90 of 92 people found the following review helpful.
By Jon Preston
I took the plunge and bought this trainer for my home gym. I have tried numerous machines and found that most ellipticals have a few drawbacks. They are great for reducing impact, compared to a treadmill, but usually constrain movement to a fixed motion. Other than being able to vary the stride length a couple of inches on a few models, they all have exactly the same motion, over and over. It was difficult to find one that fit my gait, and at the same time be suitable for my wife who is only 5 feet tall. Actually impossible would be a better description.
This machine is unique, and should be in its own class of truly variable elliptical training. The stride can be ANYTHING you make it; from stepping to full running gait to a pedaling stride. It even allows a backward pedal stride if you want to really mix up the routine. The machine doesn't control the gait. YOU do, and you can vary it any time without touching any electronic controls. You'll need to try it to really understand.
We have over 20 machines in the home gym including a nice treadmill and stationary bike, but we just about need a sign up sheet for using the AMT in my house! We all like this machine. The price was steep, but this machine will get a lot of use, and the value we get from improved fitness is priceless. A cheaper machine that is more difficult to use was an option, but in the long run a more expensive machine that will actually get used is the better option.
The quality of the design and fabrication of the machine is excellent, and it should last for many, many years with only my family using it.
Very highly recommended!
A follow up after one full year of use: Every member of my family uses this elliptical trainer, so it has seen about 15-20 hours/week of use. It has been 100% reliable, and other than occasional cleaning has needed no maintenance. We remain completely satisfied with this elliptical trainer, and it remains our best investment in cardio training. The variable stride/gait of this machine allows virtually any user to get the most from this machine, and will allow you to work around soreness if necessary.
41 of 41 people found the following review helpful.
By David Zielinski
This machine rocks! My gym has 4 of these machines in addition to tons of ellipticals, treadmills and bikes - and I use it exclusively. I have been a life-long runner/triathlete, but after my second ACL reconstruction I had to give up running. With the AMT I get as close to a running stride as I can hope for with no knee jarring impact. It creates a natural stride that allows me to go easy with a shorter stride or harder stride that can stretch out. Even though ellipticals are low/no impact I have never been that pleased with the motion - it always feels limiting.
In addition to the run stride, I grab the two stationary handles in front (which also measure heart rate), lean forward a bit and get the same motion I do on my bike when I get out of the saddle for a hill climb. I will vary between the stride motion holding the moving handles and the climb motion holding the stationary handles and burn through almost as many calories and get my heart rate up like I used to running on a treadmill on an 8 setting. You can also do a good stair climbing motion but I don't normally work it that way. The machine also has nice resistant settings so I can crank it up when I'm climbing to simulate a serious hill and ease it down to a bit for the run stride.
If you can afford to buy this you will not be disappointed - hands down this the best cardio machine I have ever used. If you belong to a gym, lobby them to add this to their equipment. And especially if you love to run but had to hang up your shoes due to bad knees, this may just give you back some of those endorphin highs you used to get on a nice 5 mile run. Nice job Precore. (and no - I am in no way affiliated with the company).
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful.
By Dawn
I'm not one of those people that love to exercise (gag). However, I am one of those people that have incorporated exercise into my life over two decades ago. I exercise five days a week and try to throw in 3 mini sessions of weights. Nothing major--just trying to keep the ol' bones greased. Years ago, I bought into exercise making the difference in the quality of the last 15 years or so of my life. Seemed like a fair trade. I want to do more than "get myself dressed" when I'm 80. We'll see.
I was on a business trip in San Jose a few years ago and the hotel shuttled me to a local gym. That is where I first saw the Precor AMT. I remember going back to the hotel and emailing my husband and best friend that, "I'm in Love." Back then, the Precor AMT was not a staple in the gym like it is today...it was introduced in March of 2006, but they didn't start showing up until a little bit later (I have actually seen them at a couple Hilton Hotels--one in San Diego Marina and the other in Paris de Gaulle Airport Hilton). I remember reading reviews (some on Amazon) and it was like everyone that had tried the AMT had the same reaction. Had I of read some of the reviews before trying one for myself, i would have thought, "oh please...who paid for that review?"
So began the laborious process of purchasing one of these bad boys. And if you are even remotely considering such a purchase, you need to understand a few things before you begin. The selling/buying of professional grade used exercise equipment can be as ugly as the used car business. Who'd of thunk. Twice, I looked at a "RMA" machine! I think RMA is the right acronym. Basically, Precor buys back a piece of their equipment and determines it unsafe or unrepairable (very much like a salvaged car title that can never be financed) and assigns it a RMA #. This follows the serial number around forever. I looked at one in a retail shop and was looking for the serial number when I discovered it had been scratched off. That was odd. I assumed it was probably stolen. The next step I took was probably the best step of all. I called Precor. Precor should get the Customer Service Satisfaction Award for being such a huge company that still has time and people to deal with the little folks, like me. They are awesome. I contacted a representative and he basically held my hand through the whole process...and when the day finally came when I actually had one of these in my exercise room, I sent him a picture and it was a quasi-celebration or sorts. He was simply remarkable. Anyway, after supplying Mr. Precor with about a half a dozen serial numbers, I finally felt comfortable and was ready to make a purchase. Not only will Precor tell you whether it is has been basically determined unrepearable by Precor, they will also provide you with the warranty/repair history of the equipment! Everytime Precor has a major design change, they actually notify all of the owners (gyms usually) and each and every one of these get upgraded or retrofitted with the new part, and then documented into a database. I felt like I was adopting a baby with all the stats I had on mine...and trust me, I went through some frogs first!
I'm not going to go into too much detail on the nightmare I had with some of the people in the business that were in my neck of the woods. Suffice it to say, I ended up buying one on the East coast and I live near Sacramento, CA, and there are two places in Concord that aren't worth me writing about. I would love to say how awful they were to me and the empty promises and cr*p I went through, but I don't dare want to give them any business by mentioning them either! I ended up finding Fitness Brokers USA on Amazon, and as crazy as it was to pay someone over $4k, sight unseen, over 3000 miles away, well, it was just scary. Noel Roby was top notch though and was very responsive to my questions, emails, and concerns. He knows the business well and had no doubt believed what I had been through with this ordeal thus far. I am so glad I made that call and didn't give up because of my failed attempts with the two outfits in Concord, CA.
Yes, the Precor AMT is expensive. And if you are one of those folks that have purchased exercise equipment in the past and it turned into a clothes hanger, don't buy one of these. But if you have been going to the gym for as long as you can remember and just know exercising is something that you will always do, save up your money and go for it. It wasn't easy getting the Precor AMT, but it was worth everything we went through and worth every penny!
Dawn
Product Feature
- Unique commercial-quality cardio and muscle toning trainer allows you to adapt to your movement on the fly
- Contra lateral arm movement for natural motion reflecting the way you naturally move
- 0 to 27-Inch stride length, 4 programs including fat burner, heart rate control, interval and manual
- Hand held heart rate monitoring with compatibility for wireless monitors
- 350-Pound maximum user weight, 7-year warranty on frame, 2 years parts, 1 year labor
Product Description
User-defined cardio. The AMT provides workout variety and freedom of movement, making it a cardio floor essential. Users of all ability levels will love the low-impact, functional movement of the AMT.
Product Detail
- Amazon Sales Rank: #324014 in Sports & Outdoors
- Brand: Precor
- Model: PHFCA1000210EN
- Dimensions: 69.00" h x28.00" w x74.00" l,445.00 pounds
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