The E1 prides itself at being ‘biomechanically correct’ – but does that mean it’s the correct choice for you? Read our Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Machine Review to find out!
Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Features
- Steel frame offers increased stability and sturdy function
- Patented center drive design
- Fine tune your workout with 17 resistance levels and 12 different programs
- 21″ stride length and 275lb weight capacity
- Pedals designed to reduce hip fatigue
- Easy to read LCD display screen
- Designed for easy transport and storage
- Low step-up height
Best Fitness (part of the Body Solid range) are not widely available through online stores, so we were unable to gather ratings from a wide range of sources, but a look at the extensive reviews on Amazon tells it’s own story. With 93% of customers giving the Best Fitness E1 a 4 or 5 star review, it’s clear that the folks who do buy one of these end up loving it. It had less critical reviews than most any other elliptical we have looked at before. We some up all the pros the cons in our summary of reviews below (and don’t worry – it’s mostly pros).
Good Quality Elliptical Trainer
Whilst not being quite as big and sturdy as a model you might find in a high end gym, the Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Machine is still pretty solid and feels like it’s been properly put together. It’s definitely a professional piece of home exercise equipment and with a fairly high weight capacity (275lbs) and maximum stride length of 21″, so you should feel secure that it will handle most families elliptical needs – even if you are an intense exerciser.
It’s built from a steel frame which is the reason it can offer these generous maximum stride and weight, but it’s also designed in a way to increase smooth operation and protect your body. Best Fitness are also very proud of how the E1 is ‘biometrically correct’ with it’s patented technology. They are right to be proud, as the design that has gone into the aspect of the elliptical machine is very impressive indeed.
With a centre drive design, the biomechanic design means that the curve of the elliptical (meaning the path your leg draws as it exercises) matches the natural movement of your leg. This makes for a more comfortable and rewarding session, and protects against knee and leg niggles (technical term) developing over time. It’s the way all elliptical machines seem to be going, so this model was probably a little ahead of the game.
Easy to Assemble
The exercise machine arrives in a big cardboard box, so make sure to have it delivered as close to where you are planning to set it up as possible. The base is the heaviest part of so you should arrange to have a friend help you when the package is delivered.
The assembly is not difficult, so that’s a big relief. The E1 comes with fairly easy to follow instructions, although if you have absolutely no experience with anything like this then I would recommend you have a handy friend with you (although they will probably tell you there was no need for them to be there at all!). Everything you need to assemble the elliptical machine is included in the box with it, so you won’t need any extra screwdrivers or anything like that. Our advice is to make sure you screw the nuts in as tight as you can – if the nuts are even a little bit loose the E1 can tend to make a lot of noise when you use it. But if you get them good and tight you’ll find it a nice quiet time.
Clear, Bright LCD Display
The display is clear and makes it easy to choose between programs and track your vitals as you exercise: including time, speed, distance and how many calories you are likely to have burned. It even turns itself on and off as you start or stop using the elliptical. It’s a neat little trick that makes things easier, but also works to save energy. You can’t ‘forget’ to turn it off. Pretty clever, eh?
Easy to Move and Store
The unit has two large wheels at one end to make it easy to move around, so you can quickly move it in and out of storage when you want to use it and then put it away again. It’s 51” long when not in use, and you should allow for at least 68” when you are using it.
All in all, whilst the E1 isn’t the newest, coolest looking elliptical machine on the market now, it is still a reliable and trustworthy machine. You work out on this, and you will get results!
What About the Cons?
In all honesty, there appear to be very little in the way of cons for this elliptical machine. One customer had a fault in her machine and was having trouble with customer support not returning her calls. Another customer had a little issue connecting the wires in part of the installation, but these weren’t problems the other 93% of the customers had, so we are pretty sure they are just one-offs, which could happen with any fitness equipment.
About the Company
Best Fitness is brought to you by Body Solid, a leading manufacturer and top-quality fitness equipment for commercial and for home use. With an emphasis on building products from the best quality materials, Body Solid have grown steadily over the last 25 years. The Best Fitness range is designed to provide quality, affordable home gym equipment.