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What was once a long, elegant and sturdy elliptical has been replaced by a shorter profile frame with a much lighter, flimsier feel to it.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 elliptical. Luckily, if you miss out on the ZE120 version, the Sole E25 will still be around.

For being a well-designed elliptical in the $1000-$1100 range, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Spirit ZE120 Elliptical 4 out of 5 golden buddahs...we're sad to see you go!

4 gold buddahs out of 5 for the excellent Spirit ZE120 Elliptical.


Get more info on the Spirit ZE120. Save an additional 3% with coupon code TMSENSEI

Spirit ZE120 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 20"
Flywheel: 24lbs
Display: LCD
Programs: 13
Resistance: 16 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 300lbs
Unit Weight: 160lbs
Cost: Under $1100

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

Reader Mailbag: What does a labor warranty cover?

Ohiyo!

In the rush of getting ready for the Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards later this year the Treadmill Sensei has been a bit lax on answering reader emails. It's not that I don't love you guys, I've just been trying hard to get as many reviews done as possible and between running for hours a day on treadmills and ellipticals, and writing up reviews, all of my time seems to have disappeared! But never fear, it's a slow day here at the DOJO and I've got a few minutes to open up the old Reader Mailbag to see what is in there.

Today we have a question I'm surprised I haven't been asked more often. Calvin wants to know a bit more about what a labor warranty entails. Take it away, Calvin!

Treadmill Sensei,

I've been looking at various elliptical models, and the one thing that has me a bit puzzled ... What exactly would the labor part of a warranty cover? It would obviously be varied with different manufacturers, but I was just wanting to get some idea.

Thanks! -Calvin

Calvin:

Thanks for the note and the great question. A full labor warranty (as opposed to a "limited labor warranty" you might see on some of the lower end equipment) should cover all costs incrued from a service or repair tech coming out to your location (home, office or whatever) to work on your treadmill or elliptical. It's really that simple. In general, if your equipment is still under labor warranty and a manufacturer (or, more often, the retailer you purchased it from) tries to bill you or make you take the equipment to a location to get repaired, then you're getting ripped off.

Now, different manufacturers have different terms in their warranties so make sure to read their supplied warranty information if you have any questions. The better manufacturers cover their warranties themselves while others require their retailers to cover them.

Now, and manufacturers will hate me for saying this, but I'd suggest calling in for service a month or two before your labor warranty is up -- have your treadmill belt changed, get your elliptical all lubed up, have everything recalibrated and so on. And then, before your parts warranty is up, call again to get a new treadmill belt then as well - there's not as much to do part-wise on an elliptical unless something actually goes wrong. Doing this will help get a longer life on your equipment.

I hope I've answered your question, Calvin. Thanks again for your email!

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

The Lamar Ignite 821 Elliptical Review -- The Best Elliptical Available for Under $700

Ohiyo!

Continuing in my review of budget treadmills and ellipticals under $1000, this time your Treadmill Sensei answers something from the Reader Mailbag. Today's question is from Pam up in Toronto, Canada. Let's see what she has to say...take it away, Pam!

Hi Sensei,
I love your website and your sense of humour/style! Great info for someone like me who knows little about fitness equipment.
The Ignite 821 elliptical has been recommended to me by a local fitness equipment seller (and they're willing to give me some $ for trading in my treadmill). Of course, they're recommending what they're trying to sell. I haven't been able to find any reviews of this model and I'm hoping you have some advice you can share.

Many, many thanks!! -Pam in Toronto

Pam:

Thanks for your note and your kind works. I'm glad you like the website! It is really a shame, but there is a lack of reviews for most of the Lamar Fitness treadmills and ellipticals out on the internet. As I said in some of my other Lamar reviews, they are a brand that flies a bit under the radar of most consumers but they produce some very good equipment. If you keep on reading you'll see that their budget ellipticals have a number of features you very rarely see in ellipticals under $1000.

I was able to get a Lamar Ignite 821 Elliptical in to the DOJO and review it about 3 months ago but just haven't had the time to convert my review notes over to a post and I'm glad for the excuse. THe Ignite 821 is an incredible elliptical for the under $600 price it sells for...in fact, I thought our unit had been mispriced while I was reviewing it because of how it performed. For once this is the case of a manufacturer pricing an elliptical too low!

The first thing you'll notice when checking out a Lamar Ignite 821 is how heavy the elliptical is. Weighing in at around 175 pounds the thing is a monster and outweighs pretty much everything else out there in the under $1000 range for an elliptical...heck, it out weighs a lot of ellipticals in the $1000-$1500 range as well! Going along with that weight and solidity of frame is a heavy, approximately 16 pound metal flywheel. The combination of frame, heavy flywheel and very comfortable full 18" stride give you the best elliptical workout available in a budget elliptical under $1000.

The other feature fairly unique in an elliptical in the under $700 price range is a pair of articulating pedals. If you've read my other elliptical reviews then you already know how important this feature is, especially in longer workouts. The articulating pedals allow for a more natural feel in your workout and keep your feet from falling asleep, which is a very common problem with most budget price range ellipticals. It is fantastic that Lamar had the foresight to include this feature in the already great Lamar Ignite 821 Elliptical.

On top of solidity and comfort, the Lamar Ignite I821 is also fully loaded with 6 programs, heart rate monitoring and control, 16 levels of resistance and a two-tone LCD screen. The only thing missing is wireless heart rate monitoring...but Lamar even has a solution for that -- for about $100 you can get the Ignite 841 Elliptical which is the exact same unit with the additional electronics for wireless heart rate monitoring. I'm still almost conviced that someone at Lamar made a mistake in pricing the Ignite 821 as low as they did.

