The Spirit XE300 Elliptical Review - A drop in quality and value

Ohiyo!

The biggest dissapointment for the Treadmill Sensei this year is a company which built a great reputation in the past, but has decided to cut corners and drop quality this year in hopes of being able to save costs by exploiting that reputation. The company in question is Spirit Fitness and their 2007/2008 line of treadmills and ellipticals. I think they've decided to cut costs and quality and are praying customers don't notice before buying some substandard equipment.

All I can say about Spirit's new X-Series line of ellipticals is that I am very confused. For some reason, instead of sticking with tried and true units that were perfected by Sole on their E35, E55 and E95 over the past few years, Spirit has decided the best way to break out from the shadow of Sole by creating an entire line of ellipticals based on the architecture of the shorter profile Spirit XE125 Elliptical. Unfortunately for buyers, the XE125 was recalled this past year due to manufacturing defects and some pretty major problems...and somehow Spirit has gotten the idea to use that design for all their new equipment. This has to get the award for 'single dumbest idea of the year." Instead of changing their equipment up Spirit should have instead worked on improving its customer service and quality control process because those were their biggest problems this past year.

As with the rest of their new X models, I was able to get some time on the Spirit XE300 Elliptical this past August, 2007, at the Health & Fitness Expo in Denver. What I saw was a huge disappointment. The XE300 is a perfect example of an elliptical that "looks good on paper" but doesn't perform up to its specs. I believe Spirit intended for the XE300 to be a replacement for its older Spirit XE550 elliptical, which was based on the incredible Sole E95, but they failed horribly.

What was once a long, elegant and sturdy elliptical has been replaced by a shorter profile frame with a much lighter, flimsier feel to it. Getting on to the Spirit XE300 gave me the impression of standing on a sub-$1000 elliptical. The supposed 20" stride felt more like an 18.5" stride to me, and the plastic flywheel didn't have the smooth start up and slow down of the old XE550 flywheel. Why Spirit has insisted on remaining with a plastic flywheel when metal is the industry standard at this price point is as baffling as their choice of basing the unit on that of a recalled elliptical instead of sticking with the award-winning frame of year's past. I am still unsure of how the light weight plastic flywheel can be called "30 pounds" when it probably weighs closer to 16 or so pounds in reality.

In my opinion, it looks like Spirit is trying to fool its buyers in to thinking they have a more stable unit by placing a lightweight plastic guide rail shroud on the back of the unit. It is a pity the shroud does absolutely nothing for the Spirit XE300. The plastic on it is much too thin too put any weight on, it doesn't add any sort of stability to the machine and seems to be a completely cosmetic feature to try and make the XE300 look like more of an upgrade to the Spirit XE200 elliptical which is $300 cheaper.

I was also very disappointed to see a low number of programs on the Spirit XE300...for a near $1700 price I would like to have seen 10 programs or more. On the plus side, the XE300 does have 20 levels of resistance, the very comfortable Spirit/Sole pedals and an upgraded parts warranty of 10 years. The drop in labor warranty down to 1 year is also a huge error in judgment for Spirit. Cutting your labor warranty in half shows a lack of faith in long term performance of the new Spirit equipment. Hopefully, they'll get wise and raise the warranty back up to where it should be...otherwise, expect to pay a lot for service in 18 months or so when you begin to have problems with that plastic flywheel or shroud.

Overall, the Spirit XE300 is over-priced and under-performing for a $1699 elliptical. For having too much plastic and cutting too many corners, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Spirit XE300 Elliptical 2.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

The Treadmill Sensei gives a very generous 2.5 gold buddahs to the Spirit XE300.



Spirit XE300 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 20" (feels closer to 18.5")
Flywheel: 16lbs (listed as 30lbs)
Display: LED
Readouts: Time, weight, speed, RPM, distance, calories, level, laps, heart rate, and age
Programs: 6
Resistance: 20 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 350lbs
Unit Weight: approximately 160lbs
Price: Under $1700

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Reader Mailbag: A note of thanks

Ohiyo!

Just a quick post for today. Here is a note from Jim, who recently purchased a treadmill because of the reviews on treadmillsensei.com. Let's see what he has to say. Take it away, Jim.

Sensei,

Just wanted to let you know that I purchased the Sole F63 from Dick's.
Brought it home (that's one heavy mother) and set it up. I've run about 10
miles on it and am very impressed so far. I can't get over how quiet the
motor is. Of course, I upgraded big time....from a $300 Weslo.

Thanks again for your recommendations. Because of your website I ended up
purchasing a much better quality treadmill than I would have otherwise. - Jim

Jim:

Thanks for the note and I'm glad the website helped you out! Good luck with your new treadmill!

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Lifespan TR2000HRC Treadmill Review - Everything but the kitchen sink

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei feels like he just won the Superbowl because he's going to Disneyland today! My wife has an addiction to the themepark and goes at least once a month with our daughter, her husband and my beloved grandson (who they mistakenly named after someone other than me, but I'm not bitter). My partner, Mat, and his wife are also tagging along this time because his wife has a similar addiction to the House of the Mouse.

However, I woke up extra early today to put together a new review for you, my loyal readers. One comment we get a lot here at the DOJO is about just how bloody big treadmills area. Now, the same people who complain about the size of treadmills are also the ones who want a longer deck size to run on. Sheesh, you just can't please some people! Luckily, for those insane people who want a smaller treadmill with a longer deck, the fine folks at Lifespan Fitness have found a way to bend the rules of time and space to give you exactly that in the Lifespan TR2000HRC Treadmill.

In an effort to expand our range of reviews, I had Hikaru purchase a Lifespan TR2000HRC treadmill online about 4 months ago. Because I'm an absent minded little man, the notes for that review sat on my desk for most of that time.

The Lifespan TR2000HRC features a very interesting design -- Lifespan calls it "step through" but I don't think that is the best name for it. What they've done is move the motor placement to under the machine in order to reduce the frame length while still having a very large running area. This design allows for a 20" x 56" running area on a frame that is 14-16 inches shorter than any other treadmill with the same deck size. In other words, it is a space saver and an excellent treadmill for runner's with limited space in their homes.

