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Horizon fitness 7.0 AE elliptical vs EX-59

Written by Pascal Landshoeft | Mar 21, 2021 4:00:00 PM

Horizon fitness 7.0 AE elliptical vs EX-59

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness 7.0 AE elliptical and the Horizon EX-59 including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of the Horizon fitness EX-59 elliptical

This is an overview of the Horizon fitness EX-59 elliptical including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was first published in Which Horizon fitness elliptical to get?

For the most up-to-date information and asking direct questions, you can follow me on Instagram.

Overview of the EX-59 elliptical $699

 
The Horizon EX-59 is a high-quality elliptical for moderate use at home. The dimensions are kept as small as possible for an elliptical with a flywheel and the pedals are very close to the ground. This makes it a good choice for anyone who wants to work out at home, does not want to make a lot of noise, and will not go crazy in their workouts. If you like something that provides a more challenging workout or better entertainment options during your workout then you might want to opt for a different elliptical.
 
Frame Type: Six Star Non-Folding
Flywheel: 14.3
Stride Length: 18 inches
Incline Range: N/A
Resistance Range: Magnetic, 10 levels
Step on height (inches): 10 3/4"
Extras: Built-in Speakers, Tablet rack, USB Charging, Bottle holder
Electrical requirements: 110 Volt / 220 Volt
Weight: 145lbs.
Assembled dimensions:74"x25"x64.5"
Max user weight: 300 lbs.
Warranty - Frame: Lifetime
Warranty - Brake: 1 year
Warranty - Flywheel: N/A
Warranty - Parts: 1 year
Warranty - Labor: 1 year
 

Pros of the EX-59 elliptical

 
The pros of the EX-59 elliptical are
 
  • Easy on the joints
  • Compact for an elliptical
  • Low price tag
  • Handles
 
The EX 59 is designed with ease of use in mind rather than chasing personal records and pushing the envelope. Therefore the stride is shorter and the pedals have been moved closer together while sitting close to the ground. This makes it a good machine for anyone who wants to be easy on the joints and simulate a jog on an elliptical. If you want to run long distances you might opt for something else.
 
Ellipticals with long stride and big flywheels can take up quite a bit of space in the home compared to bikes or treadmills. Horizon Fitness tries to minimize the footprint of this machine by keeping it compact which makes it better suited for use at home. A professional gym might want to upgrade to the Evolve series to compensate for more miles being put on the machine.
 
Another reason that makes this elliptical attractive for moderate home gym users is the price tag that falls way below $1000. There is not a lot to be scoffed at for a full machine at $699. There are cheaper alternatives when not using a machine but most indoor cycles and treadmills that are worth their salt start at $500.
 
The handles are helpful if you do not feel confident enough to go for long times without holding onto something. If you still feel like you can walk comfortably without using something to hold on to a walking treadmill might be a great alternative as they are easier to store under a bed or couch.
 

Cons of the EX-59 elliptical

 
The cons of the EX-59 elliptical are:
 
  • Space requirements
  • Small frame and weight
  • Console
 
For a machine that is aimed at lower intensities and home use, the EX-59 still takes up a bit of space. Especially the fact that you can not store it away easily like a tower, that can be hung on the wall, or a walking treadmill or Total gym, which can be stored under a bed or sofa, makes it a less attractive option for the occasional home activities.
 
The smaller frame and weight are good when you’ve not go hard at the machine. If you expect to go all out or a lot of heavy abuse in a commercial gym, then you might want to look into the Evolve series instead which is bigger and heavier.
 
The console on the EX-59 covers the basics of navigating the in-built programs, but not more. It also has no good surface to put down a tablet or bigger phone to look at while you are exercising. In times of Peloton and follow along with YouTube videos this is not up to scratch. Still, an understandable choice in the lower price ranges from a Horizon production perspective. Here Horizon might even make the console smaller for the programs to gain space for the user‘s own device.
 

Alternatives to the EX-59 elliptical

 
Alternatives to Horizon EX-59 are:
 
 
The Horizon 7.0 AE elliptical is one of the recent facelifts to the consoles of Horizon fitness. This makes it compatible with a wider range of devices and you can also do follow-along classes by watching at the screen. It is slightly bigger and more expensive than the EX-59 but I would recommend it to anyone over the EX-59 who is willing to make their budget stretch to $999.
 
The Horizon T101 is the smallest treadmill you can get from Horizon at the lowest price. If you prefer to jog or walk and want to burn more calories per minute, this is the better choice. The drawback is that if you need support to walk or run the T101 does not really provide a lot.
 
The Nordictrack SE7i is the cheapest elliptical you can get from Nordictrack. It compares better to the Evolve series from Horizon but might be an alternative if you want something fast and Horizon is out of stock.
 
The Rogue Echo Bike is the Ultimate Choice for serious home gym warriors who want to go hard on a small footprint. It is a well-built air bike that is especially well suited to High-intensity interval training. If you want to hit hard on the same budget as the EX-59 the Rogue Echo bike is your choice.
 
The TITAN fan bike is the lower-priced copycat of the Rogue Echo bike. The main differences are the bigger wheels and the price. If you want to build an entire garage gym on a budget TITAN is a good choice.
 

Conclusion for the EX-59 elliptical

 
The EX-59 is a great elliptical if you love exercising on an elliptical, have a smaller budget, and do not want to go crazy with it. I personally think that a walking treadmill is a better choice for people who still can walk and jog without support as it can be stored better. If you need lumbar support for your exercises, go for the Horizon R series instead.

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?

For the most up to date information and asking direct questions you can follow me on Instagram.

 

 

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.