This is the third in my series of Cybex Arc Trainers. I am writing a stand alone review of the Cybex Home Arc Trainer but will leave links to the first two below. The Arc Trainers are for sure my favorite piece of cardio vascular equipment. However they are $4,000 and up. Now Cybex has brought you one in the $3,000 range making it affordable for people who want to and can pay for the best. There are many similarities among the Home Trainer and the others so there will be overlapping in this review.

Features:

This is considered a cross trainer because of the levels of resistance it gives you and the feelings it give you. On the Home Trainer I can combine what it feels like to hike, ski and climb. It really does target different body parts in various ways. It feels like a glider of sorts. This motion leads to less joint stress than on any cardio machine I’ve been on.

I always look at the handles on machines. The handles are long and angle up. I am almost 5 feet 5 inches tall. If you are very, very short you may have to hold the handles lower than is comfortable but I didn’t sense any height restrictions on the other end. I pretty much held the arms in the middle of the padding.

Not only are there the usual heart rate sensors but you will get a wireless sensor which I think is so important when I am using moving arms. It is just easier to use a chest strap.

The Home Arc Trainer has Same Side Forward (SSF) technology. This gave me the ability to incline the machine yet my body stayed straight up. One problem I have with many ellipticals is the position of my body. I often find it going forward. Not so on this machine. On this machine I could change my stride from low (glide); medium (stride); and high (climb). In addition that balance allowed me to feel my upper body getting a workout which I usually don’t find with moving arms on other machines.

Programs:

The Home Arc Trainer has 12 programs but that includes quick start (Which is really just pushing the start button and not choosing a program; manual (which I don’t consider a program since I choose what level I want), three interval programs, three fitness programs, three hill programs as well as random, and calorie goal.

There are 11 incline and resistance levels. When I was in the manual mode there were 20 resistance levels. So for example I can start the machine with the quick start option and after hitting that it counts down 3, 2, 1 or I can choose the program option. I would then choose which program I want, hit enter, put in the amount of time I want, hit enter, my weight and level and hit enter. It will again count down before it starts.

The Home Arc Trainer has an LED display that showed me how the program I chose was progressing. On the console I saw my calories burned, distance, calories per hour, and strides per minute, heart rate, time, and incline and resistance level. What this machine doesn't have (nor do any of the Arc Trainers)are my favorite quick buttons that let me just touch a number and the level will go from 2 to 6. I like this machine so much that I’m not going to let the lack of that feature to bring down my rating.

The foot pedals are excellent. They are large and wide. I find them very comfortable. The pedals have a slot in which I put my feet. My toes don’t hit the foot pedal and I find that my foot pain is not aggravated.

This machine is different than other elliptical machines which have foot pedals attached to the base. These have no base. The pedals are free floating and are each attached to 3 poles. You’ll feel a nice easy glide rather than an up and down motion. The first thing I would recommend before you start this machine is to get on it and get used to the feel of the motion of the pedals. I think you’ll find it a nice smooth stride.

The machines are large because of the front of them. The Home Arc measures 28 1/2 inches wide by 71 inches long by 62 inches high. It is smaller than the other Arc Trainers. The maximum user weight is lower though coming in at 300 pounds. So if you love this machine but weigh more you will have to spend more money on one of the other two.

The warranty is 2 years for parts; 1 for labor and 10 years for the frame.

My thoughts:

The Home Arc Trainer is a terrific machine. It really is very easy on the joints. I get a great workout without my feet or back hurting me. I find it to be very quiet and very smooth. The more expensive models are the first ones taken at my gym.

I would highly recommend the Home Arc Trainer. Other than not having the convenient quick button features it's a perfect machine.

Please talk with your doctor before starting an exercise program.


Cybex Total Body Arc Trainer

Cybex Arc Trainer

All my fitness equipment reviews can be found here



Recommended: Yes