Overall, very pleased!
Written: Jun 16 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Quiet, compact, easy to use, great motion, plenty of resistance
Cons: For shorter women, feet are *slightly* far apart--takes some getting used to.
The Bottom Line: If you are serious about an Elliptical trainer, and want an ergonomically correct, challenging workout, don't buy lesser models. Get a CE.
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| scottsmarci's Full Review: Smooth Ce Elliptical Trainer |
We've had our CE about three weeks.
I wanted to wait before writing. So far, we are very pleased and feel confident that this is the best value out there. Others on this list have eloquently spoken about how this machine compares to other, more expensive models, and I agree with all the positive comments above.
My trainer came in good time, and was easy to assemble.
I wanted to include in my review the answers to some things I wondered about when I was buying my trainer.
1) As I shopped dept. stores before purchasing this trainer, one thing I noticed was that stances varied widely from machine to machine, as did the "bounciness" of the elliptical pattern. I am a short woman, and my husband is average height, and we were concerned that I'd get "bounced off" any machine that would suit him. I had been going to a gym, and also had noticed that some machines would pitch me forward, and others would allow me to stand more upright. Compared to these, my assessment is as follows:
--The CE has as smooth a motion as any machine I've tried; very comparable to those at the gym, and superior to those in department stores.
--The CE motion is adjustable, as far as the "bounciness" goes! The foot pedals are adjustable, so I believe that everyone will find a comfortable spot on which to pedal.
--The CE pitches me forward only *slightly* compared with certain models at the gym, and all but one model in dept. stores.
--My one complaint about the motion/stance on the CE is that because of its compact design, it forces my feet further apart than is 100% comfortable. At first, I was worried about hip-muscle strain, which is why I waited to write this review. But after three weeks' steady use, I have found that my hips are fine and I am getting used to the wider stance. My view is that I'm probably strengthening hip muscles that other machines didn't get to. Still, this might be a consideration for some of you.
2)I do my own program using controls manually, with a focus on graduated resistances, and therefore I was not looking for a series of fancy preset programs. (The CE has several such, and they look fine, I just don't use them.) As I experimented on machines in dept. stores, I was very careful to note the amount of resistance the machine afforded. I wondered, before my CE arrived, if it would afford me (and my husband, who's far stronger than me) enough resistance for our preferred style of working out. It does! We are VERY happy with the resistance levels.
3) One thing that was unclear to me was the function of the heart monitors (ear and wireless). I came to discover that their function had to do with *automatically* regulating the difficulty of your workout based on your age/weight. I was not interested in this function, since I program my own workouts. This information saved me from ordering the $69 heart rate monitor. Furthermore, if all you want to do is occasionally check your pulse, you can do so on the stationary handles of the machine. There is no need, therefore, to use the ear clip if you are not interested in having the machine automatically regulate the difficulty of your workout.
4) Finally, I wondered about how BIG the box would be that this trainer came in. I just wanted a mental picture as to what I'd be up against. It's about two and a half feet high, five feet long, and three feet wide. NOT overwhelming. By the way, we looked for quite a while before we found the assembly manual: it's tucked in the main barrel of the handle assembly! Now you know!
I hope these details that I wondered about can help you in your buying decision!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
scottsmarci
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Reviews written: 1
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