Consumer Reports magazine and TreadmillDoctor.com have the best elliptical trainer reviews. Consumer Reports tests and compares models based on ease of use, safety and value, using both trained fitness professionals and regular people to identify the best elliptical trainers. TreadmillDoctor.com sells replacement parts and supplies for fitness equipment, so editors are in a unique position to judge long-term reliability and value. Websites like Elliptical-Trainers-Review.com and Elliptical-Trainers.com do include some critical comments, but we didn't see any testing methodology discussed. Accordingly, we took the recommendations of these sites with a big grain of salt. Consumer Reports and TreadmillDoctor.com offer much more credible elliptical trainer reviews.

Consumer Reports notes that elliptical trainers in the lower price range often have problems right from the start; the bottom line, the magazine's editors say, is you get what you pay for. Models costing over $2,000 performed best in testing. One of the magazine's best buys cost $800, although the editors point out that this elliptical trainer lacks the sturdy health-club feel of the more expensive models.

You might recognize the Orbitrek Elliptical Glider (*est. $160) from TV infomercials. Consumers posting to Epinions say that the Orbitrek can tip at high speeds, causes painful, choppy movements and all too often breaks within a year. Further, some consumers say they had a hard time getting the manufacturer to honor the one-year warranty when the machine broke within that time frame. Owners posting comments to FitnessInfomercialReview.com echo those comments. Better choices include the entry-level Fitness Quest Eclipse 1100 HR/A (*est. $400) or Image 8.5 (*est. $325).

Elliptical trainers are a mix between a stair stepper and a ski machine. You stand on pedals, which move on an elliptical track, usually via rollers. Some models have only stationary or preprogrammed incline options, while others allow the user to adjust the incline throughout the workout. Reviews say that elliptical trainers have caught up to treadmills in popularity because they provide a variety of aerobic workouts, while the ski-type leg movement limits the impact on joints.

Some elliptical trainers provide an upper body workout as well as lower body, and most offer multiple exercise options with varying levels of difficulty. Fitness reviews say that while elliptical trainers give you a good workout, they do tend to overestimate the number of calories you're burning, usually by 20 percent to 30 percent. Elliptical machines that ask you to enter your body weight can be more accurate. In general, reviews say that you'll burn 500 to 650 calories (depending on effort) after one hour of exercise on any cardio machine, whether it's a treadmill or an elliptical trainer.

Best Elliptical Trainers
If you've used an elliptical trainer at the gym, it was likely a higher-end commercial machine. Reviews say commercial machines are more expensive and feature-laden than most people need at home. However, Precor ranks highly in reviews for both its commercial and home elliptical trainers. The (*est. $2,700) is Precor's entry-level model, and the editors of Prevention magazine say it's one of the most durable on the market. The Precor elliptical trainer has four programs including an optional heart-rate monitor, 20 resistance levels, an incline that adjusts from 12 to 25 degrees, and a long, 19-inch stride. This makes it one of the largest home models, with a footprint of 75 x 30 inches. The Precor machine weighs 197 pounds. According to the manufacturer, Precor elliptical trainers don't have a weight limit, so they are appropriate for heavier individuals.

The Precor EFX 5.17i elliptical trainer has an accessory holder on the console for your water bottle or CD player. Precor comes standard with a child safety feature to prevent accidental startups, but you have to pay extra for the optional heart-rate monitor. The Precor EFX 5.17i elliptical trainer doesn't include an upper body workout, but step-up models do, including the (*est. $2,700) and the EFX 5.33 (*est. $3,800). However, these two models have a 20-degree fixed ramp, so if you like to adjust the incline while working out, you might opt for the EFX 5.17i instead. With Precor elliptical trainers, you must choose between an upper body workout and an adjustable incline.

We featured the Precor EFX 5.21 (*est. $3,700) in a previous version of this report, but chose to replace it with the EFX 5.17i, which is less expensive but has comparable features. For the extra money, the Precor EFX 5.21i gives you two extra workout programs, a slightly larger 13- to 30-degree incline, and an included heart-rate monitor. The only downside to Precor elliptical trainers (besides the high price) is the large size and weight (the very qualities that make them so stable), so make sure you have enough space.

