The 5 Worst Elliptical Trainers – December 23, 2010

1. Weslo G 3.8- An absolute horror of an elliptical and why wouldn’t it be? A $200 elliptical is simply an unobtainable exercise in futility. From the shuffling 12” stride length to the overall shoddy quality, the Weslo G 3.8 screams at you that you should spend your money on a gym membership instead!
2. Schwinn 420- Using a console that would battle the Weslo G 3.8 for technological superiority, Schwinn really outdid themselves on this one. Did they see the Proform 600 ZNE. Same $799 MSRP but the Proform can interact with iFit Live! Also, the Proform is far ahead in terms of quality for the same list price. Can’t believe we would recommend a Proform over a Schwinn, but there- you have it!
3. Proform ZE 3- Proform doesn’t do everything right and the ZE 3 is a shining example of how not to build an elliptical. The primary problem is they are trying to hit a $400 price point and the 90 day parts and labor warranty is just a reflection on the quality they are putting into it. If you buy a ZE 3, bookmark our site and we’ll love to sell you parts.
4. Weslo CT 3.0- Another $200 elliptical from Weslo as if one model at $200 was not enough! I guess even among the horrible choices that we have in the consumer world, we also need multiple choices to make a BIG mistake. If $200 is your budget, spend it on a health club membership, not on this junk!
5. BH XS1- While not a bad elliptical, for the price they are trying to charge, it is nearly criminal unless you can get a HUGE discount. Have they seen what Sole is putting on the market for less than $1000? At MSRP, I would buy a Sole any day of the week over a BH. Apparently they had their collective heads stuck in the sand when they priced this one or maybe they used the monkey that was dartboarding their treadmill pricing.

Coming next- The 5 Best Club Elliptical Trainers

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The 5 Best Elliptical Trainers – December 21, 2010

These are based upon the retail selling price in addition to quality of the elliptical for what you pay. Of course, the most expensive trainers would be expected to be the best but most of these are out of the reach of the average consumer to we tried to find a good balance of those in the more economical price ranges.

1. Precor 5.31- The expensive choice but incredibly high quality. If you have a BIG budget, you will certainly not be disappointed with one of the best elliptical trainers on the market and it will last and last almost forever in home use. As expected, the adjustable ramp is a great feature and the programs on Precor’s computer is another delight. They back it all up with one of the best warranties in the business but you should get a long warranty given the $4k price tag.
2. Sole E25- Arguably the best value elliptical trainer in the business. Sole packs a solid machine with features found in far more pricey units. When you combine that with Sole’s legendary service, you get quite a combination of features, quality, and value.
3. NordicTrack A.C.T. Pro- The one feature you cannot overlook is the iFit Live! Feature which allows you to train anywhere in the world with the use of Google Maps. It will also track your progress real-time through its Wi-Fi connection and next year, Nordictrack is promising an upgrade where you can race against your friends real-time online! Combine that with big quality upgrades for NordicTrack, you get quite a value-packed machine!
4. Smooth CE 7.4- One of the few companies that we do not disagree when they make the claim that it is nearly a “health club quality” unit. Smooth has upgraded the machine with quality and value that you don’t expect in a $1499 elliptical. Of course, you have to be ready to separate with thousands if you want a full club unit- don’t expect to put the CE 7.4 in a health club and have it hold up long-term but they have brought many of the features to an affordable price which ought to be commended.
5. Proform 600 ZNE- A rear drive, adjustable ramp unit for $799 including shipping from Proform.com! It is our most affordable choice and although you do have to give up some quality in order to get the price that low but Icon, the parent company of Proform is the most efficient manufacturer in the business so some of the savings is in their efficiency. To top it off, the 600 ZNE is iFit Live! compatible so you can upgrade with a Wi-Fi card to access this great feature.

