Reader Mailbag: What to do with a used treadmill?

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei gets a lot of email from readers who are either on a budget and have purchased a used treadmill or elliptical in order to help themselves get fit, or still have an older treadmill which works but needs a little bit of love to keep it going. One question in particular that pops up is in regards to what lubrication should be used and how to use it. Today we have that very question from Beth. Take it away, Beth!

What a great web site you have!! I am so impressed. I bought a used Schwinn 6700p treadmill which my husband and I use frequently. It is old but rarely used, I was wondering how to lubricate it. I do not see anything in the owners manual at all about lubrication but I can't afford another treadmill so I want to keep this one in good condition! Thanks, -Beth

Beth:

Thanks for your note. One of the best lubricants out there for treadmills is "Lube-N-Walk." You can purchase it everywhere and can get more information at the manufacturer's website - www.jadfitness.com. They should have a maintenance kit that will help you out and give you instructions on how to do it. Keeping your treadmill lubricated, clean and dust free, as well as keeping the treadmill belt properly adjust, will help give your treadmill a long lifespan. I'd suggest picking up a treadmill mat as well.

Thanks again and take care.

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

Reader Mailbag: New or Used Equipment?

Ohiyo!

Today we've got a note from Chris who resides in our neighbor to the north, Canada. He's trying to find a good elliptical and is wondering if he should buy new, remanufactured or used. Take it away, Chris!

Hi Sensei,

I've been researching an elliptical purchase for many months now, your site has been a great resource, thank you.

There is currently a "rebate" program on Precor @ Fitness Depot here in Canada and the 5.23 (home version of 546) is on for $2858, that is a $1000 discount. However, it is still more than I wanted to spend and I keep looking at used/refurb units online from the US. Some of the used units can be had for under $2000 US. The new unit comes with a 10 year warranty and the used ones with virtually nothing.

If I purchased used am I likely to encounter large repair costs that will quickly eat the savings from buying used in the first place? What are typical repairs and repair costs for Precor 546's?

Thank you very much, -Chris

Chris:

First off, thanks for your note. Searching for the right elliptical can be a huge hassle due to the huge number of units out on the market. I've done around 120 elliptical reviews of the past year and have barely dented the surface of what is out. Buying an elliptical can be a truly daunting task for the uninitiated.

Your question is a good one, but one that is a bit difficult to answer. First and foremost, Precor puts out some of the best ellipticals. Period. There are only a few companies which produce ellipticals as good or that last as long (notice I said "ellipticals"...that's because their treadmills have been hit or miss). Getting a Precor 5.23 elliptical, as expensive as they are, is a long term investment in your health. The Precor 5.23 will probably outlive your car if properly maintained. With a new unit, like you said, you also get the benefit of a healthy warranty.

That being said, if you can find a well-remanufactured commercial elliptical it will have the potential to last 5-10 years without any trouble. A Precor 546 is a commercial unit that is rated for a lot more usage than you'll ever be able to put on it - they are made to be used in 24 hour gyms and the like. Again, as long as you keep up the cleaning and general maintenance of the unit. The ellipticals, unlike the treadmills, are mainly mechanical in nature. Any mechanical problems with a unit would pop up in the first month or two, hopefully while you're still under warranty. The electronics issues with a machine like the Precor 546 will usually come in the console or control boards. A problem there will cost a few hundreds to replace but is something most owners can do themselves to avoid having to call a service tech out.

The problem with remanufactured units is finding one from a reliable company. There are some dealers out there who clean up a unit without replacing bearings (some just "wipe down" a machine and send it out), without removing rust and without replacing anything that can't be seen. In that case you're just getting a used elliptical while paying a higher remanufactured price. The best thing to do there is to ask the dealer about their remanufacturing process. Ask what is done and what gets replaced. Check out my remanufactured equipment guide for a little more info. Oh, and remanufactured home units are always a bad idea. If you're going remanufactured, then stick with commercial units because a remanufactured budget treadmill just won't last.

