Ellipticalist.com

ProForm Hybrid Trainer Review

Best deal at: amazon.com
$299.00 $368.58

In our wildest dreams as trainers or fitness enthusiast, very few of us could ever imagine of coming across a single fitness machine that packs the best of elliptical training and cycling.  But it wasn’t long before ProForm Hybrid Trainer surprised us all.

Just as its name suggests, this machine is a hybrid of elliptical training and cycling. For its mid-range price, you get two fitness machines at the price of one. To put it simply, this machine offers the best of versatility.

When it comes to performance, the Hybrid Trainer offers commercial-grade experience. Looking at its 2016 model, the few changes that come with it make it an elliptical machine to beat in the mammoth market of ellipticals. But is the trainer all rosy as we would want to believe? Time to find out.

  • Product
  • Deals
  • Photos
  • Last reviews
iFit Enabled Top Trainers: iFit brings some of the best personal trainers in the world straight to your screen, making it easy to find the perfect coach for you Global Workouts: Embark on a virtual ...
Start from: $299.00
amazon.com
Last price update: 2019-09-02 21:13:01
NOTICE: The 5 year warranty covers the frame. I can tell you the frame won't break. What WILL break is the tiny little motor. That is ONLY covered for 90 days. I bought mine in August and it's dead. Cost to get a new motor $89. Then after paying 25% of the original purchase price you can attempt to replace the motor yourself. DON'T WASTE YOUR $$$. It did not last even 6 months and they want more money so I can repair it myself.I will never recommend this piece of junk to anyone. I will start taking it a part and putting in the trash piece by piece. JUNK!Read the fine print 90 DAY WARRANTY of cheap equipment.
March 29, 2017
I am thrilled with this product. Package is very heavy (about 125 lbs), so I enlisted help to bring it up the stairs to my den a few pieces at a time. Every piece was carefully wrapped and clearly labeled. I am a 58-yr-old woman with bad knees, and I put this together by myself in 2 hours. Instructions were very easy to follow and parts were clearly labeled. The screws and tools were conveniently sorted and labeled in its own package (see picture). They even included the grease needed. I did need a hammer and scissors at times. It was wonderful to have all the parts, everything labeled, good instructions, and most of all good heavy duty materials. The only thing I'm the slightest bit disappointed in is the cushioning of the seat. It would be nice if they had a heavier padding. It's like sitting on a piece of wood after 10 minutes. The display is easy to read and it has speakers for your iPod or iPad to connect to via proper cable. There are a number of settings for changing the exercise program and tension of movement. The elliptical mechanism is nice and heavy/sturdy and very smooth. Easy peasy to change from biking to walking, and seat adjusts for short or long legs. So glad I purchased this model. It was a big plus that the packaging was as excellent as the product itself. Now I plan to get my knees back in good shape using this machine that is so easy on them.
April 12, 2016
Overall a nice product at a good price. A word of warning on assembly instructions - the implication from the manual and the packaging of the hardware is that the bolts and locking nuts are metric-sized - they are not. They are US 1/2". Using the recommended adjustable wrench would work of course, but anyone with a proper set of sockets or box-end wrenches would naturally use them then discover the metrics aren't the right set. Any serious tightening force could damage the bolts or nuts. Another thing we've learned is rubbing the seat slide track with some bar soap makes it much easier to adjust the seat position.Update: Two weeks after the returnability date a horrible screeching noise developed after a few minutes of use. Tightening anything loose hasn't helped. We're going to take it apart and find some lubricant and see if that helps, but the nature of the grinding sound seems to indicate the tolerances on the parts aren't up to snuff.
November 3, 2017
7.8 Total Score
Great!

ProForm Hybrid Trainer will definitely offer excellent value for your money. Remember that it's a hybrid trainer with a set of great features like the target pacer, great resistance levels, enough workout programs, name it, all aimed at enhancing your performance. Even though it lacks a few features that would have a made significant difference, like a cooling fan or adjustable incline, much of what it packs can still offer a great workout experience for its price. So does this sound like a machine you would not care much to have in your home gym? Well, head over to Amazon, make your order today and wait to watch yourself reach your fitness goals in no time.

Features
9
Durability
7
Adjustability
8
Display console
7
Value for money
8
PROS
  • Two-in-one design
  • Very affordable price
  • Very easy to use and move
  • Durable steel frame
  • Adjustable console
  • Saves space
  • Natural and smooth workout experience
  • Quiet
CONS
  • No 'battery low' warnings
  • Console lacks backlight
  • Bike mode lacks arm bars
  • Limited Warranty
  • No cooling fan
  • Shorter stride length
  • No incline controls

Product Description

ProForm, another reputable fitness brand of our times added a set of quality features to this machine to ensure that you not only enjoy its versatility but also get the most out of every workout.

Before we delve further into the details, note that switching position from cycling to the elliptical function is as easy as pie- fold the footplates to rest flat against the machine’s frame and you’ll be good to go.

So here’s a look at its features in more detail.

Resistance and Incline

ProForm Hybrid Trainer packs 14 levels of resistance making it an ideal option for all categories of users, from beginners to intermediate users and beyond. You can adjust the resistance as you wish which doubles as a great feature for those looking to newer challenges. To ensure a smooth and natural workout, ProForm equipped this machine with a Silent Magnetic Resistance.

Unfortunately, the machine lacks an incline ability although this is compensated for by the fact that you can train while either sitting or standing.

Another important feature in this category is the reversible range of motion. Whether you are cycling or working out on the elliptical part, you can run alternate between forward and backward running motions.

