Horizon Fitness EX-59 Elliptical Trainer

by Horizon Fitness

• SixStar Certified™ elliptical platform featuring the six key elements needed to deliver the smoothest
• 10 levels of electronic resistance and a heavy-duty 14.3-pound flywheel provide a smooth ride; low step-on height
• Q-Factor: ZEROgap™ overlapping pedal motion; MP3 port with built-in Sonic Surround™ speakers
• 3 orange LED display windows; 10 programming options; 3 target and 3 workout programs plus 1 custom workout
• User Capacity: 275 pounds

Product Description

Amazon.com

Enjoy the benefits of a smooth, natural stride with the SIXstar Certified EX-59 Elliptical Trainer. The Sonic Surround speakers with MP3 compatibility, COOLfit fitness fan, and rubberized footpads make workouts more enjoyable while 10 different programming options take your fitness to the next level.

The EX-59 console features 10 program options with on-the-fly adjustments.

SIXStar Certification
Derived from extensive biomechanics research and user panel testing, SIXstar Certification is a unique combination of the six key elements needed to deliver the smoothest, most natural elliptical feel available.

• ZEROgap provides ideal pedal placement with zero distance between them to eliminate stress on hips and back
• StraightUP body posture keeps your body upright for maximum comfort, minimal fatigue, and faster results
• Low, 10-inch step-on height to make it safer and easier to get on and off this elliptical
• Optimal handlebar spacing puts grips within ideal reach and distance for both small and large-framed users
• The 18-inch FLATellipse foot path provides a more natural foot path, mimicking walking and running motions while minimizing fatigue
• The large drive pulley ratio increases the angular momentum of the elliptical so you get the smoothest, most efficient motion possible

10 Program Options
3 targets plus 3 workouts, including hills, weight loss and reverse train, and 1 additional custom workout, add variety and intensity to your workout, while on-the-fly changes let you mix it up at any time.

Sonic Surround Speakers
In addition to two quality speakers, the console includes an MP3 input for playing your favorite workout music, and a headphone output for privacy.

Frame Design
All-access. The front-drive design and low step-on height combine to make even first-time elliptical users more comfortable and confident.

Drive System
Dependable performance. A heavy-duty flywheel and magnetic brake resistance give Horizon ellipticals smooth, quiet and consistent starts and stops.

Stride and Pedal System
A natural advantage. The long stride and pivoting foot plates accurately match your natural motion for more comfort and less recovery time.

The long stride and pivoting foot plates accurately match your natural motion for more comfort and less recovery time.

Control

• Heavy-duty, 14.3-pound flywheel provides smooth, fluid movement
• Magnetic brake resistance is quiet and consistent, with a 20-year brake warranty
• 10 electronic resistance levels let you adjust the intensity of your workout

Convenience

• Rear access and low pedal height for easy entry and exit
• 3 orange LED windows display heart rate and other key workout feedback
• Sonic Surround speakers with MP3 player input makes it easy to exercise to your favorite workout playlist; includes headphone output
• COOLfit fitness fan keeps you cool as you workout
• 10 program options with on-the-fly changes help add variety to your routine

Features:

• New SIXstar Certified platform
• 10-inch SUREstep easy access
• 14.3-lb flywheel
• Magnetic brake resistance
• 1-10 electronic resistance range
• 18" FLATellipse foot path
• ComfortFITfootpads
• 10 program options with on-the-fly changes
• Contact grips
• Sonic Surround speakers with MP3 input and headphone output
• COOLfitfitness fan
• Warranties: lifetime frame, 20-year brake, 1-year parts and labor
• 275-lb. user capacity

Specifications:

Optimal handlebar spacing puts grips within ideal reach and distance for both small and large-framed users.

• Resistance Range: 1-10, electronic
• Flywheel: 14.3 pounds
• Elevation Range: N/A
• Stride Length: 18-inch foot path
• Pivoting Foot Plate: Yes
• Footpad: ComfortFIT footpads
• Console Feedback: 3 orange LED windows
• User Programs: 10 program options with 3 targets (time, distance, calorie) and 4 workouts (hills, weight loss, reverse train, custom)
• Speakers: Sonic Surround speakers with MP3 compatibility
• Fan: COOLfit fitness fan
• Weight Capacity: 275 pounds
• Dimensions Assembled: 73 by 22 by 65 inches (L x W x H)
• Dimensions Boxed: 52 by 30 by 19 inches (L x W x H)

About Horizon Fitness
Horizon is part of Johnson Health Tech, one of the largest manufacturers of fitness equipment in the world. They are 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 has 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.