In the Ignite 821 Elliptical, Lamar created a best buy elliptical under $1000 and definitely the best elliptical under $600 available on the market today. For having produced an uber-elliptical at a budget price, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Lamar Ignite 821 Elliptical 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs for excellence.

Wow...just plain wow!


Get more information about this top rated elliptical under $600 and find it at the lowest price online.




Lamar Ignite 821 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 18"
Flywheel: approximately 16lbs
Display: LCD
Readouts: Time, Pulse, Distance, Calories used, Speed and Watts
Programs: 6
Resistance: 16
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes, Pulse grip
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 275lbs
Unit Weight: 175lbs
Price: Under $650

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

The Lamar Ignite I436 Elliptical Review -- Best Buy Elliptical Under $400

Ohiyo!

Probably the single most asked question the Treadmill Sensei gets here at the DOJO is "How can I look as handsome as you, O Great Sensei?" The second most asked question is "Where can I get a commercial quality elliptical for under $500?" Unfortunately, the answer to both of those questions is "you can't."

In all seriousness, if you're looking for anything that even remotely feels like a commercial quality product for under $500 (heck, even for under $1000) then you're in for some terrible disappointment. There just isn't anything out there like that. However, if you're on a budget and looking for a decent performing elliptical under $500 then Lamar Fitness may just have an possible answer for you in their Ignite 436 Elliptical (I couldn't figure out if this was called the Lamar I 436 or the Ignite 436 Elliptical...it was listed as both everywhere I looked!).

I was able to spend an hour on one of the Lamar Ignite 436 Ellipticals two days in a row at a local fitness shop and, in spite of the very low price, I was still impressed by its stability and feel. The Ignite 436 Elliptical weighs in right around 100 pounds which is very heavy for a budget elliptical, and I'd estimate its flywheel at right around 12-15 pounds which gave it a nice smooth elliptical feel. The stride was a bit short, but the unit itself is perfect for those of you who are smaller in stature (read: shorter than about 5'10") and looking to do a 30 minute or so workout 4-5 times a week. It is also an great choice for someone in an apartment or with a small area to put a piece of fitness equipment.

The Ignite 436 has a great range of 12 programs and 16 levels of magnetic resistance -- something more often found in ellipticals priced closer to the $1000 range.

All in all, if your budget is down in the under $400 range for an elliptical, you'd be silly not to check out the Ignite 436 Elliptical by Lamar. It feels better and will last longer than any Icon Fitness brand elliptical in the same price range and even out performs the lower-end Horizon and Merit units. Look for it to last for 3-5 years without many problems at all.

For being a great low budget elliptical, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Lamar Ignite I436 Elliptical (and it's long name) 4 out of 5 golden buddahs.

Another excellent Lamar Fitness elliptical with 4 gold buddahs out of 5.


Get more information on one of the best under $400 ellipticals on the market.



Lamar Ignite 436 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 15"
Flywheel: approximately 12lbs
Display: LCD
Readouts: Time, pulse, calories, distance, speed, RPMs and watts
Programs: 12
Resistance: 16 Levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 250lbs
Unit Weight: 95lbs
Price: Under $400

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

The BodyCraft Brand Review - High Quality Commerical Grade Equipment at a Home Price

Ohiyo!

Since the early 1990s, BodyCraft has been known as one of the top producers of high quality gym equipment in the world. While not as well known as a Body Solid they have been quietly producing commercial level strength equipment for home and light commercial use.

BodyCraft itself was founded by Randy Lundquist and Alan Gore in 1993. They had previously worked for the Image Fitness division of Icon Fitness...but I won't hold that against either one of them. Upon leaving they formed an independent representative firm, with Trimline being their largest account. From there they decided to fill a quality void in the fitness industry and BodyCraft was born. Since its founding, BodyCraft has received just about every quality award and accolade a company can get, including recognition from Consumer Digest and Consumer Reports.

As solid as their strength equipment has been, their newer line of treadmills and ellipticals has performed just as well. With the highest quality components and some of the sturdiest equipment around, BodyCraft looks to be on the verge of making its name as one of the top rated producers of cardio equipment as well. Their treadmills in particular, updated and improved versions of the older Trimline brand, have been turning heads since their.

Keep an out eye for BodyCraft if you are looking for some of the heaviest duty, longest lasting, commercial quality treadmills and ellipticals under $2500.

BodyCraft Treadmills:

• BodyCraft TR1120 Treadmill: Easily the most durable treadmill under $1000 bar none. 4.5 buddahs.
• BodyCraft TR1140 Treadmill: A Best Buy Treadmill under $1500 and a current Treadmill Sensei favorite. 4.5 Buddahs.
• BodyCraft TR1160 Treadmill: The closest treadmill you can get to gym quality for under $2000. 4.5 Buddahs.
• BodyCraft TR1180 Treadmill: A commercial quality treadmill and top rated treadmill under $2000. 5 Buddahs out of 5!

BodyCraft Ellipticals:
Reviews coming soon.

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

The BodyCraft TR1140 Treadmill Review -- A Best Buy Treadmill Under $1500

Ohiyo!

For the Treadmill Sensei this website is a bit of an exercise in contradictions. You see, when I'm wearing my "Service Tech" hat I love low quality machines like Proform or Bowflex, or machines with a lot of issues like Spirit's are currently having...but, when I'm weaing the robes of the Treadmill Sensei I despise those machines and warn my readers away from them because of those very problems. Today's review is a great example of that. As a repair tech I am always annoyed to have to install a Bodycraft TR1140 treadmill because the darn things last so long and never have any real issues at all -- unless of course an owner just doesn't take care of it. However, as the Treadmill Sensei I just can't say enough good things about it.

