Smooth operator...smooooooooth operator...
Written: Jul 19 '05 (Updated Apr 16 '08)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: SILENT, heavy duty and stable, pre-set programs, not a space hog
Cons: The assembly and computer instructions could have been clearer
The Bottom Line: This machine is durable, stable, smooth, totally silent, and gives you an awesome workout!
|
|
|
| ribbit2jen's Full Review: Smooth Ce Elliptical Trainer |
I purchased the Smooth CE Eliptical Trainer when my husband and I decided that we wanted something low impact for a cardio workout at home. We first bought the Bowflex Treadclimber TC3000 and ended up sending it back because it seemed cheaply built and it was very noisy http://www.epinions.com/content_188972961412 . We did our research and read in several different sources that the Smooth CE Elliptical was a high quality machine and known for being very quiet. We just wanted something that would be durable and stable, but also not too noisy. We didn't care about the bells and whistles, and we each only had about 10 lbs to lose, but we wanted to get into better shape.
We went to the Smooth website, www.smoothfitness.com, and read about the machine and that it had a lifetime warranty on the frame and 3 years on the electronics. It also said that 1 year free labor was included. I read the fine print as well, and it said that if they are unable to send a repair technician out to your house, they will send you whatever replacement part and give you $75 for having to do it yourself. Based on the reviews it received in several magazines and the warranty with a 30 day money back guarantee, we decided to go ahead and purchase it online. It was a total of $1499 including shipping and a free chest strap heart rate monitor as well. This was $300 less than the Treadclimber.
I was contacted via email by a customer service rep who explained that she would be my contact person at Smooth should I need anything. She explained that I had purchased the machine with "curbside delivery" but that if I wanted "turnkey" where they would come in and set it all up for me, I would have to pay $100 more. Since I am pretty good at putting things together (I just put together and then took apart the Treadclimber a couple of weeks ago), and I live in a ranch without stairs, I decided to just stick with the curbside delivery.
Then, about a week later, I received an email stating that the machine had shipped and would be delivered by a freight company and it included a tracking number for me. A couple of days later, the freight company called to see if I would be available between 11 and 1 the next day, which was no problem. The next day I received a phone call around 10:45 am from the driver asking specific directions etc. He showed up at about 11 AM and wheeled the box up my long steep driveway and into my garage for me.
The packaging was a big rectangular cardboard box on a rectangular wooden palate. There were a few holes in the cardboard, but they were just into empty space and the machine was not at all damaged. I took off the cardboard and there was a sort of wooden frame around the machine. So I just used a hammer to pry the wooden pieces off. Then, I could see that there were some screws holding some pieces of wood down to secure the machine, so I got my cordless Makida drill and quickly removed them.
I took all the individual parts out and put them inside and I noticed that every part was really heavy and seemed very durable. I liked that right off the bat. The last thing was the base of the machine that includes the big flywheel. This thing was freakin heavy! I really didn't want to wait for my husband to get home, so I just sort of slowly drug it off the palate onto the floor of my garage. Then, I noticed there were wheels, so I hefted it up on one side and used the wheels to get it inside and into the room where I wanted to set it up. The wheels were pretty useless once I got to the carpet of course. It still took every ounce of my strength to do it alone, but I just hate waiting for help so I made myself get it in.
There was the typical bag of parts and little tools and an instruction booklet for assembly and a separate book for the computer. The instructions were a little worse than the usual instructions that come with things you have to assemble yourself, mainly because some of the pictures were too dark to really see. But I just started at step one and the whole thing probably took less than an hour completely by myself. I don't suggest going this alone though, because there were a couple of steps that were very hard to coordinate without help. The assembly was pretty straightforward though, and much quicker and easier than the Treadclimber was.
It doesn't take up a lot of space, about 2 feet wide and around 50 inches long. The foot rests are adjustable so that you can move them forward or back based on height. You do have to screw in 2 bolts on each one to change it, so I don't think it would be very fast to have to change it every time, but it is a nice option if you plan to leave it in the one best spot for you. I am 5'6" and my husband is 6'0", and we don't have to change it at all.
