Horizon Evolve 3 Elliptical is a Mid-Range Quality Trainer

Overview: Horizon’s Evolve 3 elliptical is a mid-range cardio trainer from the well-regarded fitness manufacturer. Horizon is a brand that is known for its high quality machines. This new model combines features usually only found in gym-grade models, with the compactness associated with lower-priced home machines at a cost that fits most people’s budget. At an asking price of around $1199 or 1299 on sale, it’s a solid choice that doesn’t break the bank.

Here are some of the highlights of our Horizon Evolve 3 review…

Fold-up Frame

The Evolve 3 contains a frame that can be folded up in one step. Its initial assembly comes together in three steps, making this device easy to quickly work out on and then store away. This is due to the hydraulic folding system that creates the perfect marriage between durability and convenience. It creates plenty of open space in the home thanks to this space-saving design.

ViaFit Technology

This connectivity system lets you track your workouts as well as sync them to your favorite fitness apps. You can monitor your calorie intake as the length and intensity of all of your workouts. You can also easily share your workouts through social media, which keeps you accountable and motivated to stay on track. This advanced functionality is accessible through Wi-Fi. Note that the base EX-59 model does not have ViaFit built in.

Passport

This feature essentially allows you to travel the world in the comfort of your own home. Your workout becomes an immersive trans-continental experience which allows you to sync the speed and intensity of your workout to HD videos that you can view on your own television screen.

Six Star Frame

The frame was designed with 6 details in mind in order to create a workout experience that mimics your body’s natural motions. It promotes proper body positioning so that your body can get the most cardiovascular conditioning without the wear and tear of conventionally joint-damaging exercises such as running. The pedals are placed relatively close to each other in order to alleviate any pressure that may be transferred to the hips and the back.

Other features: Energy Saver Mode, built-in speakers, reading rack, water bottle holder.

Guru Test Drive

Although the Horizon Evolve 3 has not been out on the market for an especially long time, we’ve been testing Horizon’s claims of durability. After a number of uses myself, I must say the quality of this machine is definitely impressive. It shows no sign of wear or age with multiple workouts and repeated set-ups and fold-ups of this machine.

The Evolve 3 comes with a lifetime warranty on its frame, three years coverage for the parts and a one-year warranty on labor, which is very solid. In comparison, Sole Fitness’s E35 Elliptical, which is also priced at around $1299.99 comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame, 5 years on the electronics and parts, and 2 year labor coverage. Yet you’ll typically find much less coverage, so this is a plus.

I really enjoyed the easy folding and storage option, and this feature might be ideal for households with limited space or who don’t enjoy the aesthetic clutter that bulky machines sometimes provide.

My favorite feature are the HD videos that are synced with your body’s movements on the Passport feature. It provides the sensation that you are outside, moving and watching the scenery pass by. This feature will help your workouts go faster, as well as make them more pleasant. NordicTrack and ProForm offer something similar with iFit capability, which also allows you to simulate working out anywhere in the world.

One thoughtful feature that was added through Horizon’s hydraulics technology was a low-step on height. This promotes a safer environment in which to enter and exit the machine, which most trainers, especially at this price point, neglect to add on. Keep in mind that this step on height adds an additional 10 inches to the machine’s height, in additional to you, the user’s height. If you have a home with low-hanging ceilings, make sure you take this into account when measuring whether or not this machine will fit in your home.

The Horizon Evolve 3 does come with an impressive number of programs, including 6 calorie-counting, 10 distance, 10 step, 3 interval, 2 performance, and a manual program. Most of us had no trouble with the stride length (for reference, I’m a little above average height). The maximum stride length of this machine is 20”, which is the norm for machines in this price range. This comfortably suits people up to 6’6”, although taller users might feel most comfortable with 22″ or more.

The 20 resistance levels offer a wide range of workout options that make it friendly for users of multiple fitness levels. Additionally, the 300 pound user weight capacity is pretty standard, and should comfortably accommodate most users.

The 5.5″ blue backlit LCD displays workout feedback, such as time, distance, speed, calories, heart rate, resistance level, watts, RPM, and CardioCompass Information. The up-level Evolve 5 gives you a larger 6.25″ display as well as more workouts, just for your reference.

CardioCompass is this machine’s heart rate monitoring device, which is built into the contact grips. Keep in mind that heart rate monitoring built into machines can sometimes be inaccurate.

If your workout is geared towards staying in a certain heart rate zone, I suggest buying a separate chest strap. I would have liked to see this machine come with a chest strap, as some lower priced models include this in their packages. If you do decide to purchase a chest strap, this machine easily works with any wireless heart rate receiver.

With all of its advanced functionality features, and increased technological gadgetry, one additional thing that I would have liked to see on the Horizon Evolve 3 are inclines. The majority of other machines, both at this price level and lower come with either power adjustable inclines, or even just the option to have an incline. This is a downgrade from the entry level models in Horizon’s series, such as the EX69-02.

Final Thoughts

Both your gym equipment and your workout should work in synchrony with your life. This is the idea behind Horizon’s new machinery. The Evolve 3 comes with an impressive amount of features, which is ideal for those of you who prefer more advanced machines. In addition, the fold-up option is a great feature for those of you with space concerns. Overall in this price range it’s a very good choice.

You can take a look at the Horizon Evolve 3 elliptical machine as well as the Evolve 5 and other offerings on their official site.