The other feature you don't see in this price range (and rarely see at all) is a decline option. In addition to a 10% incline, the Lifespan TR2000 HRC allows uses to workout at a 3% decline which works a completely different set of muscles than an inline or flat workout. I had Hikaru do a heavy jog using the decline and inclines in order to see if there was a comprise of stability or sturdiness and am very happy to say the TR2000HRC treadmill held up exceptionally well.

As with the rest of the Lifespan line of treadmills, the TR2000HRC featured very high quality components, a solid frame, very large low RPM and cool running 2.5 horsepower motor. One component that I particularly appreciated, but will mean absolutely nothing to most casual readers, was the very high quality machined rollers Lifespan has given the TR2000HRC. Good, large sized rollers like these will help to extend the life of both your motor and your treadmill belt.

We worked out on the Lifespan TR2000HRC treadmill between us for approximately 20 hours over a 2 week period and were all very impressed by the unit. It is solid, reliable and, if properly maintained and cleaned, should last 10 years or more for most owners. Even the warranty shows longevity with lifetime coverage on the frame and motor, 5 years for parts and 1 year for labor (my one nitpick is that I'd love to see the TR2000HRC with a 2 year labor warranty, but that is a minor complaint about a great machine). It is great to see a company with as high a commitment to quality as Lifespan has shown.

For being an excellent treadmill with some great features found nowhere else, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Lifespan TR2000HRC Treadmill 4.5 out of 5 buddahs.

Quality, quality, quality.


Get more information on this innovative product and find the lowest price for it anywhere.




Lifespan TR2000HRC Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 2.5hp
Rollers: 2.5"
Running Area: 20" x 56"
Max Speed: 10mph
Max Incline: 10%
Max Decline: 3%
Display: LCD
Readouts: Incline, speed, time, distance, calories, heart rate, lap count
Programs: 6
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Folding: Yes
Max User Weight: 350lbs
Unit Weight: 200lbs
Price: Under $1400

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Lamar Fitness Brand Review - High Quality and Great Prices

Ohiyo!

This past year the Treadmill Sensei has noticed a lot of companies drop in their levels of both manufacturing and quality control. Formerly very solid companies are now shipping a lot of dead-on-arrival treadmills and ellipticals to their customers and then taking as many as 3-4 service calls before fixing the issues. It has become a very bad trend.

Luckily, the industry has companies like Lamar Fitness, who possess an excellent track reputation for high quality standards and great customer service. The company was founded in the early 2000s by Kevin Lamar, who was a 20+ year veteran of Nautilus Fitness and a well-known innovator in the fitness industry.

The current line of Lamar treadmills and ellipticals features a number of Best Buy and Top Rated units on the market today. They are producing some of the most sturdy, well-built ellipticals made with high quality components you don't often see in units under $1500. Amazingly, Lamar is making some of the best ellipticals under $500 as well as the very best units in the $1000-$1500 range.

Lamar has 3 sub-brands for their product: Ignite, Advantage and Lamar. Ignite is their more budget conscious line and the units tend to have some amazing features never before found in sub $1000 machines. Advantage is their mid-range brand, focusing on high quality and long product lifespan in the $1000-$2500 price range. The Lamar brand itself features commercial quality product at a very uncommercial price. We're not sure how they do it, but Lamar is quickly becoming known for producing best buy equipment for customers at any budget. They beat standards other manufacturers can't even meet.

For ellipticals and treadmills from $350 to $2000 Lamar Fitness is the company that currently sets the bar for performance, comfort, price and quality.

Lamar HFS Ellipticals:

• Lamar A 4200 Elliptical: 4 out of 5 Golden Buddahs. One of the best built ellipticals under $1300.
• Lamar A 4400 Elliptical: 4.5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs. The Lamar 4400 is a Best Buy Elliptical Under $1500 and the top rated elliptical in its price range.
• Lamar Ignite 436 Elliptical: 4 out of 5 Golden Buddahs. An amazing elliptical at under $400 which outperforms some $1000 ellipticals.
• Lamar Ignite 821 Elliptical: 4.5 Golden Buddahs out of 5. A spectacular budget elliptical way under-priced at just below $600.
• Lamar Ignite 841 Elliptical: 4.5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs. The single Best Buy Elliptical under $1000.

Lamar HFS Treadmills:

• Lamar Ignite I905 Treadmill: 2.5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs. An older Lamar unit in need of an update.
• Lamar L1200 Treadmill: 4.5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs. A Best Buy Treadmill for under $2000.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Lamar Ignite 841 Elliptical Review - Excellence on a budget under $700

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei has been very impressed with Lamar Fitness over the past few months. When they first popped on the fitness scene in the early 2000s they produced some fairly forgetful equipment. However, since that time they've spend the last 5-6 years slowing improving their quality, their design and their manufacturing to the point where they are no producing some of the best budget and mid range ellipticals and treadmills. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any of their sales people to talk to me at the fitness expo in Denver this past August, 2007, so my information is limited to the units that either come through the DOJO for setup or repair, or from units we purchase to review. The Lamar Ignite 841 Elliptical is one of those I was so excited about that we went out and bought one to review a couple of months ago (along with the Ignite 821).

The Lamar Ignite 841 is essentially the same fantastic elliptical trainer as the Ignite 821 elliptical I have already reviewed. The only differences are in the 841's electronics -- Lamar has give it an upgrade to having wireless heart rate monitoring for about $100 more.

With or without the wireless heart rate integration, the Lamar Ignite 841 Elliptical is still the heaviest duty, smoothest feeling elliptical under $700 -- and, to tell the truth, is probably the single best buy elliptical under $1000. The Ignite 841 outweighs every other elliptical under $1000, coming in at about 175 pounds and with a huge 16 pound metal flywheel. When you factor in the 18" stride then you have a very smooth workout for a budget price.

A feature that I was very surprised to see on an elliptical priced at under $700 is articulating foot pedals. Most units in the budget range have static pedals which can lead to numbness in your feet during longer workouts. By adding in the articulating pedals, Lamar has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their design and manufacturer of the Ignite 841 Ellitptical.

If you're on a budget but still looking for a top rated elliptical and a best buy under $1000, then make sure to check out the Lamar Ignite 841 Elliptical as it shines in a world of low end, poorly manufactured ellipticals. In my opinion it out-performs a lot of ellipticals under $1300. This unit is amazing and under priced...get it before Lamar gets wise and tries to raise the price!

For being a truly elegant, sturdy and well-designed elliptical, the Treadmill Sensei gives the best buy Lamar Ignite 841 Elliptical 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

The same mechanics as the Ignite 821 but with some upgrades get the Lamar Ignite 841 4.5 gold buddahs.


Find out more about the Ignite 841 Elliptical by Lamar and check out the best price we've found for it online.



Lamar Ignite 841 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 18"
Flywheel: 16lbs
Display: LCD
Readouts: time, pulse, distance, RPM, calories, speed, temperature, and watts
Programs: 10
Resistance: 16 Levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 275lbs
Unit Weight: 175lbs
Price: Under $700

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Spirit XE100 Elliptical Review - Another lesson in mediocrity

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei has mentioned a few times about how he attended the Health & Fitness Business Expo in Denver this past August 2007. Going to these shows helps me get on equipment that I haven't had a chance to look at back at the DOJO, and I get to test out and review a lot more treadmills and elliptical for you, my loyal readers. One of the exhibits I was able to visit and spend quite a bit of time with was the one belonging to Spirit Fitness. I was anxious to see Spirit's new X series of treadmills and ellipticals as well as their "budget line" which they call Esprit.

As I entered Spirit's booth at the Denver trade show this year, I was a little worried when I saw what was being called the Spirit XE100 Elliptical because of how many problems their Spirit XE125 had last year...to the point of it even having to be recalled back to the manufacturing plant in China due to issues with the entire line. Thankfully, based on what I saw the new unit looks to be more than just a repackaged and repainted version of that recalled unit.

Let's start with the "upgrades" on the new XE100 elliptical over the problem elliptical of last year. First off, the specs list the unit as having a 20 inch stride. As I mentioned in my review of the Spirit XE200 elliptical, if I had gotten on the unit with no prewarning of a long stride, I would have guessed the stride to be at 18.5 or so inches in length and not the 20 inches listed. This could just be an issue with the elliptical motion due to the shorter frame.

From there the number of resistance levels have been upped from 16 to 20. This is a nice upgrade to get for those of you who like to tweak your workout more -- it doesn't increase the amount of resistance on the machine, it is just increasing the increments you can tweak your workouts by.

The next upgrade seems to be the newly adjustable pedals on the Spirit XE100. Believe it or not, I really like this feature. Having the ability to further customize your workout and make it more comfortable is a great feature. Cudos to Spirit on this one.

The final "upgrade" if you can call it that is a $100 increase in pricing over the XE125. The street price on the Spirit XE100 is going to be about $1099, which is about $100 more than it should be. Spirit should have taken a cue from Sole on its E25 elliptical unit (almost identical with a 20" stride but without the problems of the XE125). At $999 it would have been a unit to take a look at, but with a price tag of basically $1100 it is most definitely a "pass" in my book.

The last thing I want to mention is the flywheel on the Spirit XE100 elliptical. This is a similar, but smaller, version of the plastic flywheels in the larger Spirit Ellipticals. I'm not exactly sure where Spirit gets its 30 pound weight for the thing but my guess is that they are weighing the entire front drive assembly instead of just the plastic flywheel. If I were to guess a weight on the XE100's flywheel I would say 10-12 pounds at the max. If I can find an exact weight I will post it here, but I can't imagine the plastic to weigh much more than that on the XE100 elliptical trainer.

To be honest, the Spirit XE100 isn't a terrible elliptical, I think it is just a bit overpriced at $1099. If it were priced at under $1000 it would be a very nice budget elliptical. I will post updates as I hear from readers who have purchased the Spirit XE100 elliptical. I would recommend my readers check out the Sole E25 Elliptical instead. It has a better price and better quality control record.

For not being a terrible elliptical, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Spirit XE100 Elliptical 2.5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs.

The Spirit XE100 gets a tentative 2.5 gold buddahs.

Check out the Sole E25 Elliptical for a solid version of the XE100.

Spirit XE100 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 20"
Flywheel: 12lbs (listed as 24lbs)
Display: LCD
Programs: 13
Resistance: 20 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 300lbs
Unit Weight: approximately 190lbs
Price: $1099

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The SportsArt E80 Elliptical Review -- A step up in quality without the step up in price

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei has contacts and spies every where in the fitness industry. I get emails and calls from service techs working at various manufacturers, emails from other fitness writers and lots of emails from retailers and independent repair techs. One of the benefits of those contacts, aside from aiding me in benevolent world domination, is that I am able to get my hands on all sorts of equipment to try out and test. One of my minions came through for me superbly by rounding up a number of SportsArt treadmills and ellipticals from a very kind dealer out in Arizona. The only requirement was that I go out to meet the store owner in person and pick the units up. So, after a "quick" 7 hour drive out, we were able to pick up 4 SportsArt floor models for testing and review over the course of 2 weeks. The units had to be returned once we were finished and they couldn't be damaged. Thankfully, SportsArt makes their equipment solid enough to endure 2 trips in a freight truck between states.

The first piece off the truck was the SportsArt E80...ok, it may not have been the first one off of the truck but, as the lightest of the line, I wanted to review it first. I don't really know which unit came off the truck first because I made the younger Senseis unload it because I'm old and broken...and they are young and in need of getting broken.

The E80 was fully assembled so Hikaru and I did a quick breakdown of the machine. I passed assembly along to Mat to watch how someone of average mechanical ability handled putting the unit back together using the instructions. Re-Assembly went off without any major hitches and Mat had the thing back together in about 45 minutes with a little help. SportsArt did an excellent job with its instructions and putting an E80 elliptical together should be around an hour job for most people.

Once it was all back together, Hikaur, Mat and I took turns with 1 hour workouts each over the next 10 days. We all found the unit to be very solid and incredibly well constructed. In addition to a heavy duty frame, the SportsArt E80 elliptical also uses bearings in all of its joints and pivot points. Using steel bearings instead of cheaper, flimsier bushings (made of brass a lot of time) allows for much smoother and quieter workouts as well as extends the lifespan of the elliptical. Plus, you'll have a much lower maintenance rate.

