Elliptical Cross Trainers are a hugely popular piece of fitness equipment and are ideal for getting a good upper and lower body workout. For those of you who haven't tried a cross trainer before or haven't seen one in action then take a look at the videos of the cross trainers in action. You'll see that as well as exercising your lower body, you're also exercising your arms and upper body as well. And of course you'll get heart pumping as well.

The question is this...when you're buying a cross trainer what is it that you need to consider and to look for in a machine? Our guide will attempt to help you to solve this puzzle.

Let's start by saying that we can't tell you an exact model to buy - this is really down to your personal preference. What we can do is to make sure that when you do buy a cross trainer you buy one which is the right size, has the right features and will give you good value for money for many years to come.

When you look at a typical specification of an elliptical cross trainer you'll find lots of information about sizes, power, programmes and loads of other categories and specifications that are aimed to convince you about how good a particular trainer is. We're here to dispell a few myths about what's really important and to help you cut through the jargon so that you buy a cross trainer that's right for your needs.

Let's start by being clear about what most people actually need. It can be summarised as:

"I need a cross trainer to help me get fit - something that feels good to use, something that keeps me interested and motivated, and something that suits my budget".

If this sounds familiar then our guide is what you need.

Choosing the Size of Your Cross Trainer
There are essentially 3 factors to consider here. The first is to make sure that you have enough space in your home for the cross trainer of your choice. Measure the width and length of the area that you have available and compare this against the size of the cross trainer - make sure that you at least 10cm to the width and length of the cross trainer to give you enough room to move about when the trainer is in use. The second and third factors are to do with your size and your expectations about the cross trainer. If you're used to going to a gym and using the cross trainers there then you'll find that home cross trainers are generally much smaller unless you're prepared to spend in excess of £1,500. For most people, a budget of this size isn't an option and so you have to set your expectations to accepting that you'll get a smaller cross trainer than the ones that you're used to. That said, smaller doesn't mean lower quality and by choosing wisely you'll get a cross trainer with all of the features that you're used to.

The main thing that you have to consider from a sizing perspective is your height (and therefore length of stride) in comparison to the cross trainer. If you use a cross trainer that has too small a stride length for you then you won't get the maximum benefit from your exercise. Equally, a cross trainer with a stride length that is too long will feel uncomfortable to use. As a general guide, we suggest following these rules:

- If you're under 5ft 8in then look for a cross trainer with a 16in stride length
- If you're between 5ft 9in and 6ft then a 16in or larger stride length is OK
- If you're over 6ft tall then look for a cross trainer with a stride length of at least 18in

Remember, this is a guide and not intended as hard and fast rules so apply some judgement when you're deciding on which elliptical trainer is right for you.

Choosing the Features that You Need
It's easy to get bamboozled by the features, gizmos and gadgets that are featured in an elliptical cross trainer. It's also very easy to pay for features that you'll never use. If we go back to the start and think about a cross trainer "that keeps me interested and motivated" then we need to think about those features that really make a difference to how you use your elliptical:

A Good Console
We recommend that you pick a cross trainer that's easy to use and primarily that means an elliptical with a clear, intuitive console. You're trying to get fit, not fly to the moon, so avoid anything that looks too complicated. A nice, clear display showing how far you've travelled and how long you've been training for will do nicely. Quick keys, allowing you to select a resistance level with a single button press are also excellent features. Nearly all cross trainers show the profile of your training program which is a great motivational tool - it shows how far you've travelled in a graphical format which is quick and easy to understand.

No Wobble
You'll be putting a lot of effort into your training and this results in a lot of natural side to side movement. You need a cross trainer that will feel stable during your training so that you have the confidence to keep working to your potential. If you look at the cross trainers on our site you'll see that they have long front and rear stabiliser bars to combat wobbling. The frames are also welded to a very high standard which prevents cracking and twisting of the frame.

Heart Rate Control
Heart rate control programs allow you to train to your target heart rate. To make use of these programs you need a compatible chest strap that will automatically tell the cross trainer your heart rate. The elliptical will then automatically increase or decrease the resistance so that you don't exceed your target heart rate. This is really useful for anyone with a cardiac condition but also for everyone else it ensures that you're training safely and that you work harder only when your fitness allows.

Brand
We promote the BH Fitness brand of cross trainers on this site - they've been around as a company for over 100 years, have excellent after sales here in the UK, offer a great warranty on their products and have an excellent range of products.

Your Budget
It would be easy for us to advise that you spend as much as you can afford because you get what you pay for. To some extent that it true but we live in the real world and we recognise that you have to a realistic budget. Our advice is simple - if you can't afford a cross trainer with the features that you need, or most importantly the right size stride length, then keep saving your money until you can. Buying a cheap cross trainer is a false economy - it will be too small or feel flimsy and you won't use it. The quality of any cross trainer that is advertised for less than £300 is questionable. We suggest a minimum budget of about £400 for which can get you a good, cross trainer. As you start to pay more you'll get a bigger machine and more of the features that we've highlighted above. A machine for about £1000 with all of the features described will be a cracker.