We received a call from a local gym owner a couple of weeks ago that said one of his members was going to be ordering a BodyCraft TR1140 Treadmill and asked if they could have it shipped to our shop. A lot of customers do that because we will bring their equipment inside and set it up for them, making sure everything is working and there is no freight damage. I agreed said we'd do a free installation if we could keep the unit for a week to give it a good review. The customer agreed and I was very happy to be getting in a TR1140 Treadmill to wreck...er..to review.

When we received the BodyCraft TR1140 in here at the DOJO I decided, since my son wasn't doing anything constructive, I would turn the review process over to him. As a bigger guy he would be able to test the stability and durability of the TR1140 Treadmill a lot better than someone of my smaller build (that's right...I'm down to 161 pounds! I lost another 8 pounds on the forced diet Mrs. Sensei has placed me on). Of course, I was right there to supervise the entire process.

To start off, my son is not the most mechanical of people -- his skills are in the much more difficult fields of playing video games and not taking out the trash. That being said, he was able to assemble the BodyCraft TR1140 treadmill with little to no trouble. The process took him about 40 minutes and there was minimal cursing during that time. If you have someone to assist, it should only take 20-30 minutes.

From there we noticed the TR1140 has the same very solid steel frame build of all the other BodyCraft units. I would have been surprised to see anything else from a company like BodyCraft which is known for its high quality components and ultra durable gyms and strength equipment. It seems they've taken that same philosophy of building the most solid equipment on the market over to their treadmill line. The best example of that is watching my son run on the treadmill. He's a bigger guy (260 lbs and about 6' tall) and even with his extra weight (something my wife is working on getting rid of before he goes back to school) the uprights and console of the BodyCraft TR1140 treadmill didn't move at all...there was very little shake in the unit at all even when I had him up his rather causal 2.5 mph walk to a brief 7 mph sprint.

The BodyCraft TR1140 treadmill also had a surprisingly large motor for one ranked at 2.25 horsepower. I've seen smaller motors from Spirit and Proform ranked as 3 horsepower or higher! To test the power of the motor I had my son stop the treadmill (something he was more than happy to do after having run off and on for nearly an hour a day for the previous 4 days) and do a cold start while standing on the belt. There was almost no slowdown from his weight as the TR1140 kicked on and started to move up to a higher speed. This is a great demonstration of the power and quality of the TR1140 treadmill's motor and is not something you often see in a treadmill priced at under $1500.

Over the course of 6 days of testing, we found the BodyCraft TR1140 to be a great performer with very reactive pulse grip heart rate monitoring (and wireless as well), 10 programs and a large 20" x 56" running area. It was easily one of the best treadmills under $1500 that we've reviewed this year and should last 10 years or more for the owner with little trouble.

For being a top rated treadmill under $1500, the Treadmill Sensei gladly gives the BodyCraft TR1140 Treadmill 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

As close to perfect as you can get in a treadmill under $1500, the TR1140 treadmill ranks 4.5 gold buddahs out of 5!


Find out more about the spectacular BodyCraft TR1140 Treadmill, a best buy under $1500.



BodyCraft TR1140 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 2.25hp
Max Speed: 10mph
Max Incline: 12%
Running Area: 20" x 56"
Display: LCD/Dot Matrix
Readouts: speed, time, distance, calories, incline, pulse, pace, elev gain
Programs: 10
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Folding: Yes
Max User Weight: 325lbs
Unit Weight: 250lbs
Price: Under $1500

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

The Lamar A 4400 Elliptical Review -- Great Elliptical under $1500

Ohiyo!

Last week your Treadmill Sensei and master of the fitness world took a look at the A 4200 Elliptical from the little known Lamar Fitness. The unit was a great buy at under $1300 and the only thing it was really missing with wireless heart rate monitoring and heart rate control programs. Luckily, in their infinite wisdom, the fine folks at Lamar have released the Lamar Advantage 4400 Elliptical which is an upgrade from the Lamar 4200 Elliptical.

After I reviewed the Lamar 4200 and saw that the A4400 Elliptical was the step up I decided to go out to get one for us to review here at the DOJO. What we found in the Lamar A4400 Elliptical was the exact same machine as the Lamar A4200 but with some electronics upgrades. What that means is you get the same incredibly well built and solid frame, the same very comfortable 19.5" stride with perfectly positioned pedals for most workouts, the same heavy flywheel and smooth elliptical motion and the same great 5 year parts warranty.

Now, because the Lamar A4400 Elliptical had the same frame and mechanical parts as the Lamar A4200 elliptical, we only reviewed the 4400 Elliptical over the course of 4 days. However, even after 4 days and about 8 hours of working out, we did find that the Lamar A 4400 elliptical was an excellent choice for those of you looking for a best buy or top rated elliptical under $1500 and that it will deliver as close to the feel of a commercial elliptical as you can get in the price range.

What that also means is that Lamar has produced one of the best front drive ellipticals under $1500. The only thing that keeps it from getting a perfect score is the 1 year labor warranty -- at a more generous 2 years it would have gotten a 5 out of 5 from the Sensei. If you're let down by the lightweight plastic flywheel of a Spirit elliptical or the choppy feeling of a Nordic Track, then give the Lamar A 4400 elliptical a shot...like Kevin Lamar, it might just score a touchdown with you.

For being a solid upgrade to a solid elliptical, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Lamar Advantage 4400 Elliptical 4.5 out of 5 Buddahs.

Wow, 4.5 golden buddahs for the Lamar 4400 Elliptical...I wonder if Lamar's football career would even rank that high?


Find out more about the Lamar A4400 Elliptical and get the lowest price online.


