Fuel Elliptical Trainer Review
I made a trip to Dick's Sporting to check out the Fuel elliptical trainer. They've been out for about a year and the two models seem to be a decent budget buy.
Currently that market is dominated by Icon Fitness (NordicTrack, ProForm, Image, Epic, Weslo) and Horizon Fitness. But there is always room for a company that can build a budget elliptical at a value price. Especially a machine that can hold up reasonably well with moderate use.
Note: You can buy Fuel ellipticals direct. Prices include Free Shipping. As of 3/11/10 the Fuel FE44 was $599 and the Fuel FE46 was $899. Go to www.FuelEllipticals.com
for the latest price.
The Fuel Elliptical Features...
There are two models, the Fuel FE44 and the highend Fuel FE46. As of this review there was a $300 price difference.
The FE44 has an 18" stride, which most people will find comfortable. If you are over 5'11" you may want to consider The FE46 with a 20" stride. Both models are equipped with articulating foot pedals, which angles with the elliptical motion and reduces stress.
Speaking of the elliptical motion, you get a 19 lbs. flywheel with the FE44 and a slightly heavier 21 lbs. flywheel with the FE46. These are decent weights, which contribute to a smooth motion. And in fact, the motion is much smoother than most ellipticals in this price range.
Being a front drive machine, the pedals run on single rails. This is not the most stable design, but is typical for budget machines. Although I did not find that the single rail designed had any negative affect on the stability of the elliptical stride.
The console and display are very basic, with a single LCD backlit window readout. You get built-in speakers in the console, however, don't expect Blaupunkt quality.
You get 14 workout programs, that gives you a nice variety of exercise challenges.
The warranty is lifetime on the brake system and 1-year parts and labor. You'll find some models at this price only offer a 90-day parts and labor coverage.
There are only two comments. First, the foot pedals are spaced approximately 4.5" apart. Some petite woman may find that distance a bit discomforting because of their physical make-up.
Also, you may find with the single rail front drive machine you may need to ocasionally need to lubricate the rail and prevent it from making a rubbing noise. The ellipticals come with silicon lubrication.
Our Review - Fuel Ellipticals
Both the FE44 and the FE46 are decent budget ellipticals that surpass many models in this price range. There are not many bells and whistles, instead the focus is getting a solid and durable machine at a very reasonable cost.
They are not designed for extremely heavy users, multiple users or serious athletes that will use the machine excessively. But they are perfect for individuals with a limited budget who want to get back into shape without taking out a second mortgage.
Here are a couple of customer reviews on the FE44.
"I did a lot of research before choosing this one and I am very pleased with the machine thus far; I've had this elliptical for one week now. I love it. I was slightly intimidated about putting it together myself, but is was not hard at all... it just took a few hours. The machine is sturdy and rides very smooth."
" I do have a squeak and also I hear a loud knock once in a while. I may have to call for service. I do like that it is compact and fits well in a small space. I have used it every day for 2 weeks now since I made the purchase. Took me 3 hours to put together, but the directions were good and all parts were with the product." (Note: There were several customer reviews on Dick's web site that complained about noise problems.)
Another model to consider is the NordicTrack 990 ($999) - ranked highly by Consumer Reports.
Also see the Fuel FE46 review