Coming next- The 5 Worst Elliptical Trainers

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Top 5 Gym Treadmills – December 15, 2010

With an amazing regularity, people are buying commercial machines for their homes and we regularly get the question, what would you buy if you had an unlimited budget? Well, here’s what we would get:

1. Lifefitness- The king of the club scene, they don’t let you down in the home…we’ll maybe if you have a small room and don’t like noise. If you can put up with the size of the price tag, you probably have plenty of room in order to put one of these beasts in your home. The integrated touch screen model is the one to get if you have this kind of bankroll behind you.
2. Precor- Precor’s new touch screen system is something to see. The newness of it would be our only hesitation. From their tradition of building high quality machines, their club models won’t let you down but the price tag may put your ticker into a fluttering mode so check with your heart doctor before looking at the tag.
3. Woodway- Speaking of price, Woodway is the king of sticker shock in the treadmill business. If you can get past the $12,000 plus price tag, the Desmo model with the touch screen is something to behold. If you are the “set it and forget it” type with an unlimited budget, this might be the one for you because in a home it should never wear out.
4. Cybex- Let’s face it…both Cybex and Star Trac have had their troubles lately. Not only has a bad economy made them pull hard on the bootstraps, Cybex had a $66 million judgement levied against them in a court case that left a poor woman paralyzed where an incident occurred where a weight machine fell on her. With that said, they make good equipment but since they only have $4 million in insurance coverage according to Business Wire, if the verdict stands, Cybex is in real trouble in our opinion.
5. Star Trac- Star Trac machines from a build quality perspective aren’t as high quality as Cybex but they are now partially owned by a very wealthy Asian company after their reorganization in 2010. They did not have to file for bankruptcy which was a very positive move but they should have listened to us with their ill-fated move into retail. At least the board was smart enough to fire the dunce CEO that made the decision.

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Is Cybex in Trouble?! – December 13, 2010

Last week, Cybex ran into a buzzsaw in the form of a court judgement against them to the tune of $66 million. Of course, Cybex issued a statement that they will appeal the award but it begs the question, “what happens when the appeals run out and Cybex is still on the hook for millions of dollars?” We know the answer to this from past experience- the answer is they will be gone if they are not able to get out from under this verdict.

Not to long ago, a strength company in California died due to the same type of judgement and it was only in the $15 million range. I’m pretty certain Cybex can get the amount reduced in court but I don’t see how they will be able to survive even with a reduction of 50%. We’ll see!

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The 5 Best Treadmills for 2011 – December 10, 2010

1. Livestrong 8.0 Elliptical, $799
   Reasons:

   • Warrantee – Any elliptical under $1,000 needs a strong warrantee. The Livestrong has a Lifetime frame and brake, 1-year parts, 1-year in-home labor.
   • Value – Here is an elliptical that says $799 and you can actually get it for $799. Free shipping & you buy over the internet so no tax. Not Bad.
   • Has a 23lb fly wheel, and a nice long stride.
   • Reliability – The Livestrong 8.0 is built on the same frame that Livestrong’s more expensive models are built on. They sacrifice the bells and whistles to get the price down. I will go for reliability and quality over the bells and whistles every time in an elliptical under $1,000.
   • Normally I would cringe paying less than $1,000 for an elliptical. When I buy, I want something that will last. I think this is the most affordable elliptical on the market that offers some long lasting reliability.

    

   NordicTrack ACT Pro, $1,299
   Reasons:

   • NordicTrack’s innovative central drive with adjustable stride and compact design takes the cake with me.
   • Redesigned, heavier flywheel for 2011.
   • Solidly built, well balanced, with steel frame, good components, and smooth operation.
   • Lots of nice features – Ifit Live (you have to buy it), and hook ups for your IPOD.
   • A really nice NordicTrack Premier Warrantee featuring lifetime on frame, 5 years on parts, and two year in home service.

    

   Sole E95, $1,699
   Reasons:

   • Whisper Quiet Drive System featuring a 29lbs fly wheel and a high gear ratio allows for extra smooth operation not found in most treadmills anywhere near this price range.
   • The E95 has a Power Incline that offers additional resistance & variation to the workout (ability to work different muscle groups).
   • The E95 has a front drive system. Front drive systems can cause problems but Sole has over come this with a superior quad-wheel design for their ellipticals. This feature allows for extra smooth operation, and better opportunity for a trouble free life.
   • The adjustable foot pedals are really cool. Sole starts with an ergo correct 2 degree inward slope to the pedals. Then to allow for differences in the way people walk, Sole utilizes an adjustable Worm-Drive. Together the two industry leading designs combine to reduce stress on the ankles and feet.
   • Got some cool features such as IPOD hook-ups, Heart Rate Monitoring, controls built into the handle bars, among others.
   • 30 Day Money Back Guarantee. Lifetime Warrantee on parts and electronics, 2 years on in-home service. The Best Warrantee anywhere!

