Still trying to fit more exercise into your New Year's routine? A home elliptical might be the answer. Chris rates the best ellipticals in independent testing.
Consumer Reports tested 31 different ellipticals, ranging in price from $450 to $3,600.
Testers designed a machine to measure how much force you need to move the pedals at various resistance levels.
"With a smaller range of resistance settings you just can't mix up your workout as much as with a machine that has a large number of resistance settings," the magazine's Peter Anzalone said.
Testers also measured the position your arms and legs are in as you work out to assess a machine's ergonomics.
"That's important because we don't want you to be exercising on the elliptical and be pulled out of alignment or extended too far," Anzalone said.
Panelists also worked out on the ellipticals, and found there were big differences.
"I found myself leaning forward on it, so I was very close to the controls and such, so it was not very comfortable for me," panelist Mark Yatarola said.
"The machine was easy to use. The displays were bright, and the buttons were big," panelist Liza Barth said.
One of the lowest rated was the Best Fitness BFE1.
"It wasn't smooth. You felt as if you were being pushed forward, and that's a problem," tester Linda Greene said.
In the end, top ratings went to the Diamondback 1260-EF for $2,600. It's well constructed, with very good ergonomics, and you can adjust the incline to get a greater variety of workouts -- a real plus. It's the only machine to get an excellent overall rating from Consumer Reports.
For less money, the next highest rated machine is the Sole E35 which Consumer Reports rates very good overall. It has excellent construction.
Both the recommended elliptical machines come with a heart-rate monitor. It is a strap you wear across your chest, and it wirelessly transmits your heart rate to the machine so you can gauge the intensity of your workout.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen
