It’s easy to find reviews and recommendations on the best elliptical trainers. Several internet consumer sites tell you about the machines that scored best in their tests. But try to find out which machines are a waste of your money! Go ahead, try.

You may be surprised to learn which makers have dropped the ball on elliptical trainers. There are some elliptical trainers out there made by highly-regarded, trusted names, but you might as well throw your money down the drain if you get stuck with one of them. To help you save time, money, and heartache, we’re here to tell you about the machines with low elliptical trainer ratings.

Nordic Track has a great reputation. Well known in the market for their high-quality, reasonably priced exercise equipment, you’d never guess that you can get a real piece of junk from them. But you can. That’s because the CX925 was built with lots of bells and whistles but low quality. This machine has some very attractive features, giving you the ability to change the incline, including a snazzy LED console panel, and allowing you to select between a number of programs. While many buyers were generally satisfied with their machines, they also reported many mechanical problems and expensive repairs. EllipticalTrainers.com reported this model to be below average for both durability and display. The bottom line is that, while you’ll get a lot of fancy features at a relatively low price, you probably can’t expect them to last long. You’ll spend a lot of time waiting and a lot of money paying for repairs. On the other hand, Consumer Reports rated the Nordic Track AudioStrider 990 as a Best Buy within its class.

ProForm is another well-known manufacturer with a great reputation. However, their 900 elliptical had some serious problems and some low ratings. What we learned is that ProForm machines not in their EFX series simply don’t have the quality we hoped for. Even though it has a competitive price and low noise, the 90-day warranties are too short and indicate a short product life. Some consumers reported frequent minor breaks that make the machine impossible to use and poor service and support from the manufacturer. They also said it was difficult to assemble, and the package didn’t contain all the parts. We know that ProForm is capable of building a better machine by making a more simple version of their EFX models. But they chose not to do that. If you’re looking for a good price, check out the ProForm XP 520 Razor. Though it was the lowest rated of eight elliptical trainer reviews by ConsumerReports.org, it was considerably cheaper than all the other machines they tested. So, if you’re not investing in a ProForm EFX model, we advise you look elsewhere.

Horizon received some of the lowest elliptical trainer ratings. Made by a Chinese manufacturer, their machines aren’t build for everyone – they have some of the industry’s lowest stride lengths. The machines were unreliable and uncomfortable as well. Unfortunately, Horizon doesn’t seem to offer a high-quality product, since they rely on using cheap parts. It appears that they are trying to compete for low prices with competitor Vision. But EllipticalTrainers.com warns that their machines quickly become dusty and require frequent cleaning to keep them operating. Despite their low prices, you can get a better machine for the same price. Having found little positive information on the Horizon machines, we highly recommend that you seek another brand while you’re shopping for elliptical trainers.

So what’s the lesson here? When you’re thinking about investing in exercise equipment, look for the highest elliptical trainer ratings based on reviews by reputable, well-known professionals. You may think you’re saving a bundle on that great deal, but you’re likely to end up with a machine that doesn’t do what you need it to do, that breaks as soon as you use it, and that costs you more in consumer grief than it ever saved.

And be clear about it, we’re not saying that Nordic Track and ProForm don’t make good products. They do. You simply need to do your homework and be sure you’re buying the models that are recommended. You can depend on elliptical trainer ratings for the best buys when you select from high ratings and consumer reviews that glow. Be sure to find out what buyers say about their machines, too. It’s your money. It’s your choice. Now, get out there and get fit!

mini crystal chandelier