Horizon EX-69-2 Elliptical Review

Last Updated on February 10, 2021 by Jeff

Overview:

The Horizon EX-69-2 Elliptical is a great mid-priced machine that’s loaded with options. Horizon Fitness has built a quality machine here, adding its SixStar Certified™ design which helps ensure you’re in optimal body position for efficient and maximized workouts. This elliptical machine comes with a ton of extras you don’t typically find at this price range. The goal is of course to enjoy those challenging workouts and will keep you coming back for the next.  That’s what Horizon Fitness EX-69-2 Elliptical Machine delivers.

Click here to see the price of the Horizon EX-69-2 Elliptical Machine on Amazon.

Technical info:

Shipping dimensions:

• Height: 19 inches
• Width: 30 inches
• Length: 52 inches
• Weight: 201 lbs

Assembled dimensions:

• Height: 65 inches
• Width: 22 inches
• Length: 73 inches
• Weight: 185 lbs

Features:

• SixStar Certified™ elliptical frame designed to move the way your body moves.
• 20” stride accommodates most users comfortably.
• 20 Eddy Current Brake (ECB) magnetic resistance settings ensure a good intensity to your workout.
• 5 manual incline positions allow you to work different muscle groups.
• 10 pre-programmed routines to ensure maximum intensity and intense workouts.
• Heart rate monitoring on stationary handlebars to maximize workout intensity.
• GoalCenter™ performance tracking allows you to keep track of your workouts.
• CD and MP3-compatible speakers with audio-in jacks to keep you motivated during exercising.
• COOLfit™ personal fan to keep the user cool throughout their workout.
• Water bottle holder to ensure the user stays hydrated while exercising.
• Reading rack/iPod holder® and accessories tray allows you to stay connected while exercising.
• Maximum User Weight: 300 lbs.

Computer Features:

• 5.75” green backlit LCD display.
• 10 programs including manual, speed intervals, endurance intervals, peak intervals, cardio burn, muscle toner, strength builder, natural trail, peak descent and mountain climb modes.
• Quick start capability.
• Workout data includes:
  • Time
  • Distance
  • Calories
  • Watts
  • Revolutions per Minute
  • Speed
  • Resistance Level
  • Heart Rate
  • Simulated Track
  • Fan

Warranty:

• Frame: lifetime warranty.
• One (1) year warranty on parts and labor.

Shipping and Assembly:

Horizontal Fitness provides free Bronze shipping, which means that they schedule delivery and then deliver to product inside the first ground-level door or into the garage.

The Horizon Fitness EX-69-2 Elliptical comes with a step-by-step, fully-illustrated manual and tools to assembly the machine. Some additional tools will be needed for assembly. Reviewers stated that assembly was not the simplest. Generally assembly took at least 90 minutes and sometimes over two hours.

About the Manufacturer:

Horizon Fitness is part of Johnson Health Tech, a leading exercise equipment producer throughout the world for over 35 years. They operate out of Madison, Wisconsin, but are headquartered in Taiwan. They make exercise equipment for the residential and commercial industries. Horizon Fitness makes a variety of exercise equipment including treadmills, elliptical, exercise bikes, rowers and accessories.

What We Love About the Horizon Fitness EX-69-2 Elliptical:

With the Horizon Fitness EX-69-2 Elliptical you’re getting a quality machine that will stand up to your most intense workouts. This elliptical is specifically designed with human body movement and comfort in mind. It comes with a huge list of extras to make sure you stay comfortable on the machine and remain motivated from workout to workout. Not just nice options like a fan and water bottle holder, but also the ability to listen to your favorite music from the console and the ability to track the performance of your workouts.

Solid & Quality Construction

When you see a manufacturer offer a lifetime warranty on a product, like Horizon Fitness does on the EX-69-2 Elliptical, you know they have a lot of confidence in the product. This elliptical machine has a SixStar Certified™ elliptical frame, which means that it is designed with ideal pedal placement, an upright body posture, easy machine access, optimal handlebar spacing, a motion that mimics a natural running/walking style and a very smooth and efficient motion. It’s hard to beat the motion of this machine, especially at this price point.

Conveniences

The EX-69-2 Elliptical is packed with conveniences that will keep you on this machine and ensure you get a complete workout. It has the basic water bottle holder and fan to keep you cool throughout your workout, but this elliptical machine is packed with much more. There’s the MP3 connection so that you can stay motivated with your favorite music. Another great option is the reading rack/iPod® holder. Many users note the clarity and quality of the speakers on this machine.

Workout Tracking

A great feature on the Horizon EX-69-2 Elliptical is the GoalCenter™ performance tracking. GoalCenter™ allows you to store and track your progress from workout to workout. This is a great motivation option to have on a piece of exercise equipment. Many ellipticals in this price range, or at an even higher price, lack the ability to track your workouts.

Other Considerations:

This is a quality machine and most of the complaints are really just nitpicking.   But to get into it, the biggest drawback of the EX-69-2 Elliptical is its five position incline. The main reason is that it has to manually set. That means that if you want to change your intensity or work different muscle groups, you’ll have to stop exercising and manually adjust your incline.

The Horizon Fitness EX-69-2 Elliptical provides a fixed 20” stride. While 20” will accommodate most users, it’d be nice if the stride were adjustable. Some shorter or taller users may find it difficult to get a good extension while using this elliptical machine. There are a lot of elliptical machines in this price range that provide adjustable strides from 18” up to 22”. These machines would be better suited for those shorter or taller users.

The EX-69-2  provides stationary handlebars to monitor your heart rate. This is a great option to allow you to workout in your target heart zones for high intensