Review: Horizon Fitness EX-57 Elliptical Trainer
Pros
Terrain options, quiet and smooth operation, sturdy, non-slip pedals, forward and reverse motion, warranty
Cons
14 pound flywheel, plastic covering, 18-inch stride length, complaints about noise, front drive, only 8 resistance levels
Overall Rating |
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The EX-57 is one of the entry-level ellipticals from Horizon Fitness. It has a 14-pound flywheel, 8 electronic resistance levels, and 9 goal based programs. Users can set goals based on calories, distance, or time, and choose a certain type of terrain including hills, manual, or reverse train. The stride length is 18-inches, and the maximum user capacity is 275 pounds. It has magnetic brake resistance and a front-drive design. Dimensions: 55″L x 29″W x 67″H; weight 163 pounds. The EX-57 is backed by a lifetime warranty on the frame, 20 years for the brake, and 1-year for parts.
The Positives
Various terrain. With different terrains, each level of resistance can be intensified. Plus, it adds some variety to your workouts.
Quiet and smooth. The pedal action is quiet and smooth, though a few did complain that of a clanking noise.
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.
- Amber Hathaway
Sturdy. No real complaints from customers regarding wobbling. The frame is pretty solid, and no vibrations were felt even at higher resistance levels.
Non-slip pedals. They are oversized and have a textured surface to help the feet stay in place.
Electromagnetic resistance. While the eddy current resistance found in Schwinn ellipticals is more advanced, this kind adjusts with the press of a button. The downside however is that it’s a bit noisy when adjusted.
Forward and reverse motion. This helps add some variety to your workout, as going in reverse does work different muscles and gives you a chance to recover.
Warranty. 1 year on parts trumps what some other brands offer in a similar price range.
Price. For an elliptical, under $500 is considered cheap.
The Negatives
Front drive. Rear drive designs tend to require less maintenance and perform better overall.
14-pound flywheel. I don’t consider this to be “heavy-duty”, so the EX-57 falls short in this area. The higher quality models typically have on that is over 20 pounds so the elliptical.
8 resistance levels. The Schwinn 420 is $50 more, but has 16 resistance levels. That is quite a difference considering they are in a similar price range.
18-inch stride length. While this length may be sufficient for many people under 6’0, it won’t provide a natural stride for most people over this height.
Non-backlit LCD display. LED screens are easier to read from all angles. A backlit display could come in handy in rooms without sufficient lighting.
Plastic covering. Not the highest quality or most durable material to use for covering an elliptical.
I know the price is very good for an elliptical, but the cheap plastic coverings are a let down.
- Bob
Complaints of noise. The most common complaint was that it made a clanking or squeaking noise. Some say however that watching TV or listening to music does help drown it out. Why this noise occurs is not really known, and the majority of reviews said it was quiet. So it could just depend on which one you get.
About the 10th time I used this machine, it started to make a loud clanging noise on the left side. Now there’s a clanging noise on the right side, too.
- Bird That Flew
I have one major issue with this machine: the left pedal starts to squeak after 8-10 minutes of use. I contacted Horizon’s support and they have been excellent about sending me replacements pedals and other parts. But no matter what I try, the squeak sound returns.
- Steve
Summary
As with most ellipticals in the $500 price range, the EX-57 has a mix of good and bad. It’s solid, provides a good workout, and is relatively inexpensive. However, there were numerous complaints about the noise it makes. The 14 pound flywheel is a bit light, and some of the parts are a bit cheap. The stride length also doesn’t really allow a lot of people to achieve a comfortable position.
The EX-57 is a good option for those who are under 5’10″, don’t mind some noise, and have a budget of $500 or so. Overall, it seems to be a solid elliptical, but it doesn’t come without it’s flaws.
