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Horizon fitness 7.0 AE elliptical vs Nordictrack C5.5

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Apr 9, 2021 9:00:00 AM

Horizon fitness 7.0 AE elliptical vs Nordictrack C5.5

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness 7.0 AE elliptical and the Nordictrack C5.5 including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of the NordicTrack C5.5 elliptical

Overview of the Nordictrack C5.5 

 
The C5.5 which has been stripped of most of the bells and whistles and is a simple front-drive elliptical. Its main features are a 7kg flywheel, 18" stride and 5" backlit display. The full list of features reads as follows:
 
  • 5" Backlit Display
  • iFit Bluetooth - 1 Years Membership Included
  • Integrated Tablet Holder
  • Two 2” Speakers
  • Front Drive
  • 18" Manual-Adjustable Stride
  • 7kg. Effective Flywheel
  • 5-Position Manual Adjustable Ramp
  • 20 Digital Resistance Levels
  • EKG Pulse Grip Heart Rate Monitor
  • Max User Weight 125kg
  • SoftTouch™ Upper-Body Grips
  • Water Bottle Holder
  • Oversized, Cushioned Pedals
  • Front-mounted Transport Wheels
  • 20 Workout Apps
  • Product Weight 79kg
  • Boxed Weight 93kg
  • Assembled Dimensions - 169L x 63W x 169H cm
  • Boxed Dimensions - 178L x 37W x 77H cm
  • Warranty - 5-Year Frame Warranty, 2-Year Parts and Labour Warranty, subject to registration within 28 days of purchase.
This is the elliptical to get of you don't want any fancy features and minimize the amount of money you have to table for a Nordictrack elliptical. 

Pros of the NordicTrack C5.5

 
Pros of the C5.5 are:
 
  • Price
The main advantage of the Nordictrack C5.5 is the price. It is currently the cheapest front-drive elliptical from Nordictrack which you can get from them.
 

Cons of the NordicTrack C5.5

 
The cons of the NordicTrack C 5.5 are:
 
  • No touch screen
  • No incline 
  • Short stride
 
The C5.5 has been kept simple on most of its features to keep the cost of manufacturing low. You will get no touch screen or big screen to run your entertainment on. This machine also has no incline functions and the stride is relatively short compared to other elliptical models from NordicTrack with 18". 
 

Alternatives to the NordicTrack C5.5

 
The alternatives to the C5.5 are:
 
The Nordictrack 7.5 is the big brother of the C5.5. With the minimal extra investment, you get a 20% incline and a bigger flywheel. If you are considering a front-drive elliptical I personally think that the C7.5 is the better value for money choice as it is just slightly more expensive with two significant feature upgrades. 
 
The NordicTrack SE3i is the rear-drive version of the C5.5. You will get a bigger flywheel and therefore an elliptical which will last for longer. In return, this machine will take up more space in your home or gym. These are some trade-offs to be considered. 
 
The concept 2 model d is a reliable rowing machine that has been in active service all over the world. If you want to do your cardio while seated and like rowing, this is the machine to get. It will come in at less than 1000, but not have big multimedia options. The onboard computer does everything you need.
 
The Rogue echo bike is the ultimate machine for the home gym. It is compact, cost-efficient, and can still give you a challenging workout. You will not get a lot of multimedia, but the sturdiest airbike around at a price point of around 700.
 

Summary for the Nordictrack C5.5

 
The Nordictrack C5.5 is a front-drive elliptical at the lowest price point which Nordictrack offers for the UK. Personally I would go for the C7.5 instead, as it is so little extra investment for a great upgrade. 
 

Overview and review of the Horizon fitness 7.0 AE elliptical

This is an overview of the Horizon fitness AE 7.0 elliptical including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was first published in Which Horizon fitness elliptical to get?

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Overview of the 7.0 AE elliptical $999

 
The 7.0 AE elliptical is the best value for money option in the Horizon elliptical lineup. This is mainly due to the most modern console out of all the Horizon ellipticals. The size and layout are more than enough for home gym use. In a commercial setting, you might want to bet on something with a bigger frame and different warranty options. The full specifications are:
 
Frame Type: Six Star Non-folding
Flywheel: 23
Stride Length: 20
Incline Range:20 Levels 0-100%
Resistance Range: Magnetic, 20 levels
Step on height (inches): 10 3/4"
Extras: Built-in Speakers, Fan, Tablet rack, Water bottle holder
Electrical requirements: 120V - 60Hz
Weight: 194lbs
Assembled dimensions: 76" x 24" x 65.5"
Max user weight: 325 lbs.
Warranty - Frame: Lifetime
Warranty - Brake: Lifetime
Warranty - Flywheel: 1 year
Warranty - Parts: 3 year
Warranty - Labor: 1 year
 

Pros of the 7.0 AE elliptical

 
The pros of the 7.0 AE elliptical are:
 
  • Price
  • Compact design
  • Console
 
This is a great elliptical for under $1000 to put into your home. The updates to the console to make it YouTube friendly and more compatible with the devices you already own is a big step forward for Horizon fitness. We hopefully see more of that in their treadmill and bike products to catch up to Peloton in terms of gamification of workouts. This is the Best Buy from Horizon in my opinion if you are looking to get an elliptical for your home.
 

Cons of the 7.0 AE elliptical

 
The cons of the 7.0 AE elliptical are:
 
  • It’s an elliptical
  • Not best for commercial use
 
There is not a lot I can find wrong with the 7.0 AE for an elliptical except ... that it is elliptical. I personally prefer something that can really hit hard for my cardio like an Airbike or even the BlazePod system. Ellipticals are great and easy on you but just not the preferred choice for cardio. But, if you are into a good workout that does not put you at risk of injury, this is it.
 
For commercial use, the 7.0 AE frame might not be the best. Go a bit upmarket for $1500 upwards to get an elliptical that is not foldable and has a bit of weight on it so it can take some of the weirder crowd that comes with running a big commercial gym.
 

Alternatives to the 7.0 AE elliptical

 
Alternatives to the Horizon 7.0 AE elliptical are:
 
 
The Horizon Evolve 3 is bigger than the 7.0 AE and foldable. If you are invested in the idea of a foldable elliptical this is the better choice even though the console is not as up-to-date.
 
The Nordictrack SE7i is currently the low-end option for entering the elliptical market with this brand. This can be an option when you want something fast and Horizon is out of stock.
 
The Rogue Echo Bike is in my opinion the best solution on the market for someone who does not want to pay a leg and an arm and have intense cardio workouts on a small footprint. The Rogue Echo Bike is high quality at an affordable price. It will kick your butt I’m a good way. The copycat lower-cost competitor of the Rogue Echo bike is the TITAN fan bike.
 

Conclusion for the 7.0 AE elliptical

 
If you like Horizon fitness as a brand and want an elliptical for your home, the 7.0 AE is the best choice for bang for your buck as long as you have the space to place it in.

Topics: Cardio, Horizon, Elliptical