The Smooth 7.1HR PRO Treadmill Review - One of the Best Treadmills Under $2000

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei has talked about it time and time again, but fancy consoles, lots of programs or bells-and-whistles are not the things to look at when picking a treadmill. Those things are nice but all that really matters is stability and a large, cool-running motor -- well, those are the main things. A good warranty is also a factor. Too often we get questions about Proform or NordicTrack treadmills that are "fully loaded" on the outside but are shallow where it counts.

One of the best treadmills on the market in the $1500-$2000 range is the Smooth 7.1HR Pro Treadmill and it is a great combination of stability and bells-and-whistles. We received one to install for a client here at the DOJO about 2 months ago and were very excited by what we found.

As with all of the Smooth Treadmills, assembly was a breeze. It took my son about 15 minutes to put the Smooth 7.1HR Pro together and shouldn't take more than 30 minutes for someone with average mechanical ability. Smooth has done a great job with their instructions. My son normally comes away with extra pieces left over, but not with the Smooth treadmill, surprisingly enough.

2008 Ichi-Ban Best Buy Award Winner.

Something that seems a bit redundant to mention in regards to a Smooth treadmill, but the 7.1HR Pro felt as sturdy as any commercial treadmill out there during our workouts. My 165 pounds don't test the limits of the machine, but Hikaru's near 300 pounds do and, let me tell you, the Smooth 7.1HR Pro held up with flying colors. The frame is solid, sturdy and well-constructed.

Following the cue of the frame, the 2.75 horsepower motor is a monster. It's large size and low RPMs allow it to pull fewer amps than other motors in its class, and let it run cooler. Those things all add up to a much longer motor life and less maintenance problems. Interestingly enough, even with such a large motor the Smooth 7.1HR Pro runs incredibly quiet. Smooth has picked an excellent motor for the 7.1HR Pro.

The Smooth 7.1HR Pro treadmill also comes with 8 preset programs, 9 user profiles for those of you with multiple users, heart rate monitoring and control, and the very cool power folding feature. With the touch of a button the 7.1HR Pro folds up or down all on its own, saving you from the strain of lifting the heavy deck up yourself.

The only real downside in an otherwise fantastic machine is the smallish runner area. If Smooth upped this to a 20"x56" deck then they'd have a perfect machine on their hands. It's a minor nitpick on a great treadmill.

For being a solid treadmill with some nice shiny features to boot, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Smooth 7.1HR Pro Treadmill 4.5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs.

A best buy treadmill runner up, the Smooth 7.1HR Pro gets 4.5 gold buddahs.


Get more information on the Smooth 7.1HR Pro Treadmill and find the lowest price online.


Smooth 7.1HR PRO Specifications
Motor: 2.75hp
Running Area: 20" x 54"
Folding: Yes
Rollers: 2.5" commercial grade
Speed: 10mph
Incline: 15%
Display: LED
Readouts: speed, distance, time, calories burned, heart rate and more
Programs: 8
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 350lbs
Unit Weight: 280lbs
Price: Under $1700

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

The Smooth 9.25x Treadmill Review - 2008 Best Buy Treadmill under $2500

Ohiyo!

From time to time we here at the Treadmill Sensei dot Com head online and place an order for a piece of equipment we haven't been able to get a hold of through our regular channels. Some machines are just tough to come by. That was the case with the Smooth 9.25x Treadmill. I had been searching around for one for a couple of months -- trying to beg, bribe and borrow a unit from everyone we know. When our quest came up empty, I pulled out my trusty credit card and went directly to the source to buy one.

The ordering went smooth enough, but there were some delivery issues which caused the 9.25x treadmill to be delayed for almost 2 weeks before we were finally able to get it here to the DOJO. In Smooth's defense, it was an issue caused by the freight company and Smooth's customer service was a pleasure to work with and very friendly no matter how many times we were on the phone to bug them. Once the original unit was determined to be lost (how you lose a 350 pound package is beyond me), Smooth had a replacement unit out the next day.

2008 Ichi-Ban Best Buy Award Winner.

When our Smooth 9.25x Treadmill arrived after the delay, I was surprised at how solid its design was. If I had gotten on the 9.25x without any information beforehand I would have guessed that it was a full commercial unit meant to go in to an upper class gym or hotel workout room. The treadmill itself weighs a bit over 300 pounds and is rock solid. Both my partner and my son, two big burly guys, took turns working out on the unit and it held up marvelously to the tortue they put it through. There was almost no visible shaking in the uprights or console when either ran on the Smooth 9.25x treadmill and no creaking or bending in the deck itself. Smooth did an excellent job when they designed and constructed this unit.

The Smooth 9.25x is powered by an absolutely monstrous 3.5 horsepower motor. We tested it with both my son and Hikaru on the machine at once (totally over 500 pounds) and it ran smoothly even from a cold start. The combination of the huge, cool-running motor and the precision machined 2.5" commercial quality rollers keeps the treadmill's belt running like butter during even the most gruelling of workouts.

