By Fin Cousins

Published: Thursday, 15 December 2022 at 12:00 am

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If you’re on the lookout for some low-impact cardio to supplement your triathlon training, it might be worth giving the cross trainer some consideration.

But among the likes of rowing machines, exercise bikes and treadmills, they’re often underrated. However, they can add some variance to your routine and can be particularly useful when attempting some active recovery after a race/hard session or when coming back from certain injuries.

Benefits of using a cross trainer

Cross trainers provide a full-body, low-impact aerobic workout and are able to target a wide range of muscle groups at once. Many are fitted with different resistances and inclines, allowing users to target specific muscle groups in their legs, which can be useful for solving imbalances or weaknesses.

For more information, check out our article on using the cross trainer for triathlon training.

Cross trainer vs treadmill

Treadmills simulate running much more closely, but cross trainers offer a low-impact running motion that can help avoid injury.

The low impact nature of cross training means it’s perfect for at-home training as it won’t cause too much noise. Like treadmills, cross trainers also have built-in programmes and difficulty levels, plus the higher-end models may offer online coaching apps and visualisers.

Types of cross trainer resistance

• Magnetic: Quieter to use and often smoother, but more expensive.
• Belt drive: Cheaper, but may be vulnerable to wear and need replacing.

What to consider when buying a cross trainer

• Size: Cross trainers can be bulky, so it’s a good idea to check measurements or see if the model you’re buying can be folded to save on space. Most cross trainers are around 1.5-2 metres long.
• Cost: Usually, it’s around £100-300 for an affordable cross trainer. Mid-range is £300-800 and higher end will be anything over £800.
• Console: It’s a good idea to check what information you’re getting fed back from the console, or if there are any live classes or settings built in.
• Stride length: Often listed by brands, this explains the range of motion you can expect from each stride. The longer the stride, the tougher the workout. Most commercial cross trainers found in gyms feature a stride length of around 20 inches.
• Flywheel: The flywheel is the mechanism that spins to create resistance. The minimum standard should be around 5kg – the heavier the flywheel, the smoother your experience will be.

The best cross trainers for your home

Below, we pull together a list of the best cross trainers for home training, with picks based on in-depth research and analysis of user reviews.

Reebok ZR8 Cross Trainer

Reebok’s mid-range option is designed to cover all the basics well. It features a 9kg flywheel, which should be enough weight to provide a fluid ride.

Reebok also include 32 levels of electronic resistance to choose from, which is an impressive level of variance for a machine around the £400 mark.

There are 20 different fitness programs built into the console, from gentle exercise to a more challenging mountainous climb.

While exercising, this LCD console provides various feedback such as speed, distance, time, calories, pulse and RPM.

The footplates are said to be  fully adjustable, so the stride length can be changed to suit your requirements.

It’s said to be able to support a maximum user weight of 120kg and is roughly one and a half metres in height and length.