Comparison Spirit Fitness SE205 vs Vigor AL-601EP

The maximum weight of the user for which the cross trainer is designed. This parameter should be adhered to as accurately as possible, do not be mistaken about the fact that 3-5 kg over the calculated weight will not affect the device. Yes, most likely, the simulator will be able to work for some time, but it will experience loads exceeding the calculated ones, and at best it will fail earlier than expected, and at worst it may break at the most unfortunate moment, which is fraught with injuries. In addition, this case is usually not covered by the manufacturer's warranty, and you will have to eliminate the consequences at your own expense.

The location of the flywheel relative to the pedals of the cross trainer. Most often it is installed at the rear, but there are also models with front location. The differences between both options are very small, so in fact, only the appearance of the cross trainer depends on the location of the flywheel.

The weight of the flywheel installed in the cross trainer. It is a massive wheel, the rotation of which ensures the movement of the pedals and creates a load on them. It is believed that the more weight, the better: a massive flywheel provides smooth movement with a minimum of jerks and creates uniform loads that mimic natural ones as much as possible. This is especially important for athletes with a large body weight — from 100 kg and above. At the same time, it should be taken into account that the cost of the entire cross trainer directly depends on the weight of the flywheel, and for home non-professional use it is not always justified to look for a machine with a very heavy flywheel.

The number of fixed load levels (pedal resistance during movement) provided for in the design of the cross trainer. The more such levels provided in the design, the wider the possibilities for adjusting the load and the more accurately it can be adjusted to the requirements of a particular user. At the same time, the abundance of adjustments accordingly affects the price.

The maximum horizontal distance between the pedals of the cross trainer, determines, respectively, the length of the athlete's step when working on the machine. It is believed that for people of average height, a step length of 400 – 500 mm is optimal, and many cross trainers are made with this calculation. At the same time, there are models with a variable step length, which allows you to adjust it to the personal preferences of different users.

Anyway, the step length should be chosen depending on height, physique and personal preferences. Too small a step will lead to the fact that you have to mince, and the imitation of walking will turn into marking time, and too wide will lead to inconvenience and an unjustified increase in load without increasing efficiency. Ideally, it is advisable to test the cross trainer before buying — how comfortable you will be on it. This applies to both fixed and adjustable step lengths.

The number of training programs provided for in the design of the cross trainer. Different programs have different purposes — strengthening the cardiovascular system, maintaining physical fitness, burning fat, etc. At the same time, the operation of the program relieves you of the need to manually set the parameters — this is done by the machine. Accordingly, the more training programs the cross trainer has, the wider its capabilities and the more convenient the training. And some models may even provide the possibility of custom programs.

— Handlebar controls. The control buttons for training modes are placed on the handles of the cross trainer. With their help, you can change the load without stopping the workout. However, the control options in each model may be different.

— Fan. The cross trainer has a fan. This feature is useful for cooling during intense workouts, especially in warm weather.

— Bottle holder. The presence in the design of the cross trainer k of a special stand on which you can put a bottle or glass. Thus, you will always have a supply of water at hand, and to replenish its amount in the body you will not have to be distracted from working out on the machine.

— Colour display. The presence of a colour display in the design of the machine. This element does not affect the main features of the device. However, such displays are considered more convenient and pleasant to view than black and white. Some models may include various additional features designed to make workouts more interesting — for example, the ability to play DVD movies or virtual workouts (see above).

— Bluetooth. The presence of a Bluetooth wireless module allows the machine to be synchronized with the user's smartphone, tablet or laptop/PC. Thanks to data synchronization, the user will be able to control the resu...lts of training in a convenient form. Additionally, Bluetooth wireless communication can be used to download new training programs to the computer of the machine and synchronize with the heart rate monitor via the ANT protocol.

— Wi-Fi. The presence of a Wi-Fi wireless communication module in the design of the machine. The Wi-Fi interface was originally intended for connecting to computer networks (including Internet access), but more recently it has also been used for direct connection between different devices, without using a network. The specific features implemented using this module may be different. So, some cross trainers can interact with training programs installed on tablets and smartphones and transmit information to such programs about the details of the training (distance travelled, calories burned, etc.), while others allow you to update the firmware or change the settings remotely, etc.

— USB port. USB itself is a universal interface designed to connect external peripherals to a computer or other control device. Actually, for the same purpose it is used in modern machines; but the specific application in different models may be different. So, USB can be used to connect heart rate sensors and other specialized accessories, to play music and/or video from a USB drive, to update the firmware using the same USB drive, etc.

— TV tuner. The presence in the design of the machine of a TV tuner — a device designed to receive television broadcasts. This function is useful for those who would like to be able to watch their favourite TV programs, series, etc. right in the process of training: usually, models with TV tuners also have colour displays and speakers (see below), which allows you to watch the broadcast directly on the machine's display. However, one needs to remember that tuners can be designed for different broadcast standards; therefore, before purchasing a model with this function, it is advisable to make sure that it is compatible with local TV broadcasts.

— mini-jack 3.5 mm (Aux). The 3.5 mm mini-Jack (Aux) connector is designed to connect an MP3 player or a smartphone/tablet. Thanks to this, it is possible to output a sound signal from multimedia devices to the speakers built into the cross trainer. Some models may additionally have a mini-jack connector for connecting headphones. The sound output to the headphones will allow you to train to your favourite music without disturbing other people in the same room.

— Speakers. The presence in the design of the cross trainer of speakers. They can play music, the sound of a movie playing on the display (see "Colour display"), as well as various service messages — for example, a warning about exceeding the maximum heart rate.

— Tablet stand. It allows you to securely and safely mount a tablet with almost any screen size on the cross trainer. Thanks to this, the user can enjoy watching TV shows or movies directly during training. Usually, the stand is located under the main screen of the machine. Advanced class models are often equipped with a stand with the ability to adjust the angle of the tablet.

The dimensions of the equipment in the assembled and ready-to-work state. It is important to note that more space is needed for the comfortable and proper operation of the machine.