Lamar Advantage 4400 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 19.5"
Flywheel: approximately 25lbs
Display: LCD
Readouts: speed, time, distance, pules, RPM, watts, calories and level
Programs: 11
Resistance: 16 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 300lbs
Unit Weight: approximately 250lbs
Price: Under $1500

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

The Spirit Esprit ET-2 Treadmill Review -- Another flop from Spirit

Ohiyo!

Any regular readers of this site know how much the Treadmill Sensei hates it when a manufacturer releases the same equipment under multiple names, especially when they use some minor cosmetic changes and a coat of new paint. In the past this practive was confined to the larger fitness manufacturers who were renaming their equipment for various large chain stores like Costco, Sears and Target. Now, more and more of the smaller manufacturers are doing in an attempt to confuse consumers.

One of the latest players of the "musical name game" is Spirit Fitness out of Arkansas, and the latest unit they're playing it with is the Spirit Esprit ET-2 Treadmill. For those of you who don't know, Esprit is Spirit's new line of fitness equipment which is sold primarily online and is made up of their former Z Series treadmills and ellipticals with a new paint job. The Spirit Esprit ET2 is just a repainted version of the old Z8/XT8 treadmill and a slightly downgraded version of the Spirit XT175 treadmill. The strange thing is this downgraded unit has the same cost as the already too high-priced XT175 treadmill.

We had a chance to check out the Esprit ET2 Treadmill by Spirit at the recent Health & Fitness Expo in Denver and I have to say I was as disappointed by it as I was by its near twin, the Spirit XT175. the ET2 treadmill features the same small 20"x50" deck that it was too thin at 3/4" for anything but light walking workouts. After taking a look at the motor on the ET2 I am almost convinced it is the same motor as is on the XT175. I could be mistaken but this might just be the case of a manufacturer playing around with unit specs to try and differentiate one from another. Whether it is the same mislabeled motor or not, it really isn't a terrible motor for the light walking workouts the Esprit ET2 treadmill was obviously designed for.

I also share the same disappointment in the poor warranty on the Esprit ET2 that I had with the Spirit XT175. For a treadmill priced at almost $1100 a consumer really should expect more out of a manufacturer.

The final downside of the Esprit ET2 treadmill is the lack of fans and speakers that come should come standard on mid-range treadmills these days. I'm not quite sure what Spirit was thinking when the design for this unit was approved. I do refuse to even talk about one of the worst color schemes I've ever seen on a treadmill.

For the positives, the ET2 Treadmill by Spirit shares the same upgraded 4 transport wheels for moving a folded unit around and the great "soft drop" system that all Spirit and Esprit treadmills posses. It's a shame, as with the Spirit XT175, these two great features are wasted on such a poor performing treadmill as the Esprit ET2 Treadmill by Spirit.

If you're looking to spend around $1000 for a treadmill I'd check out the Sole F63 for a much better value.

For being even worse than the similarly over priced Spirit XT175, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Spirit Esprit ET2 Treadmill 1.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

We're really not sure what Spirit was thinking when they designed the Esprit ET2 Treadmill, which comes in at a magnificant 1.5 gold buddahs out of 5.



Spirit Esprit ET2 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 2hp
Running Area: 20" x 50"
Deck: 3/4"
Roller: 2.5"
Display: LCD
Programs: 6
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max Speed: 10mph
Max Incline: 10%
Folding: Yes
Max User Weight: 275lbs
Unit Weight: Approximately 200lbs
Price: Under $1100

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

The Lamar 4200 Elliptical Review -- Top Rated Elliptical Under $1500

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei constantly gets emails from his readers asking "why haven't you review such-and-such elliptical" or "such-and-such" fitness brand. Truth be told, we're not like some other review sites who just type up a review based on what everyone else online is saying about the equipment. We literally get on every single piece of equipment we review and workout on it. What that means is that we're limited to the amount of reviews we can get done at any point and hope our quality hold out over the quantity of the other sites and what their prescriptions for good equipment are. But I do hate when I'm not able to answer reader requests about information on brands or units I haven't been able to cover.

So, in order to fix that little issue we ordered a few different treadmills and ellipticals from manufacturers I haven't had a chance to review yet. Those units have been filtering in to the DOJO over the past 8 weeks or so and I've got a new one for you, my loyal readers. Today's offering is the Lamar 4200 Elliptical, sometimes called the Advantage 4200.

A quick background on Lamar Fitness: the company was founded in 2004 by Kevin Lamar, former NFL football player and executive at Nautilus for almost 20 years. They distribute their equipment under both the Lamar and Universal brand names. Lamar is known for putting out some very innovative equipment, but their quality was down for a few years before a recent turn around. Now they are quietly producing some top notch treadmills and ellipticals, including the Lamar 4200 Elliptical.

The Lamar 4200 we received here at the had a little bit of freight damage to the box and I was worried it was going to be damaged, but we lucked out and the only problems were with the box itself. Assembly on the 4200 elliptical was pretty straight forward and standard for an elliptical. I'd estimate it will take most people 45 minutes to an hour to put together if you've got someone to help. If you're doing it alone or aren't the most mechanical of people, it might take as long as an hour and a half.

The first thing you'll notice when getting on to the Lamar Advantage 4200 Elliptical (that's a mouthful of a name!) is how heavy it is and how solid it feels. This sucker weighs in somewhere around 250 pounds which is outstanding for a home grade front drive elliptical. And, almost all of that weight is up front in the drive assembly and flywheel. The way Lamar has designed the front end of the 4200 elliptical gives a very fluid motion to the elliptical movement of the pedals. Between that and the 19.5 inch stride, Lamar gives you a fantastic and comfortable feeling in your workout.

I very much enjoyed the 8 days I spent on the Lamar 4200 Elliptical we ordered. It was incredibly sturdy and held up to some pretty hard core workouts by both myself and Mat here in the DOJO. To balance out my longer 45+ minute workouts I had Mat do some very short, very fast and very rough workouts of about 5 minutes to see how much torture the Lamar 4200 could endure...and it passed with flying colors. The unit is built to last...and the company's 5 year parts warranty shows how much faith they have in it. I do wish the labor warranty was 2 years instead of one, but that is a minor issue.

The only other problem I had was that I missed having heart rate control programs. Lamar added that feature in the upgrade Lamar 4400 Elliptical for a couple of hundred dollars more, but it would have been nice in the Advantage 4200 elliptical as well.

If you're looking for a great workout in the under $1500 range, then check out the Lamar 4200 Elliptical -- it may not have the brand recognition of Proform, Spirit or Bowflex, but it has the quality and design excellence to beat them. For being really spiffy, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Lamar A 4200 Elliptical 4 out of 5 Golden Buddahs.

Who would have thought an ex-football player would know how to make a darn good elliptical?


Find out more about one of the best front drive ellipticals under $1300, the Lamar A4200 Elliptical.


Lamar Advantage 4200 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 19.5"
Flywheel: approximately 25lbs
Display: LCD
Readouts: speed, time, distance, pules, RPM, watts, calories and level
Programs: 11
Resistance: 16 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Max User Weight: 300lbs
Unit Weight: approximately 250lbs
Price: Under $1300

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

The LifeCore LC985Z Elliptical Review -- As Exciting as a Sleeping Pill

Ohiyo!

At the Denver Fitness Expo earlier this month, the Treadmill Sensei saw a lot of treadmills and ellipticals he hasn't gotten a chance to check out yet. Being at the show helps me to figure out what machines I absolutely need to check out before we post our Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards later this year. What we'll be doing over the next 2 months here at the DOJO is begging, borrowing and buying as many possible units as we can get to review. I'm hoping to have another 200 reviews done by the end of October! Of course, people say I'm crazy so we'll see what happens.

That brings us to the LifeCore LC 985Z Elliptical, a fairly by-the-book old school rear drive elliptical that we purchased about a month ago and has been sitting right outside of my office just waiting to be put together. And, starting with putting it together, the Lifecore LC985z was a very easy elliptical to assemble. Unlike a lot of ellipticals, the LC985z should take less than 30 minutes to put together.

That's where the excitement ends on the Lifecore LC985z. From that point on it gets a little boring.

The real shame about the LC985z elliptical is that it has a lot going for it -- 12 programs, heart rate monitoring and control, a decent sized flywheel and a pretty good warranty of 5 years on the parts. Unfortunately, the negatives are as great as the positives. The parts warranty is long but the labor warranty (just as important) comes in at a meager 1 year coverage. The unit itself is well made, but at under 100 pounds and with an approximately 15 pound flywheel, it just isn't sturdy enough to hold up to other ellipticals at the just under $1000 price point. And that doesn't even mention the very disappointing 17.5" stride.

Actually, since we did mention the short stride on the LifeCore LC985z Elliptical I'd also like to mention that the elliptical motion of the machine makes it feel even shorter than that. When you are looking at ellipticals you want an elliptical motion that is more stretched out than shaped like a circle. In my testing the elliptical motion of the LC985z elliptical was more "D" shaped than elliptical and what that gives is a more unnatural and uncomfortable ride, especially when you take in to account the awful, non-articulating pedals of the LifeCore ellipticals in general. After doing 5 days of 45+ minute workouts on the LifeCore 985z elliptical, I don't think my feel will ever wake up and stop tingling!

I just didn't like the feel of the machine very much and, unless you're an old Tunturi C6 owner and enjoy discomfort, neither will most people who check one out.

The LifeCore LC985z Elliptical isn't a terrible machine and, in fact, has some nice features. They just aren't enough to keep the LC985z from being a very average elliptical. For being average, the Treadmill Sensei gives the LifeCore LC985z Elliptical an average 2.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

Another sturdy but unexciting unit from Lifecore, the LC985z Elliptical gets 2.5 gold buddahs out of 5.



LifeCore LC-985z Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 17.5"
Flywheel: 15lbs
Programs: 12
Resistance Levels: 16 Levels
Display: LED
Readouts: Date, Time, Pulse and Temp
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 300lbs
Unit weight: 93lbs
Price: Under $1000

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

The Spirit XT175 Treadmill Review - No Bang for the Buck

Ohiyo!

One of the cool things about the Health & Fitness Expo that went on in Denver this August is that it allowed the Treadmill Sensei to spend some time on brand new units coming out from a number of manufacturers. One of the manufacturers I was particularly interested in checking out was Spirit Fitness out of Arkansas. They produced some very good equipment at the beginning of the busy season last year, but dropped the ball with poor quality control (QC) and poor components at the end of the season that caused a lot of Spirit buyers a lot of trouble.

Unfortunately, the first unit I was able to check out from their new XT-Series line of treadmills doesn't look good. My first thought when seeing the new Spirit XT175 treadmill was that it looked to be a semi-upgrade (and partial downgrade) of the Spirit XT8/Z8 from last year. For any of you who saw my review of the unit last year, you know I wasn't a big fan at all.

For a price of almost $1100, the Spirit XT175 treadmill is over priced and sorely under powered. The upgrade to a 2.5 horsepower motor was an excellent addition, but the tiny 20" x 50" deck is almost an insult to anyone looking to drop $1100 on a new treadmill. When you factor in the smaller deck thickness this year over last (.75" this year versus 1" last year) and that "almost an insult" turns in to a slap in the face to buyers.

