The Esprit EL5 Elliptical by Spirit Review - A great deal at under $1100

Ohiyo!

When it comes to equipment made by Spirit Fitness out in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the Treadmill Sensei generally gets one of two questions. The first is usually from disgruntled Spirit dealers who are having problems selling this year's lower quality Spirit equipment and generally amounts to "why aren't you supporting Spirit equipment as much this year because I have a warehouse full of stuff that I can't get rid of."

The second question is from you, my loyal readers, who want to know how the "new" Esprit ellipticals are and whether or not you can trust product from Spirit Fitness with their recent drop in quality (long time readers of a certain Doctor's website probably noticed Spirit's absence from the "best buy" listings this year as opposed to last year when they were all over it - and the same went for my best buy awards).

I think I can address both of those questions with today's review of the Esprit EL-5 elliptical, which we brought in to the DOJO on a loan from a local online retailer. For those of you who don't know, the Esprit line of ellipticals is just a repainted version of the old award-winning 2006 Sole ellipticals, and the Esprit EL5 is just a repainted 2006 Sole E55, while the 2008 Spirit ellipticals are brand new designs. That, my friends, is a great example of the problems with the current line of 2008 Spirit products: their equipment shined in the past when their units were just repainted versions of the Sole treadmills and ellipticals (and received a ton of awards both online and off), but their new shorter frame ellipticals just feel stunted and ill-conceived. That doesn't even mention that most industry experts find the 2008 Spirit treadmills and ellipticals highly over-priced.

Luckily, someone at Spirit was smart enough to keep the old award-winning line at least partially alive with the Esprit line of ellipticals this year. Sure they painted them a funky "refrigerator white" color, but at least the units themselves don't have the issues and bad press associated with the 2008 Spirit ellipticals. But I digress a bit. Let's get on to the Esprit EL5 Elliptical review. We received a note from Ryan C (a regular reader here at www.TreadmillSensei.com), asking for more information on the EL-5 elliptical trainer. Let's see what he has to say...take it away, Ryan!

Do you know anything about the spirit esprit el5. I found it for $1095.00 (plus $4.99 shipping!). I heard it is a repainted version of the sole e55. How odes this item compare to the sole e25? - Ryan

Ryan:

Thanks for your note and questions. You are absolutely correct, the Spirit Esprit El-5 Elliptical is currently on sale at Amazon.com for $1095 and, at that price, the Esprit EL5 is a fantastic buy. You may see it on some slightly shady online retail sites for as much as $1397.99 but don't be conned into paying more (some of those shadier dealers may also try to get you to "convert" over from a Sole unit at a that higher price).

You are also correct in that the Esprit EL5 from Spirit is a repainted version of the older 2006 Sole E55 elliptical. It is a slight downgrade from the current 2008 Sole E55 but at a more budget friendly price. That price is the reason for the high rating on the Esprit EL5 - you are getting a very solid elliptical with a 20" stride, 20 levels of resistance, 6 preset programs, heart rate monitoring, heart rate control programs, articulating and adjustable foot pedals. The unit also offers a very smooth elliptical motion and Sole's patented 2% inward incline pedals for a much more natural feel to your workouts.

The only real downside to the Esprit units is the lesser warranty, the so-so color and lack of the higher-end Sole padding on the foot pedals. It isn't a huge downside, especially at the $1095 price point, but is something worth thinking about.

If you've been checking out the Sole E55 but can't afford the price, or if you were turned off by the stair-stepper feel of the Spirit XE200/Spirit XE300/Spirit XE400 and their outrageous prices, then the Esprit EL5 elliptical is a very nice alternative at a great price.

For being a budget alternative to the Sole E55 and for being more comfortable than standard Spirit ellipticals, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Esprit EL-5 Elliptical by Spirit a sturdy 4 out of 5 golden buddahs. Wow, a 2008 elliptical from Spirit that isn't a disappointment...who woulda thunk?

UPDATE: I don't know how long the Amazon sale will last but this rating is for the Esprit EL5 priced at just under $1100.

The Esprit EL5 Elliptical from Spirit Fitness gets 4 gold buddahs out of 5 but only if priced at under $1100. Anything more than that and I'd suggest sticking with the current 2008 Sole ellipticals instead.




Get more information on the Esprit EL5 elliptical and find the lowest price online.

Spirit Esprit EL-5 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 20"
Flywheel: Listed at 30lbs
Display: LCD
Resistance Levels: 20
Watts: 1000
Programs: 6 preset
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Articulating Pedals: Yes
Adjustable Pedals: Yes
Max User Weight: 350lbs
Unit Weight: 200lbs
Price: Under $1100

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

Reader Mailbag - Sole E25 vs Sole E35 and what about an elliptical for a shorter user?

Ohiyo!

It seems the Treadmill Sensei has been neglecting his reader mailbag a bit recently. Sure, I've been using reader email as the starting point for reviews lately, but it has been a very long time since I did an old fashioned mass email answer here on www.TreadmillSensei.com and that is exactly what I'm going to do today.

In this episode of the Reader Mailbag, we've got questions on Sole (as always), Esprit, Kettler, Stride length, returning equipment and more! I'll be answering each email in its own post to help keep the size of each one down. To start off I'll be going over questions from readers asking about ellipticals from Sole Fitness, specifically the Sole E25 elliptical and Sole E35 elliptical.

Our first question for the day is from Del who is trying to decide between the Sole E25 and the Sole E35 ellipticals. Take it away, Del!