   Suggestions:
   Sole needs better assembly instructions. They need to communicate a more realistic assembly time. With the microscopic diagrams and lack of labeling of the parts… assembly of this machine is far from easy or “basic” as described.

   They also need to find some better weekend tech/customer support. I called Smooth on the weekend and got an intelligent, tech that was able to help me with my question. I had to e-mail Sole, and the response was essentially useless.

    

   Smooth Agile DMT X2 Elliptical, $1,999
   Reasons:

   • I love that you can actually get it for $1,999 when that is the advertised price. How many times in your life has that happened? Buy it on the internet, and no tax. They are offering free shipping right now. You can also get free inside delivery or a small discount to offset that cost with coupons available at Treadmilldoctor.com.
   • I love their Rear Drive Design. It is a simpler design that will eventually lead to less maintenance.
   • The Agile is truly agile. The ergo adjusting foot pedals offer less wear and tear on the ankles and feet. The adjustable stride is a nice feature when accommodating shorter or taller users. The pulley system used to accomplish the stride/incline is interesting. It doesn’t push the user’s knee out in front as you adjust the stride, as can be the case with most models out there. You want an elliptical to work-out your muscles, not your joints.
   • It has some nice features in the IPOD docking station, Touch Thumb Controls, Heart Rate Monitoring, among others.
   • A lot of companies are offering some really good warrantees right now and Smooth is as well. Why shouldn’t they? They build a well-deigned, high quality machine. The warrantee features lifetime on frame & brakes, 5 years on parts & electronics, and two year in home service.

    

   Precor EFX 5.25, $3399
   Reasons:

   • OK… I really like rear drive systems.
   • You may be able to find this model a little cheaper depending on various promotions and who’s selling.
   • Features foot pedals “CrossRamp technology” that allow for adjustment between 15 and 25 degrees. This alters the height of the elliptical path and stride length. It gives opportunity to work different muscle groups.
   • Moving Handle Bars.
   • Precor pioneered the Elliptical / Cross Trainer.
   • The EFX 5.35 has some cool features including Quick Start Feature, Heart Rate Monitoring, Smart Rate Feature, and an Easy to Read Console.
   • Precor uses superior components, and cutting-edge technologies to ensure quiet, smooth operation and years of trouble-free use.
   • The Warrantee covers Lifetime Frame and welds, 10 years parts and wear items, and one year on labor. This warrantee could be better.

    

   Elliptical Buying Tips:

   • Unless you have a ready crew of 2 to 3 strong guys available, buy the inside delivery option that most companies offer for $99. You will thank yourself. A great idea especially if you are going up some stairs.
   • We advise a 4 Year Treadmill Doctor 360 Degree Guarantee Extended Warrantee for any elliptical. Ellipticals typically have more problems than treadmills simply due to the nature of the machine. Additionally, the 360 Degree Guarantee covers things that most factory warranties don’t.

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5 Worst Treadmills – December 7, 2010

1. Weslo Cadence 5.9- Walmart takes the cake on this one! They have driven the price point down so far on this model that it simply is hard to call it a treadmill. It would be like having Walmart decide to make a cake for 10 cents…it can be done but at the end of the day, you would get next to nothing for the little bit of money you spent.
   
   
2. Horizon Evolve- Although it is great for space, it is cheaply, very cheaply made. If you need a treadmill that folds to 10” in height, this is it but you give up quality like a broken dam gives up water.
   
   
3. Weslo Cadence G40- An absolute horror of a treadmill. If you need something for Halloween to scare the little kiddies, put this at the front door and tell them it’s a treadmill…if they know anything, it will scare the pants off them!
   
   
4. Weslo Cadence CT4.9- The console on this one shook like a donkey with Parkinsons (thanks Marshall Mathers). If you can get over the disorientation from the screen shaking like it is sitting in the middle of hurricane winds, you might enjoy your workout.
   
   
5. Merit 715T Plus- The best of the worst! There has to be one….so the Merit is it. If you need a cheap, cheap machine, this one is your machine but it still is a bad treadmill.

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