Console Unit

Other than its hybrid design, we all know that a console unit also carries just as much weight in deciding whether an elliptical trainer is worth your hard-earned dollars. For this machine, expect an LCD display monitor and a total of 14 workout programs. Unlike many other consoles, to power this machine’s console, you only need a battery.

One landmark feature is the target pacer. With it, you will be able to easily customize your workout. It features an alert in form of a lighting that flashes to alert you when your pace slows down or goes up. Overall, it’s the perfect feature for assisting a trainer to keep track of their goals.

You can keep track of a number of things on this machine including:

Other amenities included on the console include:

Another great thing about this console is that you can adjust it to your convenience.  Remember that with this elliptical you can either sit or stand, depending on which part of its hybrid parts you are using. So adjusting the console makes it easy to keep track of your workout data.

Build quality

Knowing that the trainer would feature two exercise machines in a single construction, ProForm designed this machine’s frame to be incredibly strong. However, a few users mentioned that the display is so fragile and breaks few months after purchase.

At 145 lbs, expect stability for this machine to be great. Its latest model packs a slightly heavier flywheel that also adds to the stability. If assembled properly, expect maximum stability.

Comfort

With the machine’s solid, inertia enhanced flywheel together with the 15′ stride length, you will find it very easy achieving your fitness goals right from losing weight, burning calories or even adding definition to lower areas of your body.

Its chair-like seat not only adds comfort to the workout but also helps you target your calves, hamstrings, and glutes in a pretty comfortable.

To also ensure comfort, traction, and joint support, the machine packs cushioned footplates that are not only adjustable but also large.

Assembly and Warranty

Unlike the other ellipticals in its class, putting this machine together isn’t difficult at all. If you follow the instruction manual well, it should take you an average of 45 minutes to have it ready. Assembling it has been made easy with the use of pictures in the instructional manual.

Here’s a breakdown of the warranty

Alternatives

Other top performers in this category include the Schwinn A40 and Body Champ BRM3671.

Schwinn A40 and ProForm Hybrid Trainer have the slightest price difference. Looking at the features, it’s a game of compensation. Even though Schwinn A40 only has 7 workout programs and 8 resistance levels (ProForm has 14 resistance levels and workouts), Schwinn A40 compensates for this with the presence of a cooling fan and lifetime warranty on the frame, which the ProForm Hybrid Trainer lacks.

Despite the fact that Body Champ BRM 3671 is priced a bit lower than the ProForm Hybrid Trainer, it’s interesting to note that both machines pack a hybrid design- cycling and elliptical training.  Whereas the hybrid trainer has 14 levels of resistance, the Body Champ packs an automatic resistance system. No significant difference can be spotted when it comes to workout programs.

Overall, these three don’t look like they will be stopping anytime soon from going for each other’s throat.

  • Product
  • Deals
  • Photos
  • Last reviews
iFit Enabled Top Trainers: iFit brings some of the best personal trainers in the world straight to your screen, making it easy to find the perfect coach for you Global Workouts: Embark on a virtual ...
Start from: $299.00
amazon.com
Last price update: 2019-09-02 21:13:01
NOTICE: The 5 year warranty covers the frame. I can tell you the frame won't break. What WILL break is the tiny little motor. That is ONLY covered for 90 days. I bought mine in August and it's dead. Cost to get a new motor $89. Then after paying 25% of the original purchase price you can attempt to replace the motor yourself. DON'T WASTE YOUR $$$. It did not last even 6 months and they want more money so I can repair it myself.I will never recommend this piece of junk to anyone. I will start taking it a part and putting in the trash piece by piece. JUNK!Read the fine print 90 DAY WARRANTY of cheap equipment.
March 29, 2017
I am thrilled with this product. Package is very heavy (about 125 lbs), so I enlisted help to bring it up the stairs to my den a few pieces at a time. Every piece was carefully wrapped and clearly labeled. I am a 58-yr-old woman with bad knees, and I put this together by myself in 2 hours. Instructions were very easy to follow and parts were clearly labeled. The screws and tools were conveniently sorted and labeled in its own package (see picture). They even included the grease needed. I did need a hammer and scissors at times. It was wonderful to have all the parts, everything labeled, good instructions, and most of all good heavy duty materials. The only thing I'm the slightest bit disappointed in is the cushioning of the seat. It would be nice if they had a heavier padding. It's like sitting on a piece of wood after 10 minutes. The display is easy to read and it has speakers for your iPod or iPad to connect to via proper cable. There are a number of settings for changing the exercise program and tension of movement. The elliptical mechanism is nice and heavy/sturdy and very smooth. Easy peasy to change from biking to walking, and seat adjusts for short or long legs. So glad I purchased this model. It was a big plus that the packaging was as excellent as the product itself. Now I plan to get my knees back in good shape using this machine that is so easy on them.
April 12, 2016
Overall a nice product at a good price. A word of warning on assembly instructions - the implication from the manual and the packaging of the hardware is that the bolts and locking nuts are metric-sized - they are not. They are US 1/2". Using the recommended adjustable wrench would work of course, but anyone with a proper set of sockets or box-end wrenches would naturally use them then discover the metrics aren't the right set. Any serious tightening force could damage the bolts or nuts. Another thing we've learned is rubbing the seat slide track with some bar soap makes it much easier to adjust the seat position.Update: Two weeks after the returnability date a horrible screeching noise developed after a few minutes of use. Tightening anything loose hasn't helped. We're going to take it apart and find some lubricant and see if that helps, but the nature of the grinding sound seems to indicate the tolerances on the parts aren't up to snuff.
November 3, 2017