Elliptical trainers are the new kids on the block as far as fitness equipment is concerned. But they are also the rising stars of the fitness industry. The latest figures show that their sales are increasing at a very rapid rate, no doubt because people are starting to realize how beneficial elliptical trainers can be if included in their home fitness workouts. Here are some of the features that you should look for when shopping for your own elliptical trainer:

First of all, look for a solid and sturdy machine. There are already several elliptical trainer models on the market, but not all of them are quality machines. If you read several of the online elliptical trainer reviews you'll see that they often mention the fact that the lower-priced elliptical trainer models that they tested were definitely inferior in quality to the higher-priced ones. In fact, it appears that $2000 seems to be the price range where you can begin to expect to get a really solid quality machine.

With that information in mind, look for machines that have exercise programs built into it that can vary the workout and help prevent boredom while you're exercising. Some of these will allow you to manually adjust your workout as you go, and others will allow you to program the machine before you begin, and then automatically adjust your workout as you go. A feature like this is good to have because workout machines are often considered boring, and anything you can do to make the workout more interesting and enjoyable will be a good investment.

As is the case with most exercise machines, it's a good idea to have a heart rate monitor that is included with the machine to help keep watch on your pulse rate as you exercise. That kind of regular feedback can help you make sure that you stay in the optimum exercise zone as you work out.

It's always a good idea to actually physically use an exercise machine before you buy it too. And when you try out elliptical trainer models you want to be looking for one that seems to fit you well and is comfortable for you to use. Pay particular attention to the handles as some seem to be better designed than others in this area. You want to make sure that the handles are comfortable and spaced far enough apart so that they are easy for you to use and grasp.

Safety is also an issue with any exercise machine especially since they are run by motors and could be a safety hazard for small children. With that in mind, it's good to have a safety pin on your elliptical trainer that will not allow the machine to be used by anyone who is not an adult. If you have small children in the household, this can be a very important feature to have and look for.

As you shop for your new exercise equipment, be sure to use the suggestions given above as you make your selection. And if you do, most likely you'll be able to find the best elliptical trainer for your personal fitness workouts.

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including fitness. You can find the best elliptical trainer and best elliptical machine by visiting our Home Fitness website.