Finally, used ellipticals. Used machines can be a bit of a crap shoot. Sometimes you'll luck out and get a good one and sometimes you'll get a lemon.

On remanufactured or used ellipticals I'd try to get the dealer to agree to a 30-day return period (60 days if you can manage it) to let you try out the quality of the machine you're buying. Again, any mechanical problems should be fairly quickly noticed.

Just remember, for any elliptical you get (new, used or remanufactured), proper maintenance is the key to long product life. Keep the machine clean and dust free, and keep it lubricated.

I don't know if any of that helps or not. I would say that if you're looking to stay under $2000, you might want to check out a remanufactured Precor 544 instead of a used Precor 546. The units are a little older but are built like tanks and you can find them for under $2000.

Thanks again for your note, Chris, and good luck with your elliptical search!

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

The Horizon T81 Treadmill Review - A semi upgrade to the Horizon T71

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei and company are still very hard at work on this year's Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards which we hope (cross your fingers) to post sometime in early October. We are still waiting to find a few more units to test and are sad that some new equipment won't be shipping until late October after the awards go live. This is one of the most fun parts of doing this website. We sit down with all of the reviews we've done (including some that haven't been posted yet) and compare specs, pricing, positives, negatives, complaints we've come across (heard, experienced) and put together the best buy lists. We're also doing another round of Baka Awards this year for the compaines, people and equipment that was just plain Baka ("stupid") from this past year. Lots and lots of fun.

However, in all that fun I've been neglecting the site just a bit and am going to try my darnedest to get back to posting a new review once a day. Today's review, for the Horizon T81 treadmill, is one of the more difficult ones. Not because of anything exceptionally good or bad about the treadmill, but because the lower end units are harder to rate and rank. One of the things I had to decided when I started this site was "do I rank budget units in the same manner, and up against, the more expensive units?" or "do I rank budget units only against other units in the same class and price range?" Both modes of thought are valid - budget treadmills (and ellipticals) are ALWAYS going to be less sturdily constructed and with lower cost components than higher end or commercial equipment. There's no way around that.

2008 Best Buy Award Winner.

What I decided was to rank units against others in their own class. A budget treadmill goes up against a budget treadmill and I give you my opinion on which one is better. What that doesn't mean is that a 4.5 buddah budget treadmill is better than a 4 or even 3.5 buddah commercial treadmill. You're comparing apples to oranges at that point and, most of the time, the lower ranked commercial treadmill will blow away the budget one.

With that incredibly long build up to a fairly short review, we received in a batch of equipment we ordered from Horizon Fitness a few weeks ago. In that batch was the new Horizon T81 Treadmill, which replaces the 2006/2007 Horizon T71 Treadmill (check out the T71 Review). Now, a lot of you may be wondering why Horizon seems to come up with new model numbers every year for what is generally the same equipment. I can't answer that question for Horizon but my guess would be that they are pressured to do so by their big box (Sears, Amazon, etc.) retailers so those retailers have something shiny and new to sell, even if it is basically the same unit.

The Horizon T81 Treadmill is indeed, basically the same unit as last year's T71, with a few decent upgrades. The main differences (aside from the cosmetic differences in the console and plastic tooling) are in the slightly larger motor in the T81, which clocks in at 2 horsepower this year versus 1.75 in the old Horizon T71. It really isn't a major change and not one most people will notice.

The other change is in the size of the running area on the Horizon T81. This year the model gets an additional 2 inches tacked on to the sides with a 20"x50" inch deck. As with the motor, this isn't something most people will notice.

Overall, the Horizon T81 Treadmill is a very decent budget treadmill for under $600 and should more than meet the needs of anyone looking to do a light work out a few times a week. If you're working out daily or putting any major mileage on it, I would suggest moving up to a heavier treadmill.

For being a solidly built treadmill for those on a budget, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Horizon T81 Treadmill 4 out of 5 Golden Buddahs.

Another solid budget treadmill for Horizon, the T81 gets 4 gold buddahs.


Find out more about the very solid Horizon T81 Treadmill.



