Esprit by Spirit EL-5 Elliptical Trainer


Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Product Description
Save money on a gym membership by getting in shape at home with the standard-sized Spirit EL-5 Elliptical Trainer. Designed to keep you motivated and to keep you moving, you'll be challenged by 20 levels of resistance and 8 total programs--including 2 heart rate-controlled programs (operated via contact sensors or optional telemetry belt). Its 30-pound flywheel weight gives extremely smooth feel, and the pedals offer three positions with twist-lock pin to vary your workout as well as a 2-degree inward slant. It also comes with large, commercial-grade transport wheels for easy storage at the end of your workout. Other features include a blue backlit exercise console, 20-inch stride length, and high-density, sweat-resistant rubber grips.

Specifications:

Resistance type: Magnetic
Resistance control: Electronic
Resistance levels: 20
Watts: 1000
Stride length: 20 inches
Heart rate monitoring: Yes
Programs: 8 total (including 2 heart rate control)
Maximum weight capacity: 350 pounds
Dimensions: 87 x 27 x 67 inches (LxWxH)
Weight: 200 pounds
Manufacturer's Warranty
Lifetime on frame and resistance brake; 3 years for parts; 1 year for labor

About Elliptical Trainers
Elliptical trainers represent the next wave of advancement in low-impact cardiovascular exercise machines and continue to grow in popularity. By simulating motions experienced through walking, stepping, cycling, and skiing, elliptical machines allow for a smooth and fluid motion while building strength in the arms and legs. Similar to the exercise position for treadmills, elliptical trainers are used by standing in an upright position while holding the handrails of the machine. With elliptical trainers, however, your feet remain in the foot pedals throughout the exercise regimen and circulate in a smooth and seamless motion, resulting in little to no impact on the knees, back, and hips.

Elliptical trainers are compatible for all ages and fitness levels and allow you to select the difficulty level through the incline and intensity settings. Additionally, elliptical trainers allow you to determine the complexity of your workout based on your needs, all while listening to music, watching television, or reading a magazine while exercising in the comfort and safety of your own home.

Although different types of elliptical trainers offer an assortment of features, many of them include an array of challenging programs, forward and reverse directional movement, EKG grip pulse handles, a lightweight portable design with easy fold-up capability, and a monitor displaying calories burned, distance, speed, time, and heart rate. Other types of exercise machines, namely treadmills and bikes, offer excellent cardiovascular exercise and muscular training for the legs in a forward-motion exercise. Elliptical trainers take this to the next level by offering an upper and lower body workout with dual motion, challenging and diverse programs, and a low-impact exercise machine that won't strain sensitive joints.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Customer Reviews
Nice machine - but support suspect.
Got a great deal from Amazon on this elliptical - and free shipping too! This is a very heavy, commercial quality I'd say, machine. Carrying it upstairs to our extra bedroom/exercise room was a real workout.

Hard to say if the box was damaged prior to or during shipping, but it arrived with a very damaged box. The machine itself looked ok. But the small parts package appeared have been damaged, opened-resealed or ? The tools that were supposed to have been provided were gone as were a couple washers & screws. I intended to use my own tools anyway and had screws in my parts bin that worked to replace those missing.

The assembly instructions would be difficult to follow for most folks. It was primarily text with only a picture or two and weren't really accurate for what was shipped. A few of the important bolts were to be tightened "as hard as you can", whatever that means. I've got tools that can exert in excess of 200 ft/lbs and I'm sure that would do some damage. But they say 90% of the squeeks are due to loose screws/bolts so I called their service number to find out what they mean by tight. All I got was a gal that knew nothing about how these are put together (I think she only scheduled service) and forwarded me to a phone number for service, got a recording, left my number and received no response. So I just cranked on the bolts and crossed my fingers and hope nothing was damaged.

I did considerable research and found the Esprit is virtually identical to the Sole (sold at Dick's) and Spirit which is found in hotel gyms (I think exclusively at Hilton). Tried out the one at Dick's, liked it and ordered this one for $hundreds less (I see the price is now [...] bucks more than mine purchased in mid-Dec).

If you don't need to move it far from the driveway where the delivery will drop it and are mechanically inclined, this is a great elliptical.