Stamina InMotion E1000 Compact Lower-Body Strider Elliptical, Orange

Like so many before me, I bought a piece of fitness equipment and I hardly use it. Sigh. That's part of the reason I didn't want to invest too much in my first in-home fitness equipment, so I'm glad I bought this for under $100. I've had it for many months, and I've got nothing against this machine. It works the way it's described, and when I do use it I really like it so I wouldn't sell it - I expect I'll use it again in the future. It really is just like an elliptical trainer minus the handles or console. The stride isn't as large as a gym's machine, so I don't think a very tall person would like this as much as I do (I'm 5'5"). I've mostly used it standing up, and you can get yourself a bit dizzy if you're not used to it so I recommend you place it within arm's reach of a wall. Or you can plan to use it while holding on to something if you prefer. I like to touch the wall when getting on/off but I can use it easily without support otherwise. The seated style of using it - which is what I was most interested in since I sit at my home office desk all day - didn't work out for me. I can't lift my legs high enough when it's under my desk so for a while I kept it beside my desk so I could swivel in my chair towards it and use it unobstructed. After a couple of weeks I had to move it though. There's just not enough room in my office for a large machine on the floor next to my chair all day. If you're using it while seated be sure to familiarize yourself with the machine - read the manual - so you understand it has to face one way for standing and the opposite way for seated use. If you hope to fit it under a desk, you'll probably need a writing desk without any drawers or a keyhole desk with plenty of legroom. In other words, you need height to move your legs properly. If you just sit in a chair and use it (facing the right way) it'll be fine. It offers resistance control, but of course, this is hard to adjust since it's on the machine and I'm standing 5+ feet above it. So I found a setting that makes it challenging but not too much, and I just leave it there. I pay attention to the display to track time or number of strides. Again, it's far away and in the wrong lighting I can't really see it. But you can always just use a clock in the room or a watch to track your time using it. It's heavy for me so I wouldn't want to move it around on a daily basis. It's better if you find a good place to use to it regularly. But if you lift it by the T-bar handle support, it's not hard to move, especially if you're someone stronger than me. This is a sturdy quality machine for way less than a regular elliptical trainer would cost. And it takes up way less room too. I'd recommend this to someone buying their first piece of home fitness equipment, someone who has very little space or someone older or disabled who would use a seated machine anyway (like a recumbent bike) because you can save lots of space and money buying this instead. I think it would also make a fine addition to a home gym that already has a treadmill and weight bench and you want cardio variety but don't have room for another large machine. As another reviewer said, the lack of handles or console forces you to pay attention to your workout and engage your core. I don't know if a major gym rat would be impressed. I think it's better for the low-mid range fitness enthusiast, not the marathoners and weekend warriors. But I'm in the low group these days, so what do I know? ;) If/when I buy a new desk or rearrange my office I'll try it again as a seated trainer - moving your legs on this thing while seated has got to be better than sitting still, right? In the meantime, I'll try to get re-inspired to use it as a standing machine more often.

I bought this mini-elliptical after reading all the reviews on this and other similar products. I bought this item for three main reasons: 1 - Low price 2 - Small size 3 - Portability I like the elliptical movement because I have bad ankles, and treadmills and steppers hurt me after a short time working out. I don't have room for a full-size elliptical machine in my house, and this turned out to be the perfect size. Plus, it's small size made it easy to move around the house to be where I wanted to use it. I like to work out while watching TV to keep my mind elsewhere and work out longer, and I can pull this machine (about 25lbs) in front of the TV in the living room to watch TV with family (yes, they laugh at me, but it's worth it), and then pull in front of my bed in the bedroom to watch a chick flick that no one else wants to watch. I even put my elliptical in front of my computer to watch Netflix movies online! It's easy to carry around. Another great thing is that, because it's small, it is MUCH cheaper than a regular elliptical machine so, even it it only lasts a year or two, I can buy another one and still have not even come close to half the money I would have spent on a regular machine. Sure, it doesn't have the arm movement, but I find that no handles makes me work my core by staying balanced (really not very difficult, haven't ever fallen in the 2 months I've had it), and I can even carry small weights to really work my arms while I'm doing the cardio workout of the elliptical. I like the computer that tells you how long you've worked out, how many steps you've taken, and how many calories you've burned. Simple and straightforward. Another great feature: it's incredibly quiet to use! The best thing about this is that it is easy to stay motivated, because I can watch TV anywhere and still use it, and I don't have to go outside in the hot California sun to work out! It's really a great machine, and a real value for the money. I used Super Saver Shipping to get mine, so I get a great workout several times a week for the price of a couple of months at the gym and without the hassle of driving somewhere just to work out. I love it, and recommend it to anyone that wants to get in shape!

I've had my elliptical for a little over a month, and I don't think a day's gone by that it hasn't gotten at least an hour of use in our household. Most days, it sees around 2-3 hours of use. We primarily use it while seated, but my partner has put in several hours on it standing. We each weigh ~140-150 lbs. Pros: Easy set-up, operates smoothly, has a really good range of tension. You don't really feel like you're working out while using it seated, but after the first 10 or so minutes, you start to get sweaty, and if you don't stretch after using it, you'll KNOW about it the next day. I was surprised to feel it in my abdominals -- it really is working your core as well as your legs. It's relatively quiet, it's light enough that we can move it around the house to use it in different spots, and as long as you've got your core engaged, it doesn't move your upper body very much, meaning that you can easily type, play video games, etc. while using it. Hand-writing while using it is trickier; it'll make your script look like you're writing on a turbulent aircraft, but it's still doable. Cons: It does make noise after a while. Ours started to squeak, scrub, and rumble after maybe 10 hours of use. It isn't the end of the world, and the noise isn't awful -- my partner uses the elliptical while she's on conference calls with work, and her colleagues have reported that they can't hear it -- but it's not like that when you first start using it. It's near silent at the start. Overall: I like this thing because it helps me hit my step goal each day without getting in the way of watching movies or playing video games. My partner has sworn undying love to it and uses it whenever she gets the chance. If you want a heck of a workout, use it standing. Your quads will scream at you, and you'll get your abs in on the screaming when you hit the point that you really do need something to share the burden with your quads. If you want more of an endurance training long-term sort of workout, use it seated, and mind your posture. Sit up straight and watch your abs and hamstrings and quads all come together to let you know they're there. Absolutely recommended. This is a great little machine at a great price.

