Can anyone recommend a good elliptical?

Hey everyone!!

Well Ive decided that an elliptical is going to suit my needs just right, and help me get killer legs. The only problem is I dont know much about them.

Ive used them before and loved them, but I am wondering if anyone knows a good one for home use?  Would you recommend a higher end (cost) one opposed to a reasonable priced dept store (priced) one?

If anyone can shed some light on this for this (online) shopper I would have much gratitude!

(WesternCanadaGirl)

I bought  a pro-form stride-select 825 from Sears at Christmastime and I absolutely love it!  It has 2 cardio programs and 4 strength programs.  It has 10 different resistance levels and, as the name suggests, you can adjust the stride length to suit your comfortable stride length. 

Please note:  it did take 2 people about 2 hours to put the machine together.  It wasn't overly difficult but you will need 2 people!

During shipping, something was knocked off kilter inside my machine.  Sears was very efficient in getting the machine repaired, in my home, very quickly and for no charge.  I have been very pleased with their service and the machine has been working  very well ever since.

P.S.  My machine cost about $600 incl. taxes.  I live in Ontario.

I have a proform as well.  I went through HSN.com.  It was free shipping and gave me the option to pay in 5 payments of 109.99.  Yes you will need two people to get it together.  I love it.  Mine has two pulse control programs, 10 resistance/heartrate programs ranging from 20-45 minutes and a manual program.  Also you could adjust the stride according to height, OH! and a fan!

I have a cheap $350 eclipse 1100hr or something that I got online the price included shipping.  I've used it pretty much every day for almost 2 years now and have had only to change the battery in the display LOL.  I love it.  Its not large doesn't require electricity to use.
It doesn't have a lot of the bells and whistles of the more expensive models but its been a great investment to begin with.

in february we got an octane fitness elliptical machine.. it's an expensive one.. but i woulnd't trade it in for the world!  we had been going to a gym and using the bigger ones and when we decided to buy one of our own we didn't like the feel of the less expensive ones. it has a longer stride than some of the cheaper ones and many different programs.  so far i'm not bored with it..  

Awesome, thanks you guys! I will know what to keep my eye out for now. I have to say, I just love this site, dont you? It has so many feautures other sites dont... Glad to be here, and glad I finally got back on the weight loss train! Summer is coming...

Hi. I bought a Nordictrack 1400 thing (CXT I think) it folds up a little. It's been great - you have to get on it, it doesn't beckon you! It's better than the gym - it has 8 set programs, and I have a couple of 30/45 minute playlists on my ipod so just plug in and go. If I don't get on it's my fault, no one elses, but when I do I'M THE (WO)"MAN"!! It's not like the cheap things you can buy, but took ages to put together (£400 in UK, so think that's more than $6/700 in US???). Think I'm the one of few UK-ites on here. Are there anymore?

Hey--I have a Nordictrack CX998, and I also love mine.  I've been on it 4-5 days per week since January.  Awesome workout.  I think mine was about $800. 

I would highly recommend running into a Sears or something and trying a couple of brands out.  I know the Proforms have good reviews and that their owners love them, but the stance is super different between Nordics and Proforms, and the Proforms actually bothered my hips.  Also, if you're taller, keep an eye out for the stride length....sometimes the really lower end machines can have a shorter stride, which is not so hot if you have longer legs.

Good luck!  Looove the ellipticals!