The Basics

There are two basic types of home ski machines: those that replicate the arduous sport of cross-country skiing and those that replicate the side-to-side motion of downhill skiing. For the most part, the latter ski machines are great at improving leg strength, balance and all around skiing technique. Use one of those ski machines regularly before the season of hitting the slopes, and you are sure to notice the difference when handling black diamond or mogul runs. They are far less effective, however, at providing a calorie-burning cardiovascular workout. For that, you will need to use a cross-country style ski machine.

Cross-country (or Nordic) skiing provides a total body workout. The poling motion builds upper body strength, the leg motion builds leg and lower-back strength, and combined motions add to a complete cardiovascular workout. Cross-country ski machines duplicate the lower- and upper- body workout of Nordic skiing in a low-impact manner that obviously does not require snow, thus enabling you to exercise in the comfort of your home all year round.

The construction of ski machines is straightforward. Instead of skis, the machines use long ski-like boards or foot pedals that move on rollers using either independent or dependent leg motion. Dependent ski machines have boards that are linked so when you glide one foot forward, the other foot automatically slides backwards. This is certainly easier for novice exercisers to master but provides a far less intense workout than a ski machine that utilizes independent motion. The skis on independents are not linked, so they replicate a more natural motion that is closer to real cross-country skiing. This is a harder type of machine to master, but once you do, your workouts will be more enjoyable and far more rewarding.

The arm movement on ski machines is provided by a rope-and-pulley system, or swiveling poles, that replicates the motion of ski poles in actual skiing. The best cross-country ski machines enable you to workout your lower body independently from your upper body. Since ski machines are one of the harder types of home fitness equipment for novice users to master, it helps to be able to start with exercising just the legs. Once you obtain the coordination needed to exercise the lower body you can then add the upper body workout using the swiveling poles or rope and pulley system.

While ski machines certainly take some getting used to and won't appeal to everyone, they provide a vigorous workout for upper- and lower- body muscles that few other exercise machines can match. If you choose a model with elevation controls, enabling you to raise the front of the machine to replicate uphill skiing, then you can add an effective workout for your lower abdominal muscles as well. The smooth gliding motion of ski machines means there is little impact on major joints.

The popularity of ski machines has declined in recent years, partly due to shifting trends, and partly due to the higher degree of difficulty in mastering the motion of these machines compared to, say, a treadmill or a stationary bike. It takes a good deal more coordination to combine the upper and lower body movements. However, the benefits of a high calorie burning, total body workout make a ski machine an excellent piece of home fitness equipment. Most ski machines fold for easy storage and take up no more space than a treadmills or elliptical machine. Many have wheels for easy movement in and out of storage.

How to Shop

If you are an avid skier who dreads the onset of spring--or if you just want to improve your downhill technique before the next ski season rolls around--then you may want to consider a side-to-side type ski machine. These ski machines will provide some aerobic and calorie burning benefit as well, although nothing like that possible from a cross-country ski machine. While it holds true that the best home fitness equipment is always the equipment that you use regularly, if you are looking for an exercise machine purely as a means of improving fitness and muscle tone rather than skiing technique, you need a cross-country ski machine.

It's important to try any piece of home fitness equipment before you buy, and when looking at ski machines it's perhaps doubly important. If you are not already familiar with ski machines--if you have not used one in a gym or health club, for example--then it is important to take the time to get used to the unique motion required to use one. Since the motion employed by ski machines is unfamiliar to a lot of users, some manufacturers will offer a limited time home tryout. You can use the ski machine for 30 days, for example, and if you can't master the motion required you can return the ski machine and receive a refund.

Once you gain the coordination necessary, of course, then using a ski machine is a breeze. Any machine you select should offer a comfortable stride and smooth, quiet operation. Some of the older and cheaper ski machines tend to operate quite noisily. While this may not be a problem for an occasional workout, if you want to exercise in front of the TV or while listening to music, a loud, repetitive squeak over time can become extremely annoying and provide an excuse to skip your workout all together.

Independent ski machines are harder to master, but provide a better workout. Unless you seriously doubt your coordination abilities, opt for an independent over a dependent motion model. You also want to look for a ski machine that enables you to vary resistance levels on the lower body and upper body areas independently. The better ski machines will also enable you to adjust the elevation levels so you can replicate skiing uphill. This will add greater variation and provide a good abdominal workout.

As well as choosing a ski machine with adjustable resistance levels, look for one that offers an electronic display that provides feedback on your workout, such as the time spent exercising, distance traveled, calories burned and pulse rate. The better ski machines offer a heart rate monitor, usually with a clip that attaches to your ear lobe. While such features will add to the cost of your ski machine, they will contribute to your workouts by ensuring you maintain a consistent heart rate for maximum aerobic benefits. Other optional accessories available on home ski machines are book holders and drinks holders.

Any home ski machine should feel stable and operate comfortably. You also want your ski machine to last so, as with any piece of home exercise equipment, check the warranty offered by the manufacturer. Any ski machine should carry some type of warranty against defects in workmanship. The time period covered can range from 90 days for parts and labor, to a lifetime warranty on the frame. As a rule, extended warranties are indications of greater quality in ski machine equipment.