Product Description

Glide your way to fitness with the Horizon Fitness EX-59 Elliptical. This high-tech machine better mimics actual walking and running motions while minimizing fatigue from high impact. Together with the MP3 compatibility and the extensive workout monitoring you'll have an easy time maintaining a regimen and gauging your success. Derived from in-depth biomechanical research Weight capacity: 275 pounds Product weight: 154 pounds ZEROgap overlapping pedal motion reduces stress on back and hips Sonic Surround speakers with MP3 compatibility Johnson Health specializes in the design and manufacture of state-of-the-art elliptical machines recumbent bicycles and treadmills. Their innovative designs include highly customizable workouts data tracking and storing technology and compatibility with MP3 players including speakers. Many of their products feature several LED displays to better inform the user of progress heart rate and calories burned. Only through heart rate monitoring can one really track what kind of workout they are getting so these functions are present on nearly all of their products. And of course nearly all of their designs include preprogrammed workouts where applicable. This includes things like manual setting hill climb cardio burn and endurance challenges.

Product Details

Product Manual [PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 73 x 22 x 65 inches ; 154 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 185 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B003TNLU72
• Item model number: HEP0349-00
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (215 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,952 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #6 in Sports & Outdoors > Exercise & Fitness > Cardio Training > Elliptical Trainers

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

254 of 256 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just got it and I love it! January 13, 2011

By Lady

This is totally worth buying! The quality is very good and it's easy to put together. I put it together mostly by myself and I'm a 21yr old female with average strength and it wasn't too hard. I did have trouble tightening a couple of bolts, but that was the hardest part, and mostly just because of the position of the bolt. Most of the pieces are together already, the pieces that need greasing were already greased. It comes with the tools you need to put it together, and the hardware is separated into what you need for each step, so there's no digging around looking for the right part.

As far as the elliptical itself, it's awesome.
*It has an audio input jack and comes with a cord for it, and you can either listen to music on its speakers or plug your headphones into the elliptical itself.
*There's a spot were you can set your ipod or mp3 player and it also has a little book stand at the bottom of the console display.
*There's a water bottle holder and it has two smaller side holders where you can set other things like a cell phone or something, which is nice.
*It has a power cord, it doesn't take batteries like some do.
*It has a fan that has 3 different settings and an option for changing what you're looking at on the screen, calories burned or distance and time or heart rate. It has a spot that tells you your rate in MPH and also your resistance setting.
*It measures the distance in miles and starts at 0.00 goes up by .01 miles at a time.
*It has some preset programs, but I haven't used them, I've just done it as manual.
*It has 2 options for changing the resistance level: it has + and - buttons, but it also has numbers 1-10 on the sides so you can change resistance quickly.
*It has a really smooth motion, you don't feel like you're bouncing that much when you run on it and it's super quiet! It's not wobbly and feels really stable and sturdy. The foot pad is pretty big too, which is nice because you have room to find which spot is most comfortable.

The only thing I don't love about it is that when you start using it, it beeps pretty loudly. It also beeps when it's shutting off, and I think when you press the buttons. It's not a big problem, but it can get annoying when you're trying to be quiet.

I think that about sums it up, and if I come across any problems, I'll update this later.

198 of 204 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This. Thing. Is. Awesome. August 29, 2011

By sashasana

Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm sitting here with sore arms and legs, and a tired butt. I've had this wonderful, horrible thing for one day shy of two weeks, and it's been amazing. I've only missed two days of workouts. I find myself looking forward to getting home from work so I can use the damn thing. I've been burning over 600 calories per session, because I am awesome and amazing at everything. In less than two weeks, I have gone from unforgivable couch potato to a titan of exercise. I am like Zeus on this thing. A Lady Zeus. There is a long line of available and handsome bachelors outside my door at this moment. (That last part is untrue.)

So, like I said, I have used the EX-59 about a dozen times, compared to my husband who has used it zero times and prefers burritos. He is impossible to impress, and even he thinks it's a great machine - from what he has been able to observe. It's whisper quiet, has a decent stride for someone of my height (5'5") and feels pretty sturdy. The user interface is basic, but user friendly. It's clearly not a gym quality machine, but it's close.

UPDATE:
It's been a little over a month, and my love affair with the EX-59 continues. My husband was sure it was "a future expensive coat rack," but I am victorious and shout "IN YO' *FACE*" whenever I use the elliptical, whether he is home or not. I have not had the police called on me yet. Since I refuse to weigh myself, I can only estimate that in the one month + four days I've been using this machine I have probably dropped between 7 and 12 pounds. The speaker, while a bit "meh" (it's a speaker attached to an entry level piece of cardio equipment, right?) is a huge bonus even if most audiophiles will be like, "AUGH MY EARS." When you're a 33 year old woman sweating it out to Ke$ha, you really have no cred to stand on.

Here's what I don't get. Why is there a headphone jack on this thing? There's a male headphone plug so you can use the speakers with your ipod, but a separate female headphone plug so you can... listen with headphones? Why not just plug directly in to your ipod? That's like a gorilla wearing a gorilla suit. Maybe I just don't get it.

221 of 229 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Economy Elliptical October 25, 2011

By Fates Puppet

Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't review many products on Amazon, but I felt the need to do so for this product. I've been very happy with my purchase, and I feel I can answer a lot of the questions I had when I was looking for what to buy. I've had this just over a month, and if anything changes in the next 6 months to a year I'll update this review to reflect that.

