Wading through all of the options for fitness equipment can be frustrating and it can be hard to make the decision that fits you with ease and comfort. However, sometimes a product comes along that surprises consumers and reviewers alike with decent quality and a lower cost. The EX-59-02 Elliptical Trainer produced by Horizon Fitness is a piece of fitness equipment that does just that. Let’s take a look at this model and see what separates it from the herd and makes it one of the best choices in the lower price range.
The plus sides
The EX-59-02 has a very nice small footprint and it is also a very light machine, weighing in at only about 170 lbs. This machine is perfect for an apartment or a small house, and it won’t make you feel like it’s looming over the room that it gets placed in. Even at a lower cost, this model still has a decent amount of resistance levels; this helps to make sure your workout does not get stale. It’s a front drive placement system with the flywheel, and it has a smooth, quiet ride. In addition, the EX-59-02 has some of the little perks of a higher end machine like built in speakers and a holder for your water bottle, plus this machine has a reading rack included. No more getting bored and distracted during your workout!
What we don’t like
The biggest downside of the EX-59-02 Elliptical Trainer is the short stride. It only brings an 18 inch stride to the table and it is not at all adjustable, so if you are tall or if there are several different sizes of people in your home that all want to work out, this machine would not be a great fit for your household.The console is very very basic, there is nothing really outstanding about it; however for the cost we really aren’t expecting anything too fancy. Also, the heart rate monitor is not always accurate which can be an issue with many people.One other small gripe about this particular unit is the fact that it is lacking a power switch, so if you want it completely down it does have to be unplugged from the wall. This, of course won’t be an issue for all users though, so it’s not very high on our list of downsides.
A little more information
This model only takes up only a small amount of space, measuring 68x22x64 inches once fully assembled and it is also very light weighing in at only about 170 lbs. It has a simple easy assembly process with most people getting it put together in a fairly short amount of time; usually just a couple of hours. Even so, it is not a flimsy machine and the warranty helps support this. Horizon Fitness offers lifetime protection on the frame, 1 year on the parts, and 1 year on labor. So, while this isn’t the longest warranty on the market, it’s still a pretty good guarantee on this little trainer. Horizon has been in business since 1999, so they are certainly not a company that we would list as fly by night.The EX-59-02 comes with 16 levels of resistance and 10 preset programs and this helps to keep it in the running for a quality machine with a smaller price tag. It has a 14.3 lb flywheel, which can actually be a little on the small side for these types of machines, but this also helps contribute to its lighter weight.It also has the standard upper body workout with not only the moving set of handlebars but also the standard stationary set that keeps track of your heart rate in order to make your workout more effective.
Final thoughts
This elliptical machine is a really good purchase for a smaller person. It is not expensive, but the shorter stride and the smaller frame would make it unsuitable for a taller or heavier person. The EX-59-02 Elliptical Trainer can support up to 275 lbs safely, so that part shouldn’t be too much of an issue for many users. And, since the main issues when choosing an elliptical are more often the smoothness of the ride and the quietness when using it, this small, light version definitely still lives up to some pretty strong expectations. I would definitely suggest this unit as a good starter piece though and it’s certainly a good option for you if you want a small, quality piece of fitness equipment that won’t cost you very much to get started on.