Adding in an additional program by bumping the number up to 6 and tacking on heart rate control seems too little too late for the Spirit XT175 treadmill. Luckily, the new plastic pan covering underneath the treadmill should stop at least some of the freight damage that Spirit treadmills were suffering last year due to the lack of such protection. Don't even get me started on my opinion of their lackluster 4 year deck (???), 2 year parts and 1 year labor warranties. For a minute I thought I was standing on a Proform treadmill.

When my fellow Sensei, Mat, did a quick 2.5 mile-an-hour walk on the XT175 treadmill at the Expo, the entire unit shook more than the San Andreas fault. Now, Mat does come in over the intended 275 pound max user weight of the Spirit XT175, but the unit shook even for the fit and trim Spirit salespeople at their booth, and most of those guys were under 200 pounds!

The positives on the unit are the still great "soft drop" system that all folding Spirit treadmills have, which very gently lowers a folded deck down to the floor without the nasty drop a lot of treadmills have. The additional of a 4 wheel transport carriage now makes moving the Spirit XT175 around your home so much easier.

In the Treadmill Sensei's opinion, the Spirit XT175 treadmill is a disappointment from a formerly decent fitness company and should have been priced closer to $799 to be competitive. If you're looking for a solid, well-made treadmill between $999 and $1100, then I'd suggest taking a look elsewhere -- BodyCraft, Sole, Smooth, BH/BladeZ and a lot of other manufacturers have better buys in this price range. Hopefully the rest of Spirit's new treadmill line performs better than this lemon.

For being a huge disappointment, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Spirit XT175 Treadmill 2 out of 5 golden buddahs.

2 gold buddahs out of 5 for the Spirit XT175 treadmill...move along, there's nothing to see here.



For a best buy treadmill alternative at under $1000, check out the BodyCraft TR1120 treadmill.

Spirit XT175 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 2.5HP
Max Speed: 10MPH
Max Incline: 10%
Display: LCD
Programs: 6
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Running Area: 20" x 50"
Deck Thickness: 3/4"
Roller: 2.5"
Folding: Yes
Max User Weight: 275lbs
Unit Weight: approximately 200lbs
Price: $1099

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

The Smooth 9.25HR Treadmill Review -- Commercial Grade Treadmill at a Home Price

Ohiyo!

A company who continues to impress the Treadmill Sensei is Smooth Fitness out of New Jersey. Smooth tends to fly under the radar for most treadmill buyers because they are found almost exclusively online -- although, their units are available at brick-and-mortar stores under the Evo brand name. The most important feature of a Smooth treadmill is quality vs cost: since Smooth is now in charge of manufacturing their own equipment they are able to sell higher end, higher quality treadmills and ellipticals at a much lower price. They sell factory direct so you aren't forced to pay a middle man for the equipment, which gives a Smooth buyer the opportunity to save thousands of dollars on a unit of similar quality from another manufactuer selling through a retail distributor.

In layman's terms what that means is: you're paying under $2000 for a high class treadmill that a retailer would normally charge $3000 or more for. If you're budget conscious like the Treadmill Sensei is (read that as "cheap") then this is music to your ears.

The Smooth 9.25HR Treadmill is easily one of the Treadmill Sensei's favorite non-folding treadmills right now. We had one come in to the DOJO recently for some maintenance -- its owner hadn't lubricated the unit's deck or cleaned its motor since its purchase over a year ago. Luckily, even neglected as it was, the Smooth 9.25HR she brought in was still in tip top condition. I wouldn't suggest abusing your machine but they do stand up exceptionally well and are long-life treadmills.

Weighing in at over 300 pounds and with a welded steel frame, the Smooth 9.25 HR treadmill more than stood up to my 8 days of 90 minutes-per-day testing. I could almost hear it laughing at me. An immediate way to judge a the sturdiness of a treadmill is to stand on it and then jump up and down -- or, run full out on it. If the console doesn't shake then you've got the makings of a solid machine. When I did this test on the 9.25HR treadmill here there was almost no console shake at all. Not to be beaten by a mere treadmill, I grabbed my partner, Mat who weighs in at about 330 pounds and stands near 6'1" in heels, and made him run on the treadmill for 5 minutes. Even at speeds of up to 5 miles per hour the machine was strong and sturdy. Smooth has done an excellent job with the sheer stability of the 9.25HR Treadmill.

The Smooth 9.25HR's motor was just as heavy-duty as its frame. The extra large 3 horsepower motor ran at very low RPMs (under 4000) and when we did a cold start with Mat standing on the deck, it pulled very low AMPs while still running smoothly. Mat normally starts his treadmill while standing on the side rails because most of them will lurch if he is standing on the belt. Not so with the Smooth 9.25HR. Smooth has done an excellent job in their commercial-quality motor choice. Factor in the best roller/bearing design in treadmills and you have a treadmill motor and deck that will last for 10 years or more with little to no problems (if properly maintained!).

The high number of programs (12), commercial style dot matrix monitor, high max speed of 12.5MPH and Incline of 15%, as well as the runway-sized 20" x 62" deck all make the Smooth 9.25HR treadmill one of the finest non-folding treadmills under $3000, especially with its budget conscious cost coming in at just under $2000.

For truly being a commercial grade treadmill at a home treadmill price, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Smooth 9.25HR Treadmill 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

Smooth Fitness is one of the best overall fitness brands currently available on the market and the Smooth 9.25HR treadmill is a perfect example of why, coming in at 4.5 gold buddahs out of 5.


Find out more about the classy and comfortable Smooth 9.25 treadmill.




Smooth 9.25 HR Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 3HP
Max Speed: 12.5MPH
Max Incline: 15%
Display: Dot Matrix
Readouts: Speed, distance, time, calories burned, heart rate, 1/4-mile running track
Programs: 12
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Running Area: 20" x 62"
Rollers: 2.5"
Folding: No
Max User Weight: 400lbs
Unit Weight: 304lbs
Price: Under $2000

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

The BodyCraft TR1120 Treadmill Review -- Best Buy Treadmill Under $1000

Ohiyo!

