Horizon fitness Evolve 5 elliptical vs Nordictrack SE7i

This is a comparison of the Horizon fitness Evolve 5 elliptical and the Nordictrack SE7i including pros, cons, and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

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Overview and review of the Nordictrack SE7i $1299

This is a review of the Nordictrack SE7i model. You will learn about the specifics, pros, cons, and alternatives of this elliptical to make a decision. This article was originally published in "Which elliptical to get from Nordictrack".

Overview of the SE7i

The SE7i rear-drive elliptical is the cheapest rear-drive elliptical from NordicTrack. Its main features are an 18-inch stride, 18-pound flywheel and the foldable design for easy storage. The full list of features includes:

5” Backlit Display
NordicTrack iFit® Membership Ready
Integrated Tablet Holder
Auxiliary Music Port
Two 2” Digitally Amplified Speakers

AutoBreeze™ Workout Fan
SoftTouch™ Upper Body Grips
Adjustable, Oversized Cushion Pedals

Rear Drive
18 Lb. Effective Flywheel
SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
22 Digital Resistance Levels
10% Power Adjustable Incline
Commercial Solid Steel Construction
Oversized Levelers
325 Lb. User Weight Capacity
EKG Grip Pulse Heart Rate Monitor

Vertical SpaceSaver® Design
24 On-Board Workouts
Rear-mounted Transport Wheels
Water Bottle Holder
Out-of-the-Box Easy Assembly
67" H X 32" W X 80" L
10-Year Frame Warranty
2-Year Parts Warranty

This machine is best looked for in the used market. If you want to get a new Nordictrack elliptical I would recommend the 12.9i front drive for commercial and the 10.9i for home gym use.

Pros of the SE7i

Price

Cons of the SE7I

Small flywheel
No-touch screen
Size

Alternatives to the SE7I

Alternatives to the SE7i are:

he concept 2 rower is a good option for anyone who likes a bit more intensity but does not want to stand while exercising. These rowers can also be conveniently stored on a wall hanger to save space when not in use. The main models are the Model E and Model D. Go for the Model E when you are either big and strong (reads NFL player sized) are have problems with going very low. The Model D version is the standard concept 2 model.

The Rogue echo bike is my personal favorite when it comes to bang for your buck. It has a high-quality machine that can be used professionally and only costs $700. It is space-efficient and intense. If you are a home gym owner who means business and does not need any fancy stuff, this is the machine to get.

Summary for the SE7i

The SE7i is the cheap and cheerful option for the occasional home warrior for the basement or garage.

Overview and review of the Horizon fitness Evolve 5 elliptical

This is an overview of the Horizon fitness Evolve 5 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 Evolve 5 elliptical $1,399

The Horizon Evolve 5 elliptical is the current flagship elliptical in the Horizon lineup. It’s main distinguishing feature is the big flywheel which provides a smoother ride and lower need for maintenance. This is the right choice if you like Horizon and the idea of an elliptical and do not want to compromise. The full specifications of this machine run as follows:

Frame Type: Sic Star Folding

Flywheel:23

Stride Length: 20

Incline Range: N/A

Resistance Range: 20 Electronically adjustable

Step on height (inches): 10

Extras: Built-in speakers, Energy Saver Mode, Passport ready, Tablet rack, Water Bottle holder

Electrical requirements: 110 lot and 220 Volt

Weight: 181 lbs.

Assembled dimensions: 69" x 28" x 69"

Max user weight: 300

Warranty - Frame: Lifetime

Warranty - Brake: 3 years

Warranty - Flywheel: N/A

Warranty - Parts: 3 years

Warranty - Labor: 1 year

Pros of the Evolve 5 elliptical

The pros are the Horizon Evolve 5 elliptical are:

Big flywheel
Foldable

This elliptical has all the bells and whistles and the biggest flywheel that Horizon currently offers. With the finding mechanic, it takes up considerably less space when it is not in use. If you want the most amount of elliptical money can buy from Horizon, then this is the model for you.

Cons of the Evolve 5 elliptical

The cons of the Horizon Evolve 5 are:

Price
Console

With $1400 the Horizon Evolve 5 is the highest priced elliptical in the Horizon lineup. For that high price, I think you get not a lot of extra compared to the Evolve 3 or AE 7.0. The only thing the Evolve 5 has going for it is the big flywheel. This is only relevant when you either go very hard at it or intend to be a lot of mileage on it in a short frame of time. The console is not internet-ready and only gives you updates about the preloaded workouts.

Alternatives to the Evolve 5 elliptical

Alternatives to the Horizon Evolve 5 are:

The Evolve 3 is in my opinion the better option if you buy into the idea of a foldable elliptical. It costs less and almost does the same as the Horizon Evolve 5 except for a smaller flywheel.

The Nordictrack SE 7i is the entry-level elliptical from Nordictrack. If Horizon is out of stock or you want to compare prices you can go with this one too.

The Rogue Echo Bike is is my opinion the best option for homeowners who want to go hard at it on a small footprint on a bike. Its low-budget competitor is the TITAN fan bike.

Conclusion for the Evolve 5 elliptical

The Horizon Evolve 5 is great when you like to buy the best and have berthing for your home gym elliptical. For commercial use I think the folding approach to the frame is not a great idea as it provides too much opportunity for things to break. For home gym users I think that the AE 7.0 Elliptical is a better value for money.