4/19/17: Up front, I must say that I've only had this device for three days. That said, I've been very satisfied thus far. I will be sure to provide an update down the line for its longevity and function. I've commented elsewhere, but I will provide all the details of my experience thus far here. Background: I'm a 42 year old 6' 3" male, weighing over 300 lbs. I am Diabetic, and have nerve pain in my feet (neuropathy), suffer from planar fasciitis pain due to a high arc in my feet, and extreme tightness in my calf and leg muscles. I bought this device for two purposes: 1) As a segue to exercise (I haven't had a good workout regiment in decades). 2) Increase circulation in my legs and hopefully improve the tension and stress in my feet. Positives: This thing is super easy to use. You simply sit and pedal (or "stride" as the proper term would be), and adjust the tension to your liking. If you stride slowly, you can go for a very long period without much impact to your breathing. A faster pace will allow you to feel more of the exercise after about 5 minutes, and gain a nice heat. Crank up the tension and speed and you will certainly break a sweat! However, I'm at work, so I'm not looking to be huffing and puffing in my cubicle to the fear of those around me, so I maintain and low-to-mid tension and only a moderate pace. Negatives: My height (6' 3") and under desk clearance (28") do not allow me to use this directly below my computer. I have to put it off to the side of my U-shaped desk and consciously use it as a separate operation. I can still get some work done via use of my mouse, but typing on the keyboard is not convenient. That said, I cannot hold the device accountable for this setback however, because in bringing it to work, several other people have tried it out, and those shorter than I (mostly the ladies here) are able to use it perfectly fine without their knees getting close to the underside of the desk (we all have the exact same desks). Unknowns (further observation and research required): The foot pedals may be too large and at an odd angle. They allow for my size 13 feet to rest on them very nicely, with room to spare. However, I notice that while striding my feet tend to slide forward on the pedals, and soon my toes are pressing against the front lip of the pedal. In turn, this cause me to start "tapping" my toes on the forward stride and creates a rhythmic sound that I don't want chattering through the office. I don't know if my posture is correct or not, but I want to use this and not have to adjust my chair. After all, it took me some time to get the chair adjusted to my exact desired sitting position, and I sit in this thing for upwards of 8+ hours a day, so I'm not changing that now. What I've tried so far is to bring in two dish towels and rolled them up and placed them at the front of the pedal for a duel purpose padding and sound absorber. Since my feet are large enough to reach them, my toes rest on the towels and they keep my feet from sliding forward. The angle of a persons legs and position in a chair suggested in the owners manual seems uncomfortable and incorrect in my opinion. In order to not strain my feet from pointing forward like a ballerina, I sit more forward and above the device than the instructions suggest. I will continue to monitor and adjust my position as best I can. The readouts on the digital display may be way off. I want to track my progress via the number of steps that I'm doing, as that is a more universal measurement that all people of the exercise world understand. Therefore, tracking the # of strides doesn't help me (unless I can figure out a proper conversion method). The time spent on the device doesn't matter to me because I am not trying for time as much as distance. The calorie count does not seem (thus far) to be accurate for me, and in their defense the company states that it is a guesstimated number. Finally the distance count would be the best indication of steps for me, as a simple 2000 steps = 1 mile conversion is applicable. HOWEVER, when using my phone's step tracker (keeping it on my leg to sense the movement) and comparing it to the readout of the dial, there seems to be a HUGE difference in distance traveled. After striding continuously for 1000 steps on my phone, the phone tracked the distance as 0.43 miles. The device said I went 3.3 miles. I know that there are different conversions for various devices, and perhaps I don't have my phone set to the proper type of equipment I'm using, but that is a big difference. I should also say that my phone is finicky with it's tracking. Since I'm sitting down and not moving my arms, if I hold the phone, or move it from my leg at all, it stops counting steps, or skips forward after long pause, but for less steps than I feel I just took - hence why this is also under "unknown". Further research and study is needed. Another possible issue will be the position of the wheels that roll on the plate. Mine are slightly off center from each other, with one riding closer to the edge of the baseplate than the other - and the base plate does not have much give when loosened and retightened to even them up. Others have reported that they continued to slip to the side on their machine, so I will monitor the development of this issue as well on mine. Thank you if you've read this far into my ramblings. I am very excited about this machine and I truly do hope that it helps me in more ways than one! I will update my findings down the line here after about a month in.

