The ProForm 790E Elliptical with Power Intensity Ramp

The budget priced ProForm 790E elliptical is a front-drive trainer that offers a Power Intensity Ramp allowing the user to increase the incline during the exercise to isolate muscle groups in the glutes, quads, and calves for faster toning and fat burning results.

What You Get

With 18 performance workouts, 6 weight loss workouts, and the iFit® card slot, the ProForm 790E elliptical has the most programs you’ll find on a budget machine. You can monitor your workouts using the heart rate sensors built into the handlebars that display your HR on the ClearView™ display console, which also shows time, distance, resistance, and calories burned.

Other features of the ProForm 790E include:

• 18" Stride Length
• 24 Programs
• 20 Digital Resistance Levels
• 25-degree Power Intensity Ramp
• Silent Magnetic Resistance™
• iFit® Workout Card Technology
• iPod® Compatible Music Port
• Intermix Acoustics™ 2.0
• Dual grip EKG™ Heart Rate Monitor
• Upper body workout arms
• Oversized pedals
• CoolAire™ Workout Fan
• 325 lb weight capacity
• Warranty: lifetime frame, 1 year parts & labor

UPDATE:  The 790E is no longer being sold and has been replaced with the all new 720E elliptical trainer.  You can check it out here.

The Word on the Street

The ProForm 790E offers a nice mix of workouts and entertainment thanks to an iPod/mp3 plug-in slot, and ability to accept iFit workout cards, each of which offers a pre-programmed 8-week progressive fitness course to get you in shape (additional purchase required). Another nice feature is the 25-degree Power Intensity Ramp that allows you to adjust intensity on-the-fly without interrupting the workout.

Knock off about 100 pounds of the 325-lb weight maximum and you get a more accurate measure of what size user can comfortably use the 790E. Most of the weight capacities of ProForm machines seem to be over-rated, and larger reviewers have remarked on the “wobble” factor of these trainers.

In addition, elliptical reviews have not been kind to ProForms for other reasons besides the lack of stability, such as the plastic overall feel of the unit, and poor quality. You may be that one in five or ten customers that gets a great machine and never has a major problem, but why take the risk when there are better choices out there?

Our Thoughts

The ProForm 790E elliptical (MSRP $1,099) is usually on sale for around $699 to $799, but there’s nothing special about it to recommend. If you can afford a little more, check out the Spirit EL models or the Sole E25, each sells for $999.

We also recommend that you read our review on the exceptional Schwinn 431 elliptical which is value priced at $599.

Research these three alternatives and you’ll see that they have better warranties, tougher commercial quality components and structural frames, articulating footpads, and each offers the quiet and smooth ride you’re looking for.

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