Another higher-end option is the Life Fitness X3 elliptical trainer (*est. $3,000). This elliptical trainer has movable handlebars for an upper body workout and an interactive heart-rate monitor to help keep you in your target heart-rate zone. The Life Fitness elliptical trainer has 12 workouts, including a "My Workouts" section that stores weight, incline levels and progress for up to four workouts or people. However, experts at TreadmillDoctor.com say this model is overpriced for what you get, and in this price range, Precor is better.

If you're looking for a lot of features on a limited budget, reviewers like the Smooth CE 3.2 (est $1700). Experts say it's durable for the price and offers a full complement of features for the money. It has nine customizable programs, a 300-pound weight capacity, and comes with a wireless heart-rate monitor. Movable handlebars give your upper body a workout, but reviews especially like the pivoting foot pedals, which decrease ankle strain. One drawback: The stride length on the Smooth CE 3.2 is 16 inches, which may be too short for taller people. However, Smooth's step-up model, the CE 7.4 (est $2,500) has a 19-inch stride, equivalent to the Precor elliptical trainers above.

Smooth's elliptical trainers use a flywheel instead of rollers on a ramp for the leg movement, and thus, the user can’t adjust the incline. The machine's speed and resistance are based on the workout program, but these can be customized as you work out. This is an improvement over Smooth's former CE models, which didn't allow setting changes. The high-end Precor EFX 5.17 elliptical trainer (*est. $2,700), on the other hand, has an adjustable incline to vary your workout. (Reviews say a variable incline can help isolate different muscle groups.) Smooth elliptical trainers have a lifetime warranty on parts and a one-year labor warranty.

According to reviews at TreadmillDoctor.com, Spirit elliptical trainers are a great value right now; editors think that Spirit is actually underpricing its elliptical trainers. This manufacturer gets good reviews for its treadmills, but we didn't see as many reviews for its elliptical trainers. Both the Spirit XE 350 (*est. $1,450) and the Spirit XE 550 (*est. $1,750) have a long 20-inch stride and upper body handles. Articulated foot pedals reduce ankle stress. Twenty resistance levels and ten workout programs help vary your workout. Neither of these machines has an adjustable incline (a feature you're unlikely to see at this price level). Both models have heart-rate control, a fan and an accessory holder. Both machines include a lifetime warranty on the frame and brake system, plus five years on other parts. A two-year labor warranty is included, which is more generous than Smooth.

The Spirit XE 350 has a 350-pound user weight limit; the XE 550 has a 400-pound weight limit. Added features on the higher-end XE 550 include molded handgrips, a cushioned foot pad and a heart-rate "autopilot" feature, which varies the resistance automatically to keep you in your target heart-rate zone. The entry-level Spirit XE 150 (*est. $1,250) costs less, but doesn't have many heart-rate features, has a smaller display, a 300-pound weight limit and no adjustable foot pedals.

We highlighted the Vision Fitness 6200HRT elliptical trainer (*est. $1,500) in a previous version of this report. The manufacturer upgraded this model to the X6200HRT (*est. $2,000), which also gets some high scores in reviews. Like the Life Fitness elliptical trainer and Spirit XE 550 above, the Vision Fitness X6200HRT will automatically change resistance to maintain your target heart rate (sensors are located in the handgrips). The movable handles work your upper body, plus this model can fold up for storage.

Budget Elliptical Trainers
Fitness reviews say that, in general, the best elliptical trainers cost at least $1,000. If $1,000 is beyond your budget for an elliptical trainer, you still have some options, but experts say you shouldn't expect a low-end machine to offer the same flexibility and durability as more expensive elliptical trainers. That's most evident in the manufacturer warranty. On the higher-quality elliptical machines above, one-year warranties are standard, but less expensive models often only back their machines with a 90-day warranty.

Reviews like the Schwinn 418 (est $800) , which wins a couple of best-buy ratings. The Schwinn 418 has a flywheel design, like the Smooth elliptical trainers above, and the handlebars move, providing an upper body workout. Heart-rate sensors are located on the handgrips. There are 12 programs, a weight capacity of 275 pounds, and an 18-inch stride, which should be comfortable for most users. Schwinn offers a 15-year frame warranty, shorter than the lifetime frame warranties offered by Precor and Smooth, but reviews say the quality and durability of the Schwinn 418 are excellent for this price range. Compared to the higher-end Spirit XE 350, the Schwinn has eight resistance levels compared to 20 for the Spirit. The Spirit has a higher weight limit and a two-year labor warranty. Schwinn only gives you a six-month labor warranty.

