As a person for whom hip replacement surgery is inevitable, this elliptical trainer is a huge blessing. Precor's EFX 5.25 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer is a sophisticated and attractive example of next generation home fitness equipment. It's so well built that it may be the last piece of fitness equipment we will ever need. Its attractive design is appealing and I find that I don't mind looking at it as it dominates the space I've dedicated to exercising.
The delivery of this machine involved a freight carrier. Those with non-traditional driveways like mine (low hanging branches and a gravel drive, making it impossible for the semi or a pallet jack to navigate) will need to plan in advance. As the freight company called a day before delivery, I was able to make sure that a pick-up truck was available. This allowed the driver to easily transfer the box from the back of the semi into the back of the pickup. After positioning the cargo closer to the house with the pickup, it was a simple matter of opening the box and carrying the equipment into the house piece by piece. It would be best if you had 2 strong and able people to carry the body of the Crosstrainer as it does not come with wheels and must be carried in one piece. (The freight weight of this equipment was over 240 pounds.)
After reading the enclosed instructions, my husband felt that assembling the machine wouldn't be a major challenge. It took him and our 15 year old daughter about 2 hours to put it together. While a single (strong) person could likely do the job, having a second available to hold things in place while they are bolted together makes the job much easier and faster. Precor furnishes the tools required for assembly (see the uploaded photo under "customer images") but we found that you also really need a socket wrench with an extension. It should be noted that one should not plug this equipment into a power strip or extension cord. The manual specifically requires a "properly grounded outlet" otherwise the user runs the risk of voiding the warranty. This machine draws 120V and should be properly installed most importantly for the sake of safety.
(Incidentally, before deciding to assemble the machine ourselves, I did contact Precor as well as their designated installer for our area to schedule an appointment. The representatives of both companies were extremely helpful and professional and I had no reservations about using their assistance had it been necessary.)
The 5.25 is one of the smaller in-home Crosstrainers that Precor engineers. It's extremely well equipped with moving handlebars, heart rate sensors, adjustable ramp (15 - 25 degrees) and adjustable tension/resistance. With a stride of 18.5 to 20 inches, the Precor 5.25 is best suited for those of us of smaller stature. At 5'5", it fits me very comfortably while my husband who is 6'3" does not get a "full" stride experience on this model. (Incidentally, the Precor 5.33 has a stride of 21 to 23 inches while the Precor 5.37's stride ranges from 21 to 24.5 inches, perhaps making these models better suited for those who have longer legs.)
Without regurgitating every bell and whistle already described by the manufacturer on the product page, let me note a few of the features that I find to be of benefit. There are 2 programmable user profiles that allow you to track your progress and record your settings. The ramp is self-adjusting and does so very smoothly and naturally so that it enhances your workout experience rather than interrupting it. There are several different programs to choose from so that you can benefit from a variety of challenging (low impact) elliptical workouts without endangering "problem" areas such as weak or disfigured hips, knees etc... You can also hop on and do a "quick start" and manually input your desired settings.
The actual performance of the machine is a dream. All movement is so well balanced and fluid the machine actually feels like an extension of your body. Nothing jerks or stutters, and there are no unpleasant noises coming from the depths of who-knows-where to punctuate your workout. I will note, however, that when my husband uses the machine (he's a big, well-formed guy, 225 lbs+) the wheels do squeak just a little in the track. The manual indicates that this is normal and to be expected but it doesn't happen when I'm working out. According to the manual, the "equipment has been durability tested to 250 lbs".
Without doubt, this is one of the most flexible and technologically advanced pieces of fitness equipment I've ever encountered. While my own experience is limited to the industrial equipment at my local gym, cheap models offered in the "free" gym at hotels and those shown on the floor at "big box" department stores, I am never-the-less extremely impressed by the quality, versatility and "smart" design of Precor's 5.25 Crosstrainer.
Get more detail about Precor EFX 5.25 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer.
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