If you have decided to join the millions of others who are turning to elliptical trainers as their preferred home exercise equipment, there are a few things that you should know before you actually buy. Of course, elliptical trainers are well known for providing a solid cardio workout with very little impact on your body's joints. But which machine is best to choose? Here are some things to consider:

The first thing to know about elliptical exercise machines, is that they aren't cheap. In fact, most online consumer reviews indicate that the lower-priced machines reflect substandard quality. Most reviewers tend to think that the best ellipticals start around $2000. There are some that get decent reviews under that figure, but generally speaking, most high quality elliptical trainers will cost more. So be sure that you have enough money in your budget to afford a quality machine before you buy. You may be able to afford one of the cheaper machines initially, but most likely you'll pay for it in repairs and downtime.

Another important consideration of elliptical exercise machines is their size. These are not small machines. They can take up the same amount of space that a large piece of furniture will. There are folding units available, but very often the quality begins to suffer when you add in portability. So if you have your heart set on an elliptical trainer, be sure that you have the room at home to be able to support it.

Safety is also a consideration with these kind of large motorized machines. They may look innocent enough at a casual glance, but they can still be very dangerous for small kids to play on if important safety features are not built in. So if you have children at home, be sure that your elliptical trainer has a shutoff device that will allow it to only be turned on by an adult.

Finally, you need to understand that just reading reviews and buying an elliptical trainer online based on those reviews is not a good idea. They most important information that you can have about an elliptical trainer is how well it fits you as you use it. That is information that no one else can have, so it calls for you to do some homework of your own and actually try out the various elliptical models in person. Usually you can find them at local sporting goods stores and department stores, although the very best models may be harder to find. But the time taken to familiarize yourself with each elliptical exercise machine will be well worth the investment made.

So if you think that an elliptical exercise machine will work well for you, following the suggestions given above should help you be better prepared and more informed as you make your final buying decision.

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.