healtrider vs nordictrack
Gregory Katzman
Is it really the best workout? Any advice or opinion would be highly
appreciated.
ChekrdPast
writes:
I just tried a HealthRider today for the first time and there is
absolutely no way it compares with the Nordictrack.
Basically, the HR has only one resistance--your body weight (there is also
a riser that lifts the front of the machine about 7 1/2", but it doesn't
increase the work that much). The way you work harder is to go faster.
There is only so fast one can practically move and so this also limits
performance. It was really difficult to increase my HR and I never did get
it above 110. It seemed like a machine that might provide some benefit to
a sedentary person at first, but that you would soon outgrow.
On the plus side, the tubing seemed to be of quality (although some of the
other parts, like the pedals, were plastic and felt really cheap). It is
definitely quiet and does not require a great deal of motor skill.
But it's not worth $500--not even half that. Not to say that the Nordic
Track is the perfect piece of home equipment either, but comparing
features, quality of workout and range of workout levels it far exceeds
the HR, IMHO.
I know that there are quite a few HR owners out there and I'm sure this
will attract responses from quite a few of them, so listen to all sides
and make your choice!
Good luck.
Rick Gerwin
Chuck Sedlacko
|> In article <CxDwn...@rci.ripco.com>, gre...@ripco.com (Gregory Katzman)
|> writes:
|>
|> >I'm considering to buy a HealthRider. How would you compare it to
|> Nordictrack?
|> >Is it really the best workout? Any advice or opinion would be highly
|> >appreciated.
|>
|> I just tried a HealthRider today for the first time and there is
|> absolutely no way it compares with the Nordictrack.
I own a HealthRider and I have to agree it doesn't compare with the
Nordictrack. It's much better!!! :-)
|> Basically, the HR has only one resistance--your body weight (there is also
|> a riser that lifts the front of the machine about 7 1/2", but it doesn't
|> increase the work that much). The way you work harder is to go faster.
I'd have to agree, but I think this is positive, not negative. Personally,
I don't think it's a good idea to work out aerobically with a lot of
resistance. I've used StairClimber's before at higher levels of resistence,
and have felt extremely sore afterwards. The HealthRider is designed to use
your body weight as resistance, and at least for me, that's plenty.
|> There is only so fast one can practically move and so this also limits
|> performance. It was really difficult to increase my HR and I never did get
|> it above 110. It seemed like a machine that might provide some benefit to
|> a sedentary person at first, but that you would soon outgrow.
There may be some truth to that you'll need to go faster to increase
your heart-rate as you improve your fitness level, but this can be
said of jogging or swimming and other non-resistance aerobic
work-outs. For me, I'd like to think I'm in good, but not great shape
(I can run a 10K at about 9 minutes/mile pace), and 30 minutes on the
HealthRider at an average pace gives me a great work-out.
I also think it's important though, not to rely on any 1 machine,
including the HealthRider, to get you in shape. Doing a
variety of exercises will help prevent injury, as well as prevent
boredom from doing the same thing over and over. For me, I like
running, aerobic classes, using the NordicTrack's at work. Only on
the 1 or 2 days per week I can't get out will I rely on the HealthRider.
I also use it to warm-up before going outside for a run -- 5 to 6
minutes is a great way to warm and loosen your muscles up.
|> On the plus side, the tubing seemed to be of quality (although some of the
|> other parts, like the pedals, were plastic and felt really cheap). It is
|> definitely quiet and does not require a great deal of motor skill.
I think this is where I prefer the HealthRider. It has a lifetime
warranty, and unlike the Nordictrack takes no co-ordination to use.
I've used the Nordictrack's before, and I think they are great
work-outs as well. But I've always had problems keeping my legs going
without stopping, and I know I'm not the only one.
|> But it's not worth $500--not even half that. Not to say that the Nordic
|> Track is the perfect piece of home equipment either, but comparing
|> features, quality of workout and range of workout levels it far exceeds
|> the HR, IMHO.
