ProForm 850 SpaceSaver Elliptical

Don't expect a major piece of gym equipment here but for the last few weeks I've had it I've had no complaints. It took me about two hours to assemble it - with some help - and most of that time was spent identifying the various screws. I only use it three times a week for about half an hour - so I'm not a heavy/power user. The unit is not as stable as your gym's machine - but it doesn't wobble too much or make a lot of noise. The motion is pretty smooth and overall it's quiet (I use it on a carpeted surface). So for the convenience of its folding I think it's worth it. It's very easy to fold and wheel around the apartment. The display isn't that great but serviceable and the fan isn't really that impressive but it's fine for basic stuff (clock). I'm suspicious of the calorie and carb readouts. I haven't tried any of the programs yet because I prefer the "manual" mode. I'll update this review if it craps out on me but so far so good.

Be very careful when deciding to purchase from Pro-Form based on their stated warranty: I purchased a SpaceSaver 500 based upon the product packaging, which listed a 10-year frame warranty and one-year parts and labor. When I got the thing fully out of the box and dug the instruction manual out, the warranty there claims a 90-day parts and labor, with the customer having to either (1) pay for an on-site visit, or (2) pay shipping both ways to return a defective part for depot repair. I called Pro-Form to ask, and after about 15 minutes on hold and a couple of hand-offs to other people, a fellow in "marketing" said that all their frames now have a ten-year warranty (once he said "lifetime"). I asked him to either send me something in writing or point me to the warranty coverage statement on their web site, he couldn't do it. Seems to me they're counting on customers to figure it's not worth the time and effort to return such a heavy, bulky item when they find out their warranty is other... Read more

The unit is specifically set up to just meet the max weight UPS will ship, and the box gets chewed up because of it, make sure you are home to inspect the package and reject it if you have any concerns. The unit comes unassembled and I cannot remember how long it took to put it together but figure a couple of hours. It is reasonably well made but if you are say 250 or more don't count on years of service. It does not come with a wall power supply which is irritating but the batteries seem to last 6 months. The movement is fluid and somewhat natural and I have no trouble getting a good work out. I like the machine, The range of motion is a little short but since I am 5' 8" its fine. Moving it around is not a problem for me, but someone smaller might find it difficult. Just realize, even though it folds, it is still pretty big, 3' x 2' x 5.5', luckily I have a large closet nearby.

This unit is excellent for the money. The construction is rugged enough for someone like myself who said "supersize me" a few times too often. It doesn't wobble under load, and offers very quiet and smooth operation. The space-saver feature is a real plus for me - I have a tiny house, and it easily folds into a small footprint - width 26" x 40" folded, and 66" unfolded. The front rollers make it possible for one person to move. The instrument panel works well - basic, functional resistance controls and a few decent training programs (I get rather amused by the marketing features that makes some of these machines boast about having a zillion programs, which are often fluff, or unusable). Assembly took me 4 hours, working alone - the instructions were the most clearly written I've seen in a long time. If you've ever changed your car's oil, you won't find any challenges here. I was able to get it into my house with the aid of a 2 wheel hand truck - two people (or opening the box ... Read more

The ProForm is delivered COMPLETELY disassembled. It is over 150 lbs. of small, medium, and large parts. The instructions state that is takes 2 technicians to assemble the machine. I called a ProForm sales rep. who informed me that it would cost about $200 more to have it assembled by technicians. I was so angry about the deception (There was nothing written on the internet about it being unassembled.)that I returned it. I am a frequent internet shopper, but this was a complete bait and switch.