The HealthRider C550e Elliptical – Attractive Looks, Solid Ride

The HealthRider C550e elliptical is a front flywheel budget design that has a solid ride and an attractive profile. It’s not a well-known model; in fact, you don’t come across many reviews of HealthRider elliptical trainers posted online.

The one thing you should know is that the company’s machines are very similar in quality and construction to other brands made by parent company ICON, which includes Proform, Reebok, Weslo, and NordicTrack.

What You Get

The HealthRider C550e elliptical has 5 weight loss and 5 personal trainer programs on an attractive backlit console. These programs are especially effective when used along with the Target Pacer™ display indicator. The Target Pacer is a handy little alert light that comes on when you need to pick up the pace to get in the cardio training HR (heart rate) zone. The full list of specs on the HealthRider C550e includes:

• Digital resistance
• 10 workout programs
• Adjustable upper body handlebars
• 16" stride
• Front flywheel
• EKG™ grip pulse sensor
• Workout fan
• 275 max user weight
• Warranty –7 years frame; 90 days parts and labor

The Word on the Street

UPDATE:  The Healthrider C550E elliptical trainer is no longer being sold.  You can check out our Best Buys Under $500 here.

If you can’t find the HealthRider C550e, then buy the Proform 500f elliptical -- because it’s the exact same machine. Both are made by ICON fitness.

These machines don’t particularly please many discerning experts who remark that they are a bit too noisy, made with cheap components, and come with a short parts/labor warranty. Still, with light weekly use these units do hold up well, which is why the company sells so many of them.

Users find the HealthRider C550e to be a comfy trainer for under $500, with a fairly smooth ride. You should be advised though, that front flywheel elliptical trainers don’t have the true elliptical or oval pedal motion that most rear wheel models have.

It’s not the smooth feel you’ll experience on a high end model, in other words. Yet some users don’t seem to mind the more erect “up and down” pattern of this model’s stride length at all.

Our Thoughts

The looks and standard workout features is what gives the HealthRider C550e elliptical value. We like the attractive boxy cover over the flywheel and the profile that reminds one of more expensive models.

At a sale price of $499, this elliptical trainer won’t break your bank account and it should give you a decent workout several times a week for a couple of years until you outgrow it.

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