Elliptical trainers have been around for over a decade now, however it is only really in the last four or five years that they’ve become so popular. Previously in the large gyms there would be more treadmills than any other piece of cardio vascular equipment. Nowadays there are normally equal numbers of elliptical trainers, also known as crosstrainers, as there are treadmills.

The advantage of using an elliptical trainer over a treadmill is that they are low impact. When you run your feet are leaving the ground and impacting on the tarmac or treadmill sending shocks up your bones which can cause problems for people with weak joints or shin splints. Running is good for helping with increasing your bone density, but for a lot of people with weak joints running is not an option. This is where an elliptical trainer is ideal, your feet never leave the ground and it’s easy to regulate the resistance to get your heart beating to a level where you’re working out aerobically.

Elliptical trainers are very smooth and they work out your arms and shoulders as well as your legs. The original elliptical trainers just worked out your arms but Reebok was one of the first manufacturers to add the arms to give you a full body workout.

Elliptical trainers vary in size, stability and functionality depending on the model. As with most exercise equipment you get what you pay for and ideally you should look at spending £250 upwards for a basic home model and up to £3000 for a good commercial model. Always look for a branded product which has a good warranty, a good warranty is a sign that the manufacturer has faith in their product. I would look for a minimum of two years parts and one year’s labour warranty. Manufacturers such as Tunturi, Reebok and Nautilus have a reputation of producing good elliptical trainers. I’ve tested most of their 2007 model ranges and I’ve been impressed with them especially Tunturi’s as it looks really clean and stylish as well.