Weslo Fitness Equipment

Low-priced Weslo fitness equipment is designed for beginning athletes. In the words of parent company ICON, these products help people take their “first steps” toward a healthier life. Many people who start out with budget Weslo equipment upgrade to another brand within a year or two.

Weslo sells stationary bikes, elliptical trainers, and treadmills for residential use.

Special Features of Weslo Fitness Equipment

»  Low cost is this brand’s main appeal. The bikes, ellipticals, and treadmills all have MSRPs under $500.

»  Attractive design – These fitness machines look modern, streamlined, and attractive overall. Their frames are the color of brushed nickel, and they have bright accents in trendy colors like aqua and sage green.

»  Compact size – Compared with machines that have more features and higher capacities, Weslos take up little space. For example, the Weslo Pro CrossWalk 7.8 Treadmill has a relatively short 50” tread belt, so it’s about ten inches shorter than many of its competitors. These machines are also rather lightweight and easy to transport.

Weslo Fitness Equipment Lines

Treadmills – The brand’s current treadmill lineup includes just two models, the Cardio Stride Plus and the Pro CrossWalk 7.8.

• The Cardio Stride Plus is one of the most inexpensive treadmills on the market. It has a very simple console and just two workout programs. The arm handles are stationary. Nice features include three incline positions from 13% to 20% and a foldable SpaceSaver design.

• The Pro CrossWalk 7.8 has movable arm bars to provide a full-body workout. It has six built-in workout programs, a fan, and a heart rate monitor. Special cushioning is designed to reduce the impact on joints by about 20% compared with road running.

Elliptical Machines – Elliptical machines or cross trainers simulate walking and running without putting undue pressure on exercisers’ joints. This can help to reduce the chance of impact-related injuries.

Weslo features three elliptical trainers for home use. All are priced for budget-minded consumers, and they’re best for shorter to average-height people because of their maximum stride being 18”. Customer reviews suggest that these machines are easy to assemble and are initially enjoyable, but they may soon become very noisy and require repairs.

• The Momentum 620 and 630 each have two personal trainer workouts and a digital readout showing speed, time, distance, calories burned, fat calories burned, and pulse. The pulse monitor is built into the console and is taken with the thumb.

• The Momentum CT 5.9 has six built-in aerobic workouts. This machine has a short 14” stride, so many people trying this machine will make more of a stepping motion than an elliptical motion.

These machines do not operate with motors but instead rely on a magnetic resistance system. Note that resistance tends to be significantly stronger in more expensive machines, so they can provide more challenging workouts.

Stationary bikes – Weslo sells four exercise bikes for home use. The Pursuit S 2.8 is an upright model and the other three are recumbent.

• Pursuit S 2.8 – This machine has a very small seat that could quickly become uncomfortable. The S 2.8 displays speed, time, distance, calories and pulse. It can be transported easily thanks to its built-in wheels.

• Pursuit CT 3.8 R – This exercise bike has an adjustable cushioned seat, a heart rate monitor, and a Target Pacer that works with two built-in workouts. The Target Pacer lets users know when to speed up or slow down to reach their goals.

• Pursuit R 4.8 – This machine emphasizes comfort with a workout fan and a cushioned seat. Five personal training workouts and a grip heart rate monitor are included.

• Pursuit T 3.8 – The T 3.8 features extra back support, a grip heart rate monitor, and six personal training workouts with Target Pacer technology.

Drawbacks of Weslo Fitness Equipment

Few programs – Weslo treadmills, ellipticals, and bikes are very low on programming. Their machines have just 2 – 6 exercise programs each, so routines can quickly become boring. Other budget brands offer at least double the options.

Lower weight capacities – These relatively small machines are made of plastic parts, not heavy steel like their more expensive competitors. Weslo machines are generally labeled with 250-pound user weight capacities, but customer reviews suggest that 150 pounds might be more accurate.

Shorter warranties – Many Weslo products include just 90-day warranties on parts and labor. Equipment can be returned within 30 days of purchase for a refund. The return shipping cost and a restocking fee are deducted from the refund.

Lower quality – Weslo fitness machines are not intended for heavy use and may wear out quickly. Customers frequently complain about broken parts during their first year of ownership.