two different ways to control resistance on cross trainers manually and electronically. The lower the resistance the easier the stride movement and the higher the resistance the more difficult the stride movement. The more levels of resistance on a cross trainer the greater the variety for your workout. The resistance levels give you a variety of options such as, using a low resistance level at high speed to increase the heart rate. Or you could use a high resistance level at low speed to increase the heart rate, this will also improve muscle tone in the lower parts of the body, but will not increase stress impact.
Although both resistance control options are extremely easy to use, electronic resistance has the benefit of often coming with heart rate control program, this automatically change the resistance and intensity of the workout to keep you in your target heart rate zone.
Programmes - Most cross trainers come with workout programmes. Workout programmes are a fantastic way to keep yourself motivated during your training as workout programmes offer a wide variety of fitness routines. If you find that you get bored easily whilst exercising, it may be worth investing in a cross trainer which has a range of fitness programmes as this could help you enjoy your workout out more and increase your motivation. Some cross trainers have as many as 20 workout programmes. Workout programmes are invaluable as they offer detailed feedback, safety, variety and allow you to monitor your progress. Some cross trainers have pre set programmes which are designed to work on specific elements such as cardiovascular strengthening or weight loss. These are fixed in time length and the computer will vary the speed and incline. Heart rate training programmes are extremely popular as it has been proven that they aid weight loss and improve performance and provided a safer more controlled workout. The latest programme is user programming which enables you to store your individual workout data as well as enabling you to design your own personal workout programme to suit your workout requirements. The amount of personal data which a cross trainer can store ranges from 1 set of data to 5.
Dual action - Dual action motion on a cross trainer is simply the backwards or forwards motion. A dual-action crosstrainer has handlebars that move simultaneously with the pedals to work both your upper and lower body at the same time.
Brands – At Gymworld we stock a wide variety of crosstrainers from the biggest brands in the fitness industry.
Fuel Fitness Cross Trainers - Fuel Cross Trainers are solid, well built and equipped to ensure that each model of Fuel cross trainer meets your fitness needs and goals. Fuel Fitness cross trainers are constructed with to the highest quality and featuring the latest components, placing Fuel at the forefront of the cross trainer market. Whether you improve your cardio activity, aid weight loss or simply improve your health, Fuel ellipticals will go the extra mile.
Gymworld recommend the Fuel EL335 Elliptical Trainer. The Fuel EL335 Elliptical Trainer is a well constructed, sturdy, heavy duty cross trainer. The purpose of the Fuel EL335 is simplicity, both in structure and in operation. The simplicity of the EL335 means you can get for a far lower price than you'd expect for this exceptionally high quality.
The warranties on Fuel Fitness cross trainers are very impressive. Fuel Fitness offer lifetime warranties on cross trainer braking systems (crosstrainers). Sometimes you'll find that just the frame has a lifetime warranties with other manufacturers. Fuel Fitness have faith in their parts and have guaranteed the most hard working parts on their machines – a testament to their quality.
Spirit Fitness Cross Trainers – Spirit Fitness have an outstanding reputation when it comes to manufacturing solid, durable treadmills, and those design and manufacturing techniques have been applied to the production of the Spirit cross trainers. A Spirit cross trainer is ideal for those who want a good quality cross trainer but without the expensive price tag.
If you are considering purchasing a Spirit Fitness cross trainer we recommend the Spirit XE295, recently voted “best in class” in a leading American fitness publication. The Spirit XE295 offers unparalleled quality at this price. Its long, smooth stride action and adjustable footplates combine to create one of the best cross trainers available at any price.
Life Fitness Cross Trainers – If you are a member of a gym or health club you will probably be familiar with Life Fitness cross trainers as you'll find them in practically any health or gym around the world. Life Fitness cross trainers are renowned for providing a total body workout, with legs and arms being driving the cross trainer, you can burn more calories with less perceived exertion than other cross trainer, even more than other lower-body only cross trainers. Life Fitness cross trainers are ideal for those who are seeking a challenging workout. Life Fitness cross trainers come with lots of different workout programmes to ensure you get a challenging and effective workout.
If you want a modern, ultra smooth cross trainer, then choose Life Fitness. The Life Fitness X5 Cross Trainer and new Life Fitness X8 Cross Trainer are both superb, offering adjustable stride length, wireless heart rate (on the advanced console) and show you which parts of your body are being used in your workout. Cross trainers of this standard for home use are pretty much unique to Life Fitness.
Vision Fitness Crosstrainers – Vision Fitness allow you to create your own Vision Fitness crosstrainer as they have configured Vision home cross trainer frames so that they can work with any of the Vision Fitness consoles. Simply choose the console that will meet your fitness goals and pair it with the frame that offers you what you want, great for getting the crosstrainer that is right for you. Vision Fitness crosstrainers are smooth, quiet and compact. Vision Fitness's goal is to create the most comfortable elliptical motion possible.
Vision Fitness are renowned for the production of front wheel crosstrainer, being the first fitness company to produce a front wheel crosstrainer.
The Vision Fitness X1500 cross trainer is Vision's entry-level elliptical trainer but is loaded with great features. The Vision X1500 cross trainer uses a ECB magnetic resistance system with a 21-lb flywheel and a super silent Quiet-Glide™ drive to create a durable machine that offers smooth resistance changes. The pivoting footplates, three-inch pedal spacing, and 18-inch stride length provide a comfortable and ergonomic stride motion. This model also comes standard with contact heart rate and heavy gauge construction.
York Fitness Cross Trainers – York Fitness cross trainers have a lot to offer you in your workout. York Fitness Cross Trainers are renowned for being well manufactured, solid and reliable. The York Fitness has been producing fitness equipment for over 75 years so you know when you buy a York cross trainer you are buying a York cross trainer you are buying into quality and experience. York cross trainers are extremely well built, easy to assemble and easy to use. York cross trainers offer a range of both low end to top end cross trainers usually with a standard warranty of 2 years parts and labour.
If you are planning on purchasing a York cross trainer we recommend one of the York Fitness Diamond Series Cross Trainers. The York Diamond Series X301 Cross Trainer was one of the best selling cross trainers of 2009. York Fitness have gained a high level of positive public opinion for their high quality Diamond Series fitness equipment, while still offering affordability.
PLEASE NOTE: Before starting a new fitness programme we recommend that you consult your GP or medical adviser