Horizon T81 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 2hp
Display: LCD
Readouts: Speed, Distance, Time, Calories and Heart Rate
Programs: 8
Rollers: approximately 1.75"
Running Area: 20"x50"
Max Speed: 10mph
Max Incline: 10%
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Folding: Yes
Max User Weight: 275lbs
Unit Weight: 175lbs
Price: Under $600

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

Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards Coming!

Ohiyo!

I know we've been a bit silent on here for the past few days. Don't despair, tho! We're hard at work on the 2007/2008 Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards for Treadmills and Ellipticals. We should have them done in the next two weeks and will be back on track with our reviews shortly. Stay tuned!

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

Reader Mailbag: Which is better - Treadmill or Elliptical?

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei will be back later on today with a new review, but I wanted to start the day off by opening up the old reader mailbag here at the DOJO. I get in tons of email every day. While I may not get back to every single person who writes in, I do read every single email I get -- well, except the Spam ones for Viagro. Although, Mrs. Sensei may be sending those to me. I'll have to check in to that.

Our first email of the day is from Renee who is having problems decided what kind of equipment to buy, a treadmill or an elliptical. Let's see if we can help her out (or confuse her even more!). Take it away, Renee!

Hi! I looked at all the articles on your site and couldn’t see this question addressed: Which is better for a daily workout, an elliptical or a treadmill?

I am 51 years old, 5’3”, and 130 lbs. I need to lose 10 lbs., but haven’t been successful at this for the last 12 years.

I would like to define my waist and get more toned overall.

Are either of these machines “miracle-workers”?!!?!?!

Thanks for taking the time to reply. -Renee

Renee:

Thanks for your note. Truthfully, there isn't a huge difference between an elliptical and a treadmill in regards to weight loss. The main difference is in how they affect your joints and your own person preference. An elliptical is an almost zero impact workout but you can't run as fast or as hard on it as you can on a treadmill. Either one is a great cardio workout. I would suggest doing some strength training a couple of times a week to help tone and shape you body, otherwise you might wind up weighing less but still look flabby and out of shape.

Neither one of the machines is a miracle worker. Weight loss depends on you and your dedication to it. Getting on a treadmill or elliptical for ever just 10-15 minutes a day is going to help improve your health, but without a proper diet it may not be as effective as you need. Now, when I say "proper diet" I mean eating healthy and consciously, not going on a "DIET." Diets tend to be temporary and short term solutions. Most people really just need a minor life change in how they eat, in addition to excercise, to dramatically change their weight and their health.

I'd suggest going in to a local store or gym and trying out both machines to see what feels better to you. If you do go in to a retail store, I'd stay away from big chain stores because the employees will generally be pretty clueless about equipment. Try and find a smaller specialty shop who only deals in fitness equipment. Try and speak with the manager or owner to get the most qualified help. If you go in to a gym, just ask to speak with one of the personal trainers and they will generally answer any of your questions.

I hope that helps!

Our second note for today comes from David who just ordered a treadmill. Take it away, David!

Hi Mr. DOJO,

I want to thank you for all the time you've taken from your personal family activities to devote to your website. Your imput and inbiased opinions have helped me immensely in making a choice which thanks to you I feel fairly secure about despite never trying the treadmill out before my making this purchase. We all need more people like you who keep unscrupulous manufactures/ dealers on their toes for fear of being exposed for their deceitful ways. My thanks again and my best to your and your loved ones. -David ( p.s. I purchased the SOLE 77 and I eagerly await its delivery )

David:

Great to hear from you and I'm glad you enjoy the website. Good luck with your new treadmill and write us back to let everyone know how it is working out for you. Take care!

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

The Horizon EX76 Elliptical Review - Best Buy Elliptical with Incline under $1000

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei fears fads in just about all forms. The thought of fads brings up memories of bad perm-afros in the late 70s (I don't know why my parents let me get one because it is not a good look for a Japanese man), pet screws, parachute pants (see the above remark about not knowing why I was allowed to get them) and Billy Ray Cyrus. That brings up the latest fad in the fitness industry, home ellipticals with inclines. Up until now home incline ellipticals have been truly frightening and of exceptionally poor quality thanks to the fine folks at Icon Fitness. Thankfully, Horizon Fitness out of Wisconsin has decided to get in on the action and has produced a very solid incline elliptical in their Horizon EX76 elliptical.

