Elliptical Cross Trainer - SportsArt Commercial Total Body Trainer
8300
SportsArt are firmly established as high quality cardio exercise
equipment providers with elliptical trainers challenging other leading
companies such as Precor, Schwinn, Universal and Tunturi.
Consumer Guide's website has reviewed SportsArt products and placed
them in Best Buy and Recommended Buy categories for several years.
SportsArt makes two commercial elliptical cross-trainers, the E8300
and the E82. The E8300 has a list price of approximately $4600,
while the E82 is priced at $3300. They both use the same frame,
but each has a different drive system and console.
The E8300 has an exceptionally high quality feel and finish, variable
stride length capability, superior visibility console, and more
features than most other elliptical trainers.
Best Recommendation
The Commercial Total Body Trainer 8300 model has been claimed as
“the nicest, most advanced elliptical trainer made in the
world at any price”.
SportsArt E8300 Best Features
- Electronic Adjustable Stride Length
- Console - high visibility position
- Very smooth operation
- The arm mounted switches – left for resistance and right
for stride length. Very convenient for in motion changes.
SportsArt E8300 Worst Features
Size - a large machine, so make sure you have
enough space before you purchase. The SportsArt
E82 is a more compact model with all the same features and a
few extra.
Cost - Around the $USD3,600
Features
- Drive Systems - uses an alternator based drive system, where
your effort powers the unit. The E8300 makes more noise using
of the type of drive system, but is still relatively quiet.
- User Memory - The E8300, like many straight commercial units,
does not support users. If more than one person is using the unit
you will have to reenter your unique data (age, weight).
- Console - The console on the E8300 is different. It has its
own strengths. It displays more data simultaneously, but all displays
are in bright green LED’s. The E8300 displays three heart
rate values across the top of the console and constantly display
six other stats in the middle of the console. These six fields
can be scrolled to show additional stats in this area. It has
a graphics area above the six stats. The strength of the E8300
console is the large amount of data that is always displayed.
- Electronic Adjustable Stride Length - can be adjusted electronically
between 17” and 26” using switch on the right exercise
arm.
- Current stride length is displayed on the console; adjustments
are in one inch increments.
- Moving Arms - work more than the arms, they also work the lateral
abs. The unit also has two stationary arms.
- Resistance Variation – use a switch on the left arm to
increase/decrease resistance.
- Heart Rate Control and Display - two heart rate control modes:
weight loss (65%) and cardio (80%). Both target heart rates are
constantly displayed at the top of the console along with your
actually heart rate.
- Chest Sensors - supports Polar compatible heart rate chest sensors
and also has built-in heart rate sensors in the stationary arms.
The target heart rates are calculated based on your age, but can
be changed in your custom user settings.
- Users and Exercise Routines - nine buttons give direct access
to the exercise routines. Plus there is Quickstart to go directly
to Manual mode. Each program is displayed on screen using a red
LED. The exercise routines on both models are comparable.
- Resistance Control - press the resistance button to modify the
routine on the fly.
Limits Of Use
Not suitable for small spaces.
User Experiences
“Once you try variable stride length … you may never
be happy with a fixed stride length trainer ever again. It allows
you tremendous flexibility in tuning your workout and your comfort
level. Plus, each family member can just dial in the right setup
for their workout.”
The stride motion produces a very natural walking, jogging, or
running stride based on stride length. The angle of the footpads
changes through the range of motion.
The E8300 has a high quality feel and finish that equals or exceeds
the best in this category. Be prepared to never want to use another
type of elliptical trainer after using a SportsArt Elliptical Trainer
User Tips
The E82 compares
well with the E8300 features, but is more compact and uses a power
drive to give an even smoother ride and enable memory support for
user data. Costs around $3500
If both the E82 and E8300 are still out of your budget –
check out the SportsArt
807 or 805. These also both offer variable stride length and
many of the other advantages discussed in this review.
NB: Known issues of elliptical trainers are only those experienced
by individual users are are not necessarily and indication of poor
quality on all units. They are included here purely as a guide as
to likely problems with tips on how to remedy.
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