I have always found that the greatest calorie burn per minute comes from elliptical machines. This one is perfect in that sense. Like other reviewers stated this machine provides a good workout, even at low resistance levels. My wife, who is in much better shape than I, can only handle level one (out of 10) at this time. Pros and Cons?
I'll start with the Cons:
1.) Some of the screws did not fit completely into their designated pre-drilled holes. I had to add washers to create a tight fit. And because all of the joints are designed to be covered with plastic molded parts, the plastic doesn't fit correctly over the ones where I had to add washers. However, it is a minor cosmetic issue because the joints are not in a place where a user could hit it while riding.
2.) The packaging and instructions can be confusing and incomplete. Some of the parts come in numbered bags, but the bags are not sequential. Plastic washers are thrown in with metal washers and are similar sizes, but the directions don't always call out which washer goes where. The plastic molded parts appear similar and are not numbered. You have to use your best judgment. Not that this is difficult to figure out, but it added 15-20 minutes of trial and error.
3.) After two or three sessions on the machine, there was a horrible grinding noise coming out of the wheel area. Upon visual inspection, nothing seemed to be out of whack. However, during assembly, I never checked some of the parts which came pre-assembled. You must remember to tighten all of these nuts and bolts. I checked two bolts that were put in by the factory and they were 3-4 rotations from being tight. Once they were tight, the noise disappeared.
4.) The machine wobbles side-to-side when riding, even for smaller users. If you are used to health club quality machines or more expensive elliptical machines which are more stable, this can be distracting. Once you get used to it, it's hardly noticeable if you watch TV during your workouts.
5.) The display is not great. The larger text reminds me of Atari 2600 graphics. Not deal killer, but not clean looking.
6.) When I ride for 30 minutes, the readout says that I only burned 210 calories. In my experience, similar time/resistance workouts result in 400-500 calorie burns according to the more expensive health club quality machines that calculate user's weight along with time/resistance.
7.) The heart rate sensors on the stationary grips take up to a minute to accurately sense heart rate. I also have a Horizon treadmill and this is also the case. If you are transitioning from health club quality equipment which can give you a read within seconds, this is distracting.
Pros:
1.) Great workout. No question.
2.) When all of the bolts are tight, the machine is whisper quiet.
3.) Smaller than most elliptical machines. Fits into a small office.
4.) On my Horizon treadmill, the cup holders are shallow and angled and therefore, useless. The elliptical has deep, flat center cup holder.
5.) Generous stride and you never feel out of control like tread climber machines.
6.) Large foot pedals. I have size 11.5 4EEEE shoes and they fit with room to spare.
Bottom line: I got this on Black Friday and paid 0 with free shipping. Every review by fitness pros say that this model is one of the best elliptical machines under 00 for the features and the quality of build, so I jumped at it. So far, so good.
Horizon has always seemed like a much more substantial brand than the ones sold by Sears, Walmart, Etc. (Pro-form, Wieder, Gold's Gym, Etc.) I've used several machines from these manufacturers over the years and they usually end up with dust on them after 6 months. I've had the Horizon Treadmill for 2+ years and it still gets used 3-4 times a week and still functions as new.
Average Rating:
Brand: Horizon Fitness
Model: HEP0235-00
Release Date: 2008-09-01
Product Description:The Horizon EX-67 elliptical gives you club-quality performance - from the smooth stride motion to the easy programmability - and recreates the feeling of running or walking without leaving home. 10 motorized resistance levels let you adjust the intensity of your workout. The orange backlit LCD screen displays heart rate and other key workout feedback, and MP3 player input makes it easy to exercise to your favorite workout playlist.
Amazon.com Product Description:Bring the gym into your home and enjoy an efficient, high-caliber workout with the Horizon EX-67 elliptical trainer, which works your legs as well as your upper body. Perfect for rigorous training routines, the EX-67 offers an eight-level electronic resistance system, along with a heavy 14-pound flywheel that maintains pedal and arm momentum while offering a smooth, quiet operation. More significantly from a user perspective, it offers 13 goal-oriented programs. You can choose one of three different goals (time, distance, and calories) and one of three terrains (manual, reverse train, and hills). The 2.4-by-4.8-inch orange backlit LCD screen, meanwhile, offers key workout feedback, helping you develop an effective training regimen.
Horizon employs a heavy-duty flywheel that provides continuous velocity, so as your feet move the pedals, the flywheel's momentum carries you through the complete motion. As a result, the trainer feels very natural and not at all choppy. Plus, the flywheel is extremely quiet, making the trainer ideal for home use. Horizon also applies a magnetic brake to the flywheel, creating more consistent resistance during a workout. And the instep-stacked flywheel design--where the flywheel sits above the pedals rather than in line with them--delivers a lower step-on height for easy access, along with a stride length that's longer, more natural, and more versatile regardless of the user, workout type, and fitness level. As an added benefit, the unit is smaller and shorter, so it fits in almost any room, including low-ceiling basements.
