Horizon fitness Comfort R bike vs Assault air runner

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness comfort R recumbent bike and the Assault air runner including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of the Assault air runner

The Assault Air runner comes in at $3699. In this article you will learn more about the product itself, its Pros and cons and alternatives you might want to consider. This article has originally been published in the overview "Which conditioning equipment to buy from Rogue".

Overview of the Assault Air runner

The assault air runner is stake on the treadmill which is free of an electrical motor and highly portable. The air assault runner will be propelled by your own bodyweight. This means that it will be easier for you to accelerate and break during your workouts to simulate real-life conditions in running. The specifications of the Assault air runner are:

Product weight 280LB
Color black
Length 69.9”
Width 32.8”
Height 32.8”

This machine has been endorsed by the CrossFit community and Rogue Fitness. The area for footfall is curved to minimize the impact. This makes it easier for the joints compared to regular treadmills. You will also buy this from a multi-product company which has been around for a while. This is especially important if you are going to buy for commercial use and make heavy use of the service and warranty that comes with the machine.

Pros of the Assault Air runner

These are the pros of the Assault air runner compared to other similar products and for endurance needs

Lightweight
Price
Company
Innovative
Monitor

Compared to other treadmills and the TrueFrom runner it is lightweight and mobile. The fact that it comes in wheels is especially good for a gym setup where you like to change group setups a lot. You can clearly see that Assault went with the TrueForm runner design and optimized it for CrossFit gyms.

The price is also a big advantage when you compare like for like. There are two main options out there when you want a self-propelled treadmill. The assault air runner has about a $2000 advantage in the TrueForm runner. That is a considerable amount of money when you buy for your home gym or multiple units for a gym outlet.

Assault has been around for roughly 20 years and has solid revenue streams from three different product lines. With this piece of equipment, you are likely to get proper support and background for your needs. TrueForm hasn’t been around that long and their channels are a bit less developed.

Compared to other treadmills and ellipticals the experience with the assault runner for yourself or your client will be more innovative compared to other options. This Ingram attracts some extra clients as you differentiate from the next gym around the corner. Especially the ones who appreciate quality and might pay a higher price.

The monitor on the Assault air runner is better than the one on the TrueForm runner based on some reports. If you care about the settings on a machine you propel yourself this might be a deciding factor for you.

Cons of the Assault air runner

Price
Me too approach
Mechanics
Fewer options

Price can also be a con when you compare the outcome rather than like for like. If your main goal is to improve your endurance and lose weight without being specific to running there are options which are a lot more budget friendly. The Rogue echo bike would be one of them which still gives you a kick up the bum without costing as much as an entire home gym.

This is more of an ethical one, but if you support innovation you might want to go for the TrueForm runner. The original idea seems to have come from the first in a well-executed way. Assault just has the experience to copy and mass produce the idea more efficiently and effectively which will probably win the market for self-propelled treadmills.

Based on some reports I have read and seen the air assault runner accelerates in an unnatural way making you way faster than you actually should be. The TrueForm runner seems to be doing a better job correcting your posture and simulating real-world conditions.

With the TrueForm runner, you can also choose between a field turf and running track surface which the Assault air runner does not offer. If you want to make your training even more specific this might swing it against it.

Alternatives to the Assault Air runner

These are the alternative to the assault air runner:

The TrueForm runner is the original in the market for self-propelled treadmills. If you want a machine for your football athletes to warm up on before going o the field, this is probably the right choice. Who cares about $1000 to $2000 more a pop if the guys running on these things are paid $100000 a match? If you can afford it or if you don’t buy in bulk, the TrueForm runner might be the choice just to have the best.

The rogue echo bike is the realistic version for the home gym to still get a great workout in. A good air bike workout will gas you out and the design is a little more up to date than for the original assault air bike.

For the price of one air assault bike, you can even add a Rogue RM6 rack to your shopping list in addition to the Rogue echo bike. This leaves you with a full gym excluding barbells and plates. Count another $1000 for that.

If you want to spend some extra money for your home for something that is super effective the Versaclimber H might be for you. You still save $1000 compared to the Assault air runner and have a machine that burns the most calories over time per square feet. The vertical climb at home is the most intense thing you can do for your cardiovascular fitness.

Summary for the Assault air runner

The assault air runner is a lower cost option on the idea of self-propelled treadmills. You will buy a piece of equipment from a company with a long tenure which has other products in the market. If you always want the best you probably ought to go for the TrueForm runner. If you want to provide for your gym or use this innovative idea without breaking the bank, go for the TrueForm runner.

Overview and review of the Horizon fitness Comfort R bike

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

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

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Overview of the Horizon Comfort R recumbent bike $779

The comfort R recumbent bike is the one seated bikes from the Horizon line up. This is a good pick if you definitely need lumbar support when working out because you have a problem standing up for prolonged times. The full specifications of this bike are:

Frame Type: Step-Thru Recumbent

Pedal Type: Self Balancing pedals

Seat Type: Extra Large comfort seat with lumbar support

Seat Adjustment: Horizontal

Lumbar Support: Yes

Resistance System: ECB Magnetic Brake

Flywheel weight: 15.4 lbs / 7kg

Extras: Built-in speakers, Energy saver mode, Reading rack, Water bottle holder

Max user weight: 350

Weight: 99lbs

Assembled dimensions: 47 x 22 x 53

Home Warranty - Frame: Lifetime

Home Warranty - Parts: 1 year

Home Warranty - Labor: 1 year

Pros of the Horizon Comfort R recumbent bike

The pros of the Horizon Comfort R recumbent bike are:

Sit while you exercise
Sturdy frame
Good warranty

You can sit while you exercise on this bike with your back being supported. While mainly irrelevant when you do not need it it is a blessing when you are injured or just not able to exercise while standing. If you have a clinic or you had a severe injury to your back, hip, or leg, this might be the right machine for recovery. Sometimes it can also be nice just to be a little lazy and watch the television while keeping active.

HOrizon also offers good warranty options compared to their competitors and especially compared to anything you would buy from a no-name reseller on Amazon.

Cons of the Horizon Comfort R recumbent bike

The cons of the Horizon comfort R recumbent bike are:

Bulky
Does not burn a lot of calories

This is a very big machine with very little impact. Recumbent bikes mainly cater to convenience while exercising rather than going hard after it. If you are a healthy athlete, especially creating a home gym, this is not really a great option unless you have your elderly parents living with you in the house. Commercial buyers might get two to four of these for beginners who need to lose weight, rehab clients or to cater to a broader audience.

Alternatives to the Horizon Comfort R recumbent bike

The Horizon comfort U bike is an upright bike that creates a comfortable ride for the user. If you are still able to cycle without lumbar support but do not want to go too crazy then this is the right bike for you. This bike will take up less space in your home while addressing a smooth ride for you.

The Nordictrack VU19 is the entry-level bike from Nordictrack which would form a good comparison model to the Comfort U from Horizon. If Horizon fitness is low on stock or you want to compare similar competitors, give the VU19 a look in your research.

The concept 2 skierg can also be used for moderate exercise while standing. The biggest plus of this machine is that it does not have a big footprint. You can easily fit it against a wall or into a corner in your home. The noise out if this machine is also very low compared to treadmills.

The Nordictrack VR25 is the direct comparison to the Horizon recumbent bike is it provides lumbar support during the ride. If you want to compare apples and apples, but this also on your research list before making a decision to buy.

Conclusion for the Horizon Comfort R recumbent bike

The Horizon R recumbent bike is a solid option for commercial buyers who want to extend their fleet to accommodate a broader audience. This machine will enable to also address rehab or overweight scenarios better than upright bikes. For most home gym users I personally think it is not a great option as it is bike and hard to store. In those scenarios, you might be better off with a walking treadmill that can be stored under the bed or a total gym.