Every so often a piece of equipment comes out that the Treadmill Sensei is unable to borrow locally. I'd been hearing about the new budget treadmill from BodyCraft, the TR1120 treadmill, here at the DOJO for a few months and was very intrigued by it. BodyCraft is a manufacturer known for producing some high quality fitness equipment that was also very durable -- their strength equipment in particular is top rated in its price range. So, I knew I had to find one to check out. Coming up empty handed with local retailers I did the next best thing, I ordered the BodyCraft TR1120 on Amazon. The treadmill arrived about 2 weeks later and I tore in to it like a kid on Christmas morning.

The very first thing is how easy the Bodycraft TR1120 treadmill was to assemble. BodyCraft has so much experience in building the much more complicated gyms that the instructions were a breeze to follow. I'd say the TR1120 will take 15-20 minutes for most people to put together. Very easy and hassle free...no holes drilled at weird angles.

2008 Best Buy Award Winner.

One together, I did my warm-up "hop test" where I jump up and down on a treadmill to see how the console shakes. I was surprised to see the under $1000 TR1120 treadmill remain perfectly motionless during the test. A quick run at 6 MPH confirmed the stability of the unit and lack of the "shakies" you see in most comparably priced unders.

The best way to describe the BodyCraft TR1120 treadmill is stripped down. The unit itself is of a quality more often priced at $1499, but a lot of the bells and whistles have been removed to make the TR1120 available at an incredibly attractive price of just under $1000. And, to tell the truth, if you're looking for quality over quantity you won't miss any of it.

One thing that has always impressed (and confused) the Treadmill Sensei is the ability of fitness manufacturers to come up with some of the most outrageous names for various parts of their equipment. In today's example, the BodyCraft TR1120 Treadmill, BodyCraft has a shock absorption system they pitch as "8 Kinetic Energy Dampers." I have to say that I have absolutely no idea what that means...but I do believe it came out of an X-Men comic book from the 1980s. While I may not know what "8 kinetic energy dampers" are (aside from a way to stop the Juggernaut), I do know they give the TR1120 treadmill a surprisingly good amount of shock absorption which feels pretty darn good on my old Tennis injured knee. Whatever advanced alien technology they scrounged up to create their "Energy Dampers" gives the BodyCraft TR1120 a comfortable feeling only found in much higher priced treadmills -- a perfect amount of absorption without too much recoil to make joint impact even worse.

Something a lot of shady fitness sales people (and the fine people at Icon Fitness) will tell you is that the bigger the horsepower number on a treadmill the better. It's a complete falsehood. Horsepower rating is a fairly arbitrary number (and most treadmill motors won't even have it labeled on the inside). What matters is the size of the motor (bigger is better), the number of RPMs (the lower the better) and how many AMPs the machine pulls under capacity. While the BodyCraft TR1120 treadmill is listed as having a 1.75 horsepower motor, it is actually very large for its rating and runs very cool at low RPMs. Most other manufacturers would have uprated the TR1120 motor to 2.25 or even 2.5 horsepower. What all this tech-talk means to you, my loyal reader, is a treadmill motor that will last for many years with little to no trouble at all.

With incredibly solid components, a frame far too sturdy for a treadmill under $1000 and great warranties, BodyCraft has raised the bar on the level of quality for budget treadmills. If I had to nitpick I'd wish the deck size was just a little longer to accomodate taller runners. However, with high quality components. BodyCraft has instead produced one of the best machines for walkers or joggers under about $1500...in the BodyCraft TR1120 Treadmill the standard has been set for treadmills under $1000.

For being a best buy treadmill under $1000, the Treadmill Sensei gives the BodyCraft TR1120 Treadmill 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

BodyCraft expands its reputation of quality and durability with the TR1120 Treadmill coming in at 4.5 gold buddahs out of 5.


Find out more about this spectacular treadmill.



BodyCraft TR1120 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 1.75 hp
Display: LED
Readouts: speed, time, distance, calories, incline, pulse
Programs: 8
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Max Speed: 10MPH
Max Incline: 10%
Deck Cushioning: 8 Kinetic Energy Dampers
Running Area: 18" x 52"
Folding: Yes
Max User Weight: 275lbs
Unit Weight: 165lbs
Price: Under $1000

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

The Lifecore LC1000z Elliptical Review - An average elliptical at under $1500

Ohiyo!

Now that that the Health & Fitness Expo in Denver is over the Treadmill Sensei can get back to reviewing treadmills and ellipticals.

Here at the DOJO we interact with a lot of retailers -- some from here in the SOuthern California area and some from all over the country -- and what I've learned is that every retailer has his or her own favorite brand of equipment. Some love equipment because of quality but for most the love affair comes from how much margin (or profit) they get from a brand. So I'm always getting request from dealers to review whatever brand they are wanting to push in their store. I generally don't have the time to jump on every request, but one local area retailer asked if I could do some more Lifecore Fitness reviews and even offered to loan the DOJO a Lifecore LC1000z elliptical to help out. Since the Treadmill Sensei is a bit lazy and tracking down some of the equipment is a difficult process, I told the retailer to bring down the elliptical and I would check it out. Unfortunately, I don't think the review was exactly what he was hoping for so he asked that I not mention the name of his store this time around.

Let's check out the Lifecore LC1000z elliptical review!

Upon receiving the boxed Lifecore LC1000z elliptical from the hopefull retailer, the guys at the DOJO and I tore into it like a pack of rabit beavers. Box bits and packing material flew everywhere! One thing I immediately appreciated was that the assembly instructions for the LC1000z were put together very well, were easily to read and made assembly a snap. Look for assembly to take you around 30-45 minutes and to cause very little frustration.

