The Fitness Flyer exercise machine was once quite popular for low-impact cardio workouts. Though no longer manufactured, shoppers may have luck finding a used unit either online or directly from a private seller.
About the Fitness Flyer Exercise Machine
The Fitness Flyer is no longer manufactured and can only be purchased secondhand, such as through online private sellers, consignment stores for exercise equipment, or even garage sales. Since this equipment is effective in delivering a challenging cardio workout that is low-impact, people still seek these out for purchase.
Similar to Elliptical
The Fitness Flyer exercise machine is similar to an elliptical machine. To operate it, you stand with your feet on pads, while your hands grip the handles on either side. While pushing and pulling with your arms, your legs will move in a walking or gliding pattern to get a low-impact, total body workout.
A Simple Machine
Where the Fitness Flyer differs from a true elliptical is in its simplicity. The foot pads on the Fitness Flyer hang from a bar that supports the handles. There are no gears, cylinders, turning parts or a need for electricity. The hanging foot pads give the user the impression that he or she is walking or moving in mid-air.
The Benefits of the Fitness Flyer
There are a lot of different pieces of exercise equipment on the market today, all geared toward home use. If you can find a used Fitness Flyer for purchase, expect these benefits.
Cost
While a treadmill may cost a couple thousand dollars, and require periodic maintenance which can add to the expense over time, the Fitness Flyer only costs a couple hundred - likely much less when purchased used. The machine needs few adjustments and little service, so the savings can really add up over time.
Space
The Fitness Flyer can be folded up to take up very little room. While a treadmill or standard elliptical machine are heavy and should be left in place, the Fitness Flyer can be moved easily, which makes it an attractive option for those who live in apartment buildings, or other small homes.
Low-Impact Aerobic Exercise
For people with hip, knee or joint problems, weight bearing exercise can help to strengthen these areas, but high-impact exercise can often put stress on these joints. A low-impact, weight bearing machine like the Fitness Flyer gives people with joint problems the best of both worlds; a way to help build bone density and muscle strength without taxing already sore areas.
Drawbacks to the Fitness Flyer
As with many pieces of exercise equipment, while there are several positives, there may also be negatives for some people.
Difficult to Find
Since this machine is no longer manufactured, it's harder to find one that is in good shape and not in need of service or repairs.
Not for Hard Workouts
If you want a really intense aerobic workout, or one that you can continue to grow with, the Fitness Flyer may come up short. In some studies done by the manufacturers of exercise equipment, the Fitness Flyer did not burn as many calories or get the participants' heart rates into the same zones as a similar amount of time and exertion on a treadmill. Therefore, the Fitness Flyer should only be used by those that are looking for some light aerobic workouts done in their own home.
Bare Bones
The Fitness Flyer exercise equipment is extremely bare bones. There is no interactive programming, heart rate monitoring, calories burned display or any of the other perks that many people come to expect from aerobic equipment. The machine is meant to be inexpensive and take up little space; if you want or need readouts, it will not provide it.
Similar Equipment
While the original Fitness Flyer goes in and out of manufacturing by various companies, the low cost and basic design concepts are used by other pieces of equipment as well.
The Gazelle
Similar to the Fitness Flyer, the Gazelle Edge Machine utilizes the momentum of swinging legs to create a cardio workout. Available for just over $100 from Walmart, the Gazelle provides a similar workout to the original Fitness Flyer.
Akonza Elliptical Glider
An even less expensive option, the Akonza Elliptical Glider costs less than $100 unassembled. This machine provides many of the same benefits as the original Fitness Flyer, but at a lower cost.
Sunny Health Air Walk Trainer Elliptical
One of the least expensive options for an elliptical glider, the Sunny Health Air Walk Trainer costs around $70. A bare-bones piece of cardio equipment, it delivers a similar workout to the Fitness Flyer in a compact, collapsible unit.
A Good Cardio Option
Regardless of whether you are looking for strength training or aerobic workouts, a Fitness Flyer - or similar - exercise machine does have its place in home gym equipment. This type of equipment is a low-cost, compact option that will help challenge your cardiovascular endurance and overall body stability.
