Let’s look at customer reviews from Amazon

194 customers reviewed the at the time of writing with an average rating of four stars. 83 people gave it five stars and 64 rated it as four stars.

What did customers like about this elliptical trainer? Quotes from customers: ‘This is a fairly compact, noiseless and easy-to-assemble machine and it does its job… a great purchase for a small space or for someone who wants to be able to stow away exercise equipment easily.’ and ‘I had mixed feelings about purchasing this because of its size and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get a good cardio on it. Boy was I wrong. When I workout on this my heart rate ranges from 145-160 which is exactly where I want it to be. It’s very sturdy but does take a little getting used to as far as balancing on it but you can get a great workout from it.’ Also ‘Very easy to assemble and does a good job for a low price. Some people may have a bit of trouble keeping their balance, but I had no difficulty after a few spins on this — I think trying to maintain balance only enhances the effects of the workout.’

What didn’t people like?

The range of motion is smaller than on a full sized elliptical trainer and it takes a while to get used to balancing without arm rests.

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Conclusion

Cheap and good value for money. Gives a good aerobic workout and compact enough to fit into a closet or under a desk.

The Schwinn 460 includes a total of 16 programs including eleven profiles which have been out together by the Nautilus Institute to make use of the variable stride lengths in your workouts for great results. Workouts can also be tracked for two different users. Heart rate monitoring is via hand grips or by using a chest strap and wireless technology.

The display is backlit and gives you a host of information including course profile, interval time, distance, speed, resistance level and calories burned. A cooling fan, water bottle holder, transport wheels and transport handle are also included.

What do user of the Schwinn 460 Variable Stride Elliptical Trainer think?

54 customers registered reviews at Amazon of which 31 gave it five stars and eleven four stars. Customers liked the variable stride feature. Quote ‘Without making any adjustments in the machine itself, you can vary your stride from 2 inches to 26 inches. This translates to anyone in your family (of adolescent to adult age) to exercise on this piece of fitness equipment without cumbersome settings or having to get off of the machine to make adjustments.’ and ‘Overall I am very happy with this elliptical and consider it to be just as effective as the $4000 elliptical at my health club. I am 6′ 1″ and my girlfriend is 5′ 4″ and we both felt very comfortable with the feel of the machine. The stroke feels very ergonomic and it is great operating in a forward and backward motion which is very helpful when you get real tired, you can take a mini break by walking backwards for a minute or two while still working your muscles and keeping your heart rate up.’

Another customer said ‘Overall I would recommend this machine highly! I’ve been using it everyday adding more and more time to my workout and have gotten up to 30 minutes everyday and feel great. If you are having any doubts about purchasing this machine DON’T!!’

The variable stride does take some getting used to as the foot plates are independent so you can get out of synch at first until you are used to it. Here’s what one customer said The variable stride is very different and takes a little bit to get used to. Hold on to those handle bars, some people who use it have said they felt like they were about to fall off of it. It really isn’t that bad, but get a good hold of the handle bars until you feel comfortable with the variable stride. It took me about five minutes to get used to it, some need a bit longer.’

Buy the Schwinn 460 Variable Stride Elliptical Trainer from Amazon now!

In conclusion we think the Schwinn 460 Variable Stride Elliptical Trainer is good value for money and suitable for the whole family. However the variable stride length can take some getting used to as it has a slightly different feel than the usual elliptical exercise equipment.

What do actual customers of the Confidence Fitness Elliptical Cross Trainer think?

104 customers reviewed this trainer with 34 giving it five stars, 34 giving it four stars and the rest three stars or less. So there are some people very satisfied with their purchase but quite a few not so satisfied. Many people were a little wary of buying this cross trainer as it was cheap but most were pleased with their purchase. It is easy to put together but needs the bolts tightened regularly with a wrench as they tend to work lose with a lot of use.
What was the best things about this machine? The machine is quiet in use and does give you a good workout. The computer is basic but works adequately. For the price it works as adevertised but is a basic machine.

Find out more about the Confidence Fitness Elliptical Cross Trainer from Amazon now!

What didn’t customers like?