Horizon is the perfect company to be producing the standard for home incline trainers because they have been at the top of the mountain for manufacturing high quality treadmills and ellipticals for those on a budget. Not only do they put our their own lines of equipment but they also make units for Schwinn in the Schwinn 438 elliptical. They've also got quite a bit of experience in the incline world as they manufacture units and components for Precor as well. As any regular reader of this website knows, Precor is one of the top end, commercial brands which has been producing incline ellipticals for more than 10 years and owns the patent on the incline ramp. Johnson Tech (Horizon's parent company) and its relationship with Precor has given it the insight to design an incredibly feature packed and solid elliptical this year in the EX76.

The first thing we noticed when unpacking our Horizon EX76 was the great new look Horizon has gone with for the 2007/2008 season. They've done away with the boxier look of the old EX75 and gone with something much slicker looking. They've also slimmed down the plastic on the front shrouds and added more weight to further stabilize the EX76. As soon as we had assembled the elliptical (which took about 30 minutes for us and would take around an hour for those of average mechanical ability), my son mounted up and immediately noticed that the EX76 felt solid even with his 250+ pounds rocking it back and forth.

The next thing we noticed was that the Horizon EX76 had a huge number of upgrades over the elliptical it replaces, the EX75. They have the same 14.5 pound flywheel and pulse grip heart rate monitoring, but the similarities end there. The biggest two new upgrades on the EX76 are the fantastic 16% incline and the adjustable stride which allows users to vary their stride length from 18" to 19," two things rarely found individually in an elliptical under $1000 and never found together. The elliptical features a very buff incline motor similar to the ones found in Horizon treadmills. It's great to have a budget elliptical now available with these two features.

Horizon has also upgraded the number of progams on the Horizon EX76 elliptical to 16 over the 10 programs last year and, along with that, upgraded the console to a commercial style LED console.

The only downgrade in the new unit seems to be the number of resistance levels dropping from 20 on the EX75 to 16 on the EX76. That is a very minor nitpick because the amount of resistance has remained the same, only the incremental adjustments have changed.

My son and I both tested the Horizon EX76 elliptical over the course of about 8 days. We found it to be one of the sturdiest ellipticals priced at under $1000 and it really held up to ellipticals in the $1300-$1500 range very well. Factoring in the great new incline and adjustable stride makes the Horizon EX76 a top rated and best buy elliptical in the $1000 range. For being a solid new addition to the Horizon line of ellipticals, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Horizon EX76 Incline Elliptical 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

A near perfect new machine from Horizon gets a near perfect 4.5 golden buddahs for its efforts and quality.


Get more information about this best buy elliptical with incline for under $1000 and find the lowest price online.



Horizon EX76 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: Variable - 18"-19"
Flywheel: 14.5lbs
Incline: 16%
Display: LED
Programs: 16
Resistance: 16 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 300lbs
Unit Weight: 180lbs
Price: Under $1000

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

The Spirit XE700 Elliptical Review -- Overpriced and under featured

Ohiyo!

One method fitness manufacturers use to confuse consumers is by classifying a machine as "light commercial" or "commercial," making buyers think they are getting a heavier duty machine because of this classifications or "grade." To tell the truth there is no actual difference between a home unit and a commercial unit. Now, I don't mean that most commercial units are more expensive or build with heavier materials, what I mean is the classification itself doesn't automatically make a unit "light commercial" (for example). All the classification really means is that a manufacturer is willing to warranty a particular unit in a particular setting. Home units are generally warrantied for a few users in a home setting for 10-15 hours a week, where a light commercial unit would be warrantied for use in a non-commercial gym and 20-30 hours. What some manufacturers of home fitness equipment do is upgrade a unit's rating from home to light commercial knowing full well the majority of their customers will be placing equipment in their homes where that light commercial warranty is meaningless anyway. It is a great little bit of bait-and-switch that is hard to pin down because there are no industry standards for what can be called "light commercial" or "commercial" grade equipment.