I think it's worth $500 because it has all the feature's in an aerobic
machine that I want. It works all major muscle groups (as does the
NordicTrack), is extremely quiet (people in the apartment below me
haven't complained yet), small and fits easily in my apartment, and
is well made and backed with a lifetime warranty.
|> I know that there are quite a few HR owners out there and I'm sure this
|> will attract responses from quite a few of them, so listen to all sides
|> and make your choice!
Rick, unlike an earlier poster, at least you've tried the HealthRider
before criticizing it. Obviously, everyone's going to have different
preferences, and I definitely agree to listen to all sides. Another
suggestion that may be worthwile is that both companies offer 30 day
trial periods. It could cost you some shipping cost, but you can
always order one, then if not satisfied, return it.
--
|Chuck Sedlacko |
|Mead Data Central | "I believe in going to church every Sunday
|9443 Springboro Pike | ...unless there's a game on."
|P.O. Box 933 | Steve Martin
|Dayton, Ohio 45401 |
|513-865-1781 |
id fullname
I've never seen a Health Rider. Could someone describe how it looks and
works? Is it like a rowing machine? Thanks!
Carol
>|> >I'm considering to buy a HealthRider. How would you compare it to
>|> Nordictrack?
-- much good info deleted--
Craig Burley
In article <CxDwn...@rci.ripco.com>, gre...@ripco.com (Gregory Katzman)
writes:
>I'm considering to buy a HealthRider. How would you compare it to
Nordictrack?
>Is it really the best workout? Any advice or opinion would be highly
>appreciated.
I just tried a HealthRider today for the first time and there is
absolutely no way it compares with the Nordictrack.
I agree, having used both (and I own a HR). They are quite different,
though they can both give you great aerobic workouts, and the HR can
give you some elements of a good muscle-building workout. (You can
read the booklet -- I haven't watched the instructional video yet --
that shows how to use it almost like a weight machine. You wouldn't
want to try this on an NT.)
Basically, the HR has only one resistance--your body weight (there is also
a riser that lifts the front of the machine about 7 1/2", but it doesn't
increase the work that much). The way you work harder is to go faster.
That's not entirely true. There are ways to change the leverage of
the arms and legs, and as most of you know, leverage is an easy way
to change resistance given a static weight. But, unlike the NT, you're
not changing resistance by changing any friction -- the machine remains
essentially frictionless compared to the NT at any level, as far as I
can tell. I happen to prefer frictionless, it's less jarring, and
quite a bit less noisy.
Plus, I suspect it'd be easier to hurt yourself on an NT than a HR,
simply because with the HR you're already closer to the ground. My
Aunt already hurt her foot bad enough to take her out of commission
for a while using her NT. Aside from doing something dumb like lifting
the HR in the wrong way to move it, the HR seems less dangerous. This
isn't such a big deal for the more advanced trainer, I would think.
There is only so fast one can practically move and so this also limits
performance. It was really difficult to increase my HR and I never did get
it above 110. It seemed like a machine that might provide some benefit to
a sedentary person at first, but that you would soon outgrow.
I hope I outgrow it! I already had outgrown stair climbers, but not rowers
(though going from 6min max to easily 30min in a year or so was sure a
surprise), and the HR is much more comparable to a rower (though a bit
more flexible I think) than the NT. I suspect the NT works some
muscle groups in a better way for some things than the HR, and vice versa.
Meanwhile, at my size (over 6'3" and about 215lbs), I will say that while
the "riser" _definitely_ makes the workout noticably harder (though not
as noticable at first), it is difficult for me to use it without throwing
the machine around way too much. As it is, I have to occasionally stop
and back the machine up to keep it from creeping forward too far. I'm
using it on a concrete floor, and I hope to put in a "real" floor someday
that might mitigate the problem somewhat (as using better form does),
but to use the riser I definitely need, because of my size, some kind
of anchoring. Fortunately I haven't really needed it yet. Maybe
when I do, I'll find a way to quickly anchor the riser to the whole
machine, and/or anchor the machine to the floor.
One thing I like about both the HR and NT over even rowing machines is
the way they both generally keep the arms moving, with resistance, and
above the heart. I've gotten the impression that that is generally
better for improving cardiovascular fitness than arm movements that
remain substantially below heart level. This could easily be just
another urban fitness myth, though.
