Based on the latest reviews from a leading consumer publication, Healthstyles Exercise Equipment’s selection of ellipticals and treadmills were well represented in the line up of 2012′s best home fitness equipment.

The Octane Q37ci was ranked as the best overall elliptical with high marks for it’s high quality, sturdy construction, safety, and interactive heart rate training programs. The Octane Q37c elliptical was also given high marks as a more affordable alternative to the Q37ci with the same quality construction and safety without the added heart rate training programs.

The Vision Fitness X30 Premier was the 2nd ranked elliptical trainer this year. The Vision X30 Premier was also given high marks for quality construction, ergonomics, user safety, and heart rate training. The Vision X30 Deluxe and X30 Simple were also well reviewed as more affordable alternatives to the X30 Premier with less programming options.

The top rated budget elliptical trainers under $1,000 were the Horizon EX-69 and Horizon EX-79 Elliptical trainers.

The Diamondback 1260ef Elliptical received an honorable mention as the top rated elliptical from 2011.

In the non-folding treadmill category, the Landice L7 Cardio Trainer Treadmill was ranked 2nd this year with the highest horsepower rating of all of the treadmills that were reviewed this year. The Vision T9500 Deluxe and Vision T9200 Simple treadmills made it to the top of the list. The Vision T9200 Simple was the top rated treadmill under $1500.

The top recommended folding treadmill was the LifeSpan TR4000i. Vision also made the top 10 folding treadmills with high marks for the T9250 Deluxe, T9250 Premier, and T9250 Simple treadmills.

In the budget treadmill category (under $1,000), the Horizon T203, T202, and T101 and the LifeSpan TR1200i folding treadmills all made the top ten.

Octane ellipticals and Vision Fitness ellipticals and treadmills are available to demo in HeathStyles’ Colorado retail stores.

Horizon, Lifespan, and Diamondback fitness equipment is available for order online or from your local retail store.

Contact your local HealthStyles fitness consultant today to learn more about any of these top rated ellipticals and treadmills.

Vision Fitness has hit the mark with an elliptical machine that feels like a club model at a $1,000 price. Up untill now, it has been a struggle to recommend a club quality elliptical trainer for less than $2,000.

A leading consumer products magazine has chosen the Vision X20 Elliptical as a Best Buy Elliptical for 2011. Their comments:

"The X20 is an incredible value. Its 20 inch stride length, 23 lb. flywheel and high gear ratio give this model the fluid feel of elliptical machines that cost $500 more."

Here are a few of the best features that we really like about the new Vision X20 and X30 Ellipticals.

• Much better balance and stride comfort
  Natural stride is a huge factor in increasing comfort and reducing injury potential when using an elliptical. The new X20 and X30 ellipticals have hit a home run with closer pedal spacing and a nice long 20 inch stride
• Arms work naturally to incorporate upper body muscles.
  Arm movements that work naturally with the lower body movement on an elliptical are crucial to comfort and a natural feel while exercising. By working the muscles of both the arms and the legs, an elliptical will raise the heart rate quicker and keep the heart rate elevated to provide the most efficient cardiovascular workout possible. We especially like the multi-grip positions on the X30 arms.
• Sturdy and stable
  Even at higher resistance levels and higher speeds, the X20 and X30 ellipticals were extremely stable. If the piece of equipment feels sturdy and durable, you are much more likely to use it and stay on it longer to get the best workout possible. The stability of the X20 and X30 ellipticals is much closer to significantly higher priced units that you would find in a health club.
• Very quiet
  These ellipticals are ideal for parents who want to work out while children are sleeping, or individuals who want to watch TV or listen to music which they workout.
• The Sprint 8 Workout
  Sprint 8 is a 20 minute workout which when done 3 times a week has shown great results for many of our clients. The Sprint 8 workout is included with the Deluxe or Premier console options on the X20 and X30 ellipticals. For users interested in value pricing and less interested in program variety, the Simple console provides 7 user programs and contact heart rate at a lower price.

When considering the 2 bases, the X30 has all of the features of the X20 with the addition of a large accessory tray, cushioned footpads for comfort while striding, and multi-position arms so you can find your perfect workout position!

The great thing about these 2 ellipticals is that with 2 bases and 3 consoles, you actually have 6 ellipticals to choose from based on your budget, desired feedback, and workout preferences.

While the X20 and X30 may not have quite the heavy duty commercial feel of the top of the line retail ellipticals, it also does not have the price tag of the higher priced units. The X20 and X30 Vision Fitness ellipticals are an excellent choice for people who want a value-priced elliptical without sacrificing features and benefits.

Stop in to demo a Vision Fitness X20 or X30 Elliptical Trainer at one of HealthStyles’ retail locations or call us at 800-829-9705 for more information.

Click here to shop online for Vision Fitness ellipticals.

Scott Laurent
has a BA in sports psychology. He is a certified personal trainer and was a semi-pro athlete. His consulting business, ReadyToExercise.com, helps people who are contemplating, just starting, or having difficulty remaining in an exercise program.

Visit Scott at the Healthstyles Exercise Equipment Colorado Blvd or Park Meadows Retail Stores Or email: scott@readytoexercise.com

What’s Happening in the World of Fitness Equipment?

The 2010 Health and Fitness Business Trade Show was held in Las Vegas last month and the owners and regional managers of HealthStyles Exercise Equipment went to the show, eager to see what was new and innovative for the upcoming year.