The 9.25x treadmill also features a sound system which, while nice to have, really doesn't do anything to improve the treadmill. What's more important is the solid incline motor, powering the treadmill to a great 15% incline, the large 20"x62" running area, the 12.5 mph top speed, the 12 preset programs, wireless heart rate monitoring and heart rate control programs. Sure it's nice to have a decent sound coming out of your treadmill but the workout you get is more important. Luckily, the Smooth 9.25x treadmill delivers on that workout in spades.

Another feature we all like, and was especially nice to have with my old-man eyesight, was the large and easy to read console. The multiple windows and very readable quick start buttons are great for those of us who don't like to hunt and peck through screens to find what the information we need to adjust our workout. Everything is there and immediately visible while you're working out. Other manufacturers should take note of the 9.25x's flawless console design.
During out 10 days of review the Smooth 9.25x treadmill met or beat all of our tests and passed with flying colors. For being an absolute dream to workout on, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Smooth 9.25x treadmill 5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

The simply amazing Smooth 9.25x treadmill gets a perfect score of 5 gold buddahs.


Find out more about this best buy treadmill and get the lowest price online by going factory direct.


Smooth 9.25x Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 3hp
Running Area: 20"x62"
Rollers: 2.5" commercial grade
Speed: 12.5mph
Incline: 15%
Display: LED
Readouts: 1/4-mile running track, speed, distance, time, calories burned, heart rate and more
Programs: 12
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 400lbs
Unit Weight: 300lbs
Price: Under $2500

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

The Horizon T82 Treadmill Review - Solid upgrade and a best buy runner up for 2008

Ohiyo!

It's a new day and the Treadmill Sensei is glad the Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards are now finished. You, my loyal readers, how no idea how much work goes in to compiling those every year. My brain is fried!

Today I want to talk a bit about one of the top offerings from Horizon Fitness this year, the Horizon T82 treadmill. We got in a batch of their equipment a couple of months ago and have been slowly sorting through and testing it all. We reviewed the T82 back in September but this is my first chance to sit down and actually write that review up.

As with all of the Horizon units, assembly is fairly straightforward and easy to manage on the T82 treadmill. The instructions that come packed with the Horizon T82 were clear and simple to follow. On the unit we reviewed, there was a minor alignment issue in one of the holes in the console, but nothing major at all. Total assembly time, even with the alignment problem, was less than 10 minutes. For most people that time will probably be in the 15-20 minute range or so. Very quick and hassle-free.

It seems like Horizon upgraded the plastic they use in their equipment this year. Normally on these lower cost treadmills you have to be very careful when you put them together for fear of cracking the thin, rigid plastic that makes up the consoles and shrouds. However, the plastic on the Horizon T82 was very sturdy and thicker-feeling than normal. This is an excellent addition and will allow the Horizon T82 to hold up to more of a beating than other treadmills in the under $800 price range.

The Horizon T82 is a great buy at about $799, featuring the standard large and cool running Johnson-Tech motor, coming in at a fantastic-for-the-price 2.25 horsepower. The T82 also features a good-sized 20" x 55" running area, 10 mph top speed, 10% incline, heart rate monitoring and a staggering 14 programs. Horizon went all out when putting together the design for the T82 treadmill this year, making it a huge upgrade over last year's award-winning Horizon T72 treadmill.

The key to the Horizon T82 is that it is an incredibly sturdy treadmill, weighing just under 190 pounds. With the addition of that plastic upgrade, the T82 is one of the most solid treadmills available at its price point. For being a great new unit from Horizon, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Horizon T82 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

The best value Horizon treadmill on the market today, the T82 gets 4.5 gold buddahs.


Get more information on the award-winning Horizon T82 Treadmill NOW and get the lowest price online. Click HERE.



Horizon T82 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 2.25 hp
Running Area: 20"x55"
Speed: 10mph
Incline: 10%
Display: LCD
Readouts: Time, Pulse, Distance, Calories, Incline, Speed and Program Profiles
Programs: 14
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Max User Weight: 300lbs
Unit Weight: 185lbs
Price: Under $800

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

The Second Annual Treadmill Sensei 2007-2008 Ichi-Ban "Best Buy Awards" for Treadmills

Ohiyo!

It is that time again.

Welcome once again to the Treadmill Sensei's Ichi-Ban Best Buy Treadmill Awards. For those of you keeping track, these are our second annual awards for treadmill best buys.

For those of you who are wondering, the phrase "Ichi-Ban" is Japanese for "Number One" or "The Best" and that's what we'll be discussing -- the Best Buys for Treadmills (the elliptical best buy awards can be found here) in the 2007 through 2008 buying season.

