SAN ANTONIO – If you’ve already given up on your New Year’s resolution to get to the gym, you can still get in shape by working out at home. Consumer Reports tested treadmills and ellipticals to find the best one for people looking to buy.
“You don’t need to get all the bells and whistles. We found you can get a good workout on machines that cost around $1,000,” said Peter Anzalone, with Consumer Reports.
Testers checked how well ellipticals fit most people.
“We’ve created devices that measure the machine and compare it to the 95th percentile American male and fifth percentile American female,” Anzalone said.
The Diamondback, which costs about $2,000 got top scores, but Consumer Reports found that for a fraction of the price, the $800 Schwinn 470 is well made, easy to use and a good fit for most people.
As for treadmills, Consumer Reports looked for sturdy frame and construction.
“We’re looking at different aspects of the machine to make sure that if there are people who are different fitness levels, it works for the beginner to the advanced person,” Anzalone said.
Testers liked the downhill feature on the Sole TT8, which costs about $2,300. For people who don’t care about downhill running or walking, Consumer Reports said the Sole F63 is a good choice and is less than half the price of the TT8.