Review of Smooth CE7.4 - Elliptical Trainer (reviews, ergonomic, purchase)
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The Smooth CE7.4 Elliptical Trainer is built to last, with a welded steel frame that will support a user weight up to 350 lbs. This model retails for $3,297, but I was able to purchase it on sale for only $1,500, and I doubt I could find a better one for this amount of money. The Smooth CE7.4 elliptical trainer comes with an impressive manufacturer's warranty. There is a lifetime warranty on both the frame and the magnetic braking system, a 5-year warranty on parts and electronics, and a 2-year warranty covering in-home labor. It has a heavy-duty flywheel, which provides for a smooth "ride." Some other elliptical trainers I tried out seemed very jerky. Additionally, it is relatively quiet and quickly responds to changes I make in programs or resistance levels during an exercise session, which wasn't necessarily the case with some of the other ellipticals under consideration.
The moving handlebars on the Smooth CE7.4 allow me to get both an upper body and a lower body workout at the same time. The large foot pedals pivot and are ergonomically designed to minimize strain. The stride length of this particular Smooth model is fixed at 21 inches, which works well for my husband and me since we are both tall. An adjustable-stride model would be better if the users are significantly different in height and, therefore, stride length.
This machine features a dot matrix LED display that can be switched between English and metric units. The display provides the user with information on course profiles, rpm, speed, watts, time, distance, calories, resistance level, metabolic equivalents, pulse, and heart rate and target heart rate. There are thirteen programs available--manual, fitness test, fat burning, target heart rate, interval, strength, 3 Goal (time, distance, and calories), MET (metabolic equivalents), and 5 programs that the user customizes for himself. The heart rate monitor features a chest strap and is wireless. The system is designed to adjust the resistance level as the heart rate changes, based on the heart rate target you enter if you choose to use this feature. This elliptical trainer offers 16 resistance levels. There is an IPod docking station, complete with speakers, in front of the LED display, a 3-speed, adjustable, built-in fan at the top of the display, and there is a water bottle holder--a must-have feature for me.
As might be expected, this elliptical trainer has a fairly large footprint. It is 83 inches long, 27 inches wide, and 67 inches high, so the consumer needs to consider if he has the room to accommodate it. It does have wheels on the bottom, which makes it fairly easy to move from one room to another if the user wishes.
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