On the plus side, the tubing seemed to be of quality (although some of the
other parts, like the pedals, were plastic and felt really cheap). It is
definitely quiet and does not require a great deal of motor skill.
Hmm, the pedals don't seem cheap to me compared to what I've seen on
pro club equipment, but I agree the side plastic (noncontact during
exercise) isn't super-sturdy...it doesn't need to be. I do thing the
"great deal of motor skill" is true, and explains why I think the HR
is safer than the NT.
But it's not worth $500--not even half that. Not to say that the Nordic
Track is the perfect piece of home equipment either, but comparing
features, quality of workout and range of workout levels it far exceeds
the HR, IMHO.
Boy, I can't disagree with that assessment more. I don't like the way
my muscles have felt after using the NT on occasion (though I am still
willing to consider buying one; I've canned the idea of getting a rowing
machine now that I see how much better the HR is, and I doubt I'll be
able to afford the serious treadmill I want for several months). I
think that's because of the sliding motion, which has some awkward
points depending on the condition of the machine -- something I think
is less likely to affect the HR because of its architecture. I
know I wouldn't spend $500 on an NT, but if I wanted another HR for
my wife to use at the same time with me (instead of just using it
at different times), I'd spring another $500 for it no problem. It's
great. I do wish one of my clubs had an NT, though -- clubs
I only visit several times a year do, which is where I use it, since
it's better overall than a stair machine or treadmill for my needs.
Funny, though, maybe because I haven't used the NT enough, I've never
noticed it giving me the feeling I've really worked out my arms the
way my HR does, and did right off the bat. With the HR, I switch
between working biceps, triceps, lats, and so on, and also work out
my wrists, finger, and such for tennis. I don't recall the NT being
quite that flexible (though I'm sure I could work out the wrists
and fingers on it as well once I got used to the motion).
Note that I think the HR works ones' legs more like a squat machine,
while the NT covers the muscles on the backs of the legs better,
perhaps, as in a leg curl. Calves are probably easier to exercise
directly on the HR, but not as part of a continuous motion like on
the NT. The HR probably allows for better abdominal workouts. Etc.
I know that there are quite a few HR owners out there and I'm sure this
will attract responses from quite a few of them, so listen to all sides
and make your choice!
I would say that for general aerobic conditioning, unless you're
pretty far along (e.g. can easily run a 6.5-minute mile, i.e. in
aerobic state), the HR is better for you. Maybe if you want to
condition yourself specifically for cross-country sking, the NT would
be better, though. I don't ski, nor do I intend to in the near
future. Whether the NT is better for very-fit people, I can't say --
I can't see how it would be worthwhile for such people anyway,
though maybe there's a slim region of "fitness" where the NT is still
useful but the HR not really. Still, I can't imagine there are
many people who wouldn't find the HR worth the money if they gave
it a real shot (not just one ride), at least not nearly as many
as with most other machines. (I think the HR, NT, and rowers are
probably in a class by themselves in this respect -- if you don't
like them, you're either not really ready to get fit or you're
already a marathon runner. All other machines like treadmills,
stair/steppers, weight racks, and so on, are not in the same class.)
--
James Craig Burley, Software Craftsperson bur...@gnu.ai.mit.edu
Leslie Rena Sims
had any comments to tell me a little about the Nordic Track. I am thinking
about buying one and I wanted some advice on whether it is a worthwhile machine.
I was doing step aerobics 3X/week for cardiovascular exercise, but I just don't
have the time to get to the gym like I did. I think the NT would be more con-
venient at home. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Leslie
les...@tamu.edu
Matt Landau
>Hi I just subscribed to this group, and I was going to ask anyone out there who
>had any comments to tell me a little about the Nordic Track.
I've got one, and am pretty happy with it overall. It provides a very
good aerobic workout, with a good range of adjustment on the resistance,
which I find useful -- some days I'm in the mood to work fairly hard,
while other days I'm in the mood for less strenuous work; it's pretty
easy to tweak the resistance of both the upper and lower body units to
deal with whatever mood I happen to be in.
The construction of the NordicTrack is very solid, and the mechanisms
seem to hold up well under regular use with only minimal maintenance;
I wipe mine down with a towel after each session and oil it a couple
of times a year, and that's about it.