However, we're read some recent complaints about manufacturing flaws with the Schwinn 418. Several owners posting comments to Amazon.com report that the Schwinn elliptical trainer broke in the same place -- that the welds holding the mast to the frame are too weak. Although the price is low, the six-month labor warranty and reports of the exact same durability problem gives us pause. Though it costs more, the Spirit XE 350 comes with a two-year labor warranty.

In this price range, TreadmillDoctor.com likes the NordicTrack Elite 1300, Epic 1000 and ProForm 21.0 (est $850) . All three of these elliptical machines are made by the same manufacturer, Icon Health and Fitness. We found the ProForm to be a bit easier to find in stores. This model has an 18-inch stride, gel handgrips on the handles and 12 programs. Its big innovation is that it includes a few video games you can play on the small console screen. You control the games with the handgrips. Reviews say this feature is pretty gimmicky, but the elliptical trainer as a whole is a good value. Unfortunately, the ProForm warranty is one of the worst in the industry -- only 90 days on parts and labor. The weight limit is 250 pounds.

The Fitness Quest Eclipse 1100 HR/A elliptical trainer (*est. $400) has an unusual one-year limited warranty on parts and labor. Blake Bissaillion from BuildingMuscle101.com recommends the Fitness Quest Eclipse, saying that its steel frame is sturdy and won't wobble even at higher speeds and that it can support up to 275 pounds. Bissaillion says the Fitness Quest elliptical trainer is lightweight and compact enough to be wheeled from room to room. The Fitness Quest 1100 HR/A has a 275-pound weight limit, ten preset programs and two heart-rate-controlled programs -- a large number for this budget price range. The heart-rate sensors are in the handgrips, which move to provide an upper body workout. This model uses a flywheel design like the Smooth and Schwinn elliptical trainers above, but the stride length is only 15 inches, which may be too short for tall individuals (as opposed to the Spirit XE ellipticals above, which have a 20-inch stride). We found some good owner comments for this model.

Other reviewers like the ProForm 900 (est $600) . Like the Fitness Quest above, the ProForm 900 has handlebars for an upper body workout and an included heart-rate monitor, located on the handgrips. This ProForm elliptical trainer has six exercise programs, but at additional cost, you can download more programs from the Internet. It also has a fan in the console to keep you cool. Although these extra features sound nice, reviews say such things are often gimmicky, especially when the machine itself isn’t built to last. Reviews warn that the ProForm elliptical trainer does not have the stability of higher-priced elliptical trainers, plus ProForm's standard warranty is very short -- only 90 days.

At TreadmillDoctor.com, editors highlight the Image 8.5 (*est. $400). This model is also made by Icon Health and Fitness, and it shares the same short 90-day warranty. This flywheel model has a 17.5-inch stride, movable handles for an upper body workout, and a handgrip heart-rate monitor.

Important Features: Elliptical trainers
Reviews say to look for the following when purchasing an elliptical trainer:
• Make sure that the elliptical trainer is stable and that its motion is fluid and quiet. An elliptical trainer should never feel wobbly or jerky; some cheap machines have been reported to "walk" across the floor during use.
• The pedals should be comfortable, with a non-slip design. They should also provide a natural stance, meaning they aren't too wide or too narrow.
• Check the comfort of the handlebars. Handlebars should be ergonomic for correct posture and comfortably placed so you don't bump into them. Movable handles should move back and forth smoothly.
• Look for a machine with both programmed and manual courses, as well as dual-direction movement (forward and backward) to accommodate your changing workout needs.
• Most elliptical trainers offer varied resistance; make sure this is easy to adjust (either electronically or manually). Most experts prefer machines with an elevated incline, while others say increasing resistance and speed is just as effective.
• Make sure the display is easy to read and provides the information you're looking for. Most displays show speed, time and distance, but you may also want to see calories exerted per hour, degree of incline or heart rate.
• If you're buying an elliptical trainer for a tight space, consider the footprint.
• Experts say you should try out exercise equipment in the store before buying to make sure it fits your needs and budget.