Elliptical Trainers in general...
I have been hooked on elliptical trainers ever since the first time I tried one on college about four years ago. For some reason, I seem to be able to have more endurance to last longer than I can while jogging at the same calorie burn. The Precor website tells me this is because minimizing impact "lowers the rate of percieved exertion. Sounds good to me! I have spent a couple of years trying to persuade my father to purchase this machine instead of a treadmill, since he has bad knees and a bad back. Elliptical training is MUCH easier on legs and knees than running. So I finally talked him into it, and now he is as much of a fan as I am. I would recommend elliptical training either instead of running for anyone who has knee or other joint problems, or in addition to jogging and other cardio activities as a fun way to cross train.

Features of the Precor EFX 5.33
I find this model to be preferable to some of the other Precor models because of the handlebar option. By using the handlebars and your legs, you can get a total body workout. I tend to burn more calories on elliptical machines with handlebars. This model also has 14 programs, which helps keep things interesting. The machine is also nice because it has 20 resistance levels so it can be adapted for the couch potato as well as the hardcore athlete. Your heart rate can be monitored as well, however you must purchase the monitor separately. If you have the monitor and a target heartrate, there are programs which allow the machine to adjust its intensity accordingly. The machine also features a water bottle holder and a magazine rack, to make your workout go by even faster.

You can even personalize it!
One of my favorite features of this machine is that it gives you the option of inputing two user ids. This means the machine will remember your weight, age, and preferred settings so you don't have to input them every time you use it. It will also keep track of the distance and other statistics. It would be nice if it stored more than two id's, however, since in many families there will be more than two people using a machine regularly. Entering this information will allow for a more accurate count of your calorie burn. For people who don't want to mess with all that fancy stuff, there is a quickstart button to bypass entering the information.

Other Information
The machine is very sturdy and well-made, particularly compared to some of the other home elliptical models. This is reflected in the price. These machines rarely go on sale, unless you can find an older model for sale at a gym. However, since Precor offers an extensive warranty system, this machine can truly be seen as a longterm investment, where cheaper machines might last only a year or so. There is a lifetime warranty on the machine's frame, and a ten year warranty on parts. If you plan to place the machine on a patterned or textured tile floor (like we did), it is a good idea to place a thin rubber gym mat under it to help with stability. Once we did that, I have been very impressed with the stability of the machine. The machine is low maintenance, and hasn't required any oiling or special treatment for the time we have had it (about six months). Also, the machine operates fairly quietly, unlike some cheaper models. It's a little bulky, measuring 80 X 32 at the base and is 64 inches tall, so clear a space before you buy!

Where do I get it?
Precor is only sold at specialized fitness stores, which is good since it is such an investment. A list of places that sell Precor is featured on the website, located at www.precor.com. Most of the dealers are really helpful. Make sure you get on the machine and try it in the store, even though you might feel a little silly. It's kind of like buying a small car!

Overall...
I highly recommend this piece of exercise equipment. Precor equipment is of very high quality. If I had it to do over again, I would still select this same elliptical machine.

*An even sturdier model is the Precor EFX 546.

Recommended: Yes