My overall experience with this purchase was excellent. It shipped the second day after I purchased it and arrived a couple of days later. A note on the shipping method; this came by drop truck(that's the smaller delivery trucks with the elevator thing on the back), and the delivery guy was nice enough to cart the box into my house. It is VERY heavy if you're not used to lifting things, and the weight is not evenly distributed. Have some help ready or do what I did and open the box in one room and carry the pieces to the room you are assembling in.

Moving this thing around after assembly is aided by built in 'wheels' on the front stabilizer.(those black round bits are the wheels) However, the assembled unit is roughly 28 to 30 inches wide. That's wider than the average interior door. Add in the length, and turning corners could be very tricky. I built mine in my exercise room without any space issues.

The unit comes with all of the hardware on a clearly labeled sheet of cardboard and each page of the book corresponds to a section on that board. I cut mine into separate sections so I would only need to carry what I needed for each stage into the room. This cut down on clutter, and the instructions cut down on confusion. They also include the screwdriver and wrenches you'll need, so you don't even need to bring any tools.

There are still a couple of tricky stages which would more easily be completed with a second set of hands, but it is doable alone if you take your time and have patience. Running the wires for the console was a bit tricky, as was assembling the end caps on the arms. All of the other parts went on without any problems.

Once it's all together it's time to try it out! I kept my first few sessions short to make sure no bolts went flying and so I wouldn't get dumped onto the floor if I missed a step. The console worked great, and the 3 speed fan(4 if you include 'off') was a nice addition. My only gripe is that the console is VERY primitive. It does have built in speakers and a supplied cord to connect to the headphone out on your MP3 player of choice. That's nice, but I would pass on those in exchange for some more programming options.

This thing has 10 resistance levels, and level 10 is almost too tight to turn. Level 1 was good enough for me even though I've used ones at my local gym for years. Once you get used to the motion and what muscles are getting the most work you can easily up the resistance a few stages for a nice sweaty workout.

Below are my pros and cons, followed by some notes I think are important.

PROS:
- VERY quiet - this thing makes almost no noise at all. I can easily hear my television without turning the sound up from the normal setting.
- Space Efficient - this doesn't take up near the room of almost every other model I looked at in stores(check the specs in the description, it's tiny)
- Easy Assembly - add in the excellent instructions and well designed packaging, and this was easier to put together than some of those shelves you get at Walmart
- Built in Speakers - the speakers work great, they are basically headphones and use the MP3 player's built in volume control
- No Batteries - A lot of at home machines require batteries for the console. This uses a real electrical plug.

CONS:
- Primitive Console - it gets the job done, but there are NO settings besides resistance and a few simple programs. If you're used to a gym level machine with weights, age, etc then this might not be for you. The speed indicator also only shows speed in half mph increments. For example, I'm going 5.6 but if I slow up some it stays on 5.6 and then may flicker down to 5.1(or up to 6.1 if I speed up a little)
- No On/Off switch - you have to plug this in each time you want to use it and unplug when done. It does eventually go to sleep, but having a physical on/off would be great
- Need Grease - This needs lithium grease every month(at least) to keep it from squeaking too much. Not too terrible, but would've been nice to know ahead of time.
- Stability - This is a small unit, which is great. However, since it has a slim profile it can get to wobbling if you're really rocking the speed. All of the weight is at the bottom so it won't fall, but you will need some extra room just in case. Also, make sure to have a level base to set it on.

NOTES:
- Get a Mat - If you plan to have this in a carpeted room, get one of the exercise mats. They aren't overly expensive, and they'll soak up any sweat that falls off. A small towel can do the same job, but there isn't a ton of space.
- Motion Differences - If you use a big gym quality machine a lot, the motion on this is different enough to be noticeable on your first use. I really felt this in my quadriceps the first week despite using my gym's machine all the time. This goes away, but don't be shocked if you have to attune your muscles to this
- Lean Forward Design - I did a lot of reading on elliptical design, and the experts were dead on about this type of elliptical 'forcing' you to lean forward. It's hard to explain, but you feel as if you're leaning into the machine as you exercise instead of standing straight up. This can cause some folks discomfort, so please be aware.
- Assembly tips - there are several parts that need grease on assembly. These parts are pre-greased and bagged for shipment. I suggest turning those 'bags' inside out and wiping the grease back onto the parts before assembly. This helps cut down on squeaking.
- 2 headphone jacks - there are 2 headphone plug spots. The one on top is harder to see while on the machine, but it is where you plug your MP3 player into to use the speakers. The second one on the bottom is for plugging headphones into. This bypasses the speakers without the need to unplug your MP3 player.(took me a minute to realize why the sound didn't work my first go around ;-
- Height in Use - I'm 6'1 and have standard ceilings around 7.5 feet high. I also have a dome lighting fixture right over this thing and I don't come close to hitting my head. However, I'm probably at the upper limit on height. Much more and the stride would be too short and middle handles(for heart rate) would be too far away.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have in the comments, and I'll try to answer!