The machine leans slightly forward so the toes can get jammed against the foot pedals. Customers found that this is easily rectified by placing a piece of 2×4 wood under the front end. Although there were many people who have used the Confidence Fitness Elliptical Cross Trainer for a couple of years a few people found that it broke down in a few months of heavy use.

Conclusion

The Confidence Fitness Elliptical Cross Trainer is a very basic machine that is cheap with mixed reviews as to its durability. If your budget doesn’t run to a more expensive machine this could work for you as it does give a good workout. Be aware of the limitations before you purchase it however.

One major way that the Precor Elliptical Crosstrainer differs from cheaper machines is in the adjustable cross ramps. They can be moved from 15 to 25 degrees with the push of a button and allow you to work on different lower body muscle groups. Lower positions will work all the muscle groups but switch to a steeper angle and you’ll workout the calves, quads and glutes. The stride length is also adjustable from eighteen and a half to twenty inches which is fine for most people but if you are over six feet tall you may be better with the Precor 5.33 with a stride length of 21-23″ or the Precor 5.37 with stride length 21-24.5″. There are sixteen resistance levels to ensure you can customise your workout to your fitness level and motion is both forward and backwards.

SmartRate is designed to instantly give you a display of your heart rate, essential for getting the most from your cardio workouts by keeping within your heart rate zone. The handles move to give your upper body an efficient workout or use the handrails if you prefer. You can use 2 different ID’s to store workouts and preferences and a Quickstart for one button operation.

What did customers who bought the Precor EFX 5.25 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer think?

All the customers who entered reviews at Amazon gave this elliptical trainer five stars. Although Precor recommend their assembly service customers successfully assembled the machine themselves in about 2 hours. Users particularly liked the two programmable ID’s, the Quickstart and the smoothly adjusting ramp. The motion is smooth and natural and very well liked. The quality is excellent and the machine sturdy and easy to use. Quote from one customer ‘Without doubt, this is one of the most flexible and technologically advanced pieces of fitness equipment I’ve ever encountered.’ The machine is quiet and clearly well made and durable. The only minor negatives were that the water bottle shelf didn’t hold the bottle securely and that the book holder blocked the display.  It is designed to look good and fits into most people homes.

Find out more about the Precor EFX 5.25 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer from Amazon now!

Conclusion

Although not as cheap as some other elliptical trainers you get what you pay for! The Precor EFX 5.25 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer is a quality machine that is smooth and quiet in use, has a range of features that make it one of the best elliptical trainers on the market.

The Schwinn Elliptical Trainer has twelve pre-set programs, sixteen resistance levels, six profile programs for individual users and a fitness test. There is also a custom workout. Resistance levels can easily be changed with the quick start function and the eighteen inch stride feels natural. The handlebars and footpads are comfortable and there is also a heart rate monitor built into the handles. The maximum weight capacity is 300 pounds and it is very stable.

This elliptical trainer is designed to be comfortable and for the motion to feel natural. The flywheel is weighted at the perimeter to give a smooth action without any jerky motion. A magazine rack completes the setup. You will need a silicone spray for lubrication.

Fifty five customers published a review at Amazon and thirty two of them gave it 5 stars. Fourteen gave it four stars and only 8 less than this. So clearly it’s a popular and well liked machine.

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What do the customers who bought the Schwinn 420 Elliptical Trainer think?

Overall this elliptical machine was found to be sturdy, well made and easy to put together, although best with 2 people. Users liked the 18″ stride and felt that the trainer felt natural and comfortable to use. A 300 pound, 5′10″ user found it easily accommodated their height and was sturdy enough to take their weight. The machine is very quiet in use but a 5′0″ user found the handles only just reachable, anyone shorter than this may have a problem.

Setting up the customised program seems a little tricky with many customers completely at a loss on how to do it. The instruction book doesn’t seem to be very helpful!

Quote from one customer ‘Final score, solid 5 stars across the board, both for machine and purchase through amazon and free shipping, looking forward to many years of good use.’ and ‘I’m a big guy (295lbs) and this thing feels extremely solid. My wife commented that it feels more solid than the equipment she uses at the gym.’

Overall the Schwinn 420 Elliptical Trainer is a solid, good quality machine and good value at just under $600. Although the customised program is hard to set up most users found that the other programs were enough so it isn’t really needed.