Like all Lifecore ellipticals, the LC1000z elliptical is based on the older-style rear drive architecture similar to the old school Tunturi ellipticals. What this means is non-articulating footpads that may cause foot numbness over the course of longer workouts and a less than stable front end. In the Lifecore LC1000z's defense, it does have a very solid base and its upfront front strut isn't as flimsy as on most rear drive ellipticals. Unfortunately, weighing in at under 140 pounds keeps it from being the most sturdy of ellipticals.

Unfortunately during my 6 days of testing the LC1000z elliptical, everything about it screamed "average" to me. There was nothing overly outstanding or (on the other side) terrible about it. The elliptical motion of the machine was decent but the stride felt a little stunted to me. I almost felt like I was taking "stutter steps" instead of being allowed a full stride. The pedals were adjustable, but only forward and back instead of, more importantly, at an angle. I also felt the pedal spacing was a bit wide for me but larger users may feel different -- although, larger users might want to try a sturdier machine for their workouts.

For every positive I found about the machine I found an equal negative. Even the high number of programs (14 on the LC1000z) gave me the impression of "been there, done that," and nothing stood out. The Lifecore LC1000z isn't a bad machine at all, but it feels like it should have come out in the mid 1990s when its technology and design were still new and exciting. Now, it feels a bit like a relic of the past trapped in a high tech future. I also felt like it was a bit over-priced at $1499. For the features of the LC1000z elliptical, I felt Lifecore should have priced it closer to $1199 or $1299.

For being shiny but boring, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Lifecore LC1000z Elliptical 2.5 out of 5 golden buddahs but would have loved this machine in 1994.

Although a bit boring and over-priced, the ease of assembly and decent construction allows the Lifecore LC1000z elliptical to rise to being average.



Lifecore LC1000z Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 18"
Flywheel: approximately 18lbs
Display: LCD
Programs: 14
Resistance Levels: 16 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 400lbs
Unit Weight: 137lbs
Price: Under $1500

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

The Multisports 6600 Elliptical Review - Best Rear Drive Under $1500

Ohiyo!

Readers here on the website are always sending me nots at the DOJO asking about which is better: front drive ellipticals or rear drive ellipticals. What I always say is "they are the same and have the same basic mechanics." The only reason there are different styles of ellipticals is because of design patents. However, my preference on lower end, non-commercial ellipticals has almost always leaned towards front drive units, not because of any mechanics in the pedal or flywheel dynamics but because the cheaper rear drive units always feel a bit too light and flimsy up front to me. During an elliptical workout you through all of your weight forward and the rear drive units generally aren't solid enough to support the necessities of an elliptical workout....for higher end and commercial ellipticals, this isn't as true. The Precor and Life Fitness rear drive machines, for example, are incredibly sturdy.

The other reason I prefer front drive units is because the footpedals tend to be a bit wider on rear drive ellipticals and the flywheels are usually lighter. What this means for most rear drive units is a slightly less comfortable feeling during longer workouts.

Recently, a local reader who knew of my front drive preference decided to loan me his MultiSports ECT-6600 Elliptical in an effort to change my opinion. Never one to back down from a challenge, and as someone who is always happy to admit when he's wrong, I decided to take the ECT6600 elliptical for a test drive and see how it held up to our extensive workout and review process. I was surprised at what I found.

Starting with assembly, the MultiSports 6600 elliptical we received in had already been assembled by its owner. However, checking through his instruction booklet and looking over the machine itself, assembly should be a breeze for most people. Figure an hour or so, perhaps a bit less if you have some help.

The first thing I noticed (and something I continued to notice over the next 15 hours of testing) was how rock solid the MultiSports ECT6600 elliptical was. Multisports uses commercial quality 11 gauge steel in the construction of its frames, and that fact showed through very nicely while I was working out. The main support post, a flimsy bar for most sub $2000 ellipticals, was stable and unmoving no matter how hard I was pedaling the ECT6600. The entire unit held up well to some rather intense workouts that bordered on all-out running on my part.

The next thing that was evident was the positioning of the foot pedals. While the Multisports ECT-6600 Elliptical has the same static, non-articulating footpedals found on most rear drive ellipticals, they solved quite a bit of the comfort issue by placing them closer together. The majority of rear drive ellipticals have a wider stance which feels very unnatural (Tunturi, I'm talking to you!), but the less than 5" distance between the pedals on the ECT6600 elliptical felt incredibly comfortable. With the addition of some articulating pedals, Multisports would have itself one of the best feeling ellipticals in the $1000-$1500 range

All-in-all, with a ton of extra features including 12 programs, a fantastic 21" stride, heart rate monitoring and control, the MultiSports ECT6600 Elliptical stands out as the single best buy in rear drive ellipticals under $2000 or so. For paying attention to comfort and design, the Treadmill Sensei gives the MultiSports ECT 6600 Elliptical 4 out of 5 Golden Buddahs.

The Multisports ECT 6600 Elliptical gets 4 gold buddahs out of 5 as an excellent rear drive elliptical option.


Get more information on the Multisports 6600 Elliptical and find the best price anywhere online.



Multisports 6600 Elliptical Specifications
Stride Length: 21"
Flywheel: 18lbs
Programs: 12
Resistance Levels: 12 Levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Display: LED
Readouts: Speed, average speed, distance, heart rate, calories, time, scan, level, RPM, and watts

Grade: Home
Product Size: 54"L x 23"W x 56"H
Max User Weight: 300 lbs
Unit Weight: 186 lbs
Price: Under $1500

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