So much has taken place in the fitness industry in recent years but one that still holds much weight is the entry of affordable elliptical trainers. Stamina is a brand well known to many for its low-cost trainers.
Contrary to the popular belief that cheap is actually more expensive, Stamina In-Motion actually counters this view with its excellent quality/price motion. On top of being one of the highest rated elliptical trainers on Amazon, the machine is also one of the most affordable.
The best thing about this trainer is that you can train on it while perched on your seat. It could be your chair at home or your desk at work. Sounds crazy, right? Wait, there’s even more to come. Read on to find out
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Product Description
If you take a quick look at this machine, you wouldn’t think it has anything else beyond a flywheel, foot pedals, and a console. But that’s not all. Stamina In-Motion packs almost everything that a decent elliptical should have.
Resistance and incline
For its resistance, this machine utilizes a friction resistance system. Just below the flywheel, there’s a felt pad connected to the tension knob with the help of a steel cable. Tightening the knob leads to the felt pad pressing against the flywheel which in turns creates more resistance.
Note that the felt-pad is susceptible to wear and tear but to keep it strong and durable, it’s been made thick. That means that it can last several years even if you have a daily workout routine.
With the help of its perimeter weighted flywheel which has been designed to give a decent and consistent momentum, you will still be able to have a continuous pedaling motion without utilizing any resistance.
Fitness meter
In place of a console unit, which is a common feature in almost all ellipticals, Stamina In-motion has a fitness meter. It’s quite basic but it’s able to display pretty every important workout data including:
- Time
- Calories burned
- Distance
- Total number of stride (Count)
Operating the fitness meter is a relatively easy task as it only features one button that controls everything. When viewing this data, you can opt for the SCAN function which is a feature that will help you navigate through all the values by putting each one of them on standby on the screen for a duration of 6 seconds. You can as well go for the function that enables you to view each of the values all the time.
To power the fitness meter, you can either tap the button or it can power on its own when you start pedaling. After 4 minutes of inactivity, the meter will automatically turn off.
Build quality/ Design
Stamina In-Motion’s build quality is pretty decent for its price. The cranks, axle, and frame are all made of steel and solid enough to take tough punishments. As a matter of fact, users weighing up to 250lbs can comfortably train on this machine. On top of the steel frame, we also have plastic shrouds. Hard plastic has also been used to enclose the drive and brake system.
Stability for this machine is taken care of by its front base plate, chassis, and a rear stabilizer that make use of rubberized feet (rear stabilizer) and foam sheet( front base).
Being a belt driven machine, this implies that it’s a quiet machine and you won’t suffer the pain of maintenance especially when it comes to the transmission.
Another great thing about its design is the ability to pedal forward as well as backward.
Comfort
Comfort for this elliptical trainer comes from several features. First off, there’s the sizeable footplates which are large enough to accommodate feet or shoes of all shapes and sizes. On top of that, they feature a ribbed design constructed out of polyurethane material which helps to boost adherence and comfort when one is working out.
Also important to mention is that due to its compact size, the machine is small enough to fit and be stored almost anywhere. You can keep it under your bed, desk or even inside your closet.
Assembly and warranty
From outside, the machine looks so simple but that doesn’t mean it won’t require some assembly. In as much as the drive and resistance system come already assembled, you will have to put together the remaining parts which include the footrests, rear base, and the front gliding plate. With the help of a comprehensive manual and assembling tools, it might take you anywhere between 15-30 minutes to have this little machine ready.
As for the warranty, here’s what you should expect:
- Frame-1-year warranty
- Parts-90 days
Alternatives
It’s easy to conclude that at such a price, Stamina In-Motion hardly has an alternative but that would be a wrong conclusion. Exerpeutic Aero-Air Elliptical and Body Rider BRD2000 Elliptical Trainer are both affordable trainers that come so close to Stamina In-Motion.
Exerpeutic Aero Air and Stamina In-Motion are priced the same but unlike the Stamina In-Motion trainer, the Aero Air comes equipped with dual action workout arms, a console unit, and a few additional workout features. However, they still share a few features like the maximum user weight capacity, footplate design, and warranty. Exerpeutic Aero Air seems to have an edge over Stamina In-Motion but any user who cares a lot about space will definitely go for Stamina In-Motion.
Body Rider BRD2000 also comes in very close but at a slightly higher price. It’s a 2-in-1 machine (an exercise bike and an elliptical trainer) and comes with other advanced workout options not present in Stamina In-Motion. Both are quite popular and so deciding which one to have between the two narrows down to affordability.
