ORBITREK Elite

Product Information

Consult your physician and carefully review the instruction manual before beginning this or any other exercise and/or diet program. Despite the price, there’s no fancy built-in screen here, with Technogym encouraging users to use their own tablet in the designated holder for connected workouts. That said, the beautiful 15.6-inch console offers read-outs on time elapsed, stairs climbed, cadence and distance covered.

The Orbitrek MN features a ‘turn and burn’ resistance dial, so you can vary the resistance for muscle toning and calory burning. Improve your mobility and support recovery from injury and illness with the low-impact elliptical movement. The Orbitrek Elite Total Body Elliptical is a piece of stationary gym equipment specially designed to fit within the comfort of your own home. Compared to other elliptical machines, this one fits the needs of people who consider themselves fitness beginners. The Orbitrek Elliptical is constructed with the idea that it must be easy to use and simple to build for the average person. Technogym also offers its own app for personalised training (with a subscription), while the unit itself plays nicely with pretty much any device that’s Bluetooth enabled, including Apple Watch for heart rate monitoring and automatic synching to Apple Health. Users can also make the most of 25 different resistance levels, while ergonomic handles allow for easy adjustment of body position to put maximum emphasis on the glutes, thighs or even switch it up so that the upper body is doing the brunt of the work.

The weight of the flywheel can be a good way to judge its overall quality – heavier flywheels should provide a smoother, more consistent resistance level. Look for over 5kg as a bare minimum, but for a mid-range machine and beyond you will definitely want it to be heavier. Also look out for how many levels of resistance are available on the machine, if it has the ability to change the incline and if there are any preset workouts, all of which will help ensure it can keep providing a testing workout as you get fitter. However, taking into account that this machine is relatively small and is not for everyone, it offers results to a significantly reduced number of people compared to other standard elliptical equipment. Key specs – Size: 173 x 74 x 174cm (LWH); Flywheel: Front drive 11kg; Stride length: 45cm-48cm; Max user weight: 159kg Key specs – Size: 203 x 81 x 180cm (LWH); Flywheel: Rear drive 8kg; Stride length: 46cm; Max user weight: 135kg

Not a lot of information is available regarding Orbitrek’s manufacturer; however, some info is available online regarding this product’s original distributor, Thane Fitness. Our innovative pedal exercisers are compact mini-cross trainers ideal for busy lifestyles. Choose from the motorised Orbitrek MX or the adjustable resistance Orbitrek MN for a low-impact workout you can do while you work, read or watch TV.Regardless of whether you go for a rear or front-drive model, the essential ingredients for any cross trainer are that it’s stable and comfortable to use – if you’re tall, don’t be tempted to go for a machine with a short stride length. You will regret it. What features should I look out for? Key specs – Size: 209 x 77 x 150cm (LWH); Flywheel: Rear drive (weight not given); Stride length: 51cm; Max user weight: 182kg Key specs – Size: 154 x 62 x 179c (LWH)m; Flywheel: Rear drive 7kg; Stride length: 43cm; Max user weight: 135kg Clinical Biomechanics: Elliptical training may cause increased lumbar motion and muscle activity when compared to walking. Unfortunately, there’s no option to adjust the footplates for incline, which means it isn’t as versatile as other cross trainers – disappointing for those who want to target muscle groups in the lower body. However, the digital console features pre-programmed workout plans which will adjust resistance accordingly, while the ability to connect via Bluetooth means you can beam the speed, RPM, cadence and wattage output to your favourite workout apps – the brand likes to recommend Kinomap, which offers guided workouts for use on the machine, but there are many more out there.

Within this vast world of fitness, here are a couple of options you can choose from when thinking of buying a personal home elliptical machine. Whatever your fitness goals, from burning calories and losing weight to improving muscle strength and keeping active or recovering from illness or injury, a cross trainer or pedal exerciser can help. Suitable for all ages, lifestyles and abilities, it’s no wonder the Orbitrek range of home fitness products are so popular. An upright, rear-wheel drive cross trainer like the Orbitrek X17 or Orbitrek Elite is perfect if you are looking for a whole-body workout that is low-impact, activates more muscles and burns more calories in less time. Other important features to look out for relate to its size and stride length. If you’re tall, you will need a longer stride length and longer handles to be comfortable when using the cross trainer. Heavier users should also keep an eye out for the max user weight of a machine, especially if opting for a cheaper cross trainer, which are often less stable. Is connectivity important? It is relatively small, so you can assemble it in your living room or bedroom without taking up too much spaceJournal of American Physical Therapy Association: Elliptical machines may pose a challenge to certain individuals, but simple modifications may be able to help this issue. To make the most of these features, or indeed if you would like to just watch Netflix from the more comfortable position of the recumbent bike mode, there’s a handy tablet holder on the main console of the machine. It does not prove its effectiveness enough to place itself on top of the list for gym equipment according to price and usefulness

The information contained herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or medical condition, or serve as a substitute for medical advice or counselling. Consult your physician and carefully review the instruction manual before using this product. ADJUSTABLE RESISTANCE: Elliptical movement at various resistance levels provides for a comfortable exercise in your home.One key benefit is that front-drive machines can be more compact. This makes them attractive if you have a small home, although bear in mind that there are folding rear-drive machines on the market that can be stowed away after use.