Buy cross trainers – low-impact fitness training

Cross trainers – momentum for a fit body

Exercise is currently more on trend than ever. But what if the weather is bad? Cross trainers are the ideal training device, targeting numerous muscle groups. They are also very easy to use, so that even beginners will quickly find their feet.

The design of a cross trainer

The cross trainer, also called an elliptical trainer, is one of the most popular indoor fitness devices in Germany. One of their biggest selling points is that they fit easily into any home. These fitness machines always consist of a sturdy frame, to which the handlebars are attached. These handles are not rigid; they can be moved forwards and backwards. The handles are also indirectly connected to the pedals. These can be moved not only forward and back, but also up and down. This results in an elliptical movement that creates a natural walking sensation.

The flywheel and brake on a cross trainer

One of the most important components is the built-in flywheel. This is set in motion by the movement of the pedals and handles. Since this component is constantly rotating during training, it is crucial for the smooth running of the machine. This means that it is very important that the flywheel should weigh at least 8 kg.

Training with a cross trainer can only be really effective if the resistance can be freely adjusted. This allows the simulation of different training modes, like mountaineering, and also functions with minimal noticeable resistance. A magnetic brake is used to control the resistance. Sometimes a permanent magnet is used, which provides resistance simply by changing the distance to the flywheel. An electrically controlled magnet works differently. In this case, the braking force is adjusted by changing the current. This can achieve higher levels of resistance, but a power connection is required.

How effective is training with a cross trainer?

A cross trainer uses a number of different muscle groups. These elliptical trainers are preferable to bicycle ergometers, as they also engage the arms. Bicycle ergometers can target the arms, depending on how they are used, but a cross trainer is much more effective.

Despite the high training resistance, the exercise is low impact, so the joints are protected. These machines are ideal for simulating a natural walking movement.

Backwards walking is a special feature of cross trainers. This allows numerous different muscle groups to be trained. Depending on use, cross trainers strengthen the muscles in the legs, buttocks, back, arms and chest. This allows better all-round stamina, but also enables specific muscles to be targeted.

Targeted training control using a heart rate monitor

Many of these sports devices include a training computer. This is a useful and sensible option, and simple, intuitive interfaces are essential. Important functions are calorie consumption, distance covered, and training duration. Our high-quality models also offer a heart rate monitor. This feature allows you to monitor your current heart rate during exercise. The training can then be specifically controlled, enabling the user to achieve optimal fitness results.

On a cross trainer, there are two different options for determining the heart rate. Some devices use sensors in the handles. These determine the pulse by using only optical signals, which leads to a comparatively inaccurate result. For a recreational athlete this is quite sufficient. But better results can be achieved by using a chest strap. This results in a measurement of the heart rate that is as accurate as an ECG, making it suitable for professional athletes.

Safety while exercising on a fitness machine

This fitness machine uses a high-weight flywheel that cannot be stopped instantly. It is important to pay attention to the construction of the trainer. The distance between the pedal and the frame should be small enough that the user's foot cannot slip into the gap. Otherwise, slipping off the pedal can quickly become a hazard.

AsVIVA cross trainer test winners in comparison with other cross trainers:

Cross Trainer Test – Test Winner Comparison

http://www.crosstrainer-testbericht.de/testsieger-vergleich/

Cross trainers provide low-impact training for everyone

New running shoes? Spent a lot of money? Better cushioning for the knees and ankles? Good! Then put on those running shoes and get out in the rain!

Does it have to be this difficult? Hardly. Jogging has had a massive resurgence in popularity in recent years. When just starting out or getting back into sports and training, nothing is easier than going for a relaxed run: Get your gear on, lace up your shoes and get going. Running offers you so much more than just an increase in endurance fitness. But after the initial euphoria comes the rude awakening. Autumn is coming, and the weather quickly dampens your enthusiasm for a quick run, while the cold increases those pains in all your leg joints. But there are numerous alternatives. One of the most effective and versatile options is undoubtedly the cross trainer, a fitness machine for targeted cardio training that promotes endurance as well as whole-body fat burning.

