Good value elliptical trainer?

[papercaper]

I'm planning to start a new fitness regime to lose weight and tone up. It needs to be something I can do at home, and I've heard elliptical trainers are good, I'd prefer a machine of some kind to using e.g. Kettle bells or doing the 30 day shred.

Does anybody know of a budget option I could buy that would still be ok? It also shouldn't be too large.

Thank you!

Would you consider a maxi climber? I have recently got one. Its not something you can just pootle about on though, its blinking hard work. I have worked my way from being able to do a minute continuously, to 9 minutes continuously. But I also use it to do intervals (so 1 min on, then 30 secs, rest, then 1 min etc) which I can do for 20-30 minutes and works up a good sweat, or high intensity intervals with weights in between. I can't vouch for how long it will last, as mine is quite new.

Thanks for the reply! That sounds worth looking at. Does it exercise both upper and lower body?

Yes, it is a climbing motion, and you can adjust the height of the handholds so you are at full arm extension. (Kind of like upright crawling). My DH finds it hard on his knees though, and I must admit one of mine too.