Precor EFX 5.23 Elliptical Crosstrainer Review

Next up – our Precor EFX 5.23 elliptical review. Let’s have a look at this offering from top end maker Precor. Precor are firmly established as the premier elliptical maker and for good reasons. This one has been a regular on the Best Buy lists but does it live up to that billing?

Review Summary:

Full Review

In case you are tired of your run-of-the-mill elliptical trainers and are in the market for something more innovative and versatile, you might want to take a close look at this elliptical Crosstrainer which is intended to take your workout to the next level by providing a dimension to your exercise some other elliptical trainers aren’t able to – or so they say!

According to the manufacturer it will significantly increase the effectiveness of your cardio and muscle toning exercises. The EFX 5.23 Elliptical is fitted with both moving and fixed handlebars which gives you the option of choosing what kind of workout fits your current exercise plan best. Be careful when choosing your Precor machine – some have static handlebars only, even the expensive ones. I must admit I’m not a fan of static only handlebars, why settle for half the workout?

Similar to other elliptical trainers, the computer console is mounted in the middle to provide you with all the vital information regarding your workout. Additionally, it is loaded with numerous pre-set workout routines which you can choose at a touch of a button.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmUuIDby5XQ

Recently, elliptical trainers have gained a wider acceptance among the workout enthusiasts, with Precor establishing itself one of the leaders in the home fitness industry. They decided to go with the production of commercial grade fitness equipment which proved to be a sound decision and the one that allowed them to find success on the market.

They don’t do cheap ellipticals – focussing on high quality only. One of Precor’s flagship models is the EFX 5.23 elliptical trainer, which stands head and shoulders above many competitors in this price range.

What’s So Special About Precor Ellipticals?

The first thing you notice with any model from their range is the build quality. The frames are designed well and constructed with high-strength tubular steel. The sturdiness and durability is instantly apparent and these machines will be able to take any punishment you can throw at them – perfect for high intensity training. They are all gym quality trainers.

Unique Technology Helps

This is a sophisticated machine using some really clever innovations to stand out from the competition. All the moving parts are controlled by the built-in processor that employs Precor’s patented Smart Rate Technology in order to measure your heart rate, and, if you provide it with your age and weight, this machine will be able to calculate the optimal workout zone for you, and it will help you stay inside that zone while you exercise.

All the information is fed to you via the LCD panel, which also monitors your progress and displays vital information, such as the number of calories you have burned, the number of strides and the distance you have traveled.

The Precor EFX 5.23 Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer is crammed with latest technology that allows for unparalleled low-impact motion as well as workouts which target specific muscle groups.

The first in line is EFX’s low-impact motion technology which minimizes strain and stress on your muscles and tendons because your heels are in a much more natural position on the pedals than on some other elliptical trainer units.

The second technology implemented by Precor is their CrossRamp System, which allows you to calibrate the machine by putting it in one of three available positions (low, medium and high), as well changing the angle so you can work on specific muscle groups.

The EFX 5.23 Elliptical also comes with holders for your water bottles and various accessories, such as portable music players and so on.

Features and Specification of the Precor EFX 5.23 :

• Assembled Dimensions: 76 by 29 by 62 inches (L x W x H)

• Equipment Weight: 183 pounds

• Foot Pedal Dimensions: 7 inches wide by 15 inches long

• CrossRamp® Technology: manual

• Ramp angle: variable positions, 15°, 20° and 25°

• Handlebars: moving, for total-body workout

• Reversible pedal rotation

• Accessories holder for drinks and portable music players

• Resistance levels to choose from – 16!

• Console Type: 4″ x 3″ LCD

• QuickStart system

• Preset programs: 8 – Cross Trainer, Fat Burner, Gluteals, Heart Rate, Hill Climb, Interval, Manual, Weight Loss

• Number of programs: 8

• Electronic readouts: Calories, Distance, Heart rate, Program profile, Resistance level, SmartRate®, Strides per minute, Time

• Touch Heart rate and Telemetry monitoring (chest strap transmitter required)

• SmartRate® technology

• Lifetime warranty on frame and welds; five-year warranty on parts; one-year warranty on labor

What Do Others Say?

As always, we started by going through user reviews of the Precor EFX 5.23 Elliptical trainer posted on various online outlets to analyze the customer’s feedback. Even though they are helpful, the only way we could know for sure if the EFX 5.23 is any good, was to test it out first-hand.

We managed to find one (my local gym) and run a series of tests. It was already assembled so we can’t tell you how difficult it is to put to together but if online user reviews are anything to go by, you shouldn’t have too much trouble assembling one right out of the box. Most people can manage to put together these machines when they take their time!

The motion was incredibly smooth, and we couldn’t feel any stress on our joints or muscles. You can really feel the quality as soon as you step on this machine.

The only slight disappointment was that we found the trainer’s console was somewhat lacking, especially if you consider the price of the machine. It does its job well but it could do with some more features, like the ability to store data so you don’t have to enter it over and over again for each workout. Being a bit fussy here – there’s not much of a downside!

Other than that, there were no major flaws with the Precor EFX 5.23.

Pros:

• Sturdy, durable construction usually found on the more expensive units

• Tubular steel frame

• Tremendous resistance range

• Manual CrossRamp

• Extremely smooth motion

Cons:

• Computer is not able to store data, so you need to enter data each time you work out

• Does not allow for custom workouts

The Summary:

Our overall impression of the Precor EFX 5.23 was very favorable. It has some minor flaws, but nothing you couldn’t live with every day. Really, the only things that might put you off buying this model is the price tag and the fact that the Crossramp incline is manual on this model. For the fully automatic version of CrossRamp you need to step up to the Precor EFX 5.25 – worth it in my opinion.

This level of trainer does not come cheap but remember that you really do get what you pay for. But keep in mind that this is still the lower end of the Precor price range – if you want to dream, have a look at my EFX 835 review.

This isn’t a machine for the occasional user. To get real value from an elliptical in this price range you really need to be a serious user – every day vigorous training. If it is quality and added technology you are after this machine can definitely deliver. Precor are hard to beat as a brand and this model is one of their more moderately priced machines – yes they go up quite a bit! Definitely worth a look for serious elliptical users.

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