The Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Trainer by Body Solid is a mid-priced elliptical trainer with a useful range of built-in programs and multiple resistance levels.
Manufactured and distributed by long-established company Body Solid Inc., known for their high-quality commercial and home-use fitness equipment, with a Best Fitness product you can purchase with confidence.
With its solid steel frame that has been powder-coated to guarantee good looks as well as durability, you can expect years of trouble-free use from the Best Fitness E1.
This Best Fitness E1 review looks at its specs and key features. It also discusses what users consider its primary positives and negatives to give you a good overview and help you decide whether it’s for you.
Table of Contents
Who does it suit?
Able to be customized to the individual’s preference, it will suit everyone from the new exerciser to the fitness enthusiast looking for a compact, solid and reliable elliptical that can cope with long, hard sessions.
Falling into a slightly higher price category than some ellipticals, it won’t be in everyone’s budget, but if you are open to paying a little extra, it’s a machine I think you will be glad to own.
Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Specs
Dimensions – The Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Trainer measures 48″ (L) x 30″ (W) x 66″ (H)
Clearance requirement – Allow another 12″ all around for safe and unrestricted workouts
Weight – It weighs 215 lbs
Stride – This model has a 21″ stride
User Weight Capacity – The Best Fitness E1 can support users weighing up to 275 pounds
Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Key Features
- Preset Workout Programs
12 pre-programmed workouts provide variety and enable you to target different fitness goals.
The workouts target different fitness aspects, including endurance through hill climbing, calorie-burning for fat loss, and more.
There is also the provision to set customized goals using the manual mode. Options you can include are Distance covered, Heart rate, Calories, etc.
- Variable Resistance
17 levels of resistance accommodate everyone from newbies to seasoned athletes and allow for continued growth as your fitness improves.
- Display Monitor
The Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Trainer by Body Solid has a basic console with numerous buttons for navigating the various functions.
These include a self-explanatory Start/Stop button and an Up/Down button for selecting the training modes.
Mode sets the values (Time, Distance, Calories, and Pulse), Reset clears the values.
A large, blue backlit display screen features easy-to-read white text.
The screen shows your workout stats, including Time, Speed, RPM, Distance, Calories Burned, Pulse Rate, Load, and Watt.
Time is the length of your workout, from zero to 99 minutes. Speed is your training speed, from zero to 99.9 MPH.
RPM shows rotations per minute. Distance is how far you’ve covered, from zero to 99.9 miles.
The Calories function estimates the number of calories burned from zero to 990.
When using the Pulse function, you will see your heart rate in beats per minute.
Load shows your resistance level when using the programs, and Watt shows training wattage between 10 and 350.
The Reset button sets the metrics back to zero.
- Heart rate monitor
A heart rate monitor set into the machine’s handlebar activates within 30 seconds of your workout commencing. Providing a very accurate reading, this adds further to the elliptical’s ease of use.
Selecting the Recovery option will give you a fitness rating gauged by how quickly your heart rate returns to normal after working out.
- Dual Direction Pedals
This model can pedal in reverse, allowing you to target different leg and buttock muscles.
- Accessories
A water bottle holder provides access to a refreshing drink, enabling you to stay hydrated during workouts.
Next, in this Best Fitness E1 review, we will look at its positives, followed by its negatives.
Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Trainer Infomercial
Positives
- Compact
Though heavy, the Best Fitness Elliptical E1 takes up less room than many other elliptical trainers.
Having a small footprint, it is easier to relocate than some machines that are of similar weight.
- Stride
The stride suits people of most heights, including taller individuals.
- Safe and comfortable
The Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Trainer pedals are positioned close together and only slightly above floor height for easy access.
This combination of features enables a very low-impact workout that puts minimal pressure on the hips and reduces leg fatigue.
- Smooth & Quiet
This elliptical provides a smooth, near-silent workout. The motion feels natural, and there is no jarring.
You will have no trouble listening to the television or music or chatting with friends or family as you work out.
- Total body workout
Movable arms allow you to exercise your upper body along with your lower body. Your abs and obliques will also benefit from the workouts.
- Quick assembly
Clear, detailed instructions make for quick assembly, with most people able to complete the job in under an hour.
The parts being weighty, it’s helpful to have a second person assist.
- Excellent Warranty
The warranty that comes with the Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Trainer by Body Solid covers 15 years for its frame.
There’s 10 years coverage for the motor, 2 years on electronics and parts, 1 year on labor, and 6 months on parts wear.
Negatives
While the Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Trainer’s positives outweigh the negatives, it is not perfect. We will look at its negative aspects below.
- Console set-up
Some purchasers said they found setting up the console to be a somewhat confusing task.
Some also stated that the owner’s manual does not clearly explain how to select the workout programs.
This makes trial and error necessary for what should be a straightforward process.
- It’s light on accessories
The Best Fitness E1 doesn’t have a fan or a magazine rack. If these are important to you, you will need to look for another model.
- Water bottle holder position
The water bottle holder is positioned directly beneath the machine’s right handlebar, making it difficult to access during workouts.
Final Thoughts on the Best Fitness E1 Elliptical
Online customer reviews of the Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Trainer are, in the main, very positive.
There are, however, some negative reviews from buyers who said their trainer suddenly stopped working.
This surprises me, as my friend Kathy has a Best Fitness E1, and she loves it. She’s been using it regularly for over 18 months and hasn’t had any problems.
Kathy describes the bike as robust, durable, quiet, and comfortable to use. She says its motion is smooth, and the unit remains stable, even during strenuous workouts.
Kathy likes the monitor’s screen, which displays her workout metrics in a large, clear font.
She finds it convenient to cycle through different readouts to keep track of each session’s stats without having to mess around with the controls.
One area where it falls short is that while it works the upper and lower body very well, it doesn’t do an equally good job of exercising the core.
This is hardly surprising given that while elliptical trainers exercise the midsection to a certain extent, they are not primarily designed to target this area.
If you would like to experience the benefits of the elliptical and you’re looking for a gym-quality model that fits into a small space, check out the Best Fitness E1 Elliptical Trainer by Body Solid.
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