Smooth Elliptical
by Sally
Just the name – Smooth Elliptical Machine – may sound good as you are researching various elliptical exercise machines. But does this brand of elliptical machines really live up to it’s name?
The Feel Of Smooth Ellipticals
Actually they do live up to their name. Smooth Ellipticals are rear drive ellipticals, meaning the flywheel is behind you as you are using the machine. Because it is a rear drive it doesn’t use rollers; these rollers can cause a bumpier ride if you don’t have a solid model and brand. They can also require more maintenance, so not having them is seen as a benefit to many. Smooth also uses a heavy flywheel which helps significantly improve the smoothness of the ride.
Smooth Elliptical Features
Besides the smooth elliptical workout these machines provide there are some other noteworthy features you will find on a Smooth Elliptical. Many people choose elliptical trainers because they provide a low impact workout. To reduce joint strain even further the Smooth Elliptical has ergonomic, pivoting food pedals. These pivoting foot pedals help reproduce the natural movement of the ankle which in turn helps maintain the alignment of the lower body, causing less strain on the knee, hip and ankle joints. This makes the elliptical machine more comfortable and easy to use.
Smooth Ellipticals have hand holds so you can get both an upper and lower body workout on these trainers. This is another reason why many people prefer an elliptical workout to working out on another type of exercise machine. Some more expensive models like Precor Ellipticals don’t always provide this option for an upper body workout.
Smooth Elliptical CE 7.4
A varied stride length is another important feature for many, especially for taller users or in households where multiple people will be using the elliptical trainer. Smooth Ellipticals offer a stride length from 18 to 24 inches, and some models even offer variable or adjustable stride lengths.
Of course they offer many other common features like a LED displays, iPod docking stations, and a variety of programmed exercise programs as well.
The Bottom Line – What You Get For Your Money
Smooth elliptical machines are probably one of the best brands in their price range. They range in price from around $1,400 to $2,600, but what you get for your money is a solid trainer. Smooth provides a gym quality feel at a more affordable price and a warranty to back up their product. Their warranty covers parts and labor for usually a minimum of 2 years, certain models offer an even longer warranty.
Smooth is able to offer a quality elliptical for a decent price because they only sell online, cutting out the extra fees for the middle man. They sell factory direct through their own site as well as reputable sites like Amazon. They also offer free shipping. This provides a big savings for the consumer making a mid to upper level elliptical more affordable then many other near gym quality machines.
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Drawbacks
Overall the Smooth Elliptical sounds like a pretty solid machine for the money. But what are the potential drawbacks?
If you are looking for a budget elliptical machine this probably isn’t what you want; it will likely cost more than you want to spend. Because of the heavy flywheel and the solid design they aren’t light machines. If you are looking for a space saver elliptical that is light and easy to move for an apartment, this probably isn’t what you want.
For some having to buy it online is a drawback. You aren’t able to go into a store to look at or try it out before buying, unless you know someone else who has one.
Popular Smooth Elliptical Models
Smooth Fitness Agile DMT
The Smooth Fitness Agile DMT is their high end model. The DMT stands for Dynamic Motion Trainer. This Smooth Elliptical combines the features of an elliptical machine with those of an arc trainer resulting in an elliptical exercise machine that works virtually every muscle group.
With 12 motion levels and 20 intensity levels you can get an excellent full body workout that won’t leave you feeling bored after the first couple of months of use. It offers an electromagnetic braking system for smooth stops and transitions, ergonomic, pivoting foot pedals to reduce joint strain, and thumb controls on the hand holds so you can easily adjust your workout. This machine has all the bells and whistles, including an adjustable stride length from 19″ to 24″.
This is an impressive machine, but it comes at a price. While the retail price is usually listed near $4,999, you can usually find it for less than $3,000. The Smooth Fitness Agile DMT is made for those who are serious about their workouts, not just for the occasional user.
Smooth CE 7.4 Elliptical Machine
The Smooth CE 7.4 Elliptical is probably their most popular model. It is in the middle range of what they sell, in between the DMT models and the lower models. You may have seen this model on best buy lists for a moderate priced quality elliptical.
The Smooth CE 7.4 elliptical offers ergonomic, pivoting pedals for reduced joint strain, an electromagnetic braking system for smooth transitions and stops, it also has the heavy flywheel for a smooth ride. It offers 8 workout programs with 16 resistance levels, a four-window LED display and a 21″ stride length.
This model usually runs about $1999 so it isn’t cheap either, but you get a solid, quality machine for the money. Something that should last a long time and is good for multiple and everyday users.
Smooth EVO REV 400 Elliptical Machine
If you are looking for a lower-priced elliptical with this brand quality the Smooth EVO 400 elliptical may be a good option. It has the solid construction of the Smooth Elliptical brand with the same heavy flywheel for a smooth workout, but it costs less than most of their other models. It generally runs about $1,500.
The Smooth EVO 400 is basically a replacement for the Smooth CE 3.2 elliptical which was discontinued. This model made it on a few best buy lists and the EVO 400 is pretty much the same machine, just a newer version. It also has the ergonomic, pivoting foot pedal for reduced strain, the electromagnetic braking system for smooth transitions, as well as 9 workout programs with 16 levels of resistance for a good workout and an 18″ stride length.
A Smooth Elliptical is probably one of the best elliptical machines you can get in its price range. If you’ve been doing your research you know a quality elliptical exercise machine won’t come cheap. If Smooth ellipticals are in your budget I’d definitely recommend giving them serious consideration.
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