Thank you Sensei. You do a good job of reviewing the products. I was curious E25 tops the under $1k range and E35 tops the under $1.5k range… but between the two which do you think is a better value? They’re relatively close enough in price that one could justify “Oh, it’s only a little bit more..” for the E35 (ooo… it’s a bigger number, has to be better, right?), but has Sole packed in enough upgrades to realistically make the $285 jump? Is warranty (LT/5/2 vs LT/3/1) and programs (8 vs 6) pretty much a main differentiators?

I’m 5’2”, 135lb, so the weight range isn’t my biggest selling point. Stability was (which is why I’m looking at Sole – I’m not heavy, but when I go I like to go all out). I’m looking for something reliable, well built, and worth the money spent. Heart program or not aren’t big for me – I wear my own chest strap and monitor myself (I don’t trust the programs, they don’t seem to work all that well, unless someone’s figured out how to do it better than Precor).

Thanks for your time, -Del

Thanks for the note, Del, and I am glad www.TreadmillSensei.com has been of assistance to you on your search for an elliptical. You've got a couple of different questions going there and it seems like you're wanting me to validate a decision you've already made. Let's start with the first question, "is the Sole E35 worth the additional money over the Sole E25." For average or larger-sized people that answer is going to be "yes." The Sole E35 elliptical is going to give you a larger and more stable elliptical base to work out on, which equals a slightly smoother ride. The larger size comes in to play for those who "go all out" on their machines or are heavier users. The addition of the much better warranty (in particular, the two year labor warranty) is also a big plus, as is the addition of heart rate monitoring and control in the newest version of the 2008 Sole E35. Both machines are great and are best buy award winning ellipticals, but the Sole E35 is definitely a sturdier step up from its little brother, the Sole E25 elliptical.

With that being said, right now Amazon has a crazy deal going on the Esprit EL3 elliptical by Spirit, which is a repainted version of the old 2006 Sole E35 elliptical. The cost for the Esprit EL3 is actually about $100 less than the Sole E25 right now, although I have no idea exactly how long that sale will be going on for. It is definitely worth checking out for a great deal on the Esprit EL3. See the my deal of the week post for more information.

Now that we've got all of that out of the way, I have a question for you, Del. Have you actually been on an elliptical with a 20" stride before? The reason I ask is because, at your height, it might be a bit too long for you. Some shorter users like the longer strides, but some find it to be a bit too far of a stretch. It might be worth checking out an elliptical with an 18" or even a 16" stride. Ellipticals from Kettler or Smooth are on par with the Sole ellipticals in terms of quality of construction and design, but target those who are looking for a shorter stride length.

Thanks for your note, Del, and I hope I've helped out in your search. Zap a note back to us here at the DOJO to let me know what you eventually decided on and how it worked out for you. Take care!

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

Elliptical Deal of the Week: The Esprit EL3 Elliptical by Spirit for Under $899

Ohiyo!

Yes, I know I was hoping to have a new "Deal of the Week" here on TreadmillSensei.com every week and I've failed miserably at updating the deals. Luckily, the Z500 Treadmill is still available as the best treadmill deal around -- where else can you get a version of the Sole F83 for under $1300? This week, a reader has sent in a fantastic elliptical deal from Amazon.com. Let's see what Steve from San Diego has to say. Take it away, Steve!

Yo, Sensei, we just ordered a Esprit EL-3 elliptical from Amazon for $895 and i wanted to make sure anyone else reading your pages knew about it too. We had the option to buy one from the shady retailer you mentioned for almost $1200 but a little searching and we found a lower price on Amazon. Thanx for the great information and keep telling it like it is. - Steve from San Diego

Steve:

Thanks for the note and your update on the great sale price for the Esprit EL-3 Elliptical from Spirit Fitness. The new $895-$899 price for the Esprit EL3 Elliptical is a fantastic chance for readers to pick up a repainted version of the old 2006 E35 Elliptical for an incredible budget price. If you poke around on some of the less than reliable retailer sites you'll see the same unit listed at $1150 or higher! Worse yet, some buyers are being conned into "converting" (I think that's what they are calling it - in the old days we called it "bait and switch") to an EL3 from a Sole E35 and still are being forced to pay that higher price. It's crazy!!

I'm assuming the reason for the sale is because Spirit Fitness (the manufacturer) has been hit pretty hard this year by fitness experts. They went from being a top rated company on every expert's list to a company at the bottom of the list with BEWARE written all over their units from what we've seen online. With the major drop in quality in the main Spirit XE lines (the Spirit XE100, Spirit XE200, Spirit XE300, Spirit XE400, Spirit XE500 and XE700 ellipticals are all getting reader complaints here at the DOJO every week), you'll probably be seeing a lot of similar price drops in the Spirit equipment. Luckily, I think savvy readers will be able to pick up the Esprit EL3 elliptical for this great price because of Spirit's current issues...and, even luckier, the Esprit line is made up of repainted 2006 Sole ellipticals and don't suffer from those same problem we've been hearing about.

I'm not sure how long this sale is going to go on or what Amazon's current stock in the Esprit EL3 Ellipticals is, so now is a great time to save as much as $300 off of retail on the Esprit version of the award-winning and best buy rated 2006 Sole E35 elliptical (and almost $1000 off the MSRP of the equivilent Spirit XE300 elliptical!).

We've found the absolute lowest price on the Esprit EL3 by Spirit at Amazon.com. Save even more with No Sales Tax and FREE Shipping!

Spirit Esprit EL3 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 20"
Flywheel: 25 lbs
Programs: 8
Resistance: 16 Levels
Display: LCD
Heart Rate Monitor: Pulse grip and wireless
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
Elliptical Weight: 190 lbs
Price: Under $1200

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

The Smooth 4.25 Treadmill Review - Top pick for those with limited space

Ohiyo!

Today we received a great question from a loyal reader in the midst of an exercise dilemma. Sherry wants to know what a top rated or best buy treadmill can be found for someone with a small amount of space to dedicate to it. Let's see what she has to say...take it away, Sherry!

Dear Sensei,

I was wondering if you could help me. It's quite overwhelming to see all the different treadmills and I wondered if you could give me your advice. Size is a problem, but I want the best out there. We have limited space in our house. I'm in my mid-50's and out of shape and am relying on the treadmill to get into some kind of good health and shape. My 18 yr. old daughter is also using it as well as my husband.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon. Many thanks! -Sherry

Sherry:

Thanks for your note. Yours is a question that pops up a lot and really isn't covered all that often by the various review "experts." Since your question is a bit against the grain when it comes to what most people are looking for (this also goes for those shorter buyers who are looking for treadmills or ellipticals which will work for them), which is a larger sized unit with a huge running area.

What you need is a smaller unit which will still stand up to use and abuse by a number of family members. Luckily, this year Smooth Fitness has released a treadmill which may be a great answer to your fitness needs. The Smooth 4.25 treadmill is their budget priced unit for those who don't have the space for a bigger treadmill. It also happens to be a very sturdy and very solidly built treadmill that will stand up to the abuse of a 3 person household looking to get back in shape.

The first thing to mention about the top rated Smooth 4.25 treadmill is that it ships full assembled. That's right, no more having to mess with putting together a treadmill before you have to use it. The Smooth 4.25 comes ready to plug in and use right out of the box. This, when factored with the free shipping Smooth offers, may be one of the best reasons to get the Smooth 4.25 for a lot of people. Having watched my wife's Uncle Chris try to put together a Proform Elliptical at his house let me experience first hand what the average person goes through when putting together a piece of fitness equipment. For some people this will entail a lot of frustration and more than a little cursing. My Uncle Chris it was a HUGE amout of frustration and a DISTURBING amount of cursing.

The next thing to mention is the size. The Smooth 4.25 treadmill folds up to 11" x 29" x 60," which is small enough to fit in most closets and under most beds - heck, it will even fit in the back of a lot of SUVs or larger cars. The only downside to such a small folded size is that the running area of the 4.26 comes in at about 16"x50," however if you're a smaller person or only in need of a walking or jogging treadmill then that isn't a downside at all.

Where the Smooth 4.25 goes above and beyond the call of duty is in its frame. Made from welded 11 gauge steel, the 4.25 is made of a sturdier metal than most $1500 treadmills and easily outperforms higher end treadmills by lower-end manufacturers such as Spirit, Proform or Epic. Smooth has done an excellent job in making sure the 4.25 treadmill gives one of the most solid workouts available in a treadmill priced at under $1000.

Last, the Smooth 4.25 also still comes with a lot of great features: a large, cool-running 2.0 horsepower motor, 8mph top speed, 7 programs and heart rate monitoring round out what is an excellent buy at about $799. The Smooth 4.25 is a very strong contender for our 2008/2009 treadmill best buy awards later in the year.

For being a top-notch treadmill for shorter people or those lacking in workout space, the Treadmill Sensei gives the excellent Smooth 4.25 Treadmill 4.5 out of 5 golden buddahs.

The Smooth 4.25 receives 4.5 gold buddahs from the Treadmill Sensei for being a very sturdy treadmill priced at under $800.


Get more information on the Smooth 4.25 Treadmill and find the lowest price online. Save more with free shipping and pay no tax.

Smooth 4.25 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 2hp
Max Speed: 8mph
Max Incline: 7%
Running Area: 16" x 50"
Display: LCD
Programs: 7
Heart Rate Monior: Yes
Heart Rate Control: No
Rollers: 2"
Folding: Yes
Max User Weight: 250lbs
Unit Weight: 155lbs
Assembly: Pre-assembled
Price: Under $800

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

The 2008 Sole E95 Elliptical Review -- Another excellent update from Sole for 2008

Ohiyo!

Tonight I am continuing my ongoing reviews of the brand new 2008 Sole Fitness Ellipticals and Treadmills. Sole has done an incredible job in their upgrades, which in the ellipticals consists mainly of thicker, sturdier tubing on their supports. You have no idea how great it is to see a fitness manufacturer who has found a near perfect design and then stuck with it, without making meaningless changes. Sole continues to produce some of the best award-winning ellipticals around.

The elliptical I want to single out for today is the 2008 Sole E95 Elliptical trainer. We picked our review model up by ordering it direct from Sole Fitness. With the current trend of some of the shadier retailers who like to use bait-and-switch and other tactics to bully you in to the wrong equipment (something I talked about in-depth recently), we've found the two best places to order your Sole E95 are at Amazon.com, Sole's largest authorized distributor, or direct from the manufacturer, Sole Fitness, itself. These are the only two ways to make sure you are getting exactly what you order and the only way to guarantee that your warranty will be support. Luckily, you'll be able to get the best prices online from them as well.

Best Buy Elliptical Award runner up for Best Elliptical under $2000

The Sole E95 was one of the runner ups this year for the Treadmill Sensei's Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards for an elliptical priced at under $2000 and, to tell the truth, it was a solid contender for the top spot. With the upgraded heavy duty tubing and slick new design, the Sole E95 has carried over all the features from last year that made it a top rated elliptical.

It's got 20 levels of magnetic resistance to allow even a hardcore user to tweak their workouts to meet their fitness needs.

It still has 10 workout programs, including heart rate control programs, as well as wireless and pusle grip heart rate monitoring options. It also still possesses Sole's patented 2% inward incline pedals. Those pedals, some of the most comfortable on the market, are also articulating and adjustable. For anyone getting on a Sole E95 Elliptical for the first time, my recommendation is to play with the pedal adjustment. What may seem like a minor tweak may wind up giving you an incredible feeling work out.

The Sole E95 strangely is listed with a 29 pound flywheel this year. I have absolutely no clue as to why Sole has changed the spec on this because, when you take it apart, it seems to be the exact same flywheel as was in the E95 Ellipticalcrosstrainer last year. A lot of manufacturer's play with their specifations on paper to mess with consumer reactions to a product and to show some sort of change has taken this place. In this case, the two flywheels are the same.

The Sole E95 Elliptical has all the features to make it a great elliptical. From the comfortable, naturally positioned and padded footpedals, to the four rear wheels which ride along rails (as opposed to the two rear wheels often found on lesser ellipticals), the Sole E95 shines.

The only reason the Sole E95 elliptial receives a ranking just short of perfect is because of the plastic guide rails on the back of the unit. This year the plastic is quite a bit more sturdy than in years past (and sturdier than what you'll find in its lesser counterpart, the Spirit XE ), but it still seems a little wrong to me. While the user manual states you shouldn't stand on the plastic guiderail shrouds on the Sole E95 Elliptical, most people will end up doing so - often accidentally. This would be ok except the plastic will crack under too much abuse. This is a minor nitpick on an otherwise great machine because the plastic shrouds do help protect the elliptical's railings from dirt and dust, but I would have like to have seen the Sole E95 elliptical trainer with a metal shroud instead of a plastic one.

For being just short of a perfect performing elliptical crosstrainer, the Treadmill Sensei gives the Sole E95 Elliptical 4.5 out of 5 Golden Buddahs.

The Sole E95 receives a near perfect 4.5 gold buddahs out of 5.




Get more information on the Sole E95 Elliptical. Find the best price online, avoid gray market bait-and-switch, protect your warranty and Save More with Free Shipping!

You can also order the Sole E95 from Sole Direct and save more with Free Shipping and Pay NO TAX

Sole E95 Elliptical 2008 Specifications
Stride: 20"
Flywheel: Listed at 29lbs but same as last year's 30lb flywheel
Display: LED
Programs: 10
Resistance Levels: 20
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Articulating Pedals: Yes
Adjustable Pedals: Yes
Max User weight: 400lbs
Product weight: 215lbs
Price: Under $1700

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

Retailer Review -- Body Works Exercise Equipment in Yorba Linda, CA

Ohiyo!

One of the questions the Treadmill Sensei gets almost daily here at the DOJO from his loyal readers is "Can you recommend a local fitness retailer for me?" In most cases, readers are writing in from areas where, unfortunately, I just don't know any retailers local to them. Place like Spokane, Washington or Poughkeepsie, New York. Any retailer recommendations I get for other areas are ones that come in from other readers who send in notes telling the Treadmill Sensei about their positive or negative experiences.

However, this week we received a note from Robin in Brea, California. Since Brea is almost in the DOJO's backyard, I can most definitely answer Robin's question. First, let's hear what Robin has to say...take it away, Robin!

O great sensei,

I was wondering if you can help me out. my husband and I are looking to get back in to shape. we've been married for about 10 years now and have both picked up a few extra pound here and there. now we're in our 40s and miserable. we love your site but would like to go to a fitness shop near us to get on a few different treadmills to see what works best for us. can you help us out with a good fitness dealer near us in Brea California? many thanks for your great source of information. -Robin

Robin:

Thanks for your note and your great question. Now, you didn't really go in to what sort of price range you were looking for, but there is a great shop near you. Body Works Exercise Equipment is located in Yorba Linda, California (and they have a shop out in Chino, California as well) and happens to be one of the better specialty fitness shops in the area.

Body Works is owned by Charles Hoffman and his wife (whose name escapes me at the moment...please forgive an old man for his bad memory!), who are two of the nicest, most helpful people the Treadmill Sensei has come across in the fitness industry. Their stores are clean, very classy and very solid. They are an excellent alternative to some area shops which are dark, cramped and appear more than a little run down -- if you've shopped for fitness equipment in Orange County then you probably know who I'm talking about.

In regards to treadmills and elliptical, they only carry a couple of brands. Luckily, they carry a couple of decent brands if you're in the $1000-$3000 range. Body Works is mainly a dealer for True Fitness and for Vision Fitness, two brands which cannot be shipped outside of the dealer's local area and two brands you won't find a whole lot of information on. They used to carry Spirit equipment but may have been part of the mass exodus of dealers who left the brand recently due to their recent downturn. I believe they also sell Bodyguard, SportsArt and Bodycraft equipment, all of which are excellent brands.

If you are in Orange County and are looking for fitness equipment then checking out Body Works in either Yorba Linda or Chino should be at the top of your list. You can also check them out online at www.ocBodyWorks.com. I'll try to get some pictures of their shops to post here for everyone to take a look at.

I'll be back later in the day with a new review.

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

Sole Fitness Equipment Warning - shady online retailers out to take your cash

Ohiyo!

Just a quick break in my current reviews of the 2008 treadmills and ellipticals coming out of Sole Fitness. For the past month or so we've been getting in a large number of reader emails here at the DOJO talking about a problem that has been popping up with some of the retailers who are selling Sole treadmills and Sole ellipticals online. Before anyone freaks out, the problem is from no fault of Sole Fitness and they may or may not even know it's been happening.

Shady Gray Market Retailers

The problem that a lot of readers have been running in to has been from retailers who advertise an unbelievably low price for all their Sole equipment but, when a customer tries to buy a Sole unit the semi-shady sales people attempt to bait-and-switch them into another piece of equipment (generally a slightly lower-spec'd, higher priced unit from Spirit Fitness). We've gotten even more startling word that some buyers have been sent a Spirit model INSTEAD of the Sole unit they had intended to purchase. When attempting to return the units, the customers are told they signed a consent form stating that a Spirit model may be substituted for a Sole unit if it is "out of stock." Well, unfortunately for the customers, these retailers almost never really have a Sole unit in stock!

If you do decide to take a chance on buying a Sole treadmill or elliptical from one of the gray market dealers for a lower price (which may result in a voided warranty, so be careful), then make sure never to sign any sales receipts or confirmations. When buying with your credit online you absolutely shouldn't have to sign anything and a company that asks for something like that is probably trying to sneak something past you. If you sign a sales order or sales confirmation then you may be giving up your rights to cancel an order (even if it hasn't shipped or been processed yet!), and you may just wind up with a $1000+ piece of equipment you didn't order.

If you're looking for a Sole treadmill or elliptical online, there really are only three places to buy the equipment and still guarantee your warranty and guarantee you're going to get exactly what you ordered. Three authorized websites that we are aware of are:

AUTHORIZED SOLE DEALERS:

The Sole Fitness Official Website: That's right, Sole is online and does sell its units direct. The only downside is they are generally a few dollars more expensive than the other two locations. The upside is that you're ordering direct from the manufacturer and they will be able to handle any questions or issues you might run in to. Plus, Sole's customer support is top notch and award winning.

Dick's Sporting Goods: As one of Sole's largest retailers, Dick's has some of the best prices around for Sole equipment, plus you generally pay no taxes and get Free Shipping and inside delivery on a lot of their products.

Amazon.Com: That's right, the largest online retailer in the world is also able to sell Sole products direct (as well as having a number of authorized third-party Sole vendors). Amazon generally has the lowest prices for Sole equipment and you, as a buyer, are supported by Amazon's buyer protection policy. You are never charged until your item has shipped and you're never asked to sign a shady sales "confirmation" and give up all of your rights. Amazon's buyer protection policy is one of the best on the internet and they will make sure you get what you ordered and in a reasonable amount of time.

If you're out on the market for Sole equipment (still some of the best treadmills and ellipticals around for the mid-range price arena), then make sure to be careful and purchase from one of the authorized dealers. Getting caught buying from a gray market dealer who tries to bait-and-switch you in to another unit might just result in you losing your money.

Oh, and if you run in to this problem with a shady retailer, send us a note here at the DOJO and we'll run your letter to help other buyers watch out.

UPDATE: Since this posting went live we have received a flood of emails from readers with complaints from various dubious online retailers. I'll be posting those emails here as soon as I get permission from the readers who wrote them. In the meantime, here is the first warning email from a loyal reader who has had problems with a retailer. This one comes from Bruce L in Maine. Take it away, Bruce.

I researched treadmills on your site and others (especially treadmilldoctor) and decided to purchase a Sole F63.

I purchased the Sole F63 (and actually received a Spirit Z88) from treadmillscentral.com using their web site. I got there using a link from your page and used your discount code at the time of purchase. I thought the discount would be applied when the transaction was completed. They did not honor the discount, however, but since it appeared that I had already committed, I completed the purchase anyway.

I thought you would like to know that they do not honor your discount, so you might not want to advertise it in future.

I also had many hassles completing the purchase under their terms and conditions. I had to email/scan/fax and call them directly more than once to complete it. If I were going to purchase again, I would purchase directly from Sole and will recommend that potential purchasers deal directly with Sole rather than dealing with all these third party hassles.

I will note that the treadmill has been working fine (I use it daily for an hour of walking) for 6 weeks or so except for one issue. The spring connected to the yellow lock release handle slipped off the handle a couple of times. I had to fish it out and reconnect it. At this point, I leave the treadmill down to avoid this problem. I am not sure if this is a common problem, but thought you would like to know. I am also reporting this to the treadmilldoctor for his reviews. -Bruce L. from Maine

Bruce:

Thanks for your note and information on the problems you encountered while ordering your treadmill. It sounds like you went through a bit of hell. Not that it helps your situation, but we have recently removed the links from a couple of retailers we have been getting numerous complaints about. I would say that I'd be concerned about any company that sent you one treadmill when you ordered another, especially if you went through as many hoops as it sounds like you did.

It sounds like you received a 2006 Spirit Z88. Unfortunately, that's not a problem that was fixed on the Z88 or any of the current Spirit Treadmills, but the 2008 Sole F63 is, luckily, free of that issue. It's good to hear that, otherwise, the treadmill has been performing well for you. At least your story had a happy ending. Thanks for the note, Bruce, and take care.

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

Treadmill Deal of the Week: The Sole F80 Treadmill for $1299

Ohiyo!

We've been sent in a new "Deal of the Week" by you, the Treadmill Sensei's loyal readers. This week StevenJ1978 sends in this:

Sensei, I know ya'll are always on the look out for new sales going on and I wanted to make sure everyone knew about the Sole treadmill deals going on at Amazon. The 2008 Sole F80 treadmill is on sale right now for $1299.99!!! I ordered one a couple of days and can't wait for it to get here so I can work off some of my holiday fat. By the way I love your website. I read it for a couple of weeks before making my decision. Thanks for the great advice and the unbiased reporting. -SteveJ1978

Thanks for the tip, SteveJ1978!

For those of you who, like those of us here at the DOJO, absolutely love the Sole Treadmills in general and the best buy award winning Sole F80 Treadmill in specific, this is a fantastic deal. Normally the top rated Sole F80 goes for just under $1500 so this Amazon.com sale is a great way to save $200.

The Sole F80 treadmill took top awards in the Treadmill Sensei's Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards for Best Treadmill Under $1500, so this price drop just makes it even sweeter. The F80 features a large 3 horsepower motor, solid 2.75" precision machined rollers and a steel-welded frame with a 20"x55" running area.

In addition it comes with 6 preset programs, 2 heart rate control programs, heart rate monitoring, an 11mph top speed and incline up to 15%. Pound for pound, the Sole F80 is one of the best treadmills on the market today. If you are looking to purchase a treadmill in the $1000-$2000 range, drop by and check out the Sole F80 at $1299.99 to save yourself a bit of cash.

As with any sale, we have no idea how long this one will last or what kind of stock Amazon has on the units.

I have no idea how long this great sale will last, but check out the Sole F80 and save $200 now!

2008 Sole F80 Treadmill Specifications
Motor: 3 HP
Speed: 11 mph
Incline: 15%
Unit Weight: 250 lbs.
Max User Weight: 350 lbs.
Running Surface: 20" X 55
Rollers: 2 3/4 inches
Folding: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Display: LED
Programs: 6
User Defined Programs: 2
Heart Rate Programs: 2
Cooling Fans: Yes
Sale Price: Under $1299.99

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

Reader Mailbag: Sole F80 Treadmill vs Bodycraft TR1120/TR1140 Treadmills

Ohiyo!

As much as the Treadmill Sensei dislikes these questions, we get enough of them from you, my loyal readers, that they just have to be answered. Today we have Leslie asking us which treadmill is better for her situation, the Sole F80 or the Bodycraft TR1120/TR1140. Obviously, I can't tell anyone what a "better" treadmill is, but I can give you my opinion on the matter.

Let's see what Leslie to say...take it away, Leslie!

Dear Sensei,

I was directed to your website for the first time tonight (and loved it!). My husband and I want to purchase a treadmill for both walking and running (my husband, in particular, plans to run on it a lot). He is 5’10” or 5’11”, 175 lbs. and I am 5’4”, 135 lbs. I have had 3 knee surgeries, and have no restrictions with regard to my activity, but want to make sure I am always supporting my knees as much as possible when doing any kind of exercise.

You rated the Sole F80, Bodycraft TR1120 and TR1140 treadmills very highly. We obviously like the price of the TR1120 best, but the Bodycraft website lists this as a ‘walking treadmill’. We can afford the SoleF80 or the TR1140 if necessary, but don’t want to spend more money if we don’t need to.

What is your opinion when comparing these machines for running? We obviously don’t want to wear out a machine by running on it if it’s not made for that use. Thanks Sensei! -Leslie

Leslie:

Thanks for your note and your question. To start off with, have you considered an elliptical trainer over a treadmill? With your knee surgeries the nearly zero impact workouts of an elliptical might be beneficial to your physical health. Not that a treadmill is a bad thing, but any sort of standard running (on the ground or on a treadmill) will cause some stress on your knees. Just a thought I wanted to make sure to toss out to you.

In regards to the Bodycraft TR1120, the machine is a fantastic one for the price. At under $1000 it gives its owners an incredible stable and durable treadmill, and one that will out perform any other treadmill in its class. Bodycraft has done an excellent job in the TR1120 treadmill's design. That being said, it is most definitely a walking/jogging/light running treadmill...although, for someone your size it would probably stand up very well to running. Your husband might be a bit too large for hardcore running workouts, but he'd be fine to jog on the thing.

For more intense running type workouts then moving up in class to the Sole F80 or Bodycraft TR1140 is something definitely looking in to. Also, the BodyCraft TR1160 Treadmill has had a bit of a price drop on Amazon.com and you can now find it for almost the same price of the TR1140, which gives you a larger running area, or the Sole F80 looks like it has dropped down to $1299 on AMazon.

To give you my opinion on what the best buy is, I'd actually recommend another option altogether. Probably the best treadmill deal going right now is for the Spirit Fitness Z500 Treadmill on Amazon. This is a closeout model and is the exact same unit as the best buy award winning Sole F83 Treadmill from 2007 - the only difference between the two units is the paint job. They both came out of the same factory and used the same off-the-shelf parts. For $1299 you're getting a step up from the Sole F80 and a unit that is very comparable to the Bodycraft TR1140/TR1160 for a $200+ savings.

Right now, anyone looking to purchase a treadmill in the $1000-$2000 price range who isn't looking at either the Spirit Z500 Treadmill or BodyCraft TR1160 Treadmill is really just throwing money away. I have no clue how long the sale is going to last or how many of these sale units Amazon has, but jump over and take a look. This is a great chance to save $200-$500 on some very high end treadmills.

That's it from this end, I'll be back tomorrow with more treadmill wisdom from the DOJO.

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

Reader Mailbag: The SportsArt E83, a perfect elliptical for tall users

Ohiyo!

Before I get to the reader mailbag I want to confess to something...and I'm only able to do this because I know Mrs. Sensei doesn't ever read this website. Today the Treadmill Sensei encountered something that has completely ruined his finely regimented and regulated diet (regimented and regulated by Mrs. Sensei, of course). Today the Treadmill Sensei was at Costco with Hikaru, making a quick trip to refill the lunchroom here at the DOJO with juice, soda and snacks for the other Senseis. It was there in the bakery aisle that I saw what was to be my downfall...a banana and chocolate cream pie.

When we arrived back at the DOJO, I decided to pop open the pie and have a small taste before going back to work. Sure, my wife would disapprove, but it was just going to be a tiny bite and no one would ever know. Unfortunately, one small bite led to a small piece which led to a medium sized piece which led to the Treadmill Sensei eating almost half of the pie before Hikaru burst in to my office to save me from myself.

Now, I'm feeling tired from the huge carb and sugar intake, I've got a cream stain on my shirt and all I can think of is having to kill Hikaru to get my pie back. So, if you're in Costco and see the beautiful banana and chocolate cream pie, please do yourself and your sanity a favor and walk away. Just walk away.

Ok, let's get back to today's Reader Mailbag before your Treadmill Sensei goes and runs for an hour to work off some of that delicious pie...and tries to figure out how to "Shout" the new stain out of his shirt! Today we have an email from Matt C. who is looking for a sturdy elliptical for himself and his wife, both of whom are very tall.

Take it away, Matt!

This is a great website. I really appreciate the reviews and advice.

My wife and I are both tall. She is 6 feet and I am 6' 6 and weigh about 295. I have bad joints and need a low impact type of exercise which is why I have chosen an elliptical. My problem is that I really feel like most machines I will run into the ground. The residental machines seem too weak for my frame. I know I need an adjustable stride of at least 25 inches. Can you tell me the best "sturdy" machine that is going to take my abusive workouts for the the next few years that won't give me problems that have a longer stride?. I am willing to spending between $2,000-$2900.

Thanks for your advice, Matt

Matt:

Thanks for your note. It's nice to hear from a taller reader because it lets me talk about something besides "which is better, Sole or Smooth." To start off, you could probably make due with a 20" or 21" elliptical stride and be ok. That being said, a good 25" stride will definitely feel a lot better for you. If you did decide to go down to a shorter stride, I would avoid Octane and Bodyguard ellipticals like the plague. You'd wind up bumping your knees or thighs on those machines, which don't have the best designs for taller users (I'd recommend them only for those under 6' in height).

Now, if you're looking for a very stable, sturdy and long lasting elliptical with an adjustable stride, there is really only one brand to look at: SportsArt Fitness. SportsArt puts together what I consider to be the best designed, best supported ellipticals on the market today, and probably of all time.

In particular, you want to take a look at the best buy award winning SportsArt E83 Elliptical.

2008 Ichi-Ban Best Buy Award Winner.

You can check out my full review of the SportsArt E83 Elliptical HERE. If you've got the budget for it, which you mention you did, the SportsArt E83 Elliptical is really and truly one of the finest ellipticals out there. It completely blows away lower priced ellipticals, and even higher priced units from Precor or Life Fitness can't really compete with its design or rock-solid frame. There is absolutely no better elliptical especially in the $2000-$3000 price range.

The three key points to focus on after the steel-welded frame are: the use of ball bearing joints instead of the cheaper bushings used in lower end ellipticals from Spirit or Nordic Track (for example). The use of bearings will give you a much smoother, more maintenance free, quieter and longer life elliptical.

The second point to look at is the manual adjustable stride. This may sound a bit counter-intuitive, but the manual stride adjustment is a lot more reliable than an electronic or computer controlled one. Those automatic stride adjustments are a lot more complex in their design which causes them to be far less reliable than the SportsArt E83.

The last point to think about is, and this won't affect your elliptical workout, there is a man who works at SportsArt named Scott Logan. The reason you should know that name is because he has what we here at TreadmillSensei.com consider to be one of the finest groomed beards to ever come out of the Pacific Northwest. Like I said, it doesn't affect the fantastic workout provided by the Sports Art E83, but proper grooming should be a matter of principal.

But seriously, if I had to choose a "best of the best" elliptical it would probably be the SportsArt E83 Elliptical trainer. The level of engineering and thought behind its creation are mind-blowing. You can get more information on it online HERE.

Thanks again for your note, Matt. Good luck with your elliptical quest!

Get more information on the incredible SportsArt E83 Elliptical and find the lowest price online.

SportsArt E83 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 17"-25.5" manufally 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

Elliptical Deal of the Week: The Fitnex E70 Elliptical for $1599

Ohiyo!

You know, I'm really not sure what goes on in the heads of the fine folks at Amazon.com. Don't get me wrong, I love them and shop on their site all the time. But sometimes they knock prices down to some almost insane levels. I guess the power of their website and the sheer volume of sales they do allows them to get the lowest prices around and they want to make sure their customers get to take advantage of that power...but still, sometimes they drop prices down a bit too low! Of course, the 10 or so readers who wrote in with this particual elliptical sale had no problem with the ultra low price for a commercial elliptical machine.

In this case, I'm talking about what has to be one of the best deals of all time for a commercial grade elliptical. The Fitnex E70 elliptical. The Fitnex equipment comes out of the same factory which produces the Body Solid gyms, which gives the same lifetime parts warranty on all the Body Solid equipment and has been producing fitness equipment for more than 30 years now.

I reviewed the original Fitnex E70 Elliptical about 2 years ago, back when I first started writing for this website. I have to say that even after two years I am still completely blown away by this machine. Especially now that it is priced at the amazing price of $1599. If the Fitnex had been priced this low back when I was putting together the 2007/2008 Ichi-Ban Best Buy Awards for Ellipticals then it would have received the top award and recommendation, hands down. If my wife's Uncle Chris wasn't so stubborn, this would be the elliptical I'd be telling him to pick up now...instead, he's stuck with a malfunctioning Nordic Track!

If you've ever wanted to buy a commercial elliptical and get the same quality work outs you get at the gym on machines from Precor and Life Fitness, then you absolutely need to check out the Fitnex E70. Up until recently, the E70 has been priced anywhere from $1999 to $2299, and it was worth it at those higher prices.

With its longer frame and heavier weight, the Fitnex E70 gives you the smoothest elliptical workout this side of a Matrix E5X. Getting on an E70 elliptical is like ice skating...well, without all the falling down. Unfortunately for the comepetitors of Fitnex, with the E70 priced at under $1600, there is absolutely nothing else out there that even comes close in terms of quality, stability, stride or natural, comfortable elliptical feels. Fitnex allowing Amazon to drop the price down this low, even for a short period, is sort of like having the chance to buy a Mercedes S-Class for $10,000.

In fact, I haven't even mentioned the best part about the Fitnex E70 Elliptical. Not only is it the best elliptical now priced at under $2000 (and under $1600). Not only is it the best feeling elliptical under $2000. Not only does it look snazzy. But it is also the only quality elliptical with a lifetime parts warranty for in home use. That's right, since this is actually a commercial quality elliptical, Fitnex gives residential customers a lifetime parts warranty for in home use.

Almost as cool as the lifetime parts warranty is that Amazon is also offering free shipping and No Sales Tax on the Fitnex E70 elliptical.

The Fitnex E70 Elliptical is the perfect and only choice for those of you who have been spoiled by the smooth, sturdy and wonderful workouts you get at your local gym on Precor or Life Fitness ellipticals...and right now you can also save more than 50% off of those Precor prices. I have no clue how long the sale is going to be going on, so check it out now before it is too late.

If you're looking for a Precor or Life Fitness quality commercial elliptical for an unbelievably low price, then check out the Fitnex E70 priced at under $1600. Click here for more information.

Fitnex E70 Elliptical Specifications
Stride: 19"
Flywheel: 30lbs
Display: Dot Matrix/LCD
Readouts: Time, distance, speed, calories, and pulse rate
Programs: 8
Resistance: 16 levels
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Max User Weight: 400 lbs
Unit Weight: 220 lbs
Warrany: Lifetime on parts
Sale Price: $1599

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

Treadmill Deal of the Week: The Spirit Z500 Treadmill for $1299

Ohiyo!

The end-of-the-year holiday season can be a great time to pick up a treadmill at a great price. Everyday the Treadmill Sensei gets in emails from readers talking about great deals they've found online for equipment and I'm going to try and pass those notes along to you, my loyal readers.

Today's offering comes from Amazon and is a great deal if you're looking for a high end treadmill for a rock bottom price. Amazon.com is running a special on the Spirit Z500 Treadmill from last year. Since Spirit is one of the lesser known companies out there, you're probably asking yourself "what the heck is the Spirit Z500 treadmill?" Well, if you've been searching around online then you are probably more familiar with the Spirit Z500 by its more common name, the Sole F83 Treadmill. That's right, the 2006/2007 Spirit Z500 Treadmill is almost identical to the 2006/2007 Sole F83, with just a different paint job separating them.

The Spirit Z500/Sole F83 is a Best Buy Award Winning Treadmill at its regular price of $1747, and is an absolute steal at $1299 on Amazon.

Now, be warned, the Spirit Z500 is no longer being made under that name (it is still available as the Sole F83) so I'm not sure how much stock Amazon actually has. In other words, their sale could end at any time...so, if you're looking for a fantastic treadmill at a $500 discount, then check out the best buy award-winning Spirit Z500 treadmill from Amazon.

Spirit Z500 Treadmill Specifications
Horsepower: 3.0
Maximum Weight Capacity: 375 lbs
Folding: Yes
Running Area: 20"x58"
Max Speed: 12 MPH
Max Incline: 15%
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes, Pulse grip and chest strap
Heart Rate Control: Yes
Programs: 10: Standard (6), User Defined (2), and Heart Rate (2)

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

Reader Mailbag: Who is Cardio Zone?

Ohiyo!

Today we pull out an email from the Treadmill Sensei's reader mailbag from a reader named BGrimes1. He wants to know about Cardio Zone equipment and what the Treadmill Sensei thinks of it.

Take it away, BGrimes1!

Sensei, I saw many makes of treadmills reviewed on your website, but I did not see anything on Cardio Zone treadmills. Do you have any experience with them and/or an opinion on the quality? -BGrimes1

BGrimes1:

Thanks for your note. Cardio Zone is a bit of an interesting line. It is owned and operated by one of the largest online fitness retailers, Fitness Blowout (owned by a man named Jim Rosen). We see a lot of their equipment here at the DOJO, but not under the Cardio Zone name. You see, Cardio Zone itself is just made up of repackaged versions of treadmills and ellipticals from Keys Fitness (makers of Ironman equipment) and from BH Fitness/BladeZ.

Their equipment itself is as good as what comes direct from the manufacturers, but they have a tendency to be a bit over-priced and the specs are often over rated. For instance, they sell a treadmill with a 62" deck...however, BladeZ/BH Fitness (who manufactures their units) only actually manufactures a 60" deck. So, their 62" deck is in reality a 60" one. Their motors are also similarly over spec'd from what I've seen.

Anyway, they do have some nice equipment just be aware that you can generally get the exact same unit under a different brand name at a much lower price.

If you do a search of our site you will find a few Cardio Zone pieces listed under their original manufacturer. I hope that helps.

Take care, BGrimes1!

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

The Sole E25 Elliptical 2008 Review - Still the best elliptical under $1000

Ohiyo!

This past month, the Treadmill Sensei has been able to track down a few of the 2008 Sole ellipticals and treadmills. The units are cosmetically a little different than models from the previous years, and some key components have been upgraded, but overall they are still essentially the same best buy award winning units from years past.

Today I want to talk about the 2008 Sole E25 Elliptical - you can read my review of the previous year's model