Epic Fitness Equipment

Epic Fitness is a division of ICON’s luxury brand, FreeMotion Fitness. It’s a step down from the premium FM Epic line, which features machines for commercial use; Epic Fitness products have lower price tags and are sold for residential use.

This is a relatively small line of fitness equipment; there are just three treadmills (all of which are incline trainers) and a few strength training products. For the extensive lineup of FM Epic equipment, see our FreeMotion Fitness review.

Special Features of Epic Fitness Equipment

ü  Affordable – Epic treadmills and strength training machines aren’t quite budget models, but they’re relatively inexpensive and offer good value.

ü  Good quality is a hallmark of Epic Fitness. For instance, their treadmills are made with durable motors and above-average rollers to help extend track life.

ü  Great warranties also characterize this brand. The View 550 treadmill, for example, is sold with a lifetime frame warranty, a 12-year motor warranty, and a year of labor. Epic also offers a 30-day trial period and will refund the purchase price minus return shipping and a 10% restocking fee.

Another Epic Brand Advantage: Extras

Epic’s home treadmills include extras to make workouts more diverse and the whole experience of exercising more enjoyable. Special features include power inclines, flat screen TVs, iPod ports, high-end speakers, and iFit Live.

iFit Live, which is available with the XTr Treadmill, uses wireless internet technology to enhance workouts. Users can upload their data to iFit.com to get personal training, find nutrition advice, and virtually compete in 5K races with Facebook friends. Members can also download exercise videos from the site.

Epic Fitness Equipment Lines

Incline Trainers/Treadmills – Epic’s three treadmills can be used flat or inclined up to 12 degrees to increase calorie burning and specially target the glutes, quads, and calf muscles. Each model has a 55” or 60” long walking surface and can support speeds up to 12 mph.

• The View 550 is often considered a best buy in the home treadmill market. Most notably, this durable machine mixes TV with exercise. It includes a 7” color TV, an integrated speaker system, and an MP3 port for music-powered exercise sessions. Combine those features with the 28 built-in programs, and this machine will keep most people motivated to work out!

The View 550 also has patented cushioning, a workout fan, and a quiet 3.0 HP motor.

• The 600 MX Treadmill is simpler than the View 550, but it packs in some nice features. It has handlebar-based heart rate monitors, a workout fan, a 0 – 12% incline, and special cushioning. Compared with the View 550, it has a shorter track (55” instead of 60”) and half the workout programs. Its 2.5 HP motor is sold with a 12-year warranty.

This machine also has a SpaceSaver design, which means that the deck can be folded up for storage.

• The Epic XTr is the lowest-priced treadmill in Epic’s current lineup, but it features 34 built-in workout programs, optional iFit Live, a powerful 3.0 HP motor, and a number of other attractive features.

This machine may be less durable that the View 550 and the 600 MX. It has a lifetime warranty on the frame and motor but just a one-year warranty on other parts. Still, compared to the other models, it costs less and is more enjoyable to use.

Strength Training – Strength training equipment can be used to strengthen and define arms, legs, and the core body (the abdomen, back, chest, and shoulders). Epic manufactures two strength training machines for home use: the S83 Power System and the S75 Strength Training Machine.

• S83 Power System – This Epic product is advertised as a commercial-quality gym. It includes 400 pounds of resistance and has seven workout stations: Standing Squat; Calf Raise; Pivoting Pulleys; Free Motion Press; Leg Developer; Curl Bar; and Low Pulley for the arms. The unit is 73” long and 70” wide.

• S75 Strength Training Machine – This machine’s special feature is its digital coach. This lets beginners and more advanced athletes benefit from being walked through their exercise routines, and it even counts reps! The S75 has 200 pounds of weights and nine workout stations including a military press, a rowing station, and a low pulley.

For the more extensive FM Epic equipment line, see our FreeMotion Fitness review. The commercial FM Epic line features highly specialized workout stations, military presses, Olympic weight and bar sets, Beauty Bells, and other strength training equipment.

Drawbacks of Epic’s Fitness Equipment

Customer service – While FreeMotion Fitness gets great reviews for customer service, the Epic division does not. Customers have complained that agents are not helpful and sometimes do not return calls.