The cross trainer – the new treadmill

Fitness-conscious people in the 80s and 90s tended to fight the pounds at home with a treadmill or an exercise bike. Both were popular because they simulated movements common in everyday life. One disadvantage of these devices was, and still is, that these machines predominately work the muscles in the legs.

The task and goal of fitness equipment manufacturers was therefore to develop a training device that had similar dimensions and a comparable structure to the old top dog, but also trained the muscles of the upper body as well. The result was the cross trainer, which quickly became a favourite. Today, this device has more than a 70% market share, and no other targeted cardio fitness equipment comes close in popularity.

Cross training – a symbiosis of jogging, Nordic walking and cycling

The core of the device is a round, or sometimes also elliptical, flywheel. This forms the front – or, depending on the type of design, sometimes also the rear – of the device. The flywheel is the mechanical heart of the device and ensures perfect movement sequences. There are rotating attachments on both sides, which extend to act as foot supports for the athlete. The rotation of the wheel creates a smooth movement, which is transferred through the foot supports to the lower body of the user. The upright handles transfer this same rotation to the arms, providing training for the whole body. The motor skills required are reminiscent of Nordic walking or cross-country skiing, with elements of cycling and jogging.

Low impact movement for optimum training efficiency with the cross trainer

With a cross trainer, each athlete can train according to their own goals. Sometimes the focus is on endurance training, to help prepare for bike tours, sometimes it is all about getting a bikini body for a beachside holiday.

Sports scientists agree that calorie consumption is the most significant measure of fat burning. Higher calorie consumption leads to increased fat burning. The amount of calories consumed is significantly influenced by the size and number of the muscles activated during training. This is the advantage of the cross trainer. In proper cross training, muscles in both the arms and legs are equally engaged, as well as the core muscles. This large number of active muscle groups ensures comparatively high calorie burning, even at moderate exercise intensity. Maximising the calorie burn can also be achieved by mechanically increasing the resistance or speed. When it comes to training efficiency, the cross trainer offers unparalleled advantages.

Sports such as swimming, but also jogging, may clearly outstrip the cross trainer. But to achieve the highest levels of calorie burning, an increase in athletic performance is necessary, which recreational athletes usually cannot achieve.

Cross trainer training programs offer variety

It is not always easy to get excited about your fitness training. When training feels increasingly monotonous, motivation is even harder. An unchanging, inflexible workout without variety is not just a motivation killer, it can also ensure that training becomes less effective over time. The human body quickly adapts to a particular level of exertion, and endurance capacity can stagnate very quickly without an increase in difficulty, or new stimuli. The cross trainer can change that: with pre-installed training programs, the modern versions offer a varied range of options to prevent this training frustration.

These training modes don't just make training more interesting and exciting. Each has its own basis in sports science, so you’ll learn a new type of effective cardio training, like targeted interval training, which can even save time.

No impact and no pain on the cross trainer

Footballers, handball players, runners... the list of athletes who struggle with pain in their knees or ankles at an early age is virtually endless. These athletes will most appreciate the low-impact, joint-saving training possibilities. Apart from swimming, exercising with the cross trainer is one of the lowest impact exercises for the bones, joints and ligaments, while still enabling high intensity and efficient training.

Jogging is one of the most stressful sports for the joints, especially the knees. In some cases, when the foot hits the ground, the impact forces exerted on the body can be up to three times the body weight. This high stress is absorbed by the joints, especially the knees. Wearing the wrong running shoes, poor cushioning, or poor running form can lead to serious problems in quite a short time.

The cross trainer prevents this high impact: the feet remain on the footrests at all times during the workout, which prevents impact during training, minimising pain in the joints. The benefits of this cannot be overstated.

The cross trainer is the ideal low-impact option for endurance training

The cross trainer is the perfect device for endurance training or for effective weight loss, as it is efficient, varied and above all healthy. All these characteristics make it the optimal cardiovascular workout for everyone. Thanks to the small footprint, a cross trainer can also easily be set up and stored in any apartment, so that nothing stands in the way of fitness training at home.