One "light commercial" machine is the Spirit XE700 Elliptical. The XE700 is the 2007/2008 version of the Spirit XE850 and, thankfully, is still built on the same frame instead of the shorter, more stunted feeling compact frame of the rest of the Spirit XE Elliptical line. From our time on the unit at the recent Health & Fitness Expo in Denver, the XE700 seems to be the same downgraded elliptical the XE850 was last year.

Let's start with the positives. The longer frame on the Spirit XE700 is the same sturdy frame from last year with a metal guide rail shroud on the back for additional support and protection. It also features articulating foot pedals with Spirit's very nice 2% inward slant that give a very natural feel to the unit's elliptical motion and long 20" stride. Finally, it's also got the great new "Safety-Lok" software to help give parents with small children peace of mind for security.

Unfortunately, the downsides balance out those positives. While the pedals are well-positioned, Spirit has decided to remove the cushioned foot pads their lower end ellipticals feature and there is a major difference in comfort in the Spirit XE700 without that padding. The XE700 also lacks the adjustable pedals found in all of the lower end units, a very surprising oversight and one that keeps an owner from being able to further adjust the comfort of his workout. There is nothing worse than getting on an elliptical and having your feet fall asleep because the pedals are at the wrong angle for your body. Finally, the XE700 even lacks the wireless telemetry belt included on the rest of the Spirit ellipticals. A strange cost-saving measure on an already stripped-down elliptical, at least in my opinion.

Overall, the Spirit XE700 is a sturdy unit but is over-priced for the limited features and lower specs it possesses at a just under $2000 price. I'd consider this a worthwhile buy at $1399 or so but it is a definite pass at $1999. For being an average unit, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Spirit XE700 Elliptical the same average rating its predecessor received with 3 out of 5 Golden Buddahs.

Still lacking bang for the buck.



Spirit XE700 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 20"
Flywheel: 30lbs
Display: LED
Readouts: Time, distance, calories / weight / speed / rpm, level, laps, heart rate / age
Programs: 6
Resistance: 40 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 400lbs
Unit Weight: 200lbs
Price: Under $2000

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

The Horizon EX66 Elliptical Review - A solid hit for under $800

Ohiyo!

The 2007/2008 Horizon Fitness ellipticals and treadmills have arrived! Well, they actually arrived about 10 days ago on a truck but this is my first real chance to get to talk about them. Back when the Treadmill Sensei heard the new units were out a month or so ago, I decided I needed to order up a few units to check out and review. So, 2 weeks and $3000 later, we've got in a couple of their new ellipticals and treadmills to check out and review.

When we opened up the box for the Horizon EX66 elliptical I was pleasantly surprised to see a slick new design for the unit. While Horizon stuck with a slightly updated version with the EX56, they instead decided to go with a complete upgrade for the EX66 elliptical. Based on what appears to be a much heavier duty version of their Merit ellipticals, the Horizon EX66 elliptical one of the niftiest new designs I've seen on an elliptical priced at under $1000.

At about the same weight as last year, the Horizon EX66 features a lot less plastic than the old EX65 did. The shroud is now tighter and heavier than before which will give users of over 200 pounds a very stable platform to work out on. It also features the same solid 14.5 pound flywheel as before.

The upgrades on the unit are great. The Horizon EX66 now features articulating foot pedals and a very natural feeling pedal placement. Last year I felt the pedals were a bit too far apart for my taste, but now they feel very similar to what you might find in higher priced units from Spirit or Vision. Over the course of my ten workouts of 30-45 minutes, I found the Horizon EX66 elliptical to be one of the best feeling ellipticals I've seen under $1000. A definite best buy.

