Product Description
The Horizon EX-57 elliptical gives you club-quality performance - from the smooth stride motion to the easy programmability - and recreates the feeling of running or walking without leaving home. 8 motorized resistance levels let you adjust the intensity of your workout, and the clear LCD screen displays heart rate and other key workout feedback.The EX-57 does not include the power incline feature.
| List Price: | $899.00 |
| Price: |
$499.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details |
| as of Sat, 23 Feb 2013 14:29:42 GMT ***Remember, deals price on this item for sale just for limited time*** | |
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #48157 in Sports & Outdoors
- Size: One Size
- Color: Black
- Brand: Horizon Fitness
- Model: HEP0232-00
- Released on: 2008-09-01
- Dimensions: 67.00" h x 29.00" w x 55.00" l, 162.80 pounds
Features
- Elliptical trainer with 8 electronic resistance levels and heavy-duty 14.3-pound flywheel
- 9 goal-based program options; extra-low 9.1-inch step-on height
- Non-backlit LCD display; 18-inch stride length; 275-pound capacity
- Efficient flywheel maintains pedal and arm momentum while offering smooth, quiet operation
- Measures 29 x 67 x 55 inches (W x H x D); 20-year warranty on brake
Amazon.com
Bring the gym into your home and enjoy an efficient, high-caliber workout with the Horizon EX-57 elliptical trainer, which works your legs as well as your upper body. Perfect for rigorous training routines, the EX-57 offers an eight-level electronic resistance system, along with a heavy 14-pound flywheel that maintains pedal and arm momentum while offering a smooth, quiet operation. More significantly from a user perspective, it offers nine goal-oriented programs. You can choose one of three different goals (time, distance, and calories) and one of three terrains (manual, reverse train, and hills). The crisp LCD screen, meanwhile, offers key workout feedback, helping you develop an effective training regimen.
Horizon employs a heavy-duty flywheel that provides continuous velocity, so as your feet move the pedals, the flywheel's momentum carries you through the complete motion. As a result, the trainer feels very natural and not at all choppy. Plus, the flywheel is extremely quiet, making the trainer ideal for home use. Horizon also applies a magnetic brake to the flywheel, creating more consistent resistance during a workout. And the instep-stacked flywheel design--where the flywheel sits above the pedals rather than in line with them--delivers a lower step-on height for easy access, along with a stride length that's longer, more natural, and more versatile regardless of the user, workout type, and fitness level. As an added benefit, the unit is smaller and shorter than other ellipticals, so it fits in almost any room, including low-ceiling basements.
Horizon's Ergoflow elliptical geometry is built around your body, not the machine's components. The distance between the pedals have also been narrowed to create a more natural walking motion, and the pivoting footpad imitates how your foot's position changes as you move forward. And a more natural, ergonomic movement means less stress on your knees, hips, and lowers back, so you enjoy longer workouts and faster results.
Elliptical Trainer Features:
- Resistance: Electronic
- Resistance range: 1 to 8 resistance levels
- Flywheel: 14.3-pound flywheel for fluid, quiet motion
- Step-on height: 9.8 inches
- Stride length: 18 inches
- Pedal spacing: 2.8 inches
- Screen: Non-backlit LCD (2.4 x 4.8 inches)
- Programs: 9
- Program type: Choose 1 of 3 different goals (time, distance, calories) and 1 of 3 terrains (manual, reverse train, and hills)
- Weight capacity: 275 pounds
- Dimensions: 29 x 67 x 55 inches (W x H x D)
- Weight: 163 pounds
- Warranties: Lifetime on frame; 20 years on brake; 1 year on parts and labor
About Elliptical Trainers
Elliptical trainers represent the next wave of advancement in low-impact cardiovascular exercise machines and continue to grow in popularity. By simulating motions experienced through walking, stepping, cycling, and skiing, elliptical machines allow for a smooth and fluid motion while building strength in the arms and legs. Similar to the exercise position for treadmills, elliptical trainers are used by standing in an upright position while holding the handrails of the machine. With elliptical trainers, however, your feet remain in the foot pedals throughout the exercise regimen and circulate in a smooth and seamless motion, resulting in little to no impact on the knees, back, and hips.
Elliptical trainers are compatible for all ages and fitness levels and allow you to select the difficulty level through the incline and intensity settings. Additionally, elliptical trainers allow you to determine the complexity of your workout based on your needs, all while listening to music, watching television, or reading a magazine while exercising in the comfort and safety of your own home.
