The Smooth Stride Selector is a tool that guides our customers to the most appropriate elliptical trainer based on one of the most important, yet most often misunderstood features...and that is stride length.

The ideal stride length for each person is one that feels natural and comfortable, yet provides an effective workout; and that is determined primarily by the user's height. The suggested stride lengths provided by the Smooth Stride Selector are based only on rear-drive ellipticals, which is the only type of elliptical that Smooth Fitness manufacturers and sells.

Rear-drive ellipticals provide the most-effective workouts because they have a true "elliptical" motion; whereas front-drive elliptical (commonly referred to as "shuffle trainers" in the fitness industry) provide a more linear and less effective motion, which recruits fewer muscles at a lower intensity level, thereby reducing the number of calories that would be burned in the same amount of time as a rear-drive elliptical. If you are considering the purchase of a front-drive elliptical, you should add at least 4" to the suggested stride length based on your height.