I was very wary when I read the existing reviews for the edge. I've had many experiences of buying a low-price piece of fitness equipment, and I firmly believe that most of the time you get what you pay for. The price was right, though, so I thought I'd give one more thing a try.
What I like about the Gazelle:
1. The product arrived by FedEx delivery very quickly (and on a Saturday).
2. It took maybe 15 minutes for me to assemble, but I'm very strong and technically adept.
3. I immediately hopped on the machine, and got the knack of the motion right away. According to the book, there are several different motions (with different body-area targets). I found myself alternating back and forth between them (leaning one way or the other) easily and without thought. I have to say I found the movements easy to do, no problem at all on my joints, and it seemed like I was getting a decent cardio workout and targeting some unusual muscles (lower shoulders, lower back & abs) at the same time. I was sore the next morning, but the stiffness wore off with movement. I don't think that I'm going to mind having this as my go-to piece of home fitness equipment, but I do plan on doing some yoga and strength training as well.
4. As a mom, I was especially delighted to find that the machine is VERY quiet -- I should have no problem working out in the early morning or at night without waking up anyone in my family.
My issues with the machine are minimal, but worth mentioning:
1. When they say it folds flat for easy storage, that's not entirely true. I have very young children that I need to keep the machine away from, so storage and handling are crucial for me. The handlebars are curved upwards, and prevent me from storing the machine under any of my furniture. I'll be storing it upright in a currently unused closet. There is no way to lock the foot pedals when it is folded, so carrying the machine from room to room was very annoying (I was constantly smacked by the pedals). I have a cord that I'll use to wrap around the machine, though, so I should be able to move it in the future without too much hassle.
2. The foot pedals are a bit flimsy. I have several people in my family who are balance-challenged, so this is an area of concern for me. It seems to require some concentration to get on and off the machine safely. If you have any concerns about this issue, I think I would either recommend trying the more expensive gazelle or going with a different piece of equipment.
3. I was not sweating like I would do on an elliptical at the gym. I could tell that the machine certainly got my pulse rate up, but maybe my first time out didn't get as intense as it could have. Or maybe my gym just has hot/stale air in the cardio area. Until I use the machine for a few weeks, I'll have no way to know for sure whether or not the workout is effective for weight-loss or conditioning. I'll try to amend the review later with results.
I am satisfied with my purchase, and I do look forward to resuming my workout schedule with this new machine. Get more detail about Gazelle Edge.
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