Gazelle

Tony Little infomercial machine really pleases

If you’re looking for the lowest priced, most versatile pieces of fitness equipment you can find, the Gazelle is something to consider. Not only is it a cardio machine, it promises to increase your flexibility and help you build muscle at the same time.

What is the Gazelle?

The Gazelle line of cardio machines mainly consist of two foot platforms that each connect to moving arms. The machine makes a swinging motion when you alternate moving your feet forwards and backwards. The machines are often called ellipticals, but since they don’t provide a true oblong motion, just back and forth swinging, they’re not really the same thing.

Models

• Power Plus - The priciest of Tony Little’s Gazelles, it still only costs $300. This machine holds 350 lbs, has three hydraulic resistance levels and monitors all the essentials. It also has a one-year warranty, much longer than the 90-days offered with the other machines.
• Gazelle Freestyle 2 - This $200 Gazelle holds up to 300 lbs and features monitors including heart rate (thumb pulse), calories burned, distance and time. The Freestyle comes with a 90 day warranty.
• Edge - A paired down version of the Freestyle this machine cost under $100 and holds up to 250 lbs. It doesn’t include the heart rate monitor or workout video and only has one resistance level. It comes with a 90 day warranty.
  

 
Do they work?

Any cardio machine or non-machine cardio activity will work if you do. That is to say you won’t be sweating if you’re not giving it your all. So when users complain about the Gazelle not being hard enough it seems more likely they are the ones not working hard enough.

The bottom line

Gazelles may not offer the same smooth rolling motion of a good elliptical trainer, but neither do most bargain-priced ellipticals. If you’re going to get machine that costs less than $500, you might as well get one that does what it’s meant to well, rather than one that’s just a cheap imitation of a better product.