Many elliptical trainers include an array of challenging programs, forward and reverse directional movement, EKG grip pulse handles, a lightweight portable design with easy fold-up capability, and a monitor displaying calories burned, distance, speed, time, and heart rate. Other types of exercise machines, namely treadmills and bikes, offer excellent cardiovascular exercise and muscular training for the legs in a forward-motion exercise. Elliptical trainers take this to the next level by offering an upper and lower body workout with dual motion, challenging and diverse programs, and a low-impact exercise machine that won't strain sensitive joints.
About Horizon Fitness
Horizon is part of Johnson Health Tech, one of the largest manufacturers of fitness equipment in the world. The company is committed to designing, engineering, and manufacturing superior products for health clubs and homes. Horizon's manufacturing facilities rank among the most sophisticated in the industry, with an intricate mix of robotics and skilled workers that maintain the highest standards of accuracy and quality. Every stage of manufacturing undergoes a testing phase, and 10 percent of Horizon's products go through a rigorous quality inspection that includes completely taking them apart and reassembling them.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
240 of 242 people found the following review helpful.
By R. Godfrey
Horizon EX-57 Review:
After a lot of research (I narrowed my decision down to the EX-57 and the Schwinn 430), I decided on the Horizon because of the warranty. Plus, I was able to try the machine out beforehand at my local Sears. I knew I wanted a front fly-wheel, since the ellipticals I've tried with rear flywheels feel wobbly. Both the Schwinn 430 and Horizon EX-57 have excellent reviews online, but the Horizon offers one year of labor versus Schwinn's 90 days, and the machine was actually a little less expensive.
Delivery:
I elected for Free Super Saver Shipping. Two business days after ordering, I received a call from the shipping company, ABF. A very polite man made a delivery appointment with me for the following week. My item arrived just five business days after ordering. On the day of delivery, ABF called to say they were in the neighborhood and would be arriving in 15-20 minutes. The delivery guy was very polite and friendly, and he carried the box inside to my living room floor. The box itself was in good condition, only a little dirty with some slight gouges in the top layer of cardboard, nothing that alarmed.
Since we have a townhouse apartment and the elliptical was going upstairs, we opened the box downstairs and carried the parts upstairs. All were in excellent cosmetic condition. We had already purchased a gym mat from Kmart at a great price - less than thirty dollars.
Assembly:
There were three or four small bags of parts that were full of grease. Keep that in mind. You will want to have some paper towels or rags handy. We just used one of the larger pieces of packing styrofoam as a tray for all the greasy parts. I even added a little WD-40 to a few of the bolts and washers during assembly, to ward off squeaks. We took inventory and there was one missing part - the "console mast boot" - a small rubber ring that goes over the opening where the mast enters the flywheel. This part would not otherwise interfere with us putting the machine together, so we continued with installation. (**More about the process of getting this part from Horizon below**). It took my mildly handy husband and me one and a half hours to assemble the elliptical, and we moved at a comfortable pace, carefully reading the directions. I had borrowed a ratchet set from a friend, but we did not need any tools other than those provided by Horizon. It was very simple to assemble.
**We could technically do without the console mast boot, but there's no way I'm letting that go, since this machine cost a small fortune for us. I called Horizon about the missing part and got an automatic response system that told me to leave a message. Next day, I got a call-back as an unknown number and screened it (mistake). I had to leave another message and did not hear back from them until the following day. However, the Horizon representative was polite and helpful and, after registering my product for me over the phone, he put in the order for the part and offered to have tracking information emailed to me. A couple of days later, I got the email with UPS tracking information for my missing part. It arrived less than one week after the elliptical. I snapped it on without having to rearrange any other parts.
Usage:
My husband is 6' tall and I am 5'2", so a comfortable stride, comfortable distance to the handle bars, and plenty of head clearance was crucial for both of us, since we have to share one machine. Our ceiling is 8', and we had to push the elliptical close to a wall instead of in the center of the room, since my husband's head was too close to the blades of the ceiling fan. I find the stride and handle bar distance perfectly comfortable. My husband said that the stride could be a little longer for him, but he is not uncomfortable on the machine. He did say, however, that someone much taller than 6'2" would probably be a little uncomfortable with the length of the stride.
The EX-57 is very quiet during use. I am able to listen to music at a normal volume, and it doesn't bother my husband in another room or downstairs. There are some small, inoffensive noises now and then, but think about this: the flywheel operates almost completely silent. If you have greased the bolts and all the parts have been tightened to the right level, then the machine won't give off any ambient noise that might drown out the occasional click of a pedal or other small sound. After having worked out on my friend's expensive Cybex, I've learned that most machines make a sound or two now and then.