The thing about the SportsArt E80 elliptical that blew us all away was its "random" workout mode. The version in the E80 literally allows for thousands of possibilities in workout variety. Why this is good is because your muscles do become used to repitition in workout and using the same program over and over because less effective over time. If you step on the SportsArt E80 and hit "Random" every time, you'll never have the same workout twice. Also, and this isn't health related, having the ability to change up your workout is a great way to avoid boredome.

The only real downside any of us could find was in the lower number of resistance levels (16 would have allowed for a bit more workout control versus the 10 the E80 comes with) and the non-articulating footpedals. While the footpedals didn't articulate with the elliptical's motion, they were still comfortable enough for 30-45 minute workouts. Just make sure to vary your foot position while you are on it.

The best way to describe the SportsArt E80 Elliptical is as the fitness equivilent to a beginner's Lexus or Mercedes. You get the finest design, components and manufacturing but you lose a few of the bells and whistles in exchange for an affordable price. You'll notice an almost immediate different in smoothness, comfort and natural motion when you get on a SportsArt trainer versus an elliptical from any other home unit out there. The difference in quality is amazing. Even without the "bells and whistles," the SportsArt E80 elliptical is a commercial quality unit for a very reasonable budget price.

While the SportsArt E80 is a very solid elliptical made up of high quality components, I would actually suggest upgrading to the E81 Elliptical for another $300. With that you get extra cushioning in your footpedals, additional programs including heart rate control options, as well as some additional feedback options. Even if you stick with it, the SportsArt E80 is an excellent introduction into the world of higher end fitness equipment.

For being SportsArt's version of a "starter Lexus," the Treadmill Sensei gives the SportsArt E80 4 out of 5 golden buddahs.

Another great quality unit from SportsArt, the SportsArt E80 Elliptical comes away with 4 gold buddahs.


Find out more about the SportsArt E80 Elliptical and get it for the lowest price online.


SportsArt E80 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 19"
Flywheel: approximately 22lbs
Display: LCD
Readouts: Workout level, strides per minute, time and calories
Programs: 5
Resistance: 10 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: No
Heart Rate Control: No
Max User Weight: 300lbs
Unit Weight: 165lbs
Price: Under $1500

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The LifeCore LC-21 Elliptical Review - Innovative doesn't always mean Good

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei loves new and high tech gadgets. I'm a sucker for them. Here at the DOJO my office is covered in the things. Anything that is cool and unusual seems to wind up on my shelves or cluttering my desk. I especially love it when fitness manufacturers come out with some spiffy new technology or do something creative with a standard unit. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't,

The LifeCore LC21 Elliptical is a prime example of a company that went out of its way to be cutting edge and experimental, but who also failed to achieve what they had intended. The idea of using a smaller, secondary flywheel mounted on the larger flywheel in order to get a longer stride on a small unit is a good one. Unfortunately, the feel when you get on the LifeCore LC-21 just isn't quite...right. Some just feels off about it. The elliptical motion isn't as flattened or as smooth as it should be. I wouldn't compare it the feel to that of a stepper but I will say that it isn't as natural as a standard elliptical.

On the plus side, the inner workings and components of the LifeCore LC21 are of some of the highest quality at this price point. Their use of sealed bearings in all of their pivot points instead of bushings is fantastic. It also had a large number of programs at 12 and included the option to create and save your own programs.

I had my partner, Mat, try out the LC21 Elliptical to get a second opinion. He said he felt more awarkward from the way the unit's weight was distributed than from the strange elliptical motion of the pedals. He thought the very heavy weight almost directly under him interacting with the lightweight upright support in front seemed very unusal and unstable, at least for someone of his size, and that he felt like the console and handlebar were going to snap off when he used the static bars.

Lastly, neither of us liked the old school style static footpedals which can lead to numbness of feet and toes in longer workouts. As a bigger guy, Mat liked the width between the pedals, but I thought they were a bit too wide for anyone of average or shorter height.

That being said, if you are looking for a very solid elliptical with a shorter profile the LifeCore LC21 might be worth taking a look at. However, I'd suggest something like an Octane or SportsArt short profil unit instead. I'm just not sure an experimental unit is worth trying out at just under $1700.

For being creative but unfulfilling, the Treadmill Sensei gives the LifeCore LC21 Elliptical 2.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

The LC21 gets 2.5 gold buddahs out of 5 for being unique...a little too unique.


The LifeCore LC21 Elliptical is interesting but unnatural.

LifeCore LC21 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 21"
Flywheel: approximately 24lbs
Display: LCD
Programs: 12
Resistance: 16 Levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 400lbs
Unit Weight: 175lbs
Price: Under $1700

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Spirit XE200 Elliptical Review -- the elliptical version of a sleeping pill

Ohiyo!

It's almost a month later and the Treadmill Sensei is still burned out from the Health and Fitness Business Expo in Denver this past August. Not only did we do a lot of walking there, but I also tried out a heck of a lot of equipment, including a number of units from Spirit Fitness. One of the new ellipticals they were displaying for the 2007-2008 season was the Spirit XE200 elliptical.

The Spirit XE200 Elliptical looks to be a very strange hybrid of the old Spirit XE350 (which performed well for most of 2007, even with its plastic flywheel issues) and the Spirit XE125, an elliptical which was recalled back to China due to a large number of manufacturer's defects and problems. What Spirit seems to have done this time around is taken the short and much less stable frame of the XE125 and tried to beef it up with the XE350 components.

Unfortunately, this may not have been the best of ideas. You see, as anyone who has tried a compact frame versus a standard, longer elliptical frame out side by side, the compact elliptical never feels quite as full as the standard frame. Your stride always seems to feel different by as much as 1-2 inches...and a lot of times, the steps are at a slightly different angle which gives you a different feel. It's not much, but a lot of people do find the strides to be less comfortable on these style of units. Now, that's is ok when your only units are compact, but when you're comparing your older unit with the nice, long stride to a new unit with a stunted stride, the differences tend to scream at comsumers. When I first got on the Spirit XE200 without knowing what they were saying its stride length was, I would have guessed it to be at around 18"-18.5" and not the 20" on the spec sheet.

