Diamondback
Elliptical Trainer Reviews
I
recently checked out the line-up of Diamondback elliptical trainers at ProSource
in Raleigh. In addition, I spent about an hour discussing the pros and cons of
their machines with Dan Young, their sales expert.
Diamondback is
best known for their exercise bikes, which are very popular and found at numerous
sporting goods stores. Their ellipticals have less distribution, but consist of
the same quality and value as their bikes.
What makes Diamondback ellipticals
unique is they come in both front and rear drive models. When you think about
it, it makes sense. The rear and front drives have different feels, with different
appeals. Some like the free-floating feel of the rear drive, while others prefer
the front leaning motion of the front drives.
Diamondback
1190 & 860 Rear Drive Ellipticals
The rear drive Diamondback ellipticals
have a 21" stride. This is longer than your average ellipticals. I felt it
gave it a nice smooth stride, and was comfortable for my height. I would imagine
it would also satisfy taller users.
The foot pedals angle with the motion,
reducing the possibility of numbness. Each comes with wireless heart rate control.
The main difference is the Diamondback 1260 has:
- Upgraded console and
display.
- Better selection of programs, including customizable programs.
- Adjustable handlebars - you can adjust the handlebars forward and backwards.
Making it more comfortable for different size users.
- No need to plug-in,
there is an on-board alternator
Diamondback 1260 & 960 Front
Drive Ellipticals
The front drive design is similar to an Octane, but
considerably less money. Moreover, unlike a
Sole elliptical, the pedal sits on a wheel at the front of the pedal, rather
than on a rear rail. The 1260 has a 19" stride, while the 960 has 18"
stride. I thought the stride was more circular on the front drive models, but
Dan felt the rear drive felt more circular.
What makes the
Diamondback 1260 stand out is the ability to adjust the elevations, similar to
adjusting the incline of a treadmill. There are only a couple of other high-end
ellipticals that have this feature - Precor and Octane. Both cost about $1,000
more than the 1260.
The advantage to adjusting the elevation is the ability
to isolate and workout different parts of your leg muscles.
It should be
noted that the 1260, 960 and 1190 come with an optional light commercial warranties.
That says something about their durability. In addition, Diamondback has a budget
elliptical, called the 360. I did not test it, it has a short 15" stride
and weighs only 145 lbs.
Our Review - Diamondback Elliptical Trainers
In
general, we found the Diamondback ellipticals to all have smooth elliptical motion. Except
for the floor model 860, which has a minor squeak, all the ellipticals were relatively
quiet. I really liked the adjusting elevation feature of the Diamondback 1260. That is a sweet
option.
Diamondback has been building ellipticals for the last 9 years.
Their models are strong contenders in the $2,000-$3,000 price range. And recently they upgraded the warranties to five-years parts from three.
Overall,
Diamondback ellipticals are a solid value. You can find them at local fitness equipment specialty stores.
See Diamondback
1260 Elliptical Trainer Review