Best Reviewed
Elliptical Trainers
- Best home elliptical trainer Sole E35 *Est. $1300
- Best-value elliptical trainer NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 Pro *Est. $1000
- Basic elliptical trainer Schwinn 420 *Est. $675
- Club-quality elliptical trainer Precor EFX 5.25 *Est. $3000
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- Motorized incline ramp
- Space-saving design
- Numerous workout programs
- Port for MP3 player
- Durability issues
- Mixed reviews for customer service
- Unexceptional warranty
Reviewers say the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 has excellent features for the money: power incline, iFit workouts, 24 workout programs and a port to plug in an MP3 player. It even folds up to save space. Most owners say this elliptical feels pretty solid given its size, and they appreciate the value. Professional elliptical reviewers agree, saying the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 is one of the best options under $1,000. However, owners on Sears.com report premature breakdowns and difficulty getting replacement parts. Owner-written reviews also include complaints about NordicTrack's customer service. If you have a bit more room in your budget, the Sole E35 (*Est. $1,300) is a quality machine that will stand up to regular use. If you need only a basic elliptical for occasional workouts, the Schwinn 430 (Discontinued) also gets excellent user reviews.
The most credible source for elliptical trainer reviews, TreadmillDoctor.com, gives the AudioStrider 990 a 2009 Best Buy award in the $700 to $1,000 price range. ConsumerReports.org also includes the AudioStrider 990 in its most recent test of elliptical trainers, and Wired has an interesting (although old) review. Another good review comes from fitness-industry professional Fred Waters, who runs Fitness-Equipment-Source.com. Although it doesn't match the rigor of TreadmillDoctor.com, his review includes more detail about the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990's features and performance. Owner-written reviews at Sears.com are another excellent source of information; there are enough entries there to rival the top professional reviews. There are also short entries from Fitness magazine and ConsumerGuide.com.
Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer (2011 Model)
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Schwinn 430 Elliptical Trainer [Discontinued]
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Our Sources
TreadmillDoctor.com has short reviews on a huge number of elliptical trainers. Authors Clark and Jon Stevenson are known and respected for their unbiased reviews. They award the 2009 AudioStrider 990 their top award in the $700 to $1,000 price range, calling it "one of the best values in the elliptical marketplace." The AudioStrider 990 earns high scores for quality and value.
Review: NordicTrack AudioStrider 990, Clark and Jon Stevenson
2. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
ConsumerReports.org tests 18 ellipticals in its latest review, including the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990. The elliptical is rated on ergonomics, exercise range, ease of use, construction and user safety. Full details are available to subscribers.
Review: Elliptical Trainers, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
3. Wired MagazineDetails/Subscribe
This older review from Wired is still useful. Terrence Russell gives the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 a rating of four out of 10, saying, "The only thing worth exercising on the Audio Strider is its return policy." Russell's main complaints are that the elliptical is noisy and feels cheap.
Review: NordicTrack Audio Strider 990, Terrence Russell, Feb. 14, 2007
Fitness-Equipment-Source.com has decent reviews of elliptical trainers, including the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990. Author Fred Waters, a former vice president of marketing for Smooth Fitness, says the 990 "is one of the better values" for its price. However, he cautions that it is suitable for moderate use only, and that the user weight limit, listed as 325 pounds by NordicTrack, should probably be 240 pounds or less.
Review: NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 Elliptical Trainer Review, Fred Waters
5. Sears.com
Sears.com has nearly 150 owner-written reviews of the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 elliptical trainer. The overall score is 3.5 out of five stars, and owners say that although they like the AudioStrider 990's solid feel and features, they're unimpressed by its build and Icon's customer service.
Review: NordicTrack Elliptical, AudioStrider 990, Contributors to Sears.com
6. Fitness MagazineDetails/Subscribe
The Arizona Republic reprints this article from the January issue of Fitness magazine. Editors pick the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 as the best "splurge" for your home gym, but the review covers only the trainer's features and contains no balanced analysis.
Review: Fitting in Fitness: Workout Gear to Suit Your Budget, Editors of Fitness magazine, Jan. 17, 2009
ConsumerGuide.com rates ellipticals on value, performance, ease of use, features and overall quality. There's little information on how models are evaluated, though. The NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 gets a good overall rating. Reviewers like the features, programs and low cost, but wish the noise level was lower and the warranty was better.
Review: Expert Review NordicTrack AudioStrider 990, Editors of ConsumerGuide.com, Feb. 4, 2008
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