How to Find the Best Elliptical Trainers Online

Simply because an elliptical machine is not sold in stores, doesn't invalidate its value - in this case, the Captiva for example is strategically sold online exclusively to keep expensive retail costs to a minimum.

The savings is passed onto the consumer and the end result is that a higher value is given for less money, or a higher return on investment (R.O.I.).

Following are the tips for choosing the best elliptical trainers online (where it can be argued that the best values and mid-range ellipticals are found).

1. Make sure that you do your "due diligence" when choosing your brands. The first step is really to look for brands to buy from, rather than a particular model - so find customer reviews or input on the brands you are considering.

The reason customer reviews (or at least quotes from actual customers) are so important is that they have nothing to gain from the review other than informing other shoppers of the facts of the elliptical or treadmill.

2. Always be sure to check the manufacturer's warranty and do a search in Google and Bing for "(Brand) warranty claims" or "problems." This is a necessary step for any consumer buying ellipticals online.

3. Shop for brands you know first, then compare their statistics, price and features to these lesser-known brands you find online, like Yowza Fitness, Smooth Fitness, LifeCore, etc. Be sure to compare their features side-by-side.

This can be tricky because most manufacturers will use trademarked terms to give the appearance of value, or because they have a patented technology that others don't.

Try to find out what the features accomplish. For example, do the foot pedals articulate? This is an ergonomic design feature to look for in elliptical machines, but some call it a trademarked name instead.

4. Check website reviews for the brands in question. This is key to making sure you get as much information as possible. Many online reviews may come across as simple re-hash of what the manufacturer says.

Avoid these scam artists at all costs and look elsewhere. A true review will have the information you seek in a way that's unique, rather than simply cut-and-paste with little added value.

Be sure to use any contact information you have (like their email address), or if no contact form or email is present, you can bet that the website is simply a scam.

An honest elliptical trainer review website will have contact details or a form to use if you have questions before buying your elliptical trainer, so be sure to use them when you can to weed the scammers from those who truly know their industry.