Front Drive Ellipticals Comparison

Front drive ellipticals provide a workout motion that is much different from its competitor -- rear drive ellipticals. If you are not sure how the operation is different or if you are concerned about which system is the best read our buying guide below...

Elliptical	Sole E98	Sole E95	Sole E35	Spirit XE295	LiveStrong LS10.0E
Photo
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the elliptical's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	Rating: 93.1%	Rating: 93.0%	Rating: 86.7%	Rating: 84.0%	Rating: 83.8%
Full Review This table compares the top 5 ellipticals. Click Read Review to learn more about one Elliptical.	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review	Read Review
Resistance Resistance is what determines calories burned per stride. The more levels, the more precisely you can control the difficulty.	20 Levels	20 Levels	16 Levels	20 Levels	20 Levels
Stride Length Stride Length is important for comfort and smooth strides. A stride length of 18-21 inches is ideal for most heights (5'3 - 6'7).	20 inches	20" - 22"	20" - 22"	20 inches	20 inches
Max. Weight Max User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that it can safely support, which can represent durability.	400 lbs	400 lbs	375 lbs	400 lbs	325 lbs
Cooling Fans Cooling Fans are designed to help keep you cool during an intense workout on your elliptical.
Music Ready Ellipticals that are music ready allow you to plug a music-playing device (iPod, smartphone, etc.) directly into the machine.
Speakers Ellipticals that include a sound system allow you to listen to your MP3 player/iPod through built-in speakers (without headphones).
Incline Some elliptical trainers can be set at an incline to increase difficulty and burn more calories.	Power Incline	0 - 40%	0 - 30%	None	0-100% (increments of 5%)
Programs Elliptical Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	10	10	10	10	8
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$3,499.00	$2,799.99	$1,999.99	$1,599.00	$1,999.99
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the best price we've found.	$1,999.99	$1,699.99	$1,299.99	$1,599.00	$919.99
Visit Site After carefully evaluating each online retailer that offers this Elliptical, this is the website we recommend purchasing from.

Front Drive Ellipticals Buying Guide

The first decision you’ll need to make when you begin shopping for a new elliptical is “Do I want a front, center or rear wheel drive?” While there is no true “right” answer, the drive system of your elliptical will impact your performance. Some exercise enthusiasts are absolutely steadfast on only using rear drive systems. Meanwhile, others have changed through the years from rear drive to front drive systems. Again, it’s a personal choice.

In order to understand front drive ellipticals, we should begin with the history of ellipticals. The first elliptical trainers started to emerge in American health clubs in the late 90s. Consequently, the elliptical is still a fairly new innovation. Today, ellipticals have all but replaced Stairmasters as the preferred lower body cardio trainer.

Because ellipticals are still a relatively new invention, manufactures are still finding ways to improve the machine. Front drive ellipticals, also known as shuffle trainers, provide a motion that is similar to the old Stairmasters and feature a stepping motion. Rear drive ellipticals, meanwhile, generally feature a smoother, natural heel-to-toe motion that is often seen on commercial models from Precor and Life Fitness.

However, that is not to say that front drive ellipticals are inferior to rear drive ellipticals. Sole Fitness, for example, features a front drive design and their ellipticals are highly regarded for the home market. Meanwhile, Smooth Fitness only produces rear drive design and has several models that are highly touted. Often, it just comes down to the individual preference of the manufacture.

Some experts will tell you that the front drive elliptical trainers are more linear and thus produce a flatter oval motion. Users may say that this design is not as comfortable or fluid. Others will feel that the front drive ellipticals lack the same stability because you are placing more weight toward the front in order to power the trainer. Consequently, the elliptical might wobble noticeably if the frame is not stable.

Regardless, front and rear drive ellipticals are both enhanced when they are equipped with a heavy-duty flywheel. You’ll find flywheels on more expensive models and they are definitely worth the higher price tag. Flywheels allow a much smoother motion and stride, which can make front drive ellipticals as fluid as rear drive ellipticals.

In the end, the decision to buy a rear drive or front drive elliptical will come down to personal preference. If you’re not sure which design works best, it is a really great idea to test ride BOTH drive designs. Do you notice a major difference? If not, you can probably save a little money and invest in a front drive elliptical.

More Front Drive Ellipticals

The following did not make the Top 5 Front Drive Ellipticals, but are still worth a look: