Archive for November, 2009

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Life Fitness Elliptical 95Xi
 
Manufacturer: Life Fitness
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $5,899.00
Sale Price: View Sale Price
Availibility: View Product Availability
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Product Description

Our best-selling, fully featured, total-body Great Product provides 26 motivating workout programs and a premium, upper-and lower-level console with numeric keypad. Console design allows users to read a magazine and program workouts at the same time. Addit * Life pulse and Polar telemetry heart rate monitoring systems * Upper and lower-level console display with integrated reading rack * Personal Trainer customizable workouts * On-the-fly programming * Hill Plus interval workouts * Customized cool do

Product Details

  • Best Selling, Full Featured, Total body Workout with 26 workout programs!
  • Console design conforms to allow users to read magazines during a workout!
  • Life Pulse and Polar Heart Rate Telemetry.
  • Personal Trainer Customizable Workouts
  • Hill Plus interval workouts!

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

The wife is happy
 
Review Date: February 13, 2009
Reviewer: Ron, Holland, MI United States
After using this machine at a fitness center, we ordered this identical machine. Minor cosmetic flaws but in good shape for a used machine. I have never used it but my bride is very happy with the machine. I had a few questions and the vendor was prompt and helpful even after the purchase.
Great Machine, Half Decent Support
 
Review Date: April 4, 2007
Reviewer: Deep Roy, Minneapolis, MN United States
Overall, I think the 95Xi is a terrific bargin. I got mine two years ago and lost 70 lbs AND now I have a V02 max that would allow me to run in a marathon. I also bike, indoor row on a ConceptII rower; weight train on a total trainer; balance on a BOSU trainer, stretch with weighted bars; and walk a lot.

However, the 95Xi is central to my exercise since ones aerobic capacity opens up doors that you can run through (trademark).

The only shortcoming of the 95Xi was the company's support. They wouldn't help me because the dealer was responsible and I'm still wondering about a "slipping clutch sound" that the dealer hasn't addressed yet. LifeFitness: feel free to post contact information if you have the answer to this question!

I got my 95Xi very early on and the dealer had to upgrade parts that wore out and that was a little frustrating since the replacement wasn't proactive. For example, I had to have the stabilizers replaced 3 times but now they seem perfect since Life Fitness now makes them stronger. I also had some plastic parts replaced since Life Fitness tried to use a single screw to hold them on and, therefore, they could be easily "bumped off."

I also wish that, as a premium machine, it had the computer interface that my ConceptII rower has: that machine lets me look historically at all my workouts and only cost $1000.00.

However, despite these oddities, I lost 70 lbs and have an awesome aerobic capacity. During the past two years, I've used it for 282 hours or about 23 minutes per day. That far excedes the time I spent with any other piece of equipment.

The reason why I like the 95Xi so much is that it's more like a treadmill than a stair stepper. Their residential models and every one of their competitors seem to be closer to stair steppers since the elliptical motion seems hoppy and choppy. The 95Xi, on the other hand, has a very smooth, elliptical rotation that makes me think I'm walking on air and doing the moon dance.

Overall, I recommend the 95XI hands down.
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Fuel Fitness FE46 20-Inch Elliptical Trainer
 
Manufacturer: Fuel Fitness
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $1,199.00
Sale Price: View Sale Price
Availibility: View Product Availability
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Product Description

Designed with the highest integrity in construction and components, the Fuel Fitness FE46 20-inch elliptical trainer is miles ahead of the competition. The FE46 is distinguished by such features as a full 20-inch stride length that's comfortable and natural, an industrial-weighted flywheel that creates a fluid stepping motion with exceptional stability, and articulating footpads that rotate slightly to keep your feet, ankles, and knees in the proper alignment. Add in a pair of elliptical arms to create a full-body workout and you have a terrific way to improve your cardio fitness, lose weight, or boost your overall health without sacrificing your joints.



The FE46's built-in console computer offers a vibrant blue backlight.
The FE46 is also efficient and easy to use, with a built-in console computer that offers 14 preset programs, one-touch controls for resistance, and a large, easy-to-read display with a vibrant blue backlight. Users will also appreciate the pair of heart-rate-control programs, which allow your heart rate to communicate with the trainer directly. Once you've attached the chest strap, the elliptical will continually change its resistance during your workout to keep you at your preferred heart rate. Other features include hand-grip pulse monitors, built-in speakers, an audio input for plugging in an MP3 player (not included), and a water bottle holder. The FE46 offers a 27-by-69-inch footprint and a weight capacity of 325 pounds, and carries the following warranties: lifetime on the frame and magnetic brake, and one year on all parts and labor.



The narrow frame offers a full 20-inch stride length.
About Fuel Fitness
Fully aware of how expensive home fitness can be, Fuel Fitness developed its line of fitness equipment to meet high quality standards without compromising long-term performance or affordability. Fuel's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility facilitates all logistics, shipping, sales, customer service, and operations from its headquarters in the U.S.

About Elliptical Trainers
Elliptical trainers represent the next wave of advancement in low-impact cardiovascular exercise machines and continue to grow in popularity. By simulating motions experienced through walking, stepping, cycling, and skiing, elliptical machines allow for a smooth and fluid motion while building strength in the arms and legs. Similar to the exercise position for treadmills, elliptical trainers are used by standing in an upright position while holding the handrails of the machine. With elliptical trainers, however, your feet remain in the foot pedals throughout the exercise regimen and circulate in a smooth and seamless motion, resulting in little to no impact on the knees, back, and hips.

Elliptical trainers are compatible for all ages and fitness levels and allow you to select the difficulty level through the incline and intensity settings. Additionally, elliptical trainers allow you to determine the complexity of your workout based on your needs, all while listening to music, watching television, or reading a magazine while exercising in the comfort and safety of your own home.

Although different types of elliptical trainers offer an assortment of features, many of them include an array of challenging programs, forward and reverse directional movement, EKG grip pulse handles, a lightweight portable design with easy fold-up capability, and a monitor displaying calories burned, distance, speed, time, and heart rate. Other types of exercise machines, namely treadmills and bikes, offer excellent cardiovascular exercise and muscular training for the legs in a forward-motion exercise. Elliptical trainers take this to the next level by offering an upper and lower body workout with dual motion, challenging and diverse programs, and a low-impact exercise machine that won't strain sensitive joints.

Product Details

  • Efficient elliptical trainer with full, natural 20-inch stride length
  • Industrial-weighted flywheel creates a fluid, stable stepping motion
  • Articulating footpads rotate slightly to keep joints in proper alignment
  • Built-in console computer offers 14 preset programs and blue backlight
  • Footprint measures 27 x 69 inches (W x L); 325-pound weight capacity

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

Fuel Eliptical (FE44) - Buy Something Else
 
Review Date: December 22, 2009
Reviewer: C. Spelce,
Fuel Elliptical (FE44)

We bought the Fuel Elliptical (FE44) from Dick's Sporting Goods about 18 months ago. It was on sale and the Dick's Store Representative highly recommended Fuel. Within the first 12 months (within the warranty), we has the right metal leg that connects the foot petal to the wheel come loose and the computer go out. Both required replacement parts and technical service. The FE44 came with a 12 month warranty on anything and a lifetime frame warranty.

Shortly after the 12 month warranty ran out, the same metal rod that connects the foot petal to the wheel broke during use and literally came off of the wheel. I was using the machine when it happened and I almost fell off. The metal rod literally cracked and broke off of the machine. I am an average size male (5'11" & 195lbs), well within the weight limits outlined by Fuel. So there was no unusual use or abuse to this machine; just poorly designed and manufactured. We contacted Fuel's customer service regarding this issue and the customer representative informed us that Fuel's Lifetime Frame Warranty does not cover the metal rods connecting the petal to the wheel. We expressed that the machine was completely useless with a broken rod and inquired how the metal rod connecting the foot petal to the wheel was not part of the frame. It wasn't until we got a manager involved did they agree to send us the necessary parts to get the machine working again. During the conversation, the manager stated that "this has been a reoccurring problem with this model".
After receiving the replacement parts, we repaired the machine and it appeared to be in working order. Just this morning, after approximately two months of use since the repair, the bolt connecting that same metal rod broke and caused the foot petal to come off track. I was using the machine when this happened and almost fell of the machine again.