The other upgrades come in the form of a new easier-to-use console featuring 14 programs, 4 more than last year's model. Horizon has done a great job in its program selection and has developed a fitness package that will challenge light users and hardcore fitness buffs alike.

The only downside I found was in the 1 year parts and labor warranty. I really wish Horizon would beef those up to 2 years for the part. Now, the 1 year warranty is very competitive with everything else in the budget price range, but going up to 2 years would make the EX66 elliptical a homerun.

For a customer on a budget or looking for a best buy elliptical for under $800, the Horizon EX66 shines and gets 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs from the Treadmill Sensei.

A great new design gets the Horizon EX66 4.5 gold buddahs.


Get more information on the best buy Horizon EX66 elliptical and find the lowest price online.



Horizon EX66 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 18"
Flywheel: 14.5 lbs
Articulating Footpedals: Yes
Display: LCD
Programs: 14
Resistance: 10 Levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 275 lbs
Unit Weight: 160lbs
Price: Under $800

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

The Horizon EX56 Elliptical - A best buy elliptical gets a nice upgrade

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei is glad the Gods of heat have heard his pleas because it finally cooled down yesterday. That makes me very happy because the electric bill here at the DOJO should go back down now that we can turn the air conditioner off. It also means that Hikaru won't be sweating nearly as much as he was, which is good for every at the repair shop.

Every year there is one consistant thing we can all be assured will take place in September. The event is as reliable as the changing of the seasons: Horizon Fitness updates and renames their equipment. This sort of thing normally annoys me a bit even if Horizon always puts out some quality treadmills and ellipticals. It annoys me because most of the time Horizon is just re-releasing the same equipment with a new paint job and some minor tweaks. This year, aside from the Horizon EX56 elliptical I'm reviewing today, it looks like they've gone with some major and very exciting changes. I look forward to being able to share those changes with you, my loyal readers, over the next week.

But first, let's talk about the new Horizon EX56 Elliptical. Not having heard anything from the folks at Horizon for 6 months or more (I guess they don't like the Sensei), I was very surprised when we received the call to do an inside delivery and set up on a Horizon EX56 Elliptical. I had to check the paperwork twice and call the company who was having us do the installation because I was convinced there was a typo. Not only was I unaware about what the new units were but I had no clue they were already out and available to the public! Like Uncle Chris teases me, I guess that's why I'm not the Elliptical Sensei!

The Horizon EX56 is the updated version of the Horizon EX55 (and the old Horizon EX22). It uses the same frame that has been perfected by Horizon over the past 3 years or so, a frame which is incredibly sturdy especially considering the under $600 price of the elliptical.

It also has the same 18" stride, 8 programs, 8 resistance levels, 14.3 pound flywheel (huge for the price) and heart rate monitoring of the previous units. The changes come in their updated articulating foot pedals, which are great to see on an under $600 elliptical. Combined with the sturdy frame and the 18" stride, the Horizon EX56 we received here at the shop felt a lot more like a $1000 elliptical than one with a budget price.

The only other major change is in the console on the EX56 elliptical. They've put on an upgraded and much more powerful console with a better look. While it has the same number of programs as the old EX55, it's got much more reliable electronics inside and should last a lot longer with little to no maintenance.

I was able to work out on the Horizon EX56 elliptical here at the shop for about 4 days -- not as long as I would have liked, but it held up very well. We didn't tell the owner, but Hikaur gave it a 3 hour work out and it held up even in spite of him being 50 pounds or more over its suggested maximum user weight...something I wouldn't suggest you doing at home. The listed 250 pound limit is probably about right for any sort of regular or heavy duty use.

This year, the Horizon EX56 elliptical continues Horizon's streak of producing best buy ellipticals under $600 and ellipticals for people wanting a great workout on a budget. For keeping the best parts and adding on some great new ones, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Horizon EX56 Elliptical 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

An upgraded unit gets an updated 4.5 golden buddahs.



Find out more about the 2008 Horizon EX56 Elliptical. Get the lowest price online and save with FREE shipping.



