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ProForm Elliptical Trainer Reviews

2012 Elliptical Trainer Reviews     |     "Best Buy" Elliptical Trainers

 

proform elliptical trainer reviewI recently made my third trip out to the corporate and manufacturing headquarters and was thoroughly impressed with the advances being made. ProForm just keeps offering more for less. In addition to the fact their quality keeps on improving.


Note: You can purchase ProForm Elliptical Trainers Direct at www.ProFormEllipticals.com. All models come with free shipping. Unfortunately, last I looked they were out of stock on most models.

An alternate are NordicTrack Elliptical Trainers, which are built by the same company. I gave their AudioStrider 990 PRO a Best Buy rating.


proform elliptical trainer consoleIn the past, ProForm had issues with their quality control and customer service. Both have improved immensely over the last several years. In fact, several of their models recently received a "Very Good" rating for construction from a prominent consumer magazine. ProForm elliptical trainers are some of the most durable crosstrainers built in their price range.

Where you find the best value is between $600-$1,000. These machines sell at a reasonable price, and are equipped with some decent features. Including a generous selection of installed programs.

Icon Fitness, the manufacturer of ProForm, has always excelled in innovation, and they devote considerable resources to R&D. Here is example:

The ProForm 1050 E, ProForm 1100 E and the ProForm 14.0 CE all come with a power ramp. This allows you to change the incline of the elliptical motion, not unlike the incline on a treadmill. By increasing the incline of your elliptical stride you can burn more calories and target different parts of your lower body, including your buns. And we all want tight buns. In addition, you get iFit Live, built-in fan and speakers, and 20 workout programs.

Buying the Right Machine For Your Needs

If there is a problem with ProForm ellipticals, it is the fact that often customers buy a machine that is not compatible to their fitness needs. When you spend under $1,000 for a crosstrainer, you are buying in the budget range. They lack the durability and stability of more expensive ellipticals. For example, I recently had a reader contact me and want to know why their $900 elliptical did not hold up to both her and her husband's daily two hour workouts. Duh!

A few suggestions...

  • If you are excessively heavy, don't think a light weight budget elliptical trainer is going to hold-up under the strain and provide the necessary stability. In my opinion the recommended weight limits on most elliptical trainers is excessive.
  • If you are excessively tall consider an elliptical with a longer elliptical stride, 20" or more.
  • If you are going to workout aggressively, get a machine designed for the abuse.
  • If there will be multiple users, once again, get a machine designed for the abuse.

Just be smart matching the right machine to your fitness needs and goals.

Fitness Source Review - ProForm Elliptical Trainers

True story. About five years ago I get a call from one of the executives from Icon Fitness, which owns ProForm. They asked why I was trashing their products in my reviews. I said, in less than diplomat terms, "your quality control and customer service sucks." They responded by saying they were a company in transition, much like the Detroit automakers, and I should come out to Logan, UT to see the changes that were being put into place.

Since that visit the company has made radical improvements to both their quality control and their customer service. I still get an occasional complaint, but considering their huge volume of sales, the overall percentage of service issues is minor.

Icon Fitness has become a company that is completely focused on offering the best value in their price range. In fact, they are fanatics about it. I know that much of the competition has written off the sub $1,000 market because they know they cannot compete.

Consequently, five years later whenever someone contacts me and wants a recommendation on an elliptical for under $1,000, I suggest they check ProForm.

ProForm Elliptical Reviews:

ProForm 18.0 RE - $999 - Best Value

ProForm 14.0 CE - $799

ProForm 1200 E - $1,299

ProForm 600 ZNE - $799

ProForm 990 CSE - $999

 

(Prices from 1/25/12)

Go to www.ProForm.com for product details and sale prices.


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