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Our ProForm 20.0 CrossTrainer elliptical trainer review looks at an ingenious elliptical with a wow factor – and it’s under $800.
Yep, for $799 you can get the finest example of what ProForm does best – pack lots of eye-catching features on a treadmill for a very reasonable price.
The 20.0 CrossTrainer comes with a personal trainer program that talks to you and two video games…yes, video games.
So, when you next feel guilty sat back on the sofa playing with your PS3, just jump on your elliptical and workout while you game!
Great concept, but stripped bare of the gimmicks, is the 20.0 CrossTrainer actually any good?
ProForm 20.0 CrossTrainer Elliptical Trainer Review – Features…
However, it’s not exactly a reason to buy an elliptical tainer, though…is it?Now I’ll admit it, I’m not a gamer so the thought of two interactive video games coming with an elliptical doesn’t exactly rock my boat. But then, there are plenty of gamers to whom the concept may well appeal.
You also get an ‘AudioCrossTrainer’ – an audible personal trainer that talks you through your workout, which I guess could be motivational for some. Although somewhat annoying after a while…a bit like your satnav, really!
There are also nine workouts that ProForm claim are designed to target certain areas of your body. I’m not exactly sure how that works as you’re on an elliptical…you can’t start doing crunches or dips, can you!
This is taking the crosstraining theme a little bit beyond the credible for me, as you’ll work your lower and upper body anyway whilst striding and using the hand held levers.
There are a further three personal trainer workouts and two heart rate workouts as well as an EKG heart rate monitor.
There’s a large backlit LCD console that keeps you updated with essential workout information as well as cooling fans, which can get a little noisy…you may struggle to hear the audible personal trainer screaming at you!
At the business end, the 20.0 CrossTrainer has front end drive, which is a departure from the other ProForm ellipticals that we’ve reviewed here that are rear wheel drive.
Front end drive can give a different feel and range of motion to rear drive and articulating pedals are required to maintain a comfortable elliptical stride.
The gel grip pedals are ok, but don’t really come close to the best front end machines, like Sole ellipticals, for instance.
It’s quite a smooth ride, but doesn’t feel as comfortable to me as say, the ProForm 900 CardioCross elliptical, which I prefer.
The 18″ stride length is quite generous at this price, but it’s a shame that ProForm couldn’t stretch to the smooth eddy current brake (ECB) system found on higher priced ellipticals.
Instead you get silent magnetic resistance (SMR)…I’d rather have ECB than the two interactive games!
Overall, this is a pretty solid and stable elliptical once you get past the gimmicks, which for me are nice but uneccessary.
Once the novelty wears off, you’ll wish the money had gone into the build quality or drive system instead.
Again, the warranties are nothing special – still a meagre 90 days – but this machine isn’t bad, it’s just not great.
Our ProForm 20.0 CrossTrainer elliptical trainer review found it for$799.00 with free shipping at WorkoutWarehouse.
ProForm 20.0 CrossTrainer Elliptical Trainer Review – The Bottom Line…
These reviews are always quite tricky, as on the face of it the CrossTrainer 20.0 appears to offer so much for the money.
And that’s the problem as to sell it at this price whilst packing it with some fairly pricey features, corners have had to be cut.
For my money, if you want a ProForm elliptical then forget the bells and whistles.
As our ProForm 20.0 CrossTrainer elliptical trainer review would suggest, the 900 CardioCross is a better buy at $699, or a hands down winner if you can get it at the current sale price of $499.
If you want games and an elliptical that talks to you, then by all means consider this machine. However, maybe because I’m not a gamer it fails to excite me!
Visit WorkoutWarehouse for more information or to check the current price on the ProForm 20.0 CrossTrainer.