Like we saw in the first annual awards, most of the action in the treadmill industry seems to be in the under $800 range and between $1000 and $2000. This year there are a lot of really good units, with Sole still being dominant under $2000. This year, though, Sole has some suprise competition from an unexpected source in Bodycraft. The Bodycraft treadmills are just plain great machines and I can't wait to see what they come up with next. In the higher price ranges, SportsArt, Bodyguard and Landice all have some very exciting equipment.

As with the best buy awards last year, the treadmills are picked with no real scientific technique. All reviews and ratings are based on our group's 20+ years of experience as sales people and service/repair techs for fitness equipment. Our opinions and thoughts come from having worked on most of the machines out there and on our actually getting on the machines we review. When an elliptical comes in to the shop for either installation or repair, we run pretty extensive tests on the machines to make sure they are up to snuff (generally 5-10 hours per unit). This includes running fairly hardcore routines on the machines, going through all of their programs and so on. After our testing any machine that is going out to be installed for a customer, or which has had repairs done, has been run through the ringer to make sure everything is working.

Reviews are not made with manufacturer input. We don't get free equipment from manufacturers. We aren't bought off by bribes and we don't sell advertising to manufacturers.

More detailed reviews of all of the Ichi-Ban winners will be posted throughout the upcoming week.

Now, on with the awards!!

Best Buy Treadmill Under $500
Merit 720t: In the ultra low end of the treadmill spectrum, the Merit 720T is far and away the best buy treadmill under $500. There is little else in this price range worth looking at. Check out the full review.

Runner Up: There really isn't a whole lot of quality to be found in the under $500 price range because of the cost of components that go in to quality treadmills. It is just tough to build a good treadmill for under $500 and most units people buy wind up turning in to expensive clothes racks.

Best Buy Treadmill From $501-$799
Horizon T81: When it comes to budget treadmills for under $1000, you can't go wrong with the Horizon brand. Taking over for the excellent Horizon T71, the new Horizon T81 treadmill is sturdy, well-built and great for those on a budget. Check out the T81 review here.

Runner Up: We've added a new price range this year because of the lack of quality treadmills for under $500 and because of the huge number of great treadmills right at $1000. In this range, Johnson's Merit and Horizon treadmills completely blow the competition away. The HealthTrainer HT502T also makes a return appearance from last year's Best Buys.

2. Merit 730t
3. Horizon T82
4. HealthTrainer HT502T

Best Buy Treadmill From $800-$1000
Bodycraft TR1120: From out of nowhere, Bodycraft takes the best buy treadmill under $1000 award. The TR1120 is the single best, single sturdiest and single most reliable treadmill available for under $1000 this year. It out-performs a lot of treadmills priced at $1500. Take a look at why the Bodycraft TR1120 gets top spot for under $1000 HERE.

Runner Up: This price range is absolutely packed at its higher end. There are a large number of great treadmills available for $999 and that is where all the action is. Although the Sole F63 has dropped a slot over last year, it is still a great buy. The Smooth 5.25 also returns at the #3 spot. This year the amazing Lifespan TR1000HRC comes in at the #4 spot, edging Horizon out of the best buys in this range.

2. Sole F63
3. Smooth 5.25
4. Lifespan TR1000-HRC

Best Buy Treadmill From $1000-$1500
Sole F80: Improved over last year with a bigger motor and more solid frame, the new Sole F80 hits a homerun for Sole this year, taking the best buy award for treadmills under $1500. Check out the new and improved Sole F80 treadmill here.

Runner Up: Getting in to the range of where those looking for a treadmill a little closer to what they find in a gym, the $1000-$1500 is packed with creamy goodness. The contenders for this price range almost exactly mirror the $800-$1000 winners. Bodycraft, Lifespan and Smooth set the bar, but in this price point Sole takes it one step further. Watch out for Icon fitness brand units in this price range -- they have the gloss but underneath their fancy looks and loaded features are still the same poorly constructed units of the past.

2. Bodycraft TR1140
3. Lifespan TR2000
4. Smooth 6.25

Best Buy Treadmill From $1500-$2000
Bodycraft TR1180: For a company that wasn't on the radar last year, Bodycraft has pulled out the stops with its comfortable tank, the TR1180. This is a gym quality unit for a home price. Read the entire review here.

Runner Up: Probably the hardest contested price range this year, the $1500-$2000 spots are filled with some of the best treadmills on the market. You can't go wrong with any of these picks.

2. Smooth 7.1HR PRO
3. Sole F85
4. Bodyguard T240
5. BladeZ 710ME

Best Buy Treadmill From $2000-$2500
Smooth 9.25X: Smooth's big boy takes top honors in the under $2500 awards. This treadmill is solid, well built and feature packed. A pleasure to review and a great treadmill to own. Get the full review to find out more.

Runner Up: This price range is a tough one because the units don't offer as much as a $3000 unit and really aren't that much better than the under $2000 units. I'd suggest taking a look at units in those two price ranges to see if you can get a better deal. However, if this what you want to pay, check out units from Bodyguard, SportsArt and Smooth. You can't go wrong.

2. Bodyguard T240P
3. SportsArt TR21F
4. Evo 3I

Best Buy Treadmill From $2500-$3000
SportsArt TR31: SportsArt takes its first best buy award with the TR31. This unit is where SportsArt's design and engineering really start to shine. The full review tells the story of why the TR31 gets the trophy this year.

Runner Up: Tunturi makes its first appearance with the new T60F, and Bodyguard and Lifespan both do well with their units as well. Like the $2000-$2500 price range, you may find a better deal by dropping down to the under $2000 range or by going up a bit to a $3000+ unit.
2. Bodyguard T280P
3. Lifespan Pro 5
4. Tunturi T60F

Best Buy Treadmill From $3000-$4000
SportsArt TR33: The Sportsart TR33 is the best treadmill available at any price. With its manual shock adjustment, excellent program selection and SportsArt's continued dedication to quality and class, the SportsArt TR33 is my pick for Treadmill of the year. Check out the full review now!

Runner Up: Bodyguard and Landice both have some excellent offerings in the $3000-$4000 price range. This is where top atheletes find the treadmills to train on. I believe the best performing treadmills available at any price are in this range. Quantum's new Q3.2EX rounds out the list quite nicely.

2. Bodyguard T460x
3. Landice L7 Pro Sport
4. Quantum Q3.2EX

Best Buy Treadmill From $4000 and Over
Landice L7 Cardio: For 30+ years, Landice has been the cream of the crop for high end treadmills and this year is no different. The Landice L7 Cardio trainer treadmill is the perfect combination of performance, design and cost. Check out the full review for more information.

Runner Up: You can't go wrong with any of the treadmills in this class. Star Trac and Matrix produce some of the best equipment on the market and have stuck to the same designs from last year. All excellent machines for those with the money to buy them.

2. Star Trac Pro
3. Matrix T3X
4. Star Trac Elite

The Treadmill Sensei Ichi-Ban Best of the Best Award:

This year we have a tie for the best of the best treadmill award. The two outstanding units this year are the BodyCraft TR1120 -- an incredible unit that is under-priced at $999 -- and the absolutely perfect SportsArt TR33 for $3799. SportsArt put together one of the best treadmills we've ever seen with the TR33 and we look forward to watching this unit over the years to come.

Thanks it for this year's Ichi-Ban Awards. I hope you enjoyed them and we'll see you next year. Until then, take care and have a great workout!!

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

The Bodyguard E230X Elliptical Review - Best Buy Elliptical Under $2500

Ohiyo!

I've been writing a lot about lower priced ellipticals lately, so I thought I'd take a break and move up to some mid-range ellipticals instead. Although, when talking about the Bodyguard E230x elliptical "mid-range" probably isn't the best of descriptions. I've compared ellipticals and treadmills to everything from Lexus and BMW to Volkswagon and Pacers. I'd compare the Bodyguard E230X to my brand new Ford F250. You see, it's solid, it's heavy duty, but it's also got the most comfortable pedals on the market and it has a very smooth ride. This thing is incredible.

Let's talk a bit about Bodyguard. They are a Canadian company (something we shouldn't hold against them) and have been producing some of the finest fitness equipment on the market since the late 60s. In the past they've been best known for their amazing treadmills, but this year they've come up with a pair of incredible ellipticals as well. When we were shown the Bodyguard E230X at the Health & Fitness Expo in Denver this year I couldn't wait to sit down and do a full review on one of these bad boys.

I could go on and on about all the features that come packed into the Bodyguard E230x - the Heart Rate Training Zone, the Reverse Motion Detection System, the fantastic warranty, optional posture bar, ability to get the unit with either a 20.5" stride or an 18.5" one, the 15 programs, or any one of about 20 other great specs. But I'm not going to do that.

You see, when I got on the E230X all that matter to me was the comfort I felt during my workouts. Starting off with the pedals, the padding Bodyguard uses is incredible. It is a firm cushion that feels great during your workouts. We all know that ellipticals are nearly zero-impact workouts and cushioning isn't a requirement, but when you want comfort to help keep your feet from getting sore or from falling asleep, then the Bodyguard E230x has the best solution. Top that off with the most natural feeling pedal spacing around (at just under 2") and the sturdiest adjustable pedals around, and what you've got is not just the best buy elliptical for under $2500, but one of the best feeling ellipticals at any price. For use in the home, I would choose the E230X over just about any higher priced machine out there.

In addition to the comfortable pedals and near-perfect elliptical motion, weighing in at nearly 300 pounds, the Bodyguard E230x elliptical is one of the most solid machines around. I don't care how close you are to the machine's maximum user weight of 350 pounds, when you get on the E230x you'll feel how heavy duty the elliptical is. And, more important, you won't find any of the shakies or side-to-side rocking you often find in lesser ellipticals. Even the shroud, often made up of thinner plastic, is thick and will stand up to quite a bit of abuse.

A final, excellent bit is that the E230X elliptical comes almost fully assembled and is a breeze to put together. Bodyguard's instruction manual makes assembley a task that takes under 30 minutes and causes little to no frustration for the non-mechanically minded of us.

UPDATE: We've gotten in a number of complaints from readers in regards to this machine. Problems in specific have been related to the handgrips on the unit being incredibly uncomfortable during workouts. A number of taller readers have also had issues with the placement of the handlebars in relation to their leg position during workouts. Because of these reason, we are downgrading this unit from a best buy.

For its current number of reader problems, the Bodyguard E230x has been downgraded to 3 out of 5 Golden Buddahs by the Treadmillsensei.

Recent reader complaint emails have dropped this unit to 3 gold buddahs.



Bodyguard E230X Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 20.5" (can be shipped as 18.5" if requested)
Flywheel: approximately 30lbs
Adjustable Footpedals: Yes
Display: LED
Programs: 15
Resistance:
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 350lbs.
Unit Weight: 280lbs
Price: Under $2200

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

The Tunturi CF35 Elliptical Review - A Best Buy Under $2000 Runner up for 2008

Ohiyo!

One of the biggest surprises in the fitness industry this year came from Tunturi. Tunturi is one of the oldest fitness companies around and manufacturers the majority of their equipment in Europe (the company is based out of Finland). Tunturi is best known for high quality, streamlined design and uncomfortable, rear-drive ellipticals. This year the high quality and streamlined design remain the same, but Tunturi has radically changed their ellipticals for the better with the new front-drive Tunturi CF35.

Tunturi has taken their ability to produce some of the most solid, sturdy equipment on the planet and has moved that ability in to putting out one of the most solid and sturdy front drive ellipticals. The Tunturi CF35 features and incredibly steady frame and drive system that will hold up to the most heavy duty use around. If you want a hardcore, quiet workout then the CF35 elliptical is a great place to start.

Assembling the Tunturi CF35 was a breeze. The instructions are well written and easy to follow. If you've got average mechanical ability it shouldn't take more than 45 minutes to an hour. More important, there should be a minimum of swearing as the parts are well machined and go together easily.

Once we put the CF35 together and stepped up on it, I was blown away by how smooth and comfortable the feel of the elliptical was. In the past I've talked about how incredibly uncomfortable the old Tunturi ellipticals were and how longer workouts on them caused your feet to fall asleep. This is no longer the case with the Tunturi CF35 elliptical. It's got a great 19" stride, near perfect pedal spacing and a heavy duty flywheel to help keep the elliptical motion as natural and comfortable feeling as anything else out there.

It's nice to see that Tunturi has listened to its customer and put together an incredible new front drive elliptical. For being a great blend of form and function, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Tunturi CF35 Elliptical 4.5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs.

An excellent elliptical and a best buy for under $2000, the Tunturi CF35 elliptical is high quality at a great price.





Find out more about the Tunturi CF35 and get the lowest price online. Save more with FREE Shipping and Pay NO TAX.

Tunturi CF35 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 19"
Flywheel: approximately 35lbs
Display: LCD
Programs: 23
Readouts: Time, RPM, Distance, Speed, Heart Rate, Energy Consumption, Constant HRC
Resistance: 16 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 300lbs
Unit Weight: 150lbs
Warranty: Lifetime frame, 3 years parts, 1 year labor
Price: Under $1600

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

The Kettler CT2000 Elliptical Review - The 2008 Best Buy Elliptical under $500

Ohiyo!

When it comes to buying a lower budget elliptical the two key requirements - beyond programs, levels of resistance, heart rate monitoring or any of the extra features - are stability and a comfortable elliptical motion. If you give up those two things then all of the cool little bells and whistles in the world won't give you a good workout or an elliptical that will last for a long time.

For us, the budget elliptical which out-performed every other elliptical in its price range with those 2 requirements was the Ketter Verso CT2000 Elliptical. Kettler is a German fitness manufacturer known for producing some of the sturdiest ellipticals around and have a reputation for long lasting equipment. The Kettler CT2000 is a price example of one of those high quality ellipticals available for a low price.

2008 Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards Winner.

The reason we picked the Ketter Verso CT2000 as the best buy elliptical for under $500 is because it is the single sturdiest elliptical in its price range. Kettler has done a fantastic job of designing a solid frame that will hold up to quite a bit of abuse. This is one of the few under $500 ellipticals that will outlast its warranty.

On top of that solid construction, the Kettler CT2000 also has a very nice feeling elliptical motion. The stride is a bit short, but should be perfect for any user under 5'10 or so. The rest of the features aren't anything to write home about, but would you rather have a flimsy feature-packed elliptical that will only last a couple of months or a solidly built elliptical that will allow you to continue to work out for years to come? The Kettler CT2000 is that elliptical.

For being a well-built German fitness machine, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Kettler CT2000 Elliptical 4 out of 5 golden buddahs.

The Verso CT2000 by Ketter gets 4 golden buddahs.


Find out more about this best buy rated elliptical and get the lowest price online.



Kettler CT2000 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 15"
Flywheel: approximately 16lbs
Display: LCD
Readouts: Program, Speed, distance, time, calories and pulse
Programs: 6
Resistance: 6 Levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Max User Weight: 280lbs
Unit Weight: 120lbs
Price: Under $500

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

The Second Annual Treadmill Sensei 2007-2008 Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards for Ellipticals

Ohiyo!

I can't believe it's already been a year since the first annual best buy awards for ellipticals. Time sure flies when you're having fun! This year there are a lot of really cool new entrants in to the awards, along with some returning favorites from last year.

This year, like last year, ellipticals under $1500 are dominating the industry and it is easy to see why. This year we finally see a lot more quality in that price range as well as a lot of equipment actually worth buying as manufacturers refine their designs and pump up their quality without pumping up their prices.

As with the best buy awards last year, the ellipticals are picked with no real scientific technique. All reviews and ratings are based on our group's 20+ years of experience as sales people and service/repair techs for fitness equipment. Our opinions and thoughts come from having worked on most of the machines out there and on our actually getting on the machines we review. When an elliptical comes in to the shop for either installation or repair, we run pretty extensive tests on the machines to make sure they are up to snuff (generally 5-10 hours per unit). This includes running fairly hardcore routines on the machines, going through all of their programs and so on. After our testing any machine that is going out to be installed for a customer, or which has had repairs done, has been run through the ringer to make sure everything is working.

Reviews are not made with manufacturer input. We don't get free equipment from manufacturers. We aren't bought off by bribes and we don't sell advertising to manufacturers.

More detailed reviews of all of the Ichi-Ban winners will be posted throughout the upcoming week.

Now, on with the show!!

Best Buy Ellipticals Under $500
Kettler CT2000: For stability and durability the German-made Kettler CT2000 simply cannot be beat in the under $500 budget price range. Click here to check out the full review.

Runner Up: At these prices, you have to be very careful or you'll wind up spending money for something that will turn in to an expensive clothes hanger. Stay away from Image, Proform or any of the Icon Health & Fitness machines or you'll just be throwing your money away. Merit is still a strong contender for great units for budget-conscious buyers and Ironman continues to produce quality at a low cost.

2. Merit 710E
3. Ironman 250e
4. Merit 720E

Best Buy Ellipticals from $501-$1000
Sole E25: For the second year in a row, the Sole E25 takes the top spot for best elliptical under $1000. The Sole E25 continues to be one of the best value ellipticals available. For the full review click HERE.

Runner Up: The Schwinn 438 makes its second appearance as a runner up Best Buy elliptical. Along with the new Horizon Incline Trainer EX76, Multisports makes its first appearance in the under $1000 market with its very sturdy Elliptix 3000 elliptical. As with last year, there is a lot of very solid competition in this price range and a lot of great ellipticals.

2. Horizon EX76
3. MultiSports ECT 3000
4. Schwinn 438

Best Buy Ellipticals from $1001-$1500
Sole E35: Another returning Best Buy from last year, the Sole E35 continues to be one of the best buy ellipticals around, especially with Sole's upgrades this year. Click here to find the full review of the award-winning Sole E35 elliptical.

Runner Up: The $1001-$1500 price range continues to be the dominant area for the serious elliptical buyer. This is where the quality jumps up a notch and that serious buyer can find a great elliptical for his money. This range looks almost exactly the same as last year with the Smooth CE2.1 and Sole E55 still holding strong. Surprisingly, SportsArt has pulled a great unit out of its hat with the SportsArt E80, a truly fantastic machine at a great price.

2. Smooth CE2.1
3. SportsArt E80
4. Sole E55

Best Buy Ellipticals from $1501-$2000
Smooth CE7.4: With the SportsArt 803 elliptical being discontinued, it left the top spot open for the number 1 Smooth elliptical, the CE7.4. Heavy duty, a great feel and long stride, the Smooth CE7.4 is the best buy elliptical choice under $2000. Click here to read the full review.

Runner Up: Returning again from last year, the Sole E95 is joined by two great new units. The awesome SportsArt E81 and the unbelievable front drive Tunturi CF35 round out the under $2000 price range with some incredibly solid new ellipticals.

2. Tunturi CF35
3. SportsArt E81
4. Sole E95

Best Buy Ellipticals from $2001-$2500
Bodyguard E230X: Coming out of nowhere, Bodyguard has taken their skill at designing top rate treadmills and brought it to ellipticals. The E230X is one of the best feeling ellipticals at any price. Click here to read the review and find out why.

Runner Up: A big change over last year, 2008 brings a whole gaggle of great ellipticals for $2001-$2005. New units from Smooth and Tunturi join the still great-performing Quantum Q210H. This price range is where home ellipticals begin to feel like those you'd find in a gym.

2. Smooth CE Plus
3. Quantum Q210H
4. Tunturi C65

Best Buy Ellipticals from $2501-$3000
SportsArt E83: This year SportsArt has hit a grandslam home run with the E83 Elliptical. With its manual adjustable stride, heavy duty frame and perfect design, the SportsArt E83 gets my pick for best elliptical of the year. Find out why by clicking Here for the full review.

Runner Up: The only unit making a return to the best buys this year is the Precor EFX 5.19, still a solid machine. However, Bodyguard and Vision both come in with some great machines as well to fill out the line-up.

2. Bodyguard E250x
3. Vision Fitness X6700HRT
4. Precor EFX 5.19

Best Buy Ellipticals from $3001-$4000
Smooth Agile DMT: The heir-apparent to the Cybex Arc-Trainer, the Smooth Agile DMT takes it one step further and brings the Arc-trainer's design in to the 21st century and beyond. It's big, it's bad and it's worth every penny. Read the full review by clicking here.

Runner Up: This is where the big boys play. Serious atheletes or those looking for the best of the best check out this price range. While Smooth took the best buy, the new front drive offering from Tunturi is a close second in quality, features and value.

2. Tunturi C85
3. Quantum Q210C
4. Life Fitness X7 Basic

Best Buy Ellipticals Over $4000
Matrix I5X: The new incline trainer from Matrix Fitness is one of the slickest elliptical units around. They've taken the award-winning Matrix E5X and added an amazing new incline feature that blows the competition away. Click here to be blown away by this new elliptical masterpiece.

Runner Up: With the Matrix I5X taking the top spot this year, the runner ups look like a carbon copy of last year's winners. I take my hat off to Matrix, Star Trac and Precor for keeping their near-perfect equipment around again this year.

2. Matrix E5Xc
3. Star Trac Pro
4. Precor 546


The Ichi-Ban Best of the Best Award for Elliptical Excellence: The SportsArt E83 Elliptical

The SportsArt E83 Elliptical is such a fantastic machine that I went out and bought one after putting our review together. This machine is absolutely fabulous and is perfect for families with members of varying heights. This is a machine that looks great and performs even better. If you've got the money for the Lexus of the elliptical world, then check out the full review.

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

The Ironman 250e Elliptical Review -- A Budget Best Buy Elliptical for under $500

Ohiyo!

One of the questions we get asked most here at the Treadmill Sensei is "which elliptical is best for under $500?" Unfortunately that question is also one of the hardest to answer. You see, that budget price range is a tough one for both ellipticals and treadmills as there really isn't really much you get for your money for under $500. Ellipticals do hold up just a bit better than treadmills do because they don't have the additional cost of a motor, but as with everything else you get what you pay for.

When you're looking at an elliptical for under $500 you've got to be prepared to sacrifice stability, features or stride length (and sometimes more than one of those). If you are looking for a solid elliptical with a lot of programs and don't mind a shorter stride, then the Ironman 250e is an excellent choice. Made by Keys Fitness, one of the largest fitness manufacturers in the country, the Ironman 250e continues the company's great track record for making budget priced ellipticals.

The Ironman 250e is solidly built, weighing in at over 115 pounds and with a 300 pound weight capacity (although I'd rate it at closer to 250 or so). It also has a larger than average flywheel for an under $500 elliptical, weighing about 12 pounds and a nice elliptical feel to it. The unit also comes with 12 programs, 16 levels of resistance and heart rate monitoring and control. The 250e has a lot of features that you just don't often find on ellipticals in its price range.

The only real downside is the 14" stride length. The Ironman 250e is great for shorter users looking for a quality workout at an insanely low price. For being a solidly built budget elliptical, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Ironman 250e 3.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

3.5 gold buddahs for the Ironman 250e Elliptical.


Get more information on this best buy budget elliptical, the Ironman 250e Elliptical, and get the best price online.



Ironman 250e Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 14"
Flywheel: approximately 12lbs
Display: LCD
Readouts: program profile, time, speed, pulse, calories and distance
Programs: 12
Resistance: 16 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 300lbs
Unit Weight: 115lbs
Price: Under $500

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

Reader Mailbag: A question on mats

Ohiyo!

A common question that the Treadmill Sensei gets is about treadmill mats. I think I've covered this a few times now (such as in the Treadmill Maintenance guide -- see link below), but with the huge amount of articles on the site now stuff sometimes information gets overlooked. I know I have problems finding articles on here from time to time myself!

Anyway, Mike just bought a treadmill and has a question about what type of mat he should get. Let's see what he has to say. Take it away, Mike!

Good morning Sensei,

I really enjoyed your site while shopping for a treadmill. My family and I settled on a Smooth 7.1 as they were on sale this weekend. Can you please recommend a mat? Since it folds up do I need a short mat or long? The Smooth site says the treadmill has a 39" X 73" foot print. Does the 36" wide mats work? Thanks for your help and for the incredible information service you provide. -Mike

Mike:

Thanks for your note. The mat isn't needed as much for when the treadmill is folded as when it is running. You see, in addition to protecting your floor from the treadmill, one of the main benefits of the mat is to help reduce the amounts of dust and dirt that get sucked up in to your treadmill's motor when it runs. The motor will build up a huge static charge which sucks dust in like a magnet and the mat will help reduce that quite a bit,

If you can't find a mat that fits the foot print, you can go shorter but shouldn't go thinner. Make sure to cover the width and front of the treadmill if you have to purchase a shorter mat.

Make sure to check out my Treadmill Maintenance Guide here on the site for some additional tips to keeping your equipment running well for a long time.

I hope that helps!

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

The SportsArt E83 Elliptical Review - Best Buy Elliptical for Under $2600

Ohiyo!

The Treadmill Sensei has been neglecting his readers this month and I want to apologize. We're just about done with the 2008 Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards and that has been taking up most of our time around here. I've had this SportsArt E83 elliptical review started for over a month now, but this is my first chance to sit down and get it finished. Over the last few years SportsArt has become one of the most consistant companies in the industry in terms of quality and customer service. SportsArt shines when it comes to mid and higher end ellipticals and treadmills, and that quality is particularly obvious in their E83 Elliptical this year. The E83 wins hands-down for best buy elliptical in the $2500-$3000 range and may even be the best buy elliptical under $4000.

2008 Ichi-Ban Best Buy Award Winner.

Be warned if you do order a SportsArt E83 Elliptical because this thing is solid and well-built...in other words, it is a heavy beast. Weighing in at just under 300 pounds, the E83 is one of the most sturdy ellipticals around, and definitely the most rock-solid available for the home market. And you can feel what that weight does when you get on the machine. Even a heavier or more hardcore user will be surprised at the lack of side-to-side motion in the E83. The weight and stability comes from the back and is even felt in the thicker, heavier-duty upright supports on the E83. Those uprights and the console center support combine to give users a steady base to put their weight on -- a very different experience from most rear drive ellipticals where the upright supports are thin and more than a little wobbly.

Putting together the SportsArt E83 is a bit of a task but is still doable without too much cursing even for those of average mechanical abilities. I'd say look at it taking an hour to an hour and a half. If you have problems putting together Ikea furniture then you might want to either get help or get some valium before you start. We worked with a preassembled unit but did a quick disassembly to see just how tough it would be. My recommendation is to make sure to have someone help at least when you're working on the uprights.

One of the main selling points of most SportsArt Ellipticals is their adjustable stride lengths. SportsArt has addressed the problem of users of various heights in a fantastic fashion, and the E83 has a manually adjustable stride feature.

I'm going to say something here that may go a bit against the grain. In my experience, I actually prefer the manual adjustment on the E83 over the electronic adjustments on the higher end SportsArt ellipticals. The comput controlled adjustments work great on those units but the manual adjustment on the SportsArt E83 is a lot less complex in design and will last just about forever with proper maintenance. The manual adjustable stride on the E83 elliptical ranges from 17 inches to 25.5 inches - we've seen it listed as 26 inches, but a lot of times manufacturers will round up on their measurements. Either way, it has a fantastically long and smooth stride range and will suit users of any size from 5' to 6'6" or more. This is great for the tall husband-short wife syndrome we get lots of emails about.

The welded steel frame, ball bearing joints instead of cheaper bushings, 8 programs (including the spectacular "random" setting which literally gives you a thousand different workouts), near-silent workouts, great 5-year parts warranty and an incredibly comfortable, natural feeling elliptical motion all add up to a high-quality elliptical that is truly the Lexus or Mercedes of the fitness industry.

The SportsArt E83 Elliptical shines in a price range filled with quite a bit of quality. Solidly built, expertly designed and reasonably priced, the SportsArt E83 is a nearly perfect elliptical that will outlast just about any other machine on the market today. The SportsArt E83 is in my top 5 absolute favorite ellipticals of all time and for that the Treadmill Sensei gives it 4.5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs.

Easily one of the best ellipticals at any price, the SportsArt E83 scores with 4.5 gold buddahs.


Get more information on the incredible SportsArt E83 Elliptical.


SportsArt E83 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 17"-25.5" manually adjustable
Flywheel: approximately 22lbs
Display: Dot Matrix LED
Readouts: Workout Level, Calories, Time, Stride Length, Distance, Cal/Hr, Strides/Min, Total Strides, Heart Rate, Heart Rate Target
Programs: 8
Resistance: 14 Levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 350lbs
Unit Weight: 282lbs
Grade: Residential
Price: Under $2600

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