Only Exercise Machine I've Ever Bought That Didn't Become a Coat Rack!
Written: Apr 04 '04 (Updated Apr 04 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Non-impact; gentle on joints; perfect for apartments; accommodates higher weight than most machines; fun!
Cons: Inaccurate heart rate monitor; bad design of cupholder; changing piston setting could be easier.
The Bottom Line: Buying the Gazelle Freestyle Elite is the best money I've ever spent on a piece of exercise equipment! Easy to use, inexpensive, fun, and I'm seeing results.
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| susiepooh's Full Review: Fitness Quest Tony Little's Gazelle Freestyle Elit... |
I purchased the Gazelle Freestyle Elite in January 2003 and absolutely love it! Mine is a refurbished model from fitnessquest.com for about $100 cheaper than a new model. They do not advertise the refurbished one, but if you do a search for the word "refurbished" on their site, it will come up. The refurbished model only has a 90 day warranty as opposed to a year's warranty for a new one (although I understand this may have changed since I bought it over a year ago - do check with them for the current warranty info).
The box weighs about 80 pounds, but my husband was able to get it up to our second floor apartment with a luggage cart. The instructions state that all assembly tools are included, but you do need a screwdriver. The parts are very well marked as to what they are (so you can follow along with the instructions) and they even give you extra pieces of some of them, which was a nice surprise. It took the two of us about 1-1/2 hours to assemble, but would have taken a shorter amount of time if we hadn't put one major piece on backwards and had to start over. Printed instructions are included, and the video also has assembly instructions. Between the printed version and the video, it was easy to understand. Helpful troubleshooting information is also on the video, such as how to handle squeaks during use.
The Gazelle Elite does fold up for storage, but I have never done so. I believe that if you put away an exercise machine, you won't use it. So I keep it out in the open. I've read a number of reviews that say it takes up too much room, but compared to other exercise machines, it really doesn't. The actual footprint of the machine is approximately 3 foot long and 3 foot wide. You will need extra room in front and back when using it, but I have mine positioned between two closet doors and make sure they are closed when I want to use it. It's not difficult to find the room for it.
The Gazelle Elite has 2 power pistons that can be changed to increase the resistance. The "storage position" is also known as the "aerobic position" and is the one I use exclusively. There is a cotter pin that keeps the piston in the position you choose, and they claim that it is very easy to change from one position to the next. I find the cotter pin very difficult to pry out of there and not something I would want to do very often. You don't have a lot of leverage because the bar is in your way and the natural tendency is to not want to force it and break it. But since I prefer to keep it in the aerobic position, this is not a big deal to me.
The platforms where you feet go are very large. My husband wears a size 14 shoe and fits on there with no problem. He does complain that his foot often shifts forward on it when going very fast. I do not go that fast, and I do not have this problem.
The weight limit for the Gazelle Elite is 350 pounds. I do have a friend who owns one and is 400 pounds and has no problem. She called FitnessQuest and they said they could not guarantee it at that weight, but it should be no problem. It hasn't been. I am 250 pounds and my husband was 325 when we purchased it, and we have felt the machine is very sturdy. I have never felt unsafe on it.
A heart rate monitor is attached, but I find it inaccurate. I own a Polar heart rate monitor that I trust much more, and it gives very different rates than the Gazelle Elite does. There is also a display of how many minutes you've been working out, your speed, distance and calories burned.
The machine does squeak, as I've heard others say in reviews. We followed the troubleshooting information about what to loosen or tighten, where to apply petroleum jelly, and it reduced the squeaking significantly. There is still some squeaking and/or vibration from the power piston area and where the cable attaches to the top of the machine, but they are not too bothersome and I ignore them. The machine is very quiet in terms of not rocking on the floor and can be used very late at night. I live above my landlord and I have never heard a complaint from them about it (and I know they complained to the previous tenant about their treadmill).
A cupholder is included that can be attached to either side of the Gazelle. I do not like the cupholder because of the severe angle at which it attaches. I do not like waterbottles (like the one included) and prefer a glass of water, and you cannot fill the glass very much because the angle and the motion of the machine will spill the water. This is a minor annoyance though. There is also an extra slot in the cupholder for a remote control, and I can clip my cordless phone on the side of it as well.
An exercise video is included, but I have never used it. I prefer to work at my own pace.
I have owned many exercise machines over the years and every single one of them has become a coat rack in a very short amount of time. I absolutely love my Gazelle Freestyle Elite and consistently have used it at least 3 times a week for over a year now. I have raved about it so much to my friends that 3 of them have purchased them and are also very happy with them. I also bought it because I have chronic knee, back and foot pain and wanted something that was non-impact and gentle. I have no problem with the Gazelle. It did initially hurt my knees when I started, but I realized it was because I was looking down at my feet to watch the motion, and that caused my knees to move in an unnatural way. If I look straight ahead and watch TV, I never have knee pain. I also find that sometimes if I'm on it too long, I get some foot cramping. If I stop for a second and just bend and flex my foot for a moment, it loosens up. My husband does not have this problem, so it might just be me.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
susiepooh
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 1 member
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