Best Elliptical for Runner with Bad Feet

Question

I've appreciated reading your reviews and the answers you've given to the questions people have submitted. I'm wondering if you can give me some input to help me make a decision on the best elliptical for me to buy.

I'm 39 years old and really enjoy running but have had problems with my feet (neuromas) and one of my knees so my running is limited. I can feel myself getting out of shape so I was looking at ellipticals. I had narrowed my choice down to the Sole e95 elliptical and the NordicTrack ACT elliptical.

But then I saw the NordicTrack FreeStrider 35 S. I can't find one to try out but I like the idea of the longer stride length. When I look at the picture of it though, I can't tell if the motion would seem quite unnatural and if it would put stress on my lower back. I'd really appreciate any advice you could give me as to which machine would be best to purchase. Thanks so much for your help… Marlene

Answer

Sorry to hear about your aching feet and knee Marlene, as you and thousands of other people have discovered running can cause a lot of premature wear and tear on the joints, ligaments and tendons. I think you're smart to look for an alternative to pounding the pavement , as given some time, training on an elliptical should help diminish or alleviate some of your injury problems.

You're the second person to ask me about the Nordictrack Free Strider Elliptical. I wrote a post about my initial impressions of the Freestrider machine here, but have been unable to track one down in person to try it out.

I do recommend the two ellipticals on your short list (the Sole E95 and the Nordictrack ACT) so either one would make a fine choice. The Sole is a front drive machine with a long track record of solid performance and reliability, and the Nordictrack ACT is a newer center drive machine with a smaller footprint and much different stride character.

So what is the best elliptical for you?

I don't think you can go wrong with either machine, but my personal opinion is to get the Sole E95. Why? I like how the front drive ellipticals ride and you're getting a proven winner and class leader with a long warranty. That's not to say the Nordictrack ACT is a bad machine, it's just not my cup of tea.

Here are the links to my full reviews of the two ellipticals you are considering - Happy New Year!

Sole E95 Elliptical Review

Nordictrack ACT Elliptical Review