Horizon EX56 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 18"
Flywheel: 14.3lbs
Display: LCD
Programs: 8
Resistance: 8 Levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Max User Weight: 250lbs
Unit Weight: 125lbs
Price: Under $600

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

The Landice L7 Pro Sport Trainer Treadmill Review - You can't go wrong with a Landice

Ohiyo!

When I wasn't looking, someone went and moved California on to the Sun because it has been bloody hot here this past week. Mrs. Sensei and I were out driving over the weekend and her car's temperature gauge showed over 119 degrees at one point! I am a delicate flower and am not built for such cruel environs. I wilt! So, we boarded ourselves up at home over the long Labor Day weekend and kept the air conditioner firmly planted at 78 degrees. I now officially rename Los Angeles to "Hell-A."

Interestingly enough, I spent most of the 3 days running on a new treadmill at the Sensei household. An old friend of ours was having a bit of trouble with his new Landice L7 Pro Sport Trainer Treadmill (which gets my top 5 award for having one of the longest names in the fitness industry). It was nothing to do with the treadmill itself, but the silly service techs who installed it for him didn't put it together quite right. Once I fixed the problem at his house, I asked if I could borrow the unit for a few days to write a review for you, my loyal readers.

For those of you who don't know, the Landice L7 Pro Sport Treadmill shares the exact same frame and motor as the rest of the Landice L7 models. The frame and construction on the L7 Pro Sport is a prime example of how a treadmill should be built. I don't care how heavy you are -- 250, 300, 350 pounds or more -- when you run on the Landice L7 Pro Sport you will see no shake in the uprights or console, and you'll find the frame and base to be the most sturdy you've ever run on. Things things are like tanks...if tanks were designed and built by BMW that is.

The Pro Sport Trainer Treadmill has the same giant 3 horsepower motor as the rest of the Landice L7 line. The motors are so big and so well-made that Landice might pulling them out of cars. Over the 35 or so years Landice has dominated the top end of the treadmill market, there has never been a better treadmill motor than what they use. You very rarely, if ever, hear about a problem with a properly maintained Landice motor even on units 15 years old or older. This is the reason Landice is so generous with its warranties, they know their motors will outlive most of their owners.

The Landice L7 Pro Sport is a prime choice for a runner's treadmill for a couple of reasons. First, it comes with a large 20" x 58" running area on that incredibly stable Landice L7 frame, which makes longer workouts of an hour or more a dream. Second, it has the cryptic sounding "VFX" shock absorption system. I still have no clue what "VFX" stands for but I do know that it feels really good on my poor old knees and ankles. If you are a runner or worried about your joints, you will be very happy on the Landice L7 Pro Sport trainer treadmill. Sheesh, that is a long name to type!

Anyway, the only difference between any of the Landice L7 treadmills is in their console. The Landice L7 Pro Sport Trainer has the middle of the pack console. I don't mean that in regards to quality, but in number of features and price. The Landice L7 Pro Sport doesn't have quite as many programs as the L7 Cardio Trainer or Executive (it only has 5 versus the 7 on the Cardio) and it doesn't have heart rate control programming. It does come with wireless heart rate monitoring but the contact HR pulse grips are optional on it.

Now, for most people, the Landice L7 Pro Sport Trainer is going to be the best buy treadmill from the Landice line because they don't actually do heart rate control programs. The savings of around $400 on the Pro Sport trainer versus the Cardio trainer is an excellent bonus as well. If you don't care about heart rate control then you can pick up the L7 Pro Sport Trainer for around $3600 with free shipping. Not a bad price for the fitness equivilent of a BMW.

The L7 Pro Sport Treadmill is a best buy treadmill for under $4000 and THE best buy for runners who don't need heart rate control. For being as close to perfect as a treadmill can get, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Landice L7 Pro Sport Trainer Treadmill, and its painfully long name, 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

4.5 gold buddahs for the high quality, US-made Landice L7 Pro Sport Trainer Treadmill.


Get more information on one of the best high end treadmills on the market and get the lowest price online.