Considering the repetitive problems we have had with this Fuel FE44 and the problems with Fuel's customer service, I would highly encourage consumers to purchase a different elliptical machine. Our experience has proven to us that Fuel is cheaply made, unreliable, unsafe and extremely disappointing.
For example, our friends purchased a Schwinn Elliptical about 6 months ago and have had no issues, no complaints and appear to be completely satisfied with their purchase. Also, they only spend $200 more than we did.
quite pleased
 
Review Date: December 4, 2008
Reviewer: alnvilma, Portland, OR
While looking for a new entry level machine, we were sold on the Schwinn but saw this for $100 less on sale. It has everything we want and need and a longer (20")stride length too. Very solid and quiet. Pretty easy assembly and plenty of programs that are adjustable on-the-fly. I think this is nearly the same as the well regarded Sole E25 and must come from the same factory.
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Smooth Fitness CE 7.4 Elliptical Trainer
 
Manufacturer: Smooth Fitness
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $3,297.00
Sale Price: $1,599.00
Availibility: Usually ships in 3 to 5 days
Free Shipping Available
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Product Description

The Smooth CE 7.4 elliptical cross trainer supports a remarkable 350 pounds and is built for those who take health and fitness seriously with its extra-heavy, welded steel frame. The ergonomic foot pedals move with your natural motion removing added stress from the ball of the foot, relieving pain caused by other products.

Product Details

  • 21-inch stride length is comfortable for multiple users of varying heights
  • Ergonomic, pivoting foot pedals emulate the natural motion of your ankle as the pivoting foot pedal maintains proper alignment
  • Wireless heart rate monitor is included; automatically adjust the intensity of your workouts to reach your optimal fat burning zone
  • Deluxe four-window, dot matrix LED display allows you to easily read course profiles and track your RPM, speed, watts, time, distance, pulse, heart rate, calories, resistance level, metabolic equivalents, and target heart rate while working out
  • Warranty information: lifetime on the frame and braking system; three years on all other parts; one year on labor

Video Reviews

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Customer Reviews

You get what you pay for
 
Review Date: June 29, 2010
Reviewer: H Giersberg, Woodstock, Ga United States
I've had the 7.4 for a month and have found that it's a great addition to my workout equipment which includes a Totalgym for strength and an Ablounger for crunching. What makes the 7.4 such a great addition? My wife is using it every day as well.

ASSEMBLY: The 7.4 comes in a very large box. It is well packaged for protection. Even though I could tell the box had taken a beating, the 7.4 was unharmed. Save the box for 30 days! After unpacking the 7.4, I found that assembly was made easier if two people are involved. You will at least need help getting the base section out of the box. It also helps to have a second pair of hands hold some parts while you connect wire plugs. Tucking the wires into the frame was a little difficult but I took my time. Assembly was not that difficult if you follow the directions. I did apply a small bit of lithium grease where the arms connected and backed of those bolts 1/4 turn while using Locktite on the locking nuts. Not seen in the photo is an electric plug attaches on the back end of the 7.4 right at the floor level. It's a bit inconvenient in getting to it each day ad when you lift the back end to change the location of the 7.4. Lifting the back end of the 7.4 to move it is not very difficult. Small wheels on the front base engage immediately and the machine rolls with ease. You will want to plug the 7.4 into a surge protector according to the instructions.

ELECTRONICS: I was considering a treadmill with an iFit chip. The 7.4 does not use iFit but I think it provides all the features you would get anyway. It has several programed workouts including "random" as if you were walking a outdoor trail going up and down hills. It also has strength, interval, fatburn, and manual. It does ask you to enter your age and weight as it calculates your heart rate activity and calories burned. The iFit also asks for gender and height but I assume the 7.4 uses averages for this data instead. The 7.4 also asks what metabolic or "Met" setting you want. It has settings of 1 to 16. The instruction sheet says 1-3 are light indor activities while 16 is like a full wind sprint activity. That is, set it at 16 and do a 30 minute workout would be like running a marathon for 30 minutes.I have not used it yet for anything over a three so I have a lot of room to grow before I max out the 7.4. The 7.4 does calculate how many calories you are burning. There is a wireless heart monitor you can wear and the 7.4 will show you what percentage of your heart rate you have achieved. If you do not wear the monitor, you can hold the handles and it will read your heart activity there but if you let go of the handles, the machine resets the heart rate activity and it has to build it up when you take hold of the handles again.