Horizon's Ergoflow elliptical geometry is built around your body, not the machine's components. The distance between the pedals have been narrowed to create a more natural walking motion, and the pivoting footpad imitates how your foot's position changes as you move forward. And a more natural, ergonomic movement means less stress on your knees, hips, and lowers back, so you enjoy longer workouts and faster results. Other details include an MP3 port with speakers and an audio-in jack, contact heart-rate grips, a built-in cooling fan, and an 18-inch stride length with Custom Stride flexibility.
Elliptical Trainer Features:
- Resistance: Electronic
- Resistance range: 1 to 10 resistance levels
- Flywheel: 14-pound flywheel for fluid, quiet motion
- Step-on height: 11.8 inches
- Stride length: 18 inches with Custom Stride
- Pedal spacing: 4.4 inches
- Screen: Orange backlit LCD (2.4 x 4.8 inches)
- Programs: 13
- Program type: Choose 1 of 3 different goals (time, distance, calories) and 1 of 3 terrains (manual, reverse train, and hills)
- Weight capacity: 275 pounds
- Dimensions: 27 x 67 x 57 inches (W x H x D)
- Weight: 157 pounds
- Warranties: Lifetime on frame and brake; 1 year on parts and 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.
Many elliptical trainers 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.
About Horizon Fitness
Horizon is part of Johnson Health Tech, one of the largest manufacturers of fitness equipment in the world. The company is committed to designing, engineering, and manufacturing superior products for health clubs and homes. Horizon's manufacturing facilities rank among the most sophisticated in the industry, with an intricate mix of robotics and skilled workers that maintain the highest standards of accuracy and quality. Every stage of manufacturing undergoes a testing phase, and 10 percent of Horizon's products go through a rigorous quality inspection that includes completely taking them apart and reassembling them.
Features:
- Elliptical trainer with 10 electronic resistance levels and heavy-duty 14.3-pound flywheel
- 13 goal-based program options; MP3 port with speakers and audio-in jack
- Orange backlit LCD display; 18-inch stride length with Custom Stride flexibility
- Efficient flywheel maintains pedal and arm momentum while offering smooth, quiet operation
- Measures 27 x 67 x 57 inches (W x H x D); lifetime warranty on brake and frame
Available at Amazon
List Price: USD 1099.00
Customer Reviews
Worked well for 2 years, but is now completely dead
I bought my Horizon EX-67 Elliptical approximately two and a half years ago. I have to say, for most of that time, I was very satisfied with it. I had to do some routine maintenance -- lubing and tightening mostly, to rectify the periodic increase in squeeking/clicking -- but otherwise it held up well to rigorous use (FYI, I'm an average size male). It really is a sturdy machine that feels a lot like the Precors in the gym.
Up to about four months ago, I would have rated it at 4 or 4.5 out of 5 stars. But most recently, it started to really break down. Because of what I later determined to be two missing washers in one of the internal assemblies, a part called a "flange bearing" had almost entirely worn down over the two years of use, with a resulting pile of metal shavings to show for it. My calls to Horizon customer service were not fruitful and I was left in the position of having to do the repairs myself with parts I could acquire at Home Depot / Lowes. After about a month of trial and error, fixing all of the various worn flanges/washers, I finally got the machine to work another two months. But just this week, it locked up again and I completely broke off one of the pedal arms (i.e. I wrenched apart one of the welds) attempting to use the elliptical. After that final straw, I am willing to declare it dead and move on -- I think I am at the point of diminishing returns in terms of repairs.
So it's been a great elliptical, but it's a little frustrating to spend 0 and only have it last 2 years. I'm not saying don't buy this elliptical, but be forewarned that it's an investment that might not last all that long, even with periodic maintenance.
So far, so good...
I was amazed how quickly I received this item. CEVA called way before the expected delivery date and offered me delivery the next day between noon and 5:00. I was expecting to hang around all afternoon only to have them show up near the end of the time frame, but they showed up a little after noon. My husband is pretty handy so he had it put together very quickly, with no issues besides a slightly bent plastic part. He used his own tools so I can't say much about the tools provided. The resistance at Level 1 is pretty tight. At the gym I use a Precor routinely at level 5/6 so I was surprised at how tough the workout was on the Horizon at Level 1. I had to slow my pace down and could really feel it in my thighs. I guess that's a good thing. It's really quiet, I was able to watch TV on normal volume. I only gave it four stars because the machine is wobbly. My husband thinks it's because we have it on thick padding and carpeting, with an exercise mat on top. He's going to place a board under the unit to see if that helps. I'm also used to the heavy machines at the gym that don't budge, so this may just be what home units are like. All-in-all, I'm happy with it after the first workout.
A Good Product
I purchased this machine several weeks ago from amazon, although I encountered a few issues, Horizon was responsive in getting the machine serviced to correct a problem with one of the pedal arms. At first the machine made few squirks and noises, but most if not all were resolved with a touch of machine lubricant and a tightening or loosening a bit some of the moving parts making these sounds. So far so good and this machine will get you breaking a nice sweat and physical exercise, but keep in mind that this machine, as all ellipticals, will require some regular maintenance depending on the frequency of use, for purposes of lubricating and making sure all moving parts are sufficiently tight and in the right place.
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