Horizon Fitness EX-68 Elliptical Review

This easy-to-read and informative Horizon Fitness EX-68 Elliptical review gets you a head start on your elliptical trainer research.  See the many features laid out in a grid format so you get the information about the Horizon Fitness EX-68 Elliptical Trainer quickly.

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OVERVIEW:

 The Horizon Fitness EX-68 Elliptical Trainer is a zero-gap (see below under Foot Pedals for explanation), front-drive, fixed twenty inch flat-stride elliptical providing both a lower body and upper body workout.  The frictionless resistance moveable handle bars give you a fluid upper body workout while the generous 20 inch flat stride provides a lower body workout.

Features
Stride Length Fixed at 20″ using Horizon Fitness’ 18″ FLATellipsefoot path technology.  Get a lower body workout with the frictionless braking resistance system.  The elliptical motion is relatively flat (rather than incline).  The flat stride is akin to a cross country skiing motion; whereas an incline elliptical approaches mimicking a stepping stride.  Flat is not necessarily better than an incline circular stride (or vice versa) – it’s a matter of personal preference.
Flywheel 17.6 lb. flywheel generates the smooth motion of the EX-68 Elliptical. What’s the flywheel?  It’s the large wheel that drives the elliptical motion.  The heavier the flywheel, the smoother and more solid the stride (to a point of course).
Comfort Innovation
 Horizon Fitness on some of its elliptical trainers include its SIXstar Certfication. The SIXstar Certfication is a set of six features contributing to comfort for the elliptical user.  The six features of SIXstar Certification for the EX-68 are as follows:

  1. Zero gap foot pedals.  This means there is no space between the large foot pedals so that you are optimally aligned when striding.
  2. The EX-68 features StraightUP.  This means that the design of the EX-68 is such so you maintain upright posture while striding.  In other words, the handle bars are curved in a way to extend nearer to the foot pedals so that regardless where the handle bars are in relation to the foot pedals, you remain in an optimally upright position.
  3. Easy entry getting on and off the Horizon Fitness EX-68 with a low access level.  This is particularly beneficial for people who have limitations due to injury or in general.  The fact is many people with limitations opt for a treadmill because of the low-impact nature of the workout – so being able to easily get on and off is quite a nice feature.
  4. Returning to handle bar curvature and placement – the handle bars are designed to accommodate people of various heights and sizes.
  5. 20″ fixed stride length replicating a natural walking and running gait – that’s a flat stride rather than an incline stride.  Note that an incline option is not available.
  6. The SMOOTHpulley feature simply means the EX-68 has a large drive/pulley ratio.  What does this do?  It enhances the fluidness of the stride.
Ramp The EX-68 does NOT have a ramp.  It’s a flat stride elliptical (not better or worse – it’s a personal preference). I generally opt to use a flat stride when working out on an elliptical, but I know many people like ramps.  I like the flat, longer stride because it feels better in conjunction with the handle bar movements – much like a cross country skiing workout.  But, I wouldn’t critique an elliptical because of a ramp feature because it’s simply a feature that some people prefer.
Moveable Handle Bars
  • The Horizon Fitness EX-68 Elliptical HAS moveable handle bars.  I would not consider getting an elliptical trainer without moveable handle bars.  One of the best benefits of an elliptical trainer is the full body workout which requires moveable handle bars.
  • There are also fixed handle bars situated inside the moveable handle bars.  The fixed handle bars contain the heart rate pulse grips.
Foot Pedals
  • When you step onto the Horizon EX-68 you’ll notice the foot pedals have no distance between them (called zero gap foot pedals).  This is by design for better positioning.  That said, the foot pedals are over-sized to accommodate varying stances and foot naturally foot positioning.
  • Additionally, the EX-68 foot pedals have lips on the edge so your feet don’t slip off the pedals – a possibility, especially when working out with a high resistance setting and/or pedaling quickly.
Resistance Levels Twenty electronic resistance levels using magnetic braking.  An advantage to using an elliptical with resistance levels over cross country skiing is the fact you can adjust the resistance to create just about any intensity you like. Check out Wikipedia braking for more information about magnetic braking (used for generating the resistance).
Heart Rate Monitor System The heart rate monitoring option on Horizon Fitness EX-68 is only dual-pulse grips on the fixed handle bars (located inside the moveable handle bars).  The heart rate monitoring option on this elliptical is disappointing for two reasons:

