Customer Reviews

Horizon Fitness EX-67 Elliptical Trainer

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was torn between getting a treadmill or an elliptical but treadmills tend to be noisier and although I would like to run, have had bilateral arthroscopic knee surgeries to remove a plica (in each knee). I have found it difficult to strengthen my legs with leg curls and I cannot get the cardio I want with just walking. I cannot run because my knees are stilling healing.

Because I live in a multi-level apartment complex, I was mindful of noise and a treadmill became out of the question. I did a lot of research into finding an elliptical in my price range. After finding that the EX-57 did not have a backlight display, I opted for the EX-67.

I have had it three days (so this is a preliminary review). My husband put it together in less than 2 hours. The instructions were fairly clear. Anyone experiencing clicking sounds is encouraged, as per the manual, to get some bike grease.

Pros: So far, I have experienced great cardio - such as you would achieve going for a jog. I am also getting leg strengthening WITHOUT the pain. Big bonus. My husband could not wait to get on it and has been using it religiously, as I have. It is compact compared to many machines you see in the gym. This machine is very quiet thanks to the magnetic resistance. Lifetime warranty on frame.

Cons: Unlike gym and more expensive models, does not have the ability to enter weight, height, age etc for more accurate calorie burn result. Cannot save your distance and progress into a profile (but you can create a spreadsheet or copy one of the pages that comes in the manual). I find the heart rate monitor is very slow for me, but my husband doesn't seem to have an issue - so mixed views there.

My particular machine came with a defect in the welding on the bottom, (and in order to get it rectified, I would have to pay a lot in the shipping back to the manufacturer to get a new frame so I am settling with what I have), which is probably a rare occurrance - but this is a review, so it is noted. I do not expect this is a typical defect as I have done my research and in this price range, this model, the guarantees/warranties, functions and stability of the machine seem to be about as good as you will get.

I was hesitant to go with a brand I was not familiar with as the gyms I used to attend were more likely to have Proform or NordicTrack, but the research I did for the personal home machines did not yield good results on these particular brands and the warranties weren't that great. I would recommend this machine or the Horizon EX-77, noting that the EX-77 is the upgraded model of this one.

The EX-67 would have got 5 stars if my particular model did not have a defect.

No more excuses for the weather stopping me from exercising!

This was my first "big" fitness purchase. I have to say I am 110% satisfied. This elliptical gives me...and my husband a great workout every time each of us use it. I couldn't be happier!

I had one of the first in home elipticals and they've come quite a long way. This one was easy to put together - I did it by myself in a couple of hours. It has nice features and a smooth "ride". The only complaint I have is that the lowest level of resistance isn't very low so it's pretty hard for someone not in top shape and hard to take it easy without slowing to a snails pace. Otherwise, I like it and would recommend it.

Horizon Fitness EX-67 Elliptical Trainer

Beautifully designed and constructed Horizon EX-67 Elliptical Trainer - It will give me healthy and fitness as the days goes by. Everything is OK, except one thing. This machine will generate a "Click" sound every cycle I step. It may happen from the cycling assembly. But I can't fix it.

I bought my Horizon EX-67 Elliptical approximately two and a half years ago. I have to say, for most of that time, I was very satisfied with it. I had to do some routine maintenance -- lubing and tightening mostly, to rectify the periodic increase in squeeking/clicking -- but otherwise it held up well to rigorous use (FYI, I'm an average size male). It really is a sturdy machine that feels a lot like the Precors in the gym.

Up to about four months ago, I would have rated it at 4 or 4.5 out of 5 stars. But most recently, it started to really break down. Because of what I later determined to be two missing washers in one of the internal assemblies, a part called a "flange bearing" had almost entirely worn down over the two years of use, with a resulting pile of metal shavings to show for it. My calls to Horizon customer service were not fruitful and I was left in the position of having to do the repairs myself with parts I could acquire at Home Depot / Lowes. After about a month of trial and error, fixing all of the various worn flanges/washers, I finally got the machine to work another two months. But just this week, it locked up again and I completely broke off one of the pedal arms (i.e. I wrenched apart one of the welds) attempting to use the elliptical. After that final straw, I am willing to declare it dead and move on -- I think I am at the point of diminishing returns in terms of repairs.

So it's been a great elliptical, but it's a little frustrating to spend $800 and only have it last 2 years. I'm not saying don't buy this elliptical, but be forewarned that it's an investment that might not last all that long, even with periodic maintenance.

I purchased this machine several weeks ago from amazon, although I encountered a few issues, Horizon was responsive in getting the machine serviced to correct a problem with one of the pedal arms. At first the machine made few squirks and noises, but most if not all were resolved with a touch of machine lubricant and a tightening or loosening a bit some of the moving parts making these sounds. So far so good and this machine will get you breaking a nice sweat and physical exercise, but keep in mind that this machine, as all ellipticals, will require some regular maintenance depending on the frequency of use, for purposes of lubricating and making sure all moving parts are sufficiently tight and in the right place.