EXERCISE: The movement of the 7.4 is smooth. The footboards move a bit by design to add to the comfort. I do not find them to be too far apart. My wife and I did try out some different machines on display at a local sports superstore and we came away satisfied that the 7.4 was well worth the premium price. The other devices we tried were jerky and uncomfortable. It's hard enough to exercise... Having a jerky machine to use would probably take away your motivation or at least discourage you from a 30 minute workout. You get what you pay for so get the very best you can. The other machines were very complicated in their design with multiple pivot points. One even had roller bars that looked like a maintenance nightmare. The 7.4 has three pivot points on each arm. That simplicity probably has a lot to do with the smooth movement. The 7.4 is quiet. You can watch TV but I like to use a fan when I'm working out and it's the fan itself that makes hearing the TV difficult. There is a small tray to hold a drink cup or and iPod. Your feet will like to slide forward on the footboards but the sides of the footboard trays will keep your feet from sliding off.

SPACE: It is big and long but you can tuck the flywheel in an out of the way area to best utilize your space. While the 7.4 is long, it is also narrow.
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BH Fitness X4 Elliptical Trainer
 
Manufacturer: Bladez
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $1,599.99
Sale Price: $984.28
Availibility: Usually ships in 2 to 3 days
Free Shipping Available
Buy Now
 

Product Description

Reliable, attractive and solidly durable, the BH Fitness X4 elliptical trainer is a great choice for getting a total body cardio workout in your home with its solid construction, user-friendly consoles with multiple preset workout programs, and motivational displays showcasing workout statistics including a program profile graph. This elliptical machine has a 20-inch stride length with anatomically correct foot pedal spacing for a more comfortable workout and sport grip handlebars for a secure hold. It also includes a heart rate control program to optimize your cardio workout using either the included wireless chest strap or pulse grips integrated into the handles.

Features and Specifications:

  • Natural 20-inch stride length
  • 12 built-in programs include manual, weight loss and heart rate control
  • Polar chest strap and wireless heart rate
  • Slip-resistant pedals
  • Anatomically correct foot pedal spacing
  • Dual guide rails for maximum stability
  • Sport grip handlebars
  • True elliptical motion to reduce joint stress
  • Contact heart rate sensors
  • Blue backlit LCD Matrix window displays speed, distance, time, calories, incline and wireless heart rate
  • Program profile graph
  • 16 levels of resistance
  • Poly V belt drive system
  • Transportation wheels
  • Water bottle holder
  • Dimensions: 63.5 x 29.25 inches (LxW)
  • Weight: 155 pounds
  • Maximum user weight: 325 pounds
  • Warranty: Lifetime on the frame; five years on parts; one year on labor
About Elliptical Trainers
Elliptical trainers represent the next wave of advancement in low-impact cardiovascular exercise machines and continue to grow in popularity. By simulating motions experienced through walking, stepping, cycling, and skiing, elliptical machines allow for a smooth and fluid motion while building strength in the arms and legs. Similar to the exercise position for treadmills, elliptical trainers are used by standing in an upright position while holding the handrails of the machine. With elliptical trainers, however, your feet remain in the foot pedals throughout the exercise regimen and circulate in a smooth and seamless motion, resulting in little to no impact on the knees, back, and hips.

Elliptical trainers are compatible for all ages and fitness levels and allow you to select the difficulty level through the incline and intensity settings. Additionally, elliptical trainers allow you to determine the complexity of your workout based on your needs, all while listening to music, watching television, or reading a magazine while exercising in the comfort and safety of your own home.

Although different types of elliptical trainers offer an assortment of features, many of them include an array of challenging programs, forward and reverse directional movement, EKG grip pulse handles, a lightweight portable design with easy fold-up capability, and a monitor displaying calories burned, distance, speed, time, and heart rate. Other types of exercise machines, namely treadmills and bikes, offer excellent cardiovascular exercise and muscular training for the legs in a forward-motion exercise. Elliptical trainers take this to the next level by offering an upper and lower body workout with dual motion, challenging and diverse programs, and a low-impact exercise machine that won't strain sensitive joints.

Product Details

  • Elliptical trainer for the home with user-friendly console and motivational display
  • 20-inch stride length; 16 levels of resistance
  • Heart rate control program using either included wireless chest strap or pulse grips in the handles
  • 12 built-in programs include manual, weight loss; sport grip handlebars
  • Warranty: Lifetime on frame and motor; 5 years on parts; 1 year for labor

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews