Horizon E4000i Cross Trainer Review

Horizon-E4000i-Cross-TrainerPrice: £899
Buy From:
Fitness Superstore

Ratings (out of 5)
Overall Rating:
3.5
Build Quality: 4
Ease of use: 3.5
Console Features: 3
Value for Money: 4

 

The E4000i Premier cross trainer is a top end cross trainer from the Horizon range.  Designed as a front flywheel machine, it combines a pivoting footplate system which replicates the body’s natural foot movement to minimise stress on the joints.

Also, because the flywheel is at the front, the pedal spacing is much closer together with just 1.2 inches between them which improves biomechanical alignment to allow users to concentrate on putting effort into the workout without causing the knees to invert which can sometimes be the case with some rear drive elliptical models.

The stride length ranges from 20 – 22 inches when the incline setting is increased to maximum.  This position extends the range of movement to provide an additional workout for more muscle groups. Effectively, the glutes, hamstrings and thighs are all forced to engage more than on a traditional elliptical which may prove popular for hill walker and skiers who tend to utilise these muscles more.

The incline motor itself is controlled easily at the touch of a button either manually to a level of choice or via one of two different incline programs. Six other programs include weight loss, interval and heart rate control with the option of 1 user defined program and the display is well lit and easy to read.  There is a 10.5kg commercial grade flywheel which provides 20 levels of smooth continuous resistance via an ECB magnetic braking system.

Because of the long stride and the front drive flywheel, the E4000i will suit pretty much anyone in terms of comfort, although the increased range of upper body movement to compensate for the incline may cause some shorter users to stretch excessively when using the incline at its maximum setting.

Horizon-E4000i-Cross-Trainer-ConsoleYou will need a fair amount of space to accommodate this machine too, as it stands at 175cm long and 65cm wide and cannot be folded for storage so it would look quite imposing in a smaller room. Anyone with restricted or reduced ceiling height will also need to be slightly wary as tall users may have concerns about headroom when the incline is on the maximum setting.

A 136kg (21 stone) user weight makes this a substantial machine but then it does weigh in at 108kg and although there are transportation wheels it isn’t particularly portable.  As is the case with Horizon products, build quality is very good and backed up with their 5 year parts and labour on site warranty with a lifetime frame and motor warranty to boot.

PROS

  • Long stride suitable and comfortable for the majority of people
  • Incline motor provides an added workout dimension
  • Good value for money

CONS

  • Large and heavy so not very portable
  • Upper body movement a bit awkward for shorter users on maximum incline
  • No entertainment features on the console.

In summary then, if you are looking for an elliptical with extra variety of workouts or you want to work on specific muscle groups then the E4000i is a lot of elliptical for your money. It’s very well made but you will need a fair amount of space to accommodate it.

Price: £899
Buy From:
Fitness Superstore

Kettler Unix P Cross Trainer Review

Kettler Unix P Cross TrainerPrice: £749
Buy From: Fitness Superstore

Ratings (out of 5)
Overall Rating:
3
Build Quality: 5
Ease of use: 3
Console Features: 2
Value for Money: 2

 

 

The Kettler Unix P is the latest edition to the Kettler compact elliptical range.  Kettler have long been synonymous with great build quality which stems from German engineering resulting in very solid, reliable fitness products.

The Unix P is a compact unit at just 144cm long and 56cm wide, with a fairly standard 16 inch stride pattern for a small elliptical.  A 20kg flywheel with a magnetic, electronically controlled braking system offers huge levels of resistance but the stride still feels a bit short despite the smoothness of the movement.

The maximum user weight capacity of 150kg (23.5 stone) is substantial for a small machine and the whole product feels very well engineered which isn’t surprising as it is made in Germany. The quality shows but it comes at a price, the Unix P is expensive when compared to alternative models available at the price point. It’s well made and smooth to use but is ultimately a 16 inch stride compact cross trainer and there isn’t really anything new here when compared to previous models in the Kettler range.

Kettler Unix P Cross Trainer ConsoleThe console is LCD backlit which is an improvement on its predecessor, the Mondeo ST.  All the usual feedback is displayed in addition to various programs with 10 preset options plus heart rate control.  The inclusion of an audible alarm to warn when exceeding maximum heart rate is a nice touch, providing you don’t choose to exercise to loud music that is.  Kettler have also opted to include a Polar compatible chest belt receiver instead of previous models, which required the purchase of their own brand pulse set. A chest strap however is still optional.

Brands like Horizon Fitness, Vision Fitness and Bremshey are all now offering 18 to 20 inch stride front drive ellipticals at this level price wise. Kettler have themselves recently introduced similar, longer stride pattern models with the Elyx 3,5 and 7. Of course, some people will love the reliability and solid branding you get from a Kettler product, backed up with a 3 year parts and labour onsite warranty but with a short stride and unchanged biomechanics, there are only going to be limited purchasers.

PROS

  • Very smooth, fantastic engineering

CONS

  • Short stride length
  • Console spec a little dated
  • Expensive when compared with alternative brands

In summary then, if you are willing to accept the limitations of the Unix P as a trade off against great build quality and reliability, have a limited space but a not so limited budget then this could be the right choice of cross trainer for you.

Price: £749
Buy From: Fitness Superstore

Vision Fitness X1500HR Elite Cross Trainer Review

Vision X1500HR Cross TrainerPrice: £599
Buy From:
Fitness Superstore

Ratings (out of 5)
Overall Rating:
4
Build Quality: 5
Ease of use: 4
Console Features: 3
Value for Money: 5

 


When it comes to choosing a cross trainer for home, space can often be the defining factor in the decision. The Vision Fitness X1500 Elite’s very compact footprint: (L)145cm x (W)66cm, will therefore offer a big plus for many.  Despite its compact size it still has an 18 inch stride length which will be comfortable for most average sized adults.

The ergonomic stride which incorporates a pivoting footplate system means that the pedals rotate with natural body movement and the narrow pedal spacing of 3 inches reduces stress on the hips by minimising rotation. A 21 lb flywheel and 16 levels of variable resistance provides ample challenge for most users and the movement stays smooth even at higher levels thanks to the ECB-PLUS permanent magnetic braking system and the QUIET-GLIDE super silent poly v belt system.  The frame is substantial, with a maximum user weight capacity of 136kg (21 stone).  Vision Fitness back up these features with a lifetime frame and brake warranty.

Vision X1500HR Cross Trainer ConsoleThe console is simple and easy to use, providing all the general feedback you would expect, including heart rate, watts, time, speed and calories plus the profile information for each of the 9 preset programs, all displayed on a blue backlit LCD screen. Some users might find the console to be a bit limited as there are no interactive programs like iFit live and no entertainment options like the mp3 speaker systems which can be found on a lot of the NordicTrack cross trainer range.

What Vision lack in this area however, they more than make up for in the build quality stakes as in addition to the warranty on the frame and brake they also include a 10 year parts and 5 years labour onsite warranty on all other aspects of the product.

THE PROS

  • Very compact but still with a decent stride length.
  • Great bio-mechanics.
  • Fantastic build quality and industry leading warranty.

THE CONS

  • A lack of interactive programs.
  • No entertainment facilities e.g. speakers or iPOD dock.

In summary then, if you are looking for a compact elliptical with a reasonable stride length with some excellent ergonomics and you are of average height then the X1500HR Elite could be the perfect choice.  Probably better suited to slightly more motivated individuals or those less concerned with console facilities other than general feedback, but class leading in terms of build quality and warranty at a very reasonable price.

Price: £599
Buy From:
Fitness Superstore