My only complaints are that I don't feel that the motion works the back
or chest muscles enough, and that I sometimes end up with sore calves
if I try to work more than 40 minutes a day, or more than 5 days a week.
Other people have complained that the skiing motion requires too much
coordination and that it's easy for your body to get "confused" and
end up with the upper and lower body motions out of synch, but I have
never noticed this problem myself.
A Nordic Track will definitely provide one of the best aerobic workouts
of any home exercise machine. The only thing that really comes close
is this "HealthRider" beast that Covert Bailey is now shilling for on
TV. A number of people have posted complimentary comments about it to
this newsgroup, saying the like it better than the Nordic Track. A
number of others have said they don't like it as well.
The best thing would be to try to find someplace where you can test each
machine in person -- I know that the Nordic Track folks have taken to
setting up small stores in malls and such where you can go and work out
on the machines before deciding whether to buy one. I don't know if
there's any similar arrangement available for the HealthRider, although
Sharper Image is now selling a variant of that machine (made for them
by the same company), so you might be able to find one at a Sharper Image
store in you area. Both machines have a 30 day money-back guarantee, so
you can always try one out for a while and decide if you like it.
Was my Nordic Track worth the $600 price tag? It will be if I can keep
myself using it over the long term :-)
Vicky Crivellone
Rena Sims) wrote:
I love my NT! I always feel like I'm getting a good workout on it. I just
put on my headphones and go!
-------------------------------------------------------
Vicky Crivellone Maxwell Laboratories, Inc.
v...@scubed.com S-Cubed Division
(619) 587-8340 3398 Carmel Mountain Road
San Diego, CA 92121
Sixto Bernal
i have a DP AirStrider and i think it's better than either
one. the AirStrider is a cross between a stationary bike,
a stair stepper, and a ski machine.
it has two bike cranks, one about 10" in front of the other.
between them is a long "pedal" or platform. the crank throw
is about 7" so each foot travels back and forth and up and
down about 7". this results in a 14" step, and a 14" ski
motion too. at the same time it has the poling motion that
the ski machines do. it comes with a pulse/distance/step
monitor.
at about $100 in the discount stores it's a great buy. i have
found that 30 mins on it in front of the nightly news leaves
me wasted. good cardio, good leg, and arms too...
thx, "for evil to triumph,
sixto good men need only do nothing."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leslie A Lee
the healthridcer, its more fun believe or not,
it has a very natural feel from the first time you
use it, can be very intense and is much more
flexible. you can alter your workout in a variety
of ways.
Craig Burley
I have PFL (inflamed patella) and was wondering if people could tell me if
the HR would be stressful on my knees? I find exercise bikes to be okay but
Stairmasters to be too hard on my weak knees.
I know nothing of your medicial condition, but offhand I'd say that
if a typical rowing machine is not too stressful, then the HR would
not be. If a rower is too stressful, then the HR would probably be
when using it in the normal way. But you can use the HR with less
stress on your legs (at least, they do less work), putting more effort
into your upper body. Also, the HR, like a rower, is okay at allowing
one leg to work while the other idles, which might help you if only
one knee has problems.
Unlike a bike, an HR has you lift your own weight (or some leveraged
ratio thereof) -- in that sense, it is more like a Stairmaster, but
unlike a Stairmaster, it lets you control how much of the lifting you
disperse among your _four_ limbs as you work out (by changing the
positioning of your legs and/or the arm rod in general, but also by
choosing moment-by-moment where to exert the most force). That might
help you quite a bit, but again, try a rowing machine first to see if
it's feasible.
Diane Willis
>
>
>Need advice about the Healthrider.
>
>I have PFL (inflamed patella) and was wondering if people could tell me if
>the HR would be stressful on my knees? I find exercise bikes to be okay but
>Stairmasters to be too hard on my weak knees.
>
I have a healthrider, and it is VERY gentle to the knees. I have traumatic bursitis
in both knees and it doesn't irritate them at all. I used to have a skier, but got
rid of it, because it was too much torque on my knees. I highly recommend it!
It's really easy to use, and you can really start seeing results if you stick with
it!
Diane