My boss tasked me with finding a way for our office, almost all cube dwellers, more active and engaged in a healthier life, but of course we still have to work. I found this, and so far I could not be happier with it. It fits under my desk, and in the four days I have tried it, I have already done over 50 miles. The first day I did 17! If you put your feet on the pedals, you just automatically end up moving your feet - the movement is addictive. You pretty much totally forget you are moving. It is totally silent, and your upper body moves very little (a coworker says my chair does a small "wiggle, wiggle, wiggle). I talked to several people stopping at my desk, and they had no idea that my feet were pedaling away. And yes, you can work up a decent little sweat if you are really going at it. On mid-level resistance, my legs got tired and I can definitely feel the muscles have worked, but I am not sore at all. Likewise, even with the limited movement, I can feel that my abdominal muscales engaged as well. So now the word is spreading in the office, and everyone is coming around to try it and almost everyone wants one under their desks too. I wish I was getting commission on all of these I have probably sold people on this week! When you sit for 8-9 hours a day, any movement is better than none by far. I love that you can stand on it as well it you want to tug it out and move upright for a few minutes, which really engages the core muscles and the rear end. For less than $100 this thing cannot be beat. There ARE a couple of negatives and things I would change. I haven't even looked at the monitor. We wear Pebbles for a work sponsored fitness program which tracks our movement and we get rewarded with a small amount of money when we reach goal so I have used the app for that for tracking. To check it on the machine would mean needing a flashlight and climbing under my desk to see it. It feels a LOT heavier than the stated weight, and is cumbersome to move, even slightly. There is no handle. How I wish it had a simple handle built into the top and wheels to make it easier to move! It is solid, heavy and cumbersome. Other than those two small weak points, the machine is awesome. My desk is 28 inches high, and it works fine with absolutely no room to spare. Anything lower than 28, and it won't work. We've tried it on lower desks in the office, and legs hit the bottom of the desks. We are then suggesting the FitDesk Under-Desk Elliptical to people. It says it will work with desks as low as 25". We are getting one of those for the office tomorrow, so we'll see. It is quite a bit more at $169, but it has features this one doesn't that some people might like, and it has the two features fixed that I don't like about this one.....wheels to move it with, a handle, and a readout you can place on your desk. But you cannot use the FitDesk one while standing, so its a trade off. I love this thing so much I'm considering buying a FitDesk Under-Desk Elliptical (for the reasons stated above) for work and bringing this one back home where I can use it in my home office/workout room. I seriously enjoy using it that much. I figure if it lasts a year that will be awesome. For how much it is giving me for less than $100, I'd buy one every year if I needed to.

I have had this for less than a week and I both love it an hate it. Good stuff: Easy to put together Solid: On the love side, it feels like a well-built product and I can actually get a workout at work. Good exercise: When I first get to work, I put my sit-stand desktop in the standing position, raise my monitors as far as they will go on their stands, and it's the perfect height for me to work and walk/glide at the same time while I work (I'm 5'7" - see the pic for the setup). I can do this using a moderate resistance for about 15 or so minutes before I start to feel too hot and I have to put it down so I can sit and pedal and expend less energy (don't want to be sweaty at work). I've provided pictures of my desk setup in case you'd like to know how this works. Fun, helps concentration, makes me more efficient - to a point: I've found that when I'm sitting at my desk and peddling away I can concentrate better. It is both fun and mesmerizing. If I'm not peddling and I get tired, I start peddling and am immediately able to focus. The "to a point" comment I'll address below when I get to the negatives. This keeps me at my desk. I have a high need for activity and I get fidgety if I sit for too long. That can lead me to leave my desk and wander. This keeps me at my desk working longer so I get more done in less time. Keeps me warm: I'm also someone who is always cold, but this week. Despite the fact that I can tell the entire floor of our building is cold when I get up and leave my office, I no longer feel like I have to close my office door and turn on a heater. Usually, I am wrapped up in lots of clothes and now I am in just one layer essentially. That is very nice. Summary of benefits: In addition to getting some moderately strenuous activity in the early morning, less strenuous but pretty constant movement the rest of the day, there are a lot of benefits I hadn't even thought of. Some negatives: CLUNKING: It doesn't happen when I am standing to use the elliptical, but after a few minutes of use when I'm sitting down it starts clunking. The clunk gradually gets louder and louder. I've adjusted the position, the tension, tightened the peddles, etc. and nothing seems to stop it. While I first thought it was coming from one of the peddles, I now think it's coming from inside the wheel. It happens when I peddles forward or backward. It gets so loud that I worry about disturbing people in the surrounding offices so I have to stop using it or try to slow down, but slowing down doesn't seem to lessen the clunk, it just makes it less often because the wheel is rotating less quickly. The clunking is what provides the "hate" part of this review and what I was referring to above when I said it makes me more efficient "to a point". I spend so much time trying to stop the clunking or figure out why it's happening and then just stop peddling because of it. Calorie counter: I'm pretty sure the calorie counter is VERY generous as I'd be losing weight like crazy if I were burning anything like the number of calories it says I'm burning. I don't really care as I didn't get this for weight loss and don't count calories, but if that's something you keep track of you shouldn't trust it. Today I peddled for 38 minutes before the clunking bothered me so much I had to give it a break. Only 17 of those minutes were done standing with a higher resistance/tension where I actually "worked" my legs/cardio a bit. It says I burned 383 calories. I don't think so. Summary of the bad: The clunking seems to be escalating and it makes me have to stop using it. I don't trust the calorie counter. Neutral, but good to know Desk Height/leg room: I have a 33" inseam, and the distance between the floor and the underside of my desk is 2' 4 1/2". I get another inch by having my sit-stand pulled out beyond the edge of my desk (see pic with the side view). If I don't wear heels, this works find and there is enough leg room for me. Therefore, I can peddle without a problem. Others at my work have tried it and had less success due to drawers under their desks, keyboard trays under the desk, and lower desk height. Desk depth: if you're using this on the less deep side of the desk, you're likely to be reaching far for your keyboard and squinting at your monitor or making the resolution huge unless you have a way to extend the depth as I did. Chair: I found that my normal desk chair is not a good option with this. There are two problems with normal desk chairs. First, the base is not wide enough so when I pull in close enough to reach my keyboard comfortably, it's really hard to place it in such a way that the peddle does not hit the leg/wheel of the chair. Second, since it has wheels I find that I slowly and unintentionally push back from the desk so I'm having to regularly pull back in and readjust. I've switched to one of the chairs in my office that was for guests. It's a bit too low, but it's better than the alternatives that I had available. Portability: As another reviewer wrote, while I can move this by myself, it is not lightweight and getting it to the office was awkward. NOTE: In the attached pictures I show the standing setup, but I didn't take the time to turn around the elliptical as it is supposed to be for standing. I was using it in the sitting position and just pulled it out a bit to show the positioning, but if I were actually using it in the standing position I would need to flip it around as the instructions state.

I love my little elliptical. For several years prior to this purchase, I have been unable to exercise (cardio) in more traditional ways due to an old back injury, compounded by being overweight and years of CNA work, moving and lifting (sometimes heavy or combative) people. Now my body has had enough and has let me know! I love exercising, but it is a struggle to just be able to walk through large stores anymore without my back locking up and spasming, forcing me to have to sit. I had tried doing other things like finding 'sitting' workouts on DVD for people in my situation, but there aren't a lot out there and I have had to modify traditional workouts and get really creative. BUT, with some Christmas money I got this last holiday season, I was able to purchase this elliptical stepper! It's been just short of three months and using this elliptical has drastically changed parts of my life. I am now able to sit and do EFFECTIVE exercise, without pain! It feels really good to be able to work hard and not have to worry about standing, spasming, or hurting my back while I exercise. This is a pretty tame piece of equipment for more able-bodied folk, but for me, it has been wonderful. In the last 11 weeks, I have lost 25 lbs and have gained a lot better mobility and balance. I started small in the first weeks, doing five to ten miles per sitting. Last week (in one week), I was able to pedal a total over 76 miles! It is pushing my limits and has made some future goals which previously seemed unreachable feel a lot more possible. I have a lot further to go, but I feel better knowing that I don't have to leave my house or join a gym where I can only use a few machines; I don't need to do anything more than pull up a chair in my living room, turn on music or a movie, and consciously and intentionally work toward push myself forward. Like any other tool, it is how you use it. It has a dial that you can use to adjust the resistance. You can 'coast' and just lightly pedal, though you are not out in nature (unless you like to take this machine outside), getting to enjoy the benefits of a real bike taking you somewhere. If you are wanting an effective workout for improving your health, endurance, and strength, you can adjust the resistance and pedal hard enough that you are raising your heart rate and burning calories! For every five miles, the elliptical estimates that you burn around 200 calories. And if this is your main means of exercise like it currently is for me, I suggest you invest in light weights or resistance bands, so that you can also work out and tone your upper body, too. I also like it because my husband works at a library and goes to grad school and when he comes home, he doesn't really want to work out because he moves books all day or has been hunched over a computer screen writing papers. But I have found that in the times here and there he is able to play video games (he plays multi-player games online with old friends who live across the country), he gets on my elliptical and it has helped him some too to be more active. So the time he is playing online and interacting with friends is even more gratifying and well-spent! Which makes me a happy wife! *My only minimal complaint at this time is that sometimes the elliptical will randomly start to squeak or feel a little more than the set resistance. But then it goes away, which seems weird. I have never stood or beared weight on it more than sitting in a chair and resting the weight of my legs/feet. I love this machine and if this is a simple fix, like tightening something or oiling something, I would love to know! I would recommend this machine to anyone at any level of fitness. This was made for people who sit at a desk all day long, so they can pedal under their desk, which makes this perfect for a variety of people and their needs. It may be super beneficial for elderly people who aren't able to live at their previous level of activity due to health challenges (nursing homes or homebound) and they could just sit and do the simple act of pedaling; keeping them busy doing something that benefits their health and strength. Or even if you are just a young person who loves a lot of Netflix and could stand to improve your physicality with a tiny bit of effort while you 'chill'....maybe get side-by-side ellipticals for you and a friend to 'Netflix and pedal' together....however you choose to keep the romance alive... Anyway. Fantastic machine. I can't rave about it enough. When the one I have someday wears out, hopefully before my legs do, I will be purchasing a replacement. It has become a place of happiness, self-care, and accomplishment. And who knew you could get ALL THAT delivered to your door for under $90 with Amazon Prime? What a fabulous, practical, and economical life we lead.

Needless to say, with my 165-pound weight loss, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this machine, but as others have pointed out, it's not perfect, and there is certainly room for improvement in a future model. Grab a cuppa while you read about my pedaling adventures ... After decades of fluctuating between "skinny years" and "fat years," a serious bike accident in 2003 left me almost immobile with daily chronic, severe pain, limited mobility and energy - and tipping the scales at 310 lbs. I spent 5 years experimenting with different at-home exercise gadgets in search of something that I could do comfortably within my mobility and energy limitations and still burn up enough extra calories to make the scale move. Balancing ergonomics with while-you-type exercise gadgets proved challenging because of the clearance required to accommodate the circumference of most pedaling/stepping devices. The lower pedaling circumference of the Stamina portable elliptical machine allowed me to have the best of both worlds. I put it under my desk and pedaled while I worked, at a medium tension, mostly at a 5-7mph rate, off and on throughout the day (not constantly, just whenever I thought about it). I also watched TV while at my desk, so during those times when I would be watching a show or a movie and not needing to focus on work, I would increase the tension a bit and pedal faster, maybe 10-15mph. I averaged about 30 miles total each day on the machine (IMO, the mileage setting is a more meaningful gauge of progress than strides or minutes), taking into account that I spend a minimum of 10-12 hours at the computer each day. Most of the time it would take the entire day to get the 30 miles, but during my occasional "movie marathon" sessions, I could easily put in 20-25 miles per movie, and my all-time record is 75 miles in a single day (3 movies plus some computer/work time). :) The very first month I lost 8 pounds, WITHOUT CHANGING MY VERY BAD EATING HABITS AT ALL! That was the catalyst I had been waiting for, for so long, and I finally got my motivation to start focusing on my diet as well. I changed my eating habits over the next few months, gradually transitioning to mostly healthy food choices as well as paying attention to portions. After 10 months I had lost 80 pounds, and up to that point, this machine was my ONLY form of (aerobic and/or calorie-burning) exercise! This machine