Since I am a beginner at regular exercise, I started at level 1 resistance, and good thing. I was whipped after 25 minutes. My resistance will undoubtedly increase with regular use, but the EX-57 is at a stronger base resistance than some other machines I've used, including the aforementioned Cybex. So, I would counsel beginners not to get too excited about resistance levels right off the bat. Veteran gym folks should be pleased with the levels of resistance offered too.
The heart monitor may or may not be accurate. It is not so important to us. I am of a mind that most of these machines are off when it comes to that, even at the gym. If heart rate is important to you, I recommend getting a separate monitor.
The screen reads fine in indoor lighting; no worries about it not being backlit.
The cup holder is too low to be convenient while working out. You would have to slow or stop first. I just use a nearby table top.
Final Notes:
In another review, someone commented about cheap looking plastic parts, so I was on the lookout for this. After getting it all set up and using it a few times, I really think the machine looks nice, and I have no complaints about the plastic panels and pieces.
After a month of near daily use by two people, we could not be happier with our Horizon EX-57. Everyone needs to do their own research to find the right fit, but I highly recommend this elliptical.
62 of 63 people found the following review helpful.
By B. Evans
I was debating between the Schwinn 430 and the Horizon EX-57 - what really pushed me over was the warranty on the Horizon 1 year vs the 90 day Schwinn warranty.
I'm very happy with my decision and have had my EX-57 for around a month now. Delivery was fast and the driver, was professional and alerted me to a potential problem due to a torn box. Luckily nothing was wrong with the unit and I was able to put the unit together in around 2 hours. I did use ALOT of greasePermatex 81981 White Lithium Grease, 16 oz Aerosol canthat left a strange smell in the living room for around 48 hours, but I'm glad I did because there are no squeaks or any noises (and I've worked this thing out hard.)
I did have some trouble putting the hand rails on the right side (even though they were labeled correctly Left/Right) and thus the hand rails were way too far away for me. After fixing that I've been able to work out whenever I want.
I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for an elliptical and since the EX57 wasn't found at any places here in town, I tried out another Horizon elliptical in the same price point and think the quality is spot on. This machine feels gym quality.
One last thing is that this elliptical is very nice and the footprint is very small - so the machine takes up less room than I would have imagined.
66 of 68 people found the following review helpful.
By Amber Hathaway
I've had this machine for two days and I'm extremely impressed. Here's the breakdown:
Assembly - it took about an hour for me to put this together by myself. The directions were clear and simple. There was no huge amount of physical force required to put it together, except getting the machine into position (but it has wheels on the front, so it wasn't too bad). Beware, however, because some of the pieces come pre-greased so you'll want to have a rag or paper towels on hand.
Pros of Design and Use - Compared to the last machine I had, the 2 in 1 Elliptical Cross Trainer & Exercise Bike, this thing is barely audible. I can watch TV at normal volume, hold a conversation, and not disturb my roommate. It does beep every so often, but otherwise it is extremely quiet. The 18" stride length is ideal for me, and the arms are at a comfortable distance (I'm 5'4"). The footprint is very small and fits into a normal-sized living room with minimal rearranging necessary (see customer picture above). Overall the feel of the workout is very smooth and I feel very stable, even at high intensity.
Cons of Design and Use - The biggest problem is that, as others have described, the hand-grip heart rate monitor doesn't really work. It appears that the slower you're going, the more accurate it gets. For example, at normal speed (4 or 5 mph), it thinks my heart is beating 90 times a minute, when it's really significantly higher. When I slow down to less than 2mph, it recognizes my heart rate in the right neighborhood. Even so, I didn't buy this for that particular thing nor do I really miss it, but be aware that it is not very effective. Other than that, there are very few problems. The water bottle holder is a little too low for me to access it without stopping, and the stride length might be too short for people with much longer legs than I have. But these are nitpicks, and overall I'm extremely impressed and happy with this elliptical.
A Note on Delivery - If you buy this through Amazon, it will be shipped through a company called CEVA, which is not quite the same as a UPS or Fedex delivery company. CEVA will call or e-mail you when your item ships and schedule a delivery appointment which, depending on your availability and theirs, could be well before or after the delivery window provided by Amazon. You MUST be present to receive the delivery. The CEVA guys were extremely professional and brought this heavy thing up the stairs without me having to say anything. People on the forums here seem to have had very mixed experiences with CEVA, so just be aware that this delivery will differ greatly from a standard small-item delivery.
Verdict - just short of gym quality and with a couple of flaws (mainly the heart rate monitor), but relatively easy to put together and very comfortable to use. I am extremely pleased with this item and feel particularly secure with the one-year parts and labor warranty that's included. I strongly recommend this elliptical to anyone looking to go for the reliable and substantial "home gym" feel or just have a solid piece of equipment that won't break your budget.
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