I'm shopping around for an elliptical machine for my wife and I.
We looked at a few and found we liked the nordic track 925 at sears the best for the feel of the thing.
I'm trying to decide if it's worth paying extra for the better model.
The 925 is $599 at www.nordictrack.com with free shipping right now.

The next step up with arm motion (cx990) is $799.
It adds incline settings and some computer extras, and a heart rate monitor. (grip style I think.)

The high end (cx1050) is $999
It comes with a chest strap heart monitor, as well as more computer features and more incline control.

Is it worth it for the built in heart monitor/etc?
I have a timex HRM, but it's hard to look at your wrist while your arm is going back and forth. I was thinking of just taping it onto the computer console to keep me honest.

Are the other features worth it?
If I'm going to spend $600 on one, and the other is really a superior machine, I'm willing to pay the extra. If it's just fluff that we'll never really use, then I'd rather save the money for a powerrack when I've outgrown the bowflex.

Thanks!

Oh, has anyone tried the ifit stuff out with these?
I find the idea of making an mp3 player make it give me a HIIT workout kinda neat.

I have a Polar HRM with the chest strap... I got a small piece of velcro and attached it to the watch so I can place it on the front of my elliptical in a place easy to see. Works perfect and is much more visible than on my wrist. I would say if you have a decent HRM already, stick with it and skip that option on your elliptical if it saves you money.

However, I am also interested in hearing about the ifit functionality on the nordictrack models since I am considering upgrading to a higher quality elliptical in the future.

I recently bought a elliptical machine at Sports Authority. I bought the ProForm 650 Cardio CrossTrainer for $300. I tried out a lower end model for about a $100 less and the stride didn't feel right, it was to small of a stride. I also tried a higher end model for about $100 more than the ProForm 650 and to me the ProForm 650 was just as sturdy and about the same stride. I'm very happy with it and I'm glad I didn't go ahead and put in extra money for a higher end model.

I'm trying to encourage her to workout more.
I need to make sure that I get a machine she likes, so It'll probably end up being a nordictrack.
I looked at picking up one of the cx 1050s. It's got everything we'd ever need + some. To get it it's $317 + $99 for 9 months.

I snagged a new nordictrack elliptical with free shipping.
It might even show up this week...

I just found this

http://www.iconfitness.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=979&prrfnbr=373929&cgrfnbr=50178

For $499.00 at sportmart. I think I am going to pick it up Tomorrow. It lists at $899.

While at sportmart I saw a Marcy smith machine 2000with lat bar, doesn't sem to have a chin up bar or dip bars but everything else.The Only thing I noticed is the bench press bar is attached to guide rails. Is this something I should stay away from?

http://www.exercise-n-fitness.com/equipment_details.asp?pid=3261