The machine has a built in hand grip heart rate monitor, but it also came with an ear clip heart rate monitor and the extra chest strap monitor as well. The chest strap monitor is the one I like best and it is also wireless. The other 2 options, work, but not as well as the chest strap. It also came with a water bottle holder and even a matching water bottle to use in it. I knew it would have the holder, but I didn't expect the water bottle as well. I like that it matches. There are wheels on the front and on the back are dials to adjust the height to level it. We have it on carpet so I haven't bothered.
After reading the computer manual (not very good instructions, but the actual computer is easy to use), and plugging it in, I jumped right on and tried it out. There are 2 options for just starting up and adjusting the resistance yourself. One way it counts up in time and the other it counts down. Then you just press the up and down arrows to get it to the amount of resistance you want. I was at 25 and I think it goes up to 400. I can't imagine I will ever get anywhere close to 100, let alone 400! It also lets you check your pulse, and it tells you your time, distance, speed, revolutions, and kilijoules burned (I really don't care about any of that stuff, I just wanted a durable and quiet machine, so any electronic features are really just extra for me). It also tells you the room temperature, which is something else I really don't care about.
Then, there are 6 different program options. These I really like. There are some easier ones like a small increase in intensity over several minutes and then a level workout for about 20 minutes and then a gradual decrease at the end. Then there are some interval type programs where it gets harder and easier over and over. You can also adjust the intensity during the programs to make it harder or easier. There is also one where it is heart rate controlled. I like using the chest strap best, and you just start going at whatever speed you want while it adjusts the intensity to keep your heart rate in a certain range based on your age that you input and a percentage of workout you want. I don't really understand all the details to it yet, because I need to go over the manual again since now I have actually used it. It does work well though and it really is a neat option, especially for someone who might not be in the best physical shape to start out.
You can also buy a software program to use with it and plug it into a computer for more training options, but I really don't think I will every have the need for that. It has plenty of options for me right now.
As for the machine itself. It isn't quiet, it is SILENT. I am not exagerating. There is no noise whatsoever, not even a wooshing noise or anything. Silent. At first, I thought it must not be working right or something because it was too quiet. But I started one of the workout programs and I could feel the intensity increasing like it was supposed to, so I know it was working fine. It just makes no noise at all. The motion is very smooth and fluid, just like the name suggests. Even when it changes to a different level of intensity, it still remains very smooth. When you want to stop, it does take a few revolutions before you can totally stop and get off, but you can feel that there are some type of electromagnetic brakes that do engage and stop it. You can also go backwards to work different muscle groups. The whole thing feels very durable and stable.
You get good upper body motion from the handle bars that move along with your legs, and the stride is not the longest I have seen on an elliptical, but it seems fine. It doesn't look or feel like anything on it will break anytime soon. The workout is awesome, and I don't think I will ever get near the highest intensity level it has. I love the option of a heart rate controlled work out as well as the programs.
What I wanted was a durable high quality machine that would last and be as quiet as possible. I wasn't looking for bells and whistles and I didn't want a lot of extra plastic parts that would just break or rattle. This machine is everything I wanted. The design looks minimalistic without lots of cheap plastic panels and cases around things. It is heavy duty and made of steel. Plus, it is actually quieter than I was hoping for.
I still can't get over how totally silent it is!
UPDATE: It has been almost 6 months and I am still in love with this machine! It developed a little squeak/creak one day, but I quickly located the source and simply tightened a bolt and it went back to being completely silent!
UPDATE 2: It has now been nearly 3 years that my husband and I have been using this machine and we still love it. It sometimes developes a slight squeak/creak in one spot and that is easily fixed by tightening one bolt. Other than that it is still performing like new.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
ribbit2jen
|
|
Member: Jen
Location: USA
Reviews written: 115
Trusted by: 11 members
About Me:
Wife, Mother, Speech-Language Pathologist, Knitter, Spinner, Crocheter, Seamstress, Quilter, Baker, Control-Freak, Perfectionist
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.