The other issue with the unit is from Spirit's continued use of a plastic flywheel in its drive instead of a metal one. Even the weight they give is considerably off and comes from weighing the entire drive assembly instead of just the flywheel. Now, Spirit has done a great job in gearing the wheel with a second, smaller flywheel, to give you that longer ramp up speed and slowdown, but the issue doesn't come in the feel of a 30 pound flywheel, it comes in the longevity and durability of a plastic flywheel. You hear about 10+ year old metal flywheel ellipticals still running well. What you don't hear about is those with plastic flywheels lasting more than 4-5 years at the most, and even then they have a lot of maintenance issues.

Spirit has also reduced its warranty from 5 years parts and 2 years labor to just a 1 year labor warranty with the same 5 years for parts. This is a huge let down by the company and shows a lacking of extended confidence in their product. My assumption we be that this past year showed them the units tend to have problems which require a service tech after the first year and they opted to save money on repairs instead of fixing the repair problems on the units.

On the positive side, the pedals on the Spirit XE200 Elliptical are still the same large, articulating pedals with Spirit's well-known 2% inward slant. This helps reduce foot numbness often experienced with elliptical workouts down to almost nothing. The pedals are also now adjustable, allowing every user to customize his or her own workout to what feels best for them.

Also, the new thicker, contoured handgrips feel great. The Spirit XE200 also has the same 20 levels of resistance, 6 programs, heart rate monitoring and control. Spirit also throws in a wireless heart rate belt with the units now, which is most excellent. And, finally, their new "Safety-Lok" system is a great accessory to anyone who has kids and fitness equipment.

For an alternative with a better feel and more solid build, try the Sole E55.

All in all, the Spirit XE200 isn't a bad elliptical, but the negatives definitely equal the positives on the machine. I do feel like they should have reduced the price of the XE200 Elliptical from $1399 along with the reduction in size. It is a bit of a let down over where they were in 2006. For being that let down, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Spirit XE200 elliptical 3 out of 5 golden buddahs.

A lackluster "upgrade" from last year's model with 3 gold buddahs out of 5.



Spirit XE200 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 20"
Flywheel: approximately 16lbs (listed as 30)
Display: LCD
Programs: 6
Resistance: 20 Levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 350lbs
Unit Weight: approximately 190lbs
Price: Under $1400

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The BodyCraft TR1180 Treadmill Review -- Best Treadmill Buy Under $2000

Ohiyo!

Today the Treadmill Sensei is going to write about a near tragedy that occurred while reviewing today's treadmill, the BodyCraft TR1180. In the accident, I'm sad to say, my son's pride and ego were both killed. He wasn't actually hurt but any chances of him ever looking cool in the eyes of the cute offices girls next door is now gone.

You see, my son and Hikaru (who have been friends since childhood) decided to take 6 of the treadmills we had in our repair bays, including the BodyCraft TR1180 treadmill I'll be reviewing in a minute or two, and set them up so they could perform a "treadmill dance" for the DOJO crew and the fine people in the home design studio next door (including a pair of very lovely young ladies the two boys have been hoping to go out with). They decided to do this after seeing some video on YouTube and after having heard my stories of the Motus girls at the IRHSA tradeshow earlier this year.

2008 Best Buy Award Winner.

Unfortunately, the boys didn't have some of the advantages the people in the video and the girls at IRSHA had: such as a choreographer, weeks of practice and, most importantly, natural rhythm and the ability to actually dance. Heck, they both still have problems walking straight...I can't imagine what made them think they could dance on treadmills.

Being a fairly busy man at the DOJO I missed out on the first minute or so of the performance. What got my attention was a loud burst of cheering and the laughing of a good 20 people in what is normally a fairly empty receiving dock. Some sort of robot-sounding music could also be heard blaring in the background. Heading out I was very surprised to see the aforementioned 20 people surrounding a group of treadmills with my son and Hikaru in the midst of what I at first thought was an epileptic seizure of some sort. I was later informed the seizures were actually their "moves."

After another minute or so of thei convulsing and hopping back and forth on the treadmills, the pair zigged instead of zagged and wound up running in to each other with a fairly loud "THUMP" as their heads collided. My son was knocked 45 degrees and fell flat in the middle of all the treadmills. Hikaru almost held his balance but tripped of my fallen son, took a face plant in to the BodyCraft TR1180's console, went down to his knees which were pulled out from under him as he crashed in to my son. The whole group was in shock until a tiny voice came out of the mass of bodies and said, very quietly, "Ow."

I laughed so hard I just about crapped my pants. This probably makes me a bad father because I should have rushed over to help my son out, but it was easily the funniest thing I've ever been blessed to see and I wish we had a video camera because the footage would have made me rich.

To end a long story, they were both ok once we shut the treadmills down. Hikaru came away with a nice sized black eye and my son was distressed that one of his shoes was torn. I readily volunteered to buy him new shoes in exchange for the day's entertainment.

What I learned while putting the treadmills away was that inspite of being hit with the very large, very solid head of Hikaru, the BodyCraft TR1180 showed almost no damage at all. Hikaur is a big boy (he and my son both weigh in excess of 260lbs) and his full weight slammed in to the console of the TR1180 and neither it nor the upright supports were knocked loose or damaged -- well, aside from a gouge in the front of the console where I assume Hikaru's teeth impacted.

The stability and sturdiness of the frame on the BodyCraft treadmills continues to astonish me. Their use of high gauge steel (14 gauge I believe) and rock-solid welds makes the BodyCraft TR1180 a best buy treadmill under $2000. This is definitely a perfect example of a commercial quality treadmill being sold at a home treadmill price. The TR1180 is just an upgraded version of the BodyCraft TR1160, so it features the same frame and huge 20" x 58" deck.

Where the BodyCraft TR1180 differs is in the large commercial-quality 3.0 horsepower motor. I can say with great confidence that this is one of the best treadmill motors on the market right now, and definitely the best under $2000. I don't want to be accused of getting creative but if you can get it up to 77 miles per hour it will let you travel through time. Seriously, tho, the TR1180's motor, with proper care, will last 10-15 years or more.

