I want to buy an elliptical trainer, but...

[sleepyhead]

I live in a typical NY apartment with almost no space for exercise equipment. (We have an exercise bicycle taking up most of the only available spare space - I hate it with a passion (never use it) and want to get rid of it but my husband insists on keeping it.) I thought I might be able to find an elliptical that collapsed so that I could squeeze it under the bed when not using it, but the only collapsible ones I saw online were the Tony Little Gazelles that look useless, besides appearing to be flimsy as hell. Does anyone have a suggestion for either a sturdy model that folds up, or one that has a super small footprint? Thanks!

[flvegan]

1. Quandry.

Don't buy anything that has Tony Little's name on it. Yes, it may last/work for a short period of time, but longevity is not the corporate mantra there.

Small footprint? Hmmmm...if you mean one the size of an exercise bike, no.

If you live in a typical NY apartment, then I'll bet you have lots and lots of stairs. I'd set a half hour a day aside, grab my MP3 player and hit those flights!

[sleepyhead]

2. We live on the 6th floor

And doing the stairs would be a great idea, except that due to my bad knees and a severe episode of tendinitis last year, I have been forbidden by my doctor to run or do stairs for exercise. The elliptical trainer seems to be the easiest on my knees. I did find a smallish one - the Eclipse 1100 HR/A, whose footprint is only 22.5" x 41". I think I can make space for it. Any comments on that particular model?

[ikojo]

5. If you don't find one that will slip under the bed,

could you schlep it out to the hallway and use it and then schlep it into your apartment? I guess that doesn't make sense because your quandry is lack of space...sorry, fuggedabout my idea.

[Longhorn]

3. I got my elliptical from

www.smoothfitness.com. It doesn't fold up but it fits between a bed and the wall in about three feet of space. They have the dimensions at the site and sell three different models, I believe. We got the mid-priced model. It is silent and works great!

[Zenlitened]

4. I'm considering this one, sold at Target, Sports Authority, etc.:

• Length: 34 in
• Handrail Width: 19.5 in
• Base Width: 24 in
• Height: 52 in
• Weight: 85 lbs
• Wheels: Yes

http://www.thesportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1270269#specs

Although, from what I'm reading on epinions, assembly sounds like a bear. :(