was a life-changer for me. When I first got it, I was living with a roommate in a loft-style cottage, and my bedroom, bathroom, and office were upstairs. My 24/7 chronic pain was so severe that I often had to go up and down the stairs sitting on my butt, because my knees couldn't handle the stress, and I got too winded if I walked up the stairs. I also couldn't stand for more than 10 minutes or walk more than a block without being in excruciating pain or feeling very winded and totally out of breath. But I could sit and pedal (and work) all day - yay! As the scale continued to move downward, my chronic pain and windedness eventually subsided enough to incorporate other exercise into my daily routine, such as lifting weights, walking (usually with walking poles, and only for a definite purpose, like doing errands), and riding my (outdoor) bike (my favorite thing in the world to do). But through it all, I continued to pedal while I sat at my desk. I also continued to tweak my eating regimen, gradually moving toward a 95% healthy, whole-food diet that is mostly an even mix (1/3-1/3-1/3) of (healthy) fats/protein/carbs (mostly low-starch carbs), with occasional "anything goes" splurges. During this whole weight loss journey (began June 2011; lost 165 pounds by June 2013), I have also gone through multiple stints where, due to various injuries, I was unable to engage in any of my usual exercises or activities. I had several falls in the snow during the harsh winter that left me with multiple injuries (including a torn rotator cuff, severely sprained ankle, and bruised knee), and I also fell down the stairs (spraining my ankle in three places), as well as fell while running on the MetroLink platform (falling full force on my knee). While waiting for my body to heal following each of these injuries, I was unable to walk (outdoors) or ride my bike, and in most cases unable to lift weights or put a lot of weight on particular body parts. But in all but one instance (the badly sprained ankle), I was still able to use my portable elliptical and continued losing or at least maintaining my weight while I healed, so it saved the day more than once! As others have pointed out, though, as WONDERFUL as it is for my purposes, it is not a perfect machine. I have had a GREAT experience with both of mine, with no problems whatsoever (I eventually got a second one to use elsewhere in the house, which I just sold, because I recently moved and don't have room for it in my new place). I have enjoyed three years of blissfully quiet operation, with no noise issues whatsoever until very recently (July 2014). However, after some exploration, I discovered it was because one of the nuts underneath the stabilizer bar had come loose, and after I tightened it, the noise went away. That being said, after all this time, if I do end up encountering noise or other operational issues which hinder its use or quiet enjoyment, rather than bother with the expense and hassle of a hit-and-miss approach to identifying and replacing parts, my personal choice would be to simply buy a new machine. That's just me. In my opinion, the $90 I spent for 3-plus years of trouble-free and quiet operation to GET MY LIFE BACK was money well spent, with no regrets, and I am happy to do it again. I will always be in love with my elliptical, and I believe it will always have a place in my health and wellness regimen! That being said, I do wish that they would design the machine in such a way that it was EASY to (1) figure out which part is having trouble and (2) take the machine apart to lube and/or replace a troublesome part. Given the fact that SO MANY people have had issues with noise or breakage, this should be obvious to the designers. I plan to write to the Stamina folks to let them know about it, and I would suggest others do the same, because customer feedback does have sway with folks who care to listen, so it's always worth a shot! RECOMMENDED FOR SITTING DOWN ONLY! After taking into consideration what so many other reviewers have said about their experiences, I think I would ONLY RECOMMEND THIS MACHINE FOR USE WHILE SITTING DOWN, because if you read through the reviews, although some of the "sitting only" folks have had issues as well, most of the folks who have the most serious issues of breakage or noise or other trouble after a short while are using it while standing. I really don't think a machine of this design, at this price point, can be expected to withstand that kind of weight and pressure over the long term - it's just not robust enough to do that. But sitting down does not put pressure on it - it's just a movement, which does cause some wear and tear, but nothing like pounding on it with 100, 150, 200 or more pounds of pressure for hours every day. Also, if you do use it sitting down, it's VERY IMPORTANT that you turn it so that the oval metal part is FACING you and the bar is farthest from you (you can pop the LED display off and turn it around so that it faces in the right direction if you do that). If not, you could risk causing a lot of pain and possible long-term injury in your ankles, because they will be flexing too much if you try to use it in a sitting-down position with the machine facing forward. Try it both ways, and you'll see the difference. One commenter pointed out that you need about a 27-28" clearance under your desk to avoid your knees hitting the top of the desk. That is pretty much correct for conventional desk arrangements, but I have found, after much tweaking, that what works better for me is to have a higher desk, with a 34-35" typing surface and a bar-height task chair. I also prefer to use the elliptical with shoes on, because I can use it at a higher tension setting that way - with my shoes off, I find I have to keep it at a lighter setting in order to be able to push off, and I don't think I get as effective a workout with too light a tension. I am 5'6" high, so I don't know how well this would work for shorter folks. Also, with the higher desk surface, I can occasionally use my computer while standing up, which is also a healthy thing to do. It's easy to create a DIY desk of this height by placing a piece of wood or old door on top of some of those 3-tier cubbies you can get from Target, Walmart, etc. I also have a non-slip grid thing that you put under rugs ($2 at the dollar store) which I put under the elliptical to keep it from slipping out of place. I have recently moved to a new apartment and once again have a temporary setup. My bar-height task chair broke, so I adapted my standard-height chair to be a little higher until I can get a proper bar-height chair, which I prefer. I also plan to get some other pieces and parts for my workstation that will work with my new decor. Meanwhile, while not the most aesthetically pleasing sight, this temporary setup does the job beautifully. I have posted 2 pics of it in the customer images section, so check that out if you're interested. NOT A FAT "TORCHER," BUT DEFINITELY A FAT "BURNER"! If you are looking for a machine that will "torch the fat" in a short amount of time, this is not going to be it. You are NOT going to be burning as many calories per hour in a sitting-down position as you would standing upright, so temper your expectations accordingly! At my typical 5mph pace, I estimate that I burn calories at roughly the same rate as a "leisure" bike ride or walk - about 150-200 calories an hour. If I'm going at a faster speed or higher tension, I am sure it's higher than that, but for purposes of calculating my daily calorie burn so that I can align it with my food intake, I always err on the side of caution and estimate in the 150-200-cal/hr range. I've actually converted my calorie-counting for the elliptical based on total mileage rather than clock time, just to make it easier, since that is all I really keep track of, being that I use it off and on throughout the day and don't keep track of my actual pedaling time. So I guesstimate that I burn approximately 30-35 calories per mile at my 5mph rate (on medium tension), and I bump that guesstimate up to 40-45 calories per mile if I'm going 10-15 mph on medium tension (which I will do if I'm watching a movie) or 50-50 calories per mile if I'm going 10-15 mph at a very high tension. Based on my weight loss-to-calorie-deficit ratio, I think I have been pretty accurate with those assumptions. So, basically, I'm burning, on average, around 1,000 EXTRA calories a day WITHOUT having to dedicate additional time to exercise or going to the gym - just doing my normal activities that I would be doing anyway. How cool is that! EVEN AT 5MPH, IT CAN STILL HELP BOOST YOUR METABOLISM! If you are looking for something to use for "dedicated," sustained, serious aerobic exercise several hours a week, this machine is not the best choice. If saving space and portability are issues, then I would suggest some other machines that can fold up and go in a closet or under a bed when not in use, but which provide a greater range of motion and calorie-burning yield. I think the best use for this machine is NOT for "dedicated exercise," but instead, for "multitasking exercise" - in other words, a way to burn calories while you're doing something else. Although it's certainly not a "calorie torcher," the machine serves a GREAT purpose if you are looking for something that can facilitate burning extra calories while in a sustained sitting position and simultaneously engaged in other activities. In addition to using it while I am at my computer, I used my second elliptical for other activities. I would slide it under the table in the kitchen or dining room during my lengthy once-a-week or once-a-month food prep sessions. So, unlike many folks who end up with swollen, aching feet after standing in the kitchen for hours, I would burn calories instead and have no aches or pains! I also created a configuration in my bedroom where I propped it on the side of my bed, with a DIY vanity setup (with large mirror) across from (the side of) my bed. I would then plop my blow dryer, curling iron, hot curlers, and makeup on my bed and sit there on the bed and pedal while I did all my morning primping. This worked great during a short stint when I decided to work as a temp outside of the house for a few months (and thus needed to primp every weekday morning), until I decided I'd had enough of temping. :) I would average about 5, sometimes 10 miles during my "primping time" and 10 to 15 miles during the food prep time. TONE WHILE YOU PEDAL! I also like to add a little extra oomph to my pedaling, so once or twice a week I will also use my Suzanne Sommers Thigh Master gadgets (I still have the originals from 35 years ago!) WHILE I AM PEDALING. I have both the original one that you squeeze IN as well as the other one that came along later that you squeeze OUT. I don't actually squeeze them in and out repeatedly (as you would typically do) while pedaling - I just place it between or around my legs and hold it into position while I pedal, for maybe half an hour, and then I'm done. I also sometimes wear my 10-pound leg weights (reduced to 8 pounds after removing two of the sandbars that were hurting my shins) at the same time, and I will keep those on while I walk around the house for a few hours each week. All of those things not only helps to burn more calories, but it adds toning at the same time. BURN FAT WHILE YOU EAT! This is one of my favorite tips for getting the most bang for your buck on multiple levels. I was excited to discover a scientific reason to actually validate the health and weight-loss benefit of what I used to see as a mere distraction. So here's the deal ... I'm sure many of you are aware of the fairly recent movement touting the benefits of "mindful eating," and one tip we hear a lot in that vein is to actually take a break and sit at a table and remove all other distractions while you eat. I totally get while that is a great idea ... for SOME folks. But I have had a very dysfunctional love-hate relationship with food for most of my 61 years. I inhale my food at warp speed, and even with my wealth of knowledge about how and what to eat for optimal health, I still struggle with portion control and eating SLOWLY so that I don't get too full too fast. Perhaps one day I will win that battle and be able to sit down at a table for 20 or 30 minutes and slowly savor and chew each bite a gazillion-billion times before swallowing. But meanwhile, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, and I prefer my Plan B eating strategy - CREATE A DISTRACTION so that the food is a footnote rather than the main event. Enter my elliptical machine and TapTiles! A few years ago I purchased an HP Envy TouchScreen computer with Windows 8, which came with TapTiles installed. I am SO IN LOVE with and SO ADDICTED to that game! I discovered it was the PERFECT accompaniment to my meals, because it is fast-paced, requires concentration, and is timed in such a way that I have the perfect interval pace between each bite of food, and while I am definitely ENJOYING my food, I'm not solely focused on it, and not wolfing it down, which is the most important thing. And the end result is that I feel full at the appropriate time and don't overeat, which is wonderful! But on top of that, I am pedaling the entire time, usually at a faster rate than I normally go, because of the adrenaline triggered by playing the game. I do this for 15-20 minutes, until my meal is finished, and then I've had my game fix, my food fix, and some great exercise, and I'm ready to get back to work. And recently I have discovered another GREAT benefit to doing this... Last year I purchased The Sugar Blockers Diet, which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND as a tool in your weight loss arsenal. I found that it basically validated my already existing eating regimen, but with the help of the book, I made some minor tweaks to really take my weight loss/maintenance/health to another level. One of the recommendations in the book is to go for a 20-minute brisk walk IMMEDIATELY after eating, because this engages your large muscle groups and sends the message to your body to BURN the energy you have just consumed rather than store it as fat for future use. So by pedaling briskly on my elliptical while playing TapTiles as I eat my meal, I am accomplishing my ultimate goal of making my body a very efficient fat-burning machine. Yay! Of course, this diversionary setup of eating/gaming/pedaling is easily doable as a singleton, and I realize it might not be so practical if you are accustomed to eating with other family members. Social eating is its own pleasant distraction, so that serves a purpose as well and is certainly preferable to eating alone - it just doesn't burn as many calories. :) I love that I have found a no-brainer way to burn calories while I work, thereby eliminating ALL excuses for incorporating exercise into my day! Based on what we've been hearing for so many years (and are still hearing) about the need for X minutes a day or week of sustained aerobic exercise in order to lose or maintain weight, I'm guessing many people will be skeptical of how it's possible to lose weight while SITTING DOWN and PEDALING LEISURELY at a snail's pace of just 5mph. I want to first emphasize that if you ONLY put in 5 miles over the course of the day, you will not see noticeable results - remember that I'm putting in 30 miles per day, even if it takes me 10 or 12 hours to do that! The reason I get results is because I am burning more calories ALL DAY LONG by moving more than I would be if I were just sitting sedentary at my desk. Science has proven that if you sit (still) for 20 minutes, your metabolism starts to slow down. But if you move while sitting, you counteract that problem and not only burn more calories in the process, but you keep your metabolism elevated (even if only slightly) all day long. Every little bit helps! Studies have also shown that breaking up your exercise into multiple smaller increments is not only just as effective as doing it all at once, but in many cases, it can be even MORE effective, because it recharges your metabolism. Of course, it's important to remember that you can't exercise away a crappy diet laden with pizza, colas, and cookies. But if you combine this with a healthy diet, it's a win-win situation! BUT DO REMEMBER YOU STILL NEED TO GET UP OUT OF YOUR CHAIR! One final thing I do want to say about exercising while you work, though, is to point out that while this DOES, indeed, count as EXERCISE, and it's GREAT for (lower body) circulation as well, it is NOT a cure for excessive sitting. We hear a lot these days about how sitting too long or being sedentary, whether at a desk or watching TV or for any other reason, is killing us. What we don't often hear is the caveat that there are TWO reasons for that. Incorporating exercise into your sedentary activities certainly helps to address one concern in terms of exercise. But it does not address another important concern - and that is the pressure on your organs from sitting, which is also killing us. Even if you did this for every waking moment that you were sitting, you could still be destroying your organs if you sit too long. So you still need to be mindful about that and try to get up at least once every 20 minutes, even if all you do is stand and sit right back down. It's not only great for your metabolism, but it relieves the pressure on your organs. You will also find, if you use this machine a lot, that you will need to do that anyway, in order to give your legs a break and loosen them up a bit, because it's no different than any other sustained activity, such as bike riding, skating, kayaking, rowing, or other similar activities - you will feel stiff and achy if you do it for a long time without a break. So take a break periodically and shake it out! Stretching helps as well! I still have about 30 pounds to go before I reach my goal weight, and I plan to do a blog and some videos about it at that point, because I have incorporated a lot of creative and healthy ways to lose and maintain weight without having to go hungry or feel deprived or spend hours each day in the gym or doing dedicated exercise. Using this little gem of a machine is just one of numerous strategies I've employed in that process, but I credit it with a HUGE part of my weight loss success, and I am so thankful I discovered it. I literally think it saved my life, and it certainly gave me my life back in terms of quality of life, the way it used to be before the bad bike accident. There are numerous tips I plan to share about how to get the most out of using it when I get my blog going. THANK YOU, STAMINA - I love you guys! Oh, and one more thing to add to my wish list for any potential new model: I would LOVE it if you could include a REMOTE/PORTABLE digital display that I could put on my desktop, so I don't have to peak down into the dark black hole under my desk every time I want to see how far I've gone. Just sayin' :) Karen :)

Update (Mar 10, 2021): Still a good machine, no cranking sound, running smooth. Just a quick note if you consider adding a cadence sensor. I installed a Magene S3+ sensor to pair with my Oculus Quest for VzFit. The Magene is quite low profile, but since the clearance is narrow, it barely fits. You need to find a good spot for it so it does not rub as much AND to be detected properly. So at the end it works with the sensor but it makes a rubbing sound. That's one thing to consider if you are thinking of installing a sensor) If you are younger and very active, you probably will find this boring and useless. This equipment is good for: - older folks - people with temporary or permanently limited range of movement - people who work at desk a lot I bought it for my parents in their 70s to keep them moving. They recently retired, and with the pandemic + winter weather, they tend to sit a lot playing games on the tablet (yes as we get older we turn back into kids again!). They do play VR games (!) which work on their upper body. This machine on the other hand will work on their lower body and core. It is rather heavy when fully assembled, so pick a place to put it together and leave it there. Carrying it around is possible but not fun. Assembly manual is reasonably easy and understandable. I put it together myself in less than 30 mins. All parts including screws and L-wrench are included. One thing I have not figured out yet is the counter seems to be upside down. There must be a way to turn it? lol (Update: Oh! You just pulled it out, rotate it, and put it back) The counter shows exercise duration, calories, steps per minute, and total steps. One press to cycle, long press to reset. It is very quiet when in use. You can hear the whirling, but very minimal and not distracting. We can watch TV and have conversation normally and can hear each other. No squeaking sound at all that was mentioned by some reviewers. Movement is very smooth. Find the right chair with the right height or you might move awkwardly. The resistance can be adjusted with a dial. It is non-digital but I don't find it an issue. I tried standing on it. While it works, I don't recommend it to older people. Unless there is something secure to hold onto, it could be dangerous. My husband and I are enjoying it as well. I find it really works on my thighs, and if I sit right it works on the core too. After using it a while (especially after my husband as he uses a high resistance level), I do smell a bit of burning smell. Time to get some lubricant spray. Maintenance is important to keep it working.

[EDITED] re music license in the UK - see cons I will note both Pros and Cons First of all, Why did I want a compact elliptical trainer? in 2023 I had a 'knee replacement' due to arthritis. I had to wait 2 years for the operation (yeah I know NHS is fabulous but one does have to wait if going private is not an option). During my wait my doctor recommended I use a pedal exerciser (I wondered why given I was already bone-on-bone so thought this would aggravate the issue; but it did not as it kept the knee from seizing up so much - I have since learnt that for early onset of knee arthritis [which I now have in my other knee) pedal type exercisers help the existing cartilage to not wear so quickly due to encouraging cartilage molecules to the top layer [or something very similar]. So this time around my doctor gave me exercises and recommended a pedal exerciser. I did not want another that kept moving during use so something a bit more substantial was my choice; hence the stamina in motion e1000 compact elliptical. Pros A) Having researched compact elliptical exercisers on the internet for some time I noted this particular one was recommended by physiotherapists as being well made and lasting for years in a professional setting. Having arrived at my door it most certainly looked and feelt very well made B) At 25lbs weight and having both a metal pad with a softer non slip pad and two sturdy pads on the other end means the unit does not keep sliding away during use - something I had to contend with for 2 years before finishing with a compact pedal exerciser costing about a fifth of the price of this unit. The unit does not have a handle on the top but the long bar at the front is used to lift and move the unit. Carrying the unit upstairs was, I have to admit, a bit of a work out in itself (mind you, I am 70 and have Knee Arthritis - which is why I have purchased this unit in the first place) C) The unit can be used in both sitting and standing positions - I will not be using this in the standing position very much but I have the option whenever the mood takes me (being a compact elliptical it means the stride length is short and at 1m94cm[6ft4in] I found standing was not for me yet - maybe when I have toned the legs a bit I may give it another shot. D) The upper weight limit is a max of 250 pounds which is a little above 17st or 110 kilos approx - great for, I expect, the majority of senior aged people E) The MUUV app is somewhat helpful - see cons below or further clarification. In addition you can link MUUV to some smart watches, it sends data to my health area which is very helpful for me to monitor what is going on E) Easy to put together (back plate 2 bolts, front bar 2 bolts, 2 foot plates 2 screws on each). The unit comes complete with necessary tools too (thumbs up for that). It took approximately 8 mins to put together, check and slap my feet on the pedals for my first sitting work out F) The display can be turned so it can be read whilst sitting and perhaps whilst standing (since one has to 'turn around' to use the unit when standing on it; but I personally have no wish to look down whilst trying to keep my balance and would not recommend anyone else to do so). Cons A) I wanted an elliptical with an App to help with exercise routines. This unit boasts free access to muuv (which appears to be free anyway). However, the unit does NOT have bluetooth so one has to set the unit up manually on the app (it is listed so no problem there - of note so are the other coloured ones which do not show muuv on the amazon advert). HOWEVER once selected and using the default workout routine showed that they do not 'talk' to each other. This caused an issue for me in that when the coach says increase to, say, 100 steps per minute I have no way of knowing if I am actually pedaling at 100 cycles per minute unless I count for myself: OK I managed that one BUT when increasing to 140 steps per minute with a very short cycle step it was impossible to count accurately. The app also boasts playlists and radio music to choose to listen to whilst exercising - this did let me choose what I wanted to listen to but did not actually play anything - possibly this is only available in USA and not in the UK (which would have been nice to know to start with). [EDITED] Muuv did clarify that it does not hold a license to play music and podcasts in the UK, so if you like this type of think you need to set it up independently. However I can still use the coaching app to some extent which is helpful overall. This also means that muuv can be used with any compact elliptical if you wish, if your unit is not listed choose the stamina e1000 :) B) The calorie count on the stamina e1000 unit does not agree with the calorie count on the muuv app. Which is the more accurate? Anyone can take a guess on that one. The calorie counter is actually important to me since I want to blow 400 calories a day using this device. It may not be accurate on either the unit or the app but it is a measure I want to use as a baseline for my exercising. One slight disappointment I have to note is that the price dropped by nearly £20 a day or two after purchase (literally just after the unit was dispatched so I could not cancel then). I know I can send this unit back and order another at the new lower price but I will not since this was shipped directly from America and I honour my purchases as it were. All in all I am pleased with this unit and look forward to using it daily to help with not only my arthritic condition but a little bit of cardiovascular exercise as well (after a 26 minute workout going from 100 to 140 and back to 100 every minute my thighs were burning slightly, my brow was moist and my heart was exercised gently and I blew more than 400 calories according to the unit - all positives :)

Great quality, works really well and is much cheaper than its more advertised competitor.

I wondered if a small, scaled down exercise machine was worth anything. (I too have seen cast off equipment at garage sales) Working at home in a smallish apartment (10 steps from bed to office) made something like this necessary, both for my health and living space. I used to own and use a treadmill daily, and loved it... But nothing can match that, functionally. I compared some of the twist steppers and finally settled on this, because the steppers didn't seem to have a lot of range of motion or "fun" in the activity. (Yes I know, static exercise is only so much fun, but I consider ease of approachability, sustained use, simultaneous reading or TV while exercising, etc) I was surprised. This device is whisper quiet, works up a light sweat, and really smooth and comfortable to use. There is more range of motion than any stepper, and it gives your hips a bit of motion. You can use it sitting down or reclining if you are convalescing or just want to burn off some extra calories on the couch. When I say whisper quiet, I mean it. The rubber wheels are sound deadening, you make much more noise walking around. Your washer and dryer are dramatically louder than this. Your fridge is probably louder than this! I am very sensitive to making noise, and even though I live in an upstairs apartment, I would have no problem using this device at any hour day or night. The range of stride is definitely not as long as a full size elliptical, but you will get about 10" of motion out of each step. The resistance dial does not have a huge range but you don't need to set this device very high to get payback. Note that you might get friction-based squeal if you tighten it up, because it uses a belt to tension the drive wheel. Slightly annoying but still not as loud as you might think. The little computer is very basic, but as functional as you really need. It counts the steps, distance (in miles), time and estimated calories burned (I wouldn't give that last one much thought, it can't be calibrated to your weight or heart rate so it's a little bit of a guess). It's a nice motivator to do a little more (what? I can't stop at 930 steps! Let's make it an even 1000!) To my eye it appears the green, orange and black (that has a differ t number though, 55-1610) are identical devices. Get the cheapest one. The ONE con I have with this thing is that there's no handle on the top. For something like this that is fairly portable, yet that has a bit of weight to it, it should be easier to grab and shuffle from room to room.

Item is very useful & excellent