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 Horizon EX-59

Best Elliptical Machines Under $1000
Top Elliptical Trainers for under $1000
Reports directly from our consumers to you!
 		Schwinn 470
2015 Update  Our Choices for over $1,000: 
#1 Precor EFX 835 Elliptical Crosstrainer  #2 Sole E35)
2015 Update.  Consumer Reports (CR) ranked the Horizon Fitness EX59 as the second best Elliptical trainer under $1,000 with the Schwinn 470 as number one.  The Schwinn is $100 more (as of 8/12/15) so you have to decide if the higher overall rating is worth the extra $100. For some reason, CR doesn't rank Sole any more. 

Under $1,000: Our Top Pick = Sole E25  @ $979.99
(We own the  Sole E35)

Second Choices:
Horizon Fitness EX59-02 Elliptical - Was $999.00 Now $699.99
&
 Schwinn 470 Elliptical Trainer Now $799.00

Elliptical Trainer  Brand Summary 
 
December 15, 2012: We started our search with the 2013 Consumer Reports "Buyers Guide."  No elliptical machines were listed so next we checked the January 2013 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.  Again, none were listed in the index!  We should have started with Amazon.com....

Save $700 on the Sole E25 Elliptical plus FREE Shipping


These are the Top Rated Elliptical Training Machines under $1,000 at Amazon.com

OK, lets try Amazon.com and see what "the crowd" likes the best since this relies on many to select "best sellers."  We checked this list of Amazon.com's Best Sellers in Elliptical Training Machines and below is a summary of the top five we like that include a flywheel and arms, items we consider necessary for a good, stable machine.
The Top Selling Elliptical Training Machines for $1,000 or less at Amazon.com
#1
Stamina In-Motion Elliptical Trainer
  4 out of 5 stars

#2 
3.6 out of 5 stars
#3
 
3.6 out of 5 stars
#4 
 Schwinn A40 Elliptical Machine
4.0 out of 5 stars


#5

3.8 out of 5 stars

Next we checked ConsumerReports.org to see how the machines from Amazon stacked up with their picks.  The highest rated elliptical trainers for $1,000 or less in their latest survey are the AFG 3.1AE with a score of 72 , Schwinn 450 with a 67 rating, Nautilus E514 with a 64 rating and Kettler RIVO-Programmable  with a 58 rating. For more expensive machines, see our "2012 Best Elliptical Machines." 

We purchased the Sole E35 from Amazon.com on January 9, 2012 with free delivery.  It came in a few days. We had the delivery guys bring it around the back and put it in our exercise room through a sliding door.  Other places charge extra for inside delivery but the guys were very pleased with a $20 (two $10 bills) tip and thanked us over and over. We allowed several hours for assembly while watching sports on TV so we would not be rushed. 
     It went together without a hitch but we are handy with tools. After eleven months of use about 20 times a month, we could not be happier with our choice.  The biggest surprise is how QUIET it is.  We could barely hear our TV at full volume with our old treadmill while this is nearly silent while in use. You can workout while people sleep in other rooms and not have the machine wake them up. 
      We also recommend a Pedestal Fan & an Equipment Mat.  The only maintenance we do is dusting and towel cleaning of sweat. Occasionally we wipe it down with Lysol wipes to keep it fresh. If the E35 is unavailable, then we would consider the new for 2013 Sole E25 and Sole E95.
New 2015 Model

What is nice about Amazon.com (note 1) is FREE delivery.  Some of these weigh well over 200 lbs so this saves money and your back!  Some places will deliver to the curb for free, charge $50 to put it inside your house and up to $200 to bring it up stairs.  Make sure you get this figured out BEFORE you order!  If you have stairs to climb, consider "Treadmill Doctor Elliptical Installation and Assembly" for $199.  It sounds like they will haul it up the stairs and assemble it for you for the same price some places charge to carry the box of parts up the stairs without assembly.

Brands:                                                                         TOP OF PAGE
Icon Health and Fitness:  The original NordicTrack went bankrupt some years ago and Icon bought the name.  You can find NordicTrack at Sears. Icon also builds Epic (sold at Costco to make it appear they are not heavily discounting the Reebok brand) ProForm (Sold at Sears and Sports Authority), Reebok (sold at Costco) and Schwinn elliptical trainers.  Icon products are also found at Wal-Mart and Dicks Sporting Goods.   Most elliptical review sites say they create "innovative products with numerous bells and whistles" but their shortfalls (in both elliptical trainers and treadmills) are quality components.  Buying an extended warranty is a good idea if you plan on heavy use.  The better brands offer 3 to 10 years on parts.  Our top rated Precor EFX 5.33 offers lifetime on frame and welds with 10 years on "parts and wear items" with one year on labor.   If you look closely, some of the Schwinn models (Schwinn 431 and Schwinn 460) only offer 90 days parts for wear on parts.  Your shoes might last longer running on pavement! 

Precor was established in 1980.  It is the most expensive brand but we feel you get what you pay for.  "Precor has distinguished itself as a worldwide industry leader, providing state-of-the-art fitness equipment to health clubs, hotels, spas, fitness centers, and private homes all over the world. The company is proud of their hard-won reputation for producing fitness equipment that's easy for people of all abilities to use and durable enough to withstand years of use. The same experience and commitment to quality that goes into all of their commercial equipment also goes into the creation and manufacture of our home models."

Sole, Xterra and Esprit/Spirit are all made in China by the same parent company--Dyaco in headquartered in Taiwan with a US office in Jonesboro AR. Sole is mainly sold online and at Sears and Dicks Sporting Goods. Xterra has a different dealer network including some of the warehouse stores like Costco. Esprit and Xterra both have models similar to the Sole E35.



 Note 1: If you find our reviews helpful and decide to buy from Amazon.com, then please use our product links so we get a commission.
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