Spirit Esprit EL-455 Elliptical

  • Reviewed On: November 30, -0001
  • Reviewed By: Gerard Lao

MSRP: $1599, Price As Reviewed: $998, Model Year: 2011

Where To Buy : We Recommend Amazon.com

 

Pros

Treadmills411 Editor Comments

Good overall warranty with strong 5 years on parts

On top of having a lifetime warranty on both frame and braking system, you get a strong 5-year warranty on parts that's rarely given by manufacturers for ellipticals priced below $1000. 2 years on parts warranty is already acceptable so 5 years would give more value to your money. This is just how confident Spirit is when it comes to this model's quality.

MP3 player support

You can now listen to your favorite songs without those wires dangling from your ears. This is possible with the EL-455's built-in sound system that supports your MP3 players. It comes with a pair of speakers and an input cable that's compatible to your Mp3 player's output port. This is especially good for those of you who prefer listening to music so you won't get bored especially for long workout sessions.

Oversized, self-leveling foot pedals

For your comfort, the EL-455 comes with oversized foot pedals with self-leveling features. This would allow you to find a comfortable position preventing foot and ankle pains brought about by long workouts.

Reverse stride motion

The EL-455 allows you to pedal in reverse. Doing so tones the back muscles of your legs and would give you a firmer butt. We consider the EL-455's reverse stride motion capability as among this its strengths since around half of all elliptical machines available in the market don’t have this feature.

30-lb flywheel

We've reviewed hundreds of elliptical machines and noticed that many manufacturers don't often mention information regarding its elliptical's flywheel weight. For those that do, they usually weigh around 18lbs to 24lbs. This makes the EL-455's 30-lb flywheel stand out among the rest since you'll have a smoother striding motion with heavier flywheels.

 

Cons

Treadmills411 Editor Comments

No fans

We would have wanted to see a built-in cooling fan with the EL-455 but many other ellipticals in this price range doesn't have this feature. It would have helped you keep cool or refreshed for a more comfortable workout.

Basic Components – 69.8% [View Score Details] [Visit Recommended Merchant]

Quality and Durability – 67.6% [View Score Details] [Visit Recommended Merchant]

Overall Score & Conclusion - 68.7% [View Score Details] [Visit Recommended Merchant]

Category Ranking Criteria Scored As Points Awarded Points Possible Percentage Explanation Notes
Main component Max Stride Length 19"-22" 20 20 100% Elliptical trainer with 20-inch stride length for taller users.
Main component Resistance Levels 20 or more 20 20 100% Elliptical has 20 levels of resistance.
Main component Max Incline/Ramp None 0 15 0% Elliptical doesn\'t have an incline feature.
Main component Programs 9 13.5 25 54% Features 9 programs in total.
Main component Fan No/Not Stated 3 10 30% No fan feature discussed in Amazon.
Main component Water Bottle Holder Yes 10 10 100% Comes with water bottle holder and bottle.
Main component Foot Pedal Motion and Type Cushioned and ergonomical 22.5 30 75% Features oversized, self leveling and cushioned pedals
Main component Handlebar Grips Standard 3 10 30% Has standard grips only.
Main component Reverse Stride Motion Yes 10 10 100% Ergonomic 20\" stride length provides a smooth, comfortable elliptical motion forward and reverse.
Main component Time Display Yes 5 5 100% Large blue backlit LCD display shows time, speed, calories, program, rpm, level, distance, watts, and pulse.
Main component Distance/Strides Display Yes 5 5 100% Distance displayed on console.
Main component Calories Display Yes 5 5 100% Large blue backlit LCD display calories burned.
Main component Console Design Modern or Intuitive 10 10 100% Console features a large blue backlit LCD display.
Main component Self Improvement: Fitness Tests/Competition/Goals No/Not Stated 1.5 5 30% None stated to qualify for this category.
Main component Personalization: User Profiles/Progress Logs/History Yes 5 5 100% Elliptical comes with 2 user profiles.
Main component Heart Rate Monitor Grip 10 20 50% Features contact heart rate grips.
Main component MP3 Player Support Standard 20 20 100% Comes with audio input for MP3 player.
Main component TV No/Not Stated 5 25 20% Amazon doesn\'t mention of any TV feature.
Main component Money Back Guarantee Yes (30 days or less) 15 20 75% Money back guarantee from Amazon is 30 days.
Main Component Bonus Handlebar Design Fixed and Moving 5     Ellitical has both fixed and moving handlebars.
    Subtotal 1: 188.5 270 69.81%  


:
Category Ranking Criteria Scored As Points Awarded Points Possible Percentage Explanation Notes
Quality and reliability Frame warranty 13 to lifetime 25 25 100% Elliptical has a lifetime frame warranty.
Quality and reliability Brakes warranty 13 to lifetime 10 10 100% Amazon description states brakes comes with a lifetime warranty.
Quality and reliability Parts warranty 5 years 45 60 75% Elliptical has a 5-year parts warranty.
Quality and reliability Labor warranty 1 year 20 60 33.33% Manufacturer warranty is 1 year on labor.
Quality and reliability Unit Weight (lbs) 188-200 20 40 50% Weight of machine is 197 pounds.
Quality and reliability Max User Weight 338 to 350 pounds 32.5 40 81.25% Amazon states max user weight is 350 pounds.
Quality and reliability Flywheel Weight (lbs) 30 or more 20 20 100% The elliptical\'s 30-pound heavy duty steel flywheel offers premium fluid motion.
    Subtotal 2 : 172.5 255 67.65%  
    Overall: 361 525 68.7%