Aside from the motor, the TR1180 treadmill features a slightly higher running speed and an included wireless chest strap. The reason to buy the BodyCraft TR1180 is if you're looking for a heavy duty treadmill that will stand up to the most hardcore of running workouts, use in an small office or apartment style workout room, or if you just want the best possible treadmill around for under $2000.

The last thing I want to mention is BodyCraft's "EZ Lubrication" system. If you hate trying to figure out how to properly lubricate your deck then this is a dream come true. It takes about 2 minutes to do and is the easiest lubrication system on the market. It's easy enough that I would even let Hikaru or my son do it!

For being a remarkable, top rated treadmill and a best buy under $2000, the Treadmill gives the BodyCraft TR1180 treadmill 5 out of 5 golden buddahs and thanks it for not killing my son.

The BodyCraft TR1180 is an amazing machine and recipient of 5 gold buddahs out of 5.


Find out more about this nearly perfect treadmill and get the lowest price online.




BodyCraft TR1180 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 3HP
Max Speed: 12mph
Max Incline: 12%
Running Area: 20' x 58"
Display: LED/LCD
Readouts: speed, time, distance, calories, incline, pulse, pace, elev gain
Programs: 15
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Folding: Yes
Max User Weight: 400lbs
Unit Weight: 275lbs
Price: Under $2000

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

Reader Mailbag: A reader's feedback

Ohiyo!

Every so often the Treadmill Sensei gets a really great piece of email that makes all this work worthwhile. Today let's hear from Ben in New Jersey. He's just bought a treadmill and has a few words. Take it away, Ben.

Dear Sensei:

I would like to say thank you for all the information and reviews on your website. I'm am a Type 1 (Insulin Dependant) diabetic, who is starting infusion therapy. As I'm sure you've guessed, my physician and diabetes educator have both told me that I MUST exercise to avoid the complications associated with this disease. The best exercise, I've been advised to do is walking. My head was spinning until I found your site. Your recommendations, reviews and advice were straight forward, easy to understand and most helpful.

Thanks also for saving me from a big mistake. I was very interested in the Nordic Trak ViewPoint 3000 due to its iFit system as well as its Carb counting readout (the basis of diabetic infusion therapy), but after reading your review, I've decided upon the Sole F63. I have no reservations or buyer's remorse. Again, thank you.

While I doubt you'll ever see me on Sasuke as a contestant, please know that I will be walking my way to a healthier life due all the hard work you've put into your site.

I wish you all the best and continued success.

Domo Arigato, Ben

Ben:

Thanks for the note and the very kind words. I am glad that my website was able to help guide you in the right direction. The most important thing is that you're going to get started on your exercise and your walking. Truthfully, the brand you buy doesn't matter as long as you're using whatever it is to get healthy.

Thanks again and take care, Ben.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Proform 350 Treadmill Review -- One of the Worst Treadmills Under $400

Ohiyo!

A reader recently asked the Treadmill Sensei "Why don't you review more Proform product? They have a lot of treadmills and ellipticals that people see every day" At first I just laughed to myself because Proform reviews tend to be made up of me mocking some really low quality equipment by a company which doesn't care about its customers. Plus, as the reader said "they have a LOT of treadmills and ellipticals." Sometimes it feels like if I reviewed a Proform every day that I wouldn't ever finish because they release new product so often. Why on Earth would I want to support that?

However, thinking about the question further I realized the reader was correct. Proform (and Icon in general) dominates much of the fitness industry, especially the lower end of the budget spectrum, and should be getting a larger presence on this website to show that. Of course, to Proform's annoyment (if they've even noticed this website yet), I plan to continue to warn customers away from bad buys on budget treadmills and ellipticals. I will try to do at least one Proform or Icon review a week to keep everyone updated on what to avoid. What this means to the Treadmill Sensei is that I'll be getting my "bad treadmill" headache a lot more often now. Because of that I will be accepting donations of Tylenol and Hard Liquor from you, my loyal readers, to combat that Bowflex Headache (which I may have to rename the Proform Headache)!

If you are looking for a best buy treadmill for under $400 then the Proform 350 Treadmill is an excellent one to avoid. If you are looking for a very noisy,plastic-constructed and rickety budget treadmill that isn't going to last through a year of regular use then the Proform 350 is the perfect treadmill for you.

Starting with the assembly of the unit, we had a bit of trouble on the Proform 350 we ordered to review here at the DOJO. A number of the holes were cut incorrectly and the bolts didn't quite fit. Also, alignment in general was just a tad off. Once together, the Proform 350 Treadmill was very shaking and not the most solid of units. The product specifications from Proform mention a 250 pound user weight limit, but I would drop that top weight down to no more than 160 pounds at the most. And, truthfully, even that might be stretching it.

Once together, the Proform 350 didn't function at all. There was a problem with one of the control boards. What I thought would be a quick call to customer service turned in to what I like to call the "Icon Nightmare." You see, I didn't mention to the customer service department that I was an authorized Icon repair tech and just pretended to be a regular customer. What I went through was a terrible experience that lasted nearly a month with constant calls to get assistance. An amazing discovery was that the Icon customer service agents we spoke with seemed to consider themselves repair techs and were trying to diagnose the problem over the phone. We quickly received a vast array of different, very cheap, parts from Icon but none of them were what we needed. I finally gave up trying to act like a regular customer because I was developing a rather nasty ulcer from the experience. Receiving the control board we had the Proform 350 treadmill up and running in about 20 minutes...plus 30 or so days.

The very interesting thing was that I was never offered an "in-home" service tech by Icon, being told that I could install any of the parts they sent in just a few minutes. The other interesting thing was that one customer service rep suggested I remove the 350's motor and take it to a local mechanic to have checked out...on my own dime of course. This is actually the second time I had been told this on a Proform treadmill in the past year.

Before I get to what I found in the course of my 2 days of actually working out on the Proform 350 treadmill, I want to go over the features and facts of the unit. The Proform 350 has a very small motor in it. Icon has labelled the motor as a 2.25 THP motor and what that means in reality is a 1.25 horsepower or possibly even smaller motor. It also has no programs, a small running area for the price at 17"x50", top speed of 10mph and maximum incline of 10%. I was very surprised to see no programs at all on the unit because that is one of the cheapest features to add to a treadmill.

On to the findings of my workout on the Proform 350 Treadmill, why it only lasted for 2 days and why I mentioned a top user weight of less than 160 pounds. My workout was cut short on day 2 because I cracked the deck of the Proform 350 Treadmill during a walking workout of around 2 miles per hour. I hadn't even gotten to a full run or jog, and I hadn't even done my patented "bounce test" yet. Also, when we were taking the 350 apart to place it out in the DOJO's "treadmill graveyard," I noticed the left strut had bent and was cracked at its base. Now, I'm not a heavy man by anyone's definition and this should not have happened during a light walking workout -- heck, I think entire runtime on the Proform 350 was only around 2 hours at that point.

To be fair to Proform (God, I hate saying those words!), this may have been an isolated instance of a manufacturer's defect. We would normally tried to find a second unit to try out but the overall experience on the treadmill and with Icon's customer service turned me off on the idea. With or without the cracked deck and bent upright support, the Proform 350 is a very low quality, poorly manufactured treadmill that I would not recommend to my worst enemy. Don't be fooled by the look of the Proform 350 and don't be lured in by the price. In the end you'll just be throwing your money away.

For being a truly horrible unit (and that caused me to look silly when it cracked and I fell off of it in front of Hikaru...who is still making fun of me), the Treadmill Sensei gives the Proform 350 Treadmill 0.5 out of 5 golden buddahs...that's right, half a buddah!

The Proform 350 makes the Treadmill Sensei wish he had a 0.25 golden buddah rating.


Find out more about the Proform 350 Treadmill.


ProForm 350 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 1.25 HP, listed as 2.25 THP
Running Area: 17"x50"
Max Speed: 10MPH
Max Incline: 10%
Folding: Yes
Display: LCD
Programs: 0
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Max User Weight: 250lbs
Unit Weight: 125lbs
Price: Under $400

P.S. The Sensei was joking about the donations of Tylenol..although you can always send Hard Liquor.

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Lamar L1200 Treadmill Review -- A best buy treadmill under $2000

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei has a Bowflex-sized headache again today, which interestingly enough isn't from Bowflex related equipment. You see, over the weekend we took in 8 Proform treadmill repair jobs here at the DOJO. The jobs came from a bunch of unrelated people who all happened to breakdown at the same time. The reason this is a headache for me is because I am generally the one in charge of having to deal with Icon's "customer/tech service" -- I put that phrase in quotes because I don't think the works "customer service" should ever be used together with the word ICON or PROFORM. It's an oxymoron. Actually, you could leave the "oxy" portion of that word off and it would still fit them quite nicely.

To counteract the headache I thought I'd do a review of something quite a bit higher quality than a Proform treadmill...and, if you want quality, one of the names standing out this coming season is Lamar Fitness (or "Lamar Health, Fitness and Sports" as they like to be known...me? I think the name is way too long). To tell the truth, I wrote the notes for this review when a Lamar L1200 Treadmill came in to the DOJO about 2 months ago. Since we had an unusually busy summer this is my first chance to get back and do a full write up on the L1200 Treadmill, one of my top rated choices for a best buy treadmill under $1700.

The main reason I am a fan of Lamar equipment in general, and the Lamar L1200 Treadmill in specific, can be summed in three words: high quality components. Where a lot of mid-range manufacturers will overload their treadmills with plastic, Lamar goes out of its way to produce quality by using 14 gauge steel in the manufacture of their L1200 Treadmill. Most manufacturers are using 16 or lower gauge steel! The only other treadmills in the price range which can compete with the Lamar L1200 treadmill's solid design and sturdy build are by BodyCraft and Quantum. Nothing else comes even close.

To help me run the Lamar 1200 through its treadmill paces, I had Hikaru "volunteer" to do a little running on it...well, to do a LOT of running on it. Over a 2 week period I had Hikaru do 2 workouts a day -- a running workout in the morning for 20 minutes and then a walking one in the after noon for 45 minutes. The reason for doing dual workouts was to test two specific items: the stability of the unit with the running workout and the power and durability of the motor and drive system with the walking workout. You see, walking puts a lot more stress on a motor than a run does because your body weight is in almost constant contact with the belt, which can slow it down and put considerable strain on motor performance.

After 2 weeks we found the Lamar L1200 Treadmill performed with flying colors. Running in burst of 6-7 miles per hour, jumping up and down and general harsh treatment couldn't weaken the L1200's frame. In addition to that, neither long, slow steps or doing a cold start with Hikaru on the treadmill belt was a problem for the Lamar L1200's motor. It started well and ran consistantly for the entire time. Lamar made an excellent choice when they chose the 2.5 horsepower motor for the L1200 treadmill.

From there the additional great features on the L1200 treadmill were just gravy. It has a monstrous 20"x60" running area which is great for its price range -- great for any price range -- 8 workout programs, heart rate monitoring and control. and heft 225 pound unit weight, 10 mile per hour top speed and a 12% maximum incline.

If I had to nitpick about this unit, I would have wished for a higher top speed and incline, but that is such a stretch for a complaint it is barely worth mentioning. The Lamar L1200 Treadmill is a near perfect choice for the causal walker or the serious runner both. For being a best buy treadmill for under $2000, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Lamar L 1200 Treadmill 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

Another top rated treadmill from a solid company, the L1200 Treadmill gets 4.5 gold buddahs out of 5.


Get more information on the Lamar L1200 Treadmill.



Lamar L 1200 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 2.5HP
Running Area: 20" x 60"
Programs: 8
Max Speed: 10 MPH
Max Incline: 12%
Display: LCD
Readouts: Speed, Time, Distance, Calories, Incline, Pulse
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 300lbs
Unit Weight: 225lbs
Price: Under $1700

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Kettler Vito XL Elliptical Review - A well-crafted let-down

Ohiyo!