Landice L7 Pro Sport Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 3.0hp
Running Area: 20" x 58"
Max Speed: 12mph
Max Incline: 15%
Programs: 5
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Rollers: 2.5"
Deck Thickness: 1"
Belt: 4 ply
Folding: No
Max User Weight: 400lbs
Unit Weight: 300lbs
Price: $3600

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

The Stamina Silent Magnetic Elliptical - A budget elliptical with far too many names

Ohiyo!

In spite of the Treadmill Sensei's oft-repeated advice, I still get tons of emails every week from customers looking for the cheapest possible elliptical or treadmill on the market that will magically hold 300 pound users or hold up to 10 mile a day workouts. Unfortunately, there is no such elliptical out there. You will not find an incredibly solid elliptical that will stand up to hours of running a day, every day by 200 plus pound users for a price under $1000 or so.

You can, however, find some decent ellipticals that are good for light workouts by heavy users, or heavier workouts from lighter users for under $1000. For under $300, you really won't find much for someone looking for a serious workout. Manufacturers just can't make a high quality machine with the $50-$100 or so an under $300 machine costs them to produce.

Now if you are absolutely in need of an elliptical for under $300 and understand the limitations of that price range, the Stamina Silent Magnetic Resistance Elliptical is a decent choice for just under $250. Luckily incredibly long names on ellipticals don't cost a manufacturer any extra.

In general, product from Stamina fitness is well manufactured, lower end equipment. They work in a budget price range and do well with what they have to work with. The Stamina Silent Elliptical in particular is a well-crafted budget elliptical priced at about $250. What you get for the price is surprising -- you get 8 levels of resistance, 6 programs, heart rate monitoring (but not heart rate control) and a 100 pound unit weight. The Stamina Silent Magnetic Resistance Elliptical is one of the heaviest duty ellipticals under $500.

Again, even being one of the heaviest duty ellipticals for the price, the Stamina elliptical isn't going to hold up to any serious workouts. I wouldn't advise more than 30 minutes a day for 3-4 times a week, but that should be more than enough for most casual exercisers.

The only real downside to the elliptical is the 14" stride length, but even that is competitive with everything else in the price range.

For being a decent solution for a low-budget workout, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Stamina Silent Magnetic Resistance Elliptical 3 out of 5 golden buddahs. He gives it's far too long name 1 gold buddah for being so bloody annoying to have to type out.

3 gold buddahs isn't bad for a $250 elliptical. Not bad at all.



Find out more about the Stamina Silent Magnetic Resistance Crosstrainer Ellipticals...and maybe find out why it has so darn many names!



Stamina Silent Magnetic Resistance Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 14"
Flywheel: 8lbs.
Display: LCD
Readouts: time, speed, distance, calories burned, and heart rate
Programs: 6
Resistance: 8 Levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Max User Weight: 175lbs (approximately)
Unit Weight: 100lbs
Frame Warranty: 3 years
Parts Warranty: 90 days
Price: Under $250

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

Reader Mailbag: Feedback on the Sole E35 Elliptical

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei and family went out of town for the long weekend and, unfortunately, I am just a bit too fried to post anything too long today. I will be back tomorrow with another review and will try to kick a few extra this week to make up for my slacking today. In the meantime, let's hear from a loyal reader with a couple of comments about the website.

Sensei,
My wife and I have been looking at elliptical trainers for a number of weeks and given the numerous brands and models out there, we found your site to be extremely helpful. Your reviews are clear, concise and on point. They hit the issues about which we need to know and provide an excellent basis for comparison. We ended up choosing the Sole E 35 and look forward to receiving it. Our purchase from Sole was made with confidence and knowledge of the product that would not have been possible without your help. Thank you. -Gerry and Melanie

Gerry:

Thanks for your note and I'm glad my site was able to help you out. It is great to hear back from readers who have purchased a treadmill or elliptical based on my reviews...definitely an ego boost for sure! Thanks again and feel free to drop me a line after you've had a chance to work out on the Sole E35 for a while...let us all know what you think and how your workouts have been going.

Thanks again and take care!

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