Best Elliptical Trainers Top Rated

Spirit XE 350 (Around $1,450)

Best entry-level elliptical trainer. If you're looking for a lot of features, but a Precor elliptical trainer is beyond your budget, reviews recommend the Spirit XE 350. This elliptical trainer has ten customizable programs and an included wireless heart-rate monitor. Unlike the Precor EFX, it includes an upper body workout. Articulated foot pedals help decrease ankle strain, and there's a weight capacity of 325 pounds. The stride length is 20 inches, so it should be plenty comfortable for taller users. Best of all, Spirit includes a five-year warranty on parts, a lifetime warranty on the frame and an unheard-of two years of labor coverage, far better than other manufacturers.


Precor EFX 5.17i (Around $2,700)

Best elliptical trainer. Reviewers say Precor makes the best elliptical trainers on the market. The EFX 5.17i is Precor's entry-level elliptical trainer, but reviews say that doesn't stop it from being one of the most durable options. It has four programs, and there are 20 resistance levels. One feature that sets it apart from cheaper elliptical machines is an incline that adjusts from 12 to 25 degrees. Its long, 19-inch stride makes it comfortable even for tall users. According to the manufacturer, Precor's elliptical trainers don’t have a weight limit, so they're appropriate and stable for heavier individuals. The EFX 5.17i doesn't have moving handles for an upper body workout.


Fitness Quest Eclipse 1100 HR/A (Around $400)

Budget elliptical trainer. The Fitness Quest elliptical trainer has one huge advantage over other models in its price range -- it has a one-year warranty on parts and labor, longer than other models, which usually have only a 90-day warranty. The Fitness Quest elliptical trainer has ten preset programs and two heart-rate-controlled programs (it has handgrip heart-rate sensors) and can support up to 275 pounds. However, this model weighs only 90 pounds, so it's not as heavy or stable as pricier models.


Precor EFX 5.33 (Around $3,800)

Club-quality elliptical trainer. Precor's health-club-quality EFX 5.33 elliptical trainer adds moving handlebars for an upper body workout. There are 14 programs (including manual), along with 20 resistance levels. The incline is fixed at 20 degrees. With Precor elliptical trainers, you must choose between an adjustable incline or an upper body workout.

Best Backpacks

Gossamer Gear Mariposa (Around $130)

Best ultralight backpack. The Gossamer Gear Mariposa camping backpack weighs just 18 ounces, yet its 4,200 cubic inches can hold enough ultralight gear for a multi-day trip. Siliconized nylon makes the pack water-resistant; oxford cloth reinforces key stress points. For hiking in rougher areas off trail, the Mariposa Plus (Around $130) uses tougher cloth but weighs 3 ounces more.


Granite Gear Vapor Trail Ki (Around $160)

Women's ultralight. This 37-ounce backpack fits most women better than a unisex pack, uses tough fabric, and has a load lifter to shift weight between shoulders and hips as desired. The 3,600-inch volume of the Granite Gear Vapor Trail Ki camping backpack can be compressed well for shorter trips, and you can add an optional lid (Around $22) to store often-used items. A men's version is also available.


GoLite Jam (Around $90)

Weekend ultralight pack. True ultralight hikers can fit enough gear into the GoLite Jam backpack's 2,750 cubic inches for an even longer camping trip, and the GoLite Jam weighs just 21 ounces. It's frameless but otherwise full-featured, with hip belt, side pockets for water bottles, a sleeve for hydration bladder, and more.


Arc Teryx Naos 55 (Around $430)

Waterproof off-trail backpack. Top-ranked in recent roundup reviews, the 72-ounce Naos 55 waterproof backpack uses watertight zippers, welded seams, and urethane-coated nylon, so you need neither rain cover nor inner drysack. The hip belt pivots to move with you, and reviews praise this backpack's balance for loads up to 50 pounds -- heavier than many other backpacks. Its 3,700-cubic-inch size is good for weekends and, with the right lightweight gear, can serve for even longer trips.


Gregory Shasta (Around $270)

Best backpack for big heavy loads. Reviews say this camping backpack is comfortable for loads of 65 pounds or even more, and it can hold 4,950 cubic inches of gear, enough for a winter trip without ultralight planning. The Gregory Shasta's shoulder straps and hip belt rotate automatically to fit you, and a sleeping bag compartment makes it easier to load.


Gregory Deva 60 (Around $250)

Women's backpack. The classic Gregory Deva backpack has been redesigned for 2006 to use Gregory's most comfortable suspension system. The 86-ounce weight is over twice that of the ultralight Vapor Trail Ki, and the 3,900-cubic-inch volume is about the same, but the Gregory Deva is rated for heavier loads up to 45 pounds. Big loads are convenient to access, with a sleeping bag compartment and both top and back zippers. The back panel is ventilated to keep you as cool as possible.