I have a similar system and after about a year the rear axle on one of the little wheels just snaps. This thing is 1/4" steel rod and it just snaps, I could have gone head over heals and broke something. I called and after about a 40min hold I finally spoke to some customer service person who claims this is normal and not covered under warranty and would not transfer me to anyone but suggested I write them a letter - Oh great customer service there. Do a Google search on Horizon and lawsuits, kind of interesting they obviously know they have a problem. Anyone who tells you a 1/4" steel rod just snaps is giving you a load of bull.

I have always found that the greatest calorie burn per minute comes from elliptical machines. This one is perfect in that sense. Like other reviewers stated this machine provides a good workout, even at low resistance levels. My wife, who is in much better shape than I, can only handle level one (out of 10) at this time. Pros and Cons?

I'll start with the Cons:

1.) Some of the screws did not fit completely into their designated pre-drilled holes. I had to add washers to create a tight fit. And because all of the joints are designed to be covered with plastic molded parts, the plastic doesn't fit correctly over the ones where I had to add washers. However, it is a minor cosmetic issue because the joints are not in a place where a user could hit it while riding.

2.) The packaging and instructions can be confusing and incomplete. Some of the parts come in numbered bags, but the bags are not sequential. Plastic washers are thrown in with metal washers and are similar sizes, but the directions don't always call out which washer goes where. The plastic molded parts appear similar and are not numbered. You have to use your best judgment. Not that this is difficult to figure out, but it added 15-20 minutes of trial and error.

3.) After two or three sessions on the machine, there was a horrible grinding noise coming out of the wheel area. Upon visual inspection, nothing seemed to be out of whack. However, during assembly, I never checked some of the parts which came pre-assembled. You must remember to tighten all of these nuts and bolts. I checked two bolts that were put in by the factory and they were 3-4 rotations from being tight. Once they were tight, the noise disappeared.

4.) The machine wobbles side-to-side when riding, even for smaller users. If you are used to health club quality machines or more expensive elliptical machines which are more stable, this can be distracting. Once you get used to it, it's hardly noticeable if you watch TV during your workouts.

5.) The display is not great. The larger text reminds me of Atari 2600 graphics. Not deal killer, but not clean looking.

6.) When I ride for 30 minutes, the readout says that I only burned 210 calories. In my experience, similar time/resistance workouts result in 400-500 calorie burns according to the more expensive health club quality machines that calculate user's weight along with time/resistance.

7.) The heart rate sensors on the stationary grips take up to a minute to accurately sense heart rate. I also have a Horizon treadmill and this is also the case. If you are transitioning from health club quality equipment which can give you a read within seconds, this is distracting.

Pros:

1.) Great workout. No question.

2.) When all of the bolts are tight, the machine is whisper quiet.

3.) Smaller than most elliptical machines. Fits into a small office.

4.) On my Horizon treadmill, the cup holders are shallow and angled and therefore, useless. The elliptical has deep, flat center cup holder.

5.) Generous stride and you never feel out of control like tread climber machines.

6.) Large foot pedals. I have size 11.5 4EEEE shoes and they fit with room to spare.

Bottom line: I got this on Black Friday and paid $550 with free shipping. Every review by fitness pros say that this model is one of the best elliptical machines under $1000 for the features and the quality of build, so I jumped at it. So far, so good.

Horizon has always seemed like a much more substantial brand than the ones sold by Sears, Walmart, Etc. (Pro-form, Wieder, Gold's Gym, Etc.) I've used several machines from these manufacturers over the years and they usually end up with dust on them after 6 months. I've had the Horizon Treadmill for 2+ years and it still gets used 3-4 times a week and still functions as new.

Assembly:
Although it took several hours, the instructions were fairly clear and the diagrams were helpful.

Usage:
We've had it for several days now and are impressed. Quiet operation (in our living room and it doesn't disturb other things that are going on) and solid feel (not cheap like many ellipticals in the lower price range). We also appreciate how it fits in a normal height room.

The EX-67 provides a good workout and the user interface is easy to use.

Overall, for the price, this was well worth our $ because of the good workout and practical nature of machine.

I was amazed how quickly I received this item. CEVA called way before the expected delivery date and offered me delivery the next day between noon and 5:00. I was expecting to hang around all afternoon only to have them show up near the end of the time frame, but they showed up a little after noon. My husband is pretty handy so he had it put together very quickly, with no issues besides a slightly bent plastic part. He used his own tools so I can't say much about the tools provided. The resistance at Level 1 is pretty tight. At the gym I use a Precor routinely at level 5/6 so I was surprised at how tough the workout was on the Horizon at Level 1. I had to slow my pace down and could really feel it in my thighs. I guess that's a good thing. It's really quiet, I was able to watch TV on normal volume. I only gave it four stars because the machine is wobbly. My husband thinks it's because we have it on thick padding and carpeting, with an exercise mat on top. He's going to place a board under the unit to see if that helps. I'm also used to the heavy machines at the gym that don't budge, so this may just be what home units are like. All-in-all, I'm happy with it after the first workout.