In the fitness industry we all spend a lot of time talking about manufacturing in Taiwan versus China versus the US. What we tend to forget is there is still some very fine manufacturing being done over in Europe. So, to broaden all of our horizons the Treadmill Sensei wants to answer an email from the Reader Mailbag about the quality of a long standing German company called Kettler. Let's see how Kettler measures up to its Asian cousins out in the marketplace. Take it away, Don!

Sensei,

I like many other of your readers (fans) have found your reviews the best I have found, I have read that you have a Sports Art 803 at home and I am leaning that way myself. I'm 6'3" 340lbs and the wife is 5'2" 130lbs so an adjustable stride and heavy duty machine is what I need.

So here finally is my question, what do you know about Kettler machines, it says made in Germany and I am seeing 45 lbs flywheels and all ball bearing and I'm thinking?? so I ask the pro- the guy what fixes them not the guy what sells them are they as good or better as the Sports Art for the money or should I stay with the 803.

Thank You. -Don

Don:

Thanks for your note and I'm glad you are enjoying the website! It's true, I did have a SportsArt 803 at home but I recently gave it to my Sensei partner, Mat, who was in search of a solid elliptical to workout on. He's about your size but a tad bit shorter at 6'1" and he's loving the machine. He works on it every morning before he comes in to the DOJO to work out even more during the day! The 803 elliptical holds up very well to his more super-sized workouts.

In regards to Kettler, they do make some very high quality product. A quick history of Kettler for those of you who aren't familiar with the brand. As a manufacturer of sports and fitness equipment, the German-based Kettler has been around since the late 1940s and has been known for producing some very high quality equipment ever since. Their "made in Germany" slogan is one filled with pride, and rightly so because German manufacturing is still some of the best in the world. Now, although Kettler has been in the US since the 1980s, it is still lesser known brand to most buyers in spite of their higher quality production.

I wasn't sure which Kettler unit Don was interested in, so I put my feelers out and brought in a couple of units after I returned from the Fitness Trade show at the beginning of August. The first one I was able to get my grubby little hands on was the Ketter Vito XL elliptical, which can be picked up for just under $1200.

The very first thing I want to talk about is the misconception of the "45 pound flywheel" that Don mentioned. What Kettler actually does is give you the weight of the entire rear drive assembly and not just the flywheel (much like Spirit does when quoting 30 pounds for their lightweight plastic flywheels). I didn't have the time to disassemble the entire drive assembly, but by eyeballing it I'd estimate the metal flywheel to be in the 25-30 pound range. Still a very large and smooth running flywheel if not quite the 45+pounds they like to brag about.

The second thing is how freaking well the Kettler Vito XL elliptical was made. It has the single most solid frame I've seen on a home elliptical under the $1200 range. In addition to the incredibly sturdy frame, the unit also uses sealed bearings instead of cheap bushings in all of its pivot points. What that means is a much smoother motion and a quieter ride. It also means the Ketter Vito XL elliptical will last for a very long time without much additional maintenance.

Now, for being such an incredibly well-made machine a lot of you will be surprised at the rating I give the Vito XL elliptical from the fine folks at Kettler. The reason for that is because of the lack of features on the unit: it has a very small 16" stride length (very short for a $1000+ elliptical), no programs, only 10 levels of resistance control (if it were priced under $600 that would be acceptable) and the old-style non-articulating, non-adjustable foot pedals. The bummer is that while the elliptical motion of the Kettler Vito XL is great, the stride is much to short and the static pedals will be uncomfortable for any workout of 20 minutes or longer.

Speaking of the pedals, they seemed a bit too far apart for my taste as well. A taller user might like that more than someone of my 5'7"-ish height, but then that user would be turned off by the shorter stride.

If you're looking for an incredibly well made elliptical and are under 5'8" or so then I would recommend checking out the Vito XL Elliptical from Ketter, otherwise I'd suggest looking elsewhere. For being an incredibly well-made disappointment, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Kettler Vito XL Elliptical 3.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

3.5 gold buddahs out of 5 isn't all that bad...it isn't all that good either.


Find out more about the Kettler Vito XL Elliptical and get the lowest price online.



Kettler Vito XL Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 16"
Flywheel: approximately 26lbs
Display: LCD
Readouts: Time, distance, Kilojoules burned, RPM, pulse
Programs: 0
Resistance: 10 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Max User Weight: 280lbs
Unit Weight: approximately 145lbs
Price: Under $1200

-The Treadmill Sensei
http://www.treadmillsensei.com

The Spirit ZE120 Elliptical Review -- Solid Elliptical Under $1100

Ohiyo!

The end of the Summer and the start of Fall brings in new treadmills and ellipticals from manufacturers as they launch their new lines for the upcoming holiday season. But, before the new equipment arrives buyers still have time to check out some really cool equipment in the current line...and even save some cash at the same time..

To be perfectly honest, the Treadmill Sensei was very unsure about whether or not to review the Spirit ZE120. You see, Spirit is discontinuing the unit and it will no longer be available once current stock is sold off. The current Spirit Z Series is being replaced by their new Esprit line which is less than impressive. However, I wanted to go over the Spirit ZE120 elliptical in order to give my readers one last look at a top rated elliptical before it is gone and, hopefully, give you a chance to pick one up before they are all gone.

To start off, the Spirit ZE120 is basically just a slight upgrade of the Best Buy Award winning Sole E25 Elliptical. They share the same frame and same mechanical parts, with the only difference being the lighter color paint and more programs, including a heart rate control option. If you like the Sole E25 but want more exercise programs or want to do heart rate workouts, then the extra $100 is a small price to pay.

The Spirit ZE120 is a very solid elliptical, featuring 4 rear rails to assist in giving you a very stable workout. Spirit has also done a great job with the articulating foot pedals and their 2% incline to give the ZE120 elliptical's 20" stride one of the most natural and comfortable feels on the market. All of the Spirit and Sole ellipticals share this great feature.

The unit also comes with 13 workout programs, heart rate monitoring (pulse grip but also with a wireless option), heart rate control and 16 levels of resistance. For the price point it is an excellent buy.

Spirit has produced a very fine elliptical in the ZE120 and it will be a shame to see it vanish from stores in the next couple of months. If you want a top rated elliptical best buy for under $1100 then you'd be foolish not to check out the Spirit ZE120 elliptica