Image Elliptical machines

Image elliptical machines are manufactured by Icon Fitness. Icon Fitness is huge fitness Equipment Company with offices in China, Europe and Canada as well as the USA. Icon is known for associating itself with major brand names like Nordic Track, Weslo and Proform. All of these are well known brand names manufacturing elliptical machines, treadmills and other fitness equipment.

One of Icon’s products is the Image 8.5 elliptical machine. The Image model 8.5 elliptical machine is Icon’s latest move into the market.

The Image 8.5 has some serious features and good construction for under $500. Before you start thinking you won’t get much for that price, take a look.

Consider that Icon markets the Image ellipticals as well as brands like Nordic Track, Weslo, Proform and Reebok, so there is a long history of quality. Icon won’t want to compromise that position with a bad egg.

Here is what you get in the Image 8.5 elliptical machine:

• Moveable ski pole style handgrips for an upper body workout
• 6 pre-set iFit workout programs
• LCD console
• Silent Resistance (magnetic)
• Shock absorbers for a smooth glide
• 17.5” stride
• Adjustable pedals for the feet
• Hand rails are arced and flexible for comfort
• Pulse monitor
• iFit Technology
• 90 day warranty

Some of the Image 8.5 design features are unique to the label and provide an excellent first time experience. Trainers have especially liked the flexible, arched hand rails. They absorb shock better and provide cushioning to your joints better than most other elliptical machines; even those in higher price ranges. Five different foot pedal positions make the Image 8.5 a good choice for multiple users.

Durability

Durability has been an issue with some trainers however. It has been reported that the Image 8.5 doesn’t stand up well under regular every day use. Trainers who reviewed the Image 8.5 have questioned why added great features while shorting consumers on pre-set programs as only six are programmed in. Other elliptical machines in this same price range offer up to twelve pre-set workout programs.

Users that purchase the Image 8.5 elliptical machine enjoy taking advantage of the iFit workout programs, which is a feature normally reserved for higher end machines. User reviews also noted the extreme comfort of the arched rails and adjustable pedals, which, it is reported, give it a customized feel right from the start. One downside is there are frequent complaints that this machine develops problems relatively quickly. Often in need of repair, the 90 day warranty doesn’t seem to be sufficient.

The Image 8.5 has good and bad points about it, like anything else. The warranty is the weak point at just 90 days. Other brands offer warranties of up to 10 years on frames, 2 years on parts and some even add 1 year labor.

From reviews, it would seem that this machine isn’t durable under regular use, so the warranty could be better. A strong point is the addition of the upper body workout portion with the arched hand rails and the iFit programs. This provides a customized full body, low impact workout, good cardio and fat burning for weight watchers.