  1. There is no wireless transmitter heart rate monitor; and
  2. The pulse sensors are not on the moveable handle bars – which is the handle bars most people will use.  If you do a heart rate-based workout, you’ll need to maintain a grip on the fixed handle bars which prevents you from getting the upper body workout.
Screen
  • The EX-68 has 2 orange LED screens and an eight-digit alphanumeric window for data display.
  • I like the look of the EX-68 console even though it doesn’t have a fancy graphical LCD touch screen.  The LED windows do the trick, and that is give you your workout data such as time, distance, speed, calories burned, heart rate, and resistance level.
iFit Technology An iFit port is not built into the EX-68.  Your pre-set workout options are solely those that come programmed into the computer as is – which is 11 program options and a workout goal center (see more under “Workout Programs” below).
Sound System
  • Seldom is it mentioned (and hyped by elliptical retailers) that elliptical trainers are quieter than treadmills – primarily because it’s low impact – you don’t have your feet pounding on a tread deck.  Why make this point under sound system?  Because you don’t need to crank your music to hear it loud and clear on the built-in speaker system on the Horizon Fitness EX-68.
  • There are two speakers front and center on the console.  It also is compatible for MP3 players.
iPod and MP3 Integration You can plug in an MP3 player, including an iPod and listen to your music library through headphones or the speaker system.
Workout Fan The COOLfit fan on the Horizon Fitness EX-68 Elliptical provides a nice cooling breeze while you workout to help prevent over-heating.  More importantly (why I like fans on fitness equipment), the moving air minimizes sweat – a nice benefit if you wear glasses as I do.
Console Features
  • The magazine rack is disappointing in size – largely due to the narrow console.  It’s difficult to design an elliptical trainer with a wide console because the moving handlebars glide forward and backward which restricts the width a console can be.  However, it would be good to see an innovative design where an elliptical trainer can accommodate a wide console so it has a wider magazine rack AND large LCD graphical touch screen.
  • There are three water bottle holders just underneath the console.  I like storage areas on fitness equipment because I don’t like having objects in my pockets or using water bottle holders that strap to my body.
Weight Capacity
  • The Horizon Fitness EX-68 has a maximum user weight of 300 pounds.  This is a common maximum user weight and for its price range, is not a bad maximum user weight.  I place a lot of stock in maximum user weights because it’s a sign of the machine’s strength.
Workout Programs
  • The Horizon EX-68 shines here with 11 programmed workout programs which you can integrate with the Advanced Goal Center so you can track your workout progress over time.
  • The 11 programmed workouts include three target workouts using time, distance, and calories burned; four training workouts (weight loss, hills, reverse training, and custom workouts).
  • The Advanced Goal Center is where you can set your workout goals based on distance, calories burned, and/or time.  The computer stores the data so you can monitor your progress over time.
  • What’s the point of tracking your workouts?  I find tracking workouts motivating – I like to see progress and I like to see, in writing (or digital font), my reaching goals.
Dimensions (Out of the Box, Assembled)
 73″L x 22″W x 65″H.

Shipping Information

Horizon Fitness Shipping:

  • As of the writing of this Horizon Fitness EX-68 review, Horizon Fitness offers free shipping on the EX-68 Elliptical Trainer (except Alaska and Hawaii).
  • Canadians: Horizon does NOT ship the EX-68 Elliptical to Canada.
  • Shipping includes delivery to the first inside location at the delivery destination. Delivery elsewhere in your home, office (or other delivery destination) and/or assembly not offered.

Benefits

  • Comfortable stance and stride with the 20″ long stride and zero-gap over-sized foot pedals.
  • Goal tracking software for motivation and attaining your goals.
  • Simple start / adjust console.  Click here to see the console – you’ll see it’s a very simply layout with not too many buttons.  That said, you may like more computer functioning and therefore you may want to look for an elliptical trainer with an LCD touch screen with far more computer options.  If you’re really interested in technology on your elliptical trainer, look for an elliptical outfitted with iFit Technology.
  • 3 large water bottle holders.
  • Heavy flywheel for solid and smooth performance.
  • Generally:  When you get an elliptical trainer in your home, you have full control over when you workout and for how long your work out.  If you’ve ever been a member of a gym, you know that sometimes lines for popular equipment (often ellipticals are very popular) form which means you find something else to use or wait.

Complaints
  • Non-adjustable stride.
  • Heart rate monitoring sensors located on the fixed handle bars only.  No wireless heart rate monitoring system.
  • Narrow magazine rack.
  • No LCD graphical screen (I personally like LCD graphics – but for many people, the simple LED windows such as those on the Horizon Fitness EX-68 are sufficient and perhaps preferred.

Warranty
  • Frame: Lifetime (this is good).
  • Brakeing:  Lifetime (very good).
  • Parts: 1 year.
  • Labor:  1 year.

Horizon Fitness gives you the options for one and two year extended warranties.

I like working out on elliptical trainers and I do so regularly.  I can’t imagine you’d be disappointed in getting an elliptical trainer for your fitness machine in your home – unless of course you buy a lemon.  It’s tough to know whether an elliptical purchase will work out well for you.  I know this EX-68 review lists many of the features outfitted on the EX-68, but at the end of the day, you’re primarily concerned about the elliptical working … better yet, working well, and lasting a long time without any kinks.  That’s why the lifetime warranty feature is impressive, but the 300 pound maximum user weight not terribly impressive.  That said, this elliptical is priced well under $1,000 which means it won’t be the sturdiest elliptical on the market (i.e. compared to commercial-gym grade), but it should do the job for most people.

If you are an extremely demanding athlete requiring an extremely sturdy machine, you’ll want to invest more than a $1,000 on any particular exercise machine.  Look for durability as your primary feature.  What do I mean by demanding requiring a sturdy elliptical trainer?  If you weigh over 200 pounds, are very strong, and do long workouts training for competition or peak performance – then I’d consider you a demanding athlete.

On the flip side if you weigh less than 200 pounds and aren’t demanding with your workouts, then the Horizon Fitness EX-68 will suit you fine as long as the feature-set is suitable for you.