Are you thinking of buying fitness equipment?

If you've not had an item of fitness equipment before it can be difficult to work out which model is right for you. The range of treadmills and cross trainers from BH Fitness is fantastic - but how do you decide which model to pick. One of our retailers, Inspire Fitness, has sent us this guide to help you to pick the BH Fitness treadmill or cross trainer that will best suit your needs.

Treadmills

When buying a treadmill you need to think about the following things:

How often will you use the treadmill?

Will you be walking, jogging, running?

How tall are you, what is your stride length?

If you are using the treadmill frequently you will need to think about purchasing a treadmill with a large running belt and lots of cushioning, this will ensure impact on the knees is reduced.

If you are going to use the treadmill to run or sprint you will need a wide deck - the faster you run the more you space you will need. If you're tall you will need a long running belt.

It is always wise to speak to an expert when buying a treadmill, so why not give Inspire Fitness a call and let them help you make the right choice of treadmill.

More detailed treadmill guild can be found on the Inspire Fitness website:

www.inspire-fitness.co.uk/categories/treadmills.php

Cross Trainer (Elliptical)

When buying a cross trainer (elliptical) you need to think about the following things:

How tall are you and others who will be using the equipment?

If you are over 1.5 m the general rule is you will want a stride length of over 18” to ensure that the cross trainer feels natural to use. Imagine if someone ties your shoes laces together - you can't walk because your normal stride length is a lot longer. Same applies to a cross trainer, if the stride is too short you will not be able to have an effective work out. In the same way if you are shorter you don’t want a stride length that’s too long as you will feel over stretched all the time. This is more important on the rear driven machines as some who is shorter can still use a 19” stride length cross trainer if its front driven.

Have you ever used a cross trainer before?

There is a big difference between front and rear driven machines. The front driven machines are generally best as they give a greater level of comfort and also anybody above 1 m tall can use a 19” stride length - this is very helpful when the machine is going to be used by many members of the family.

How often are you going to use it?

If you are going to use the cross trainer (elliptical) for long periods of time i.e. over 30mins per session then I would recommend ensuring that the cross trainer has full bearing joints and not just greased bushes. This will help give a smooth feel to the cross trainer and over all comfort of the cross trainer.

It is always wise to speak to an expert when buying a cross trainer (elliptical)  so why not give Inspire Fitness a call and let them help you make the right choice of cross trainer (elliptical).

More detailed cross trainer guide can be found on the Inspire Fitness website:

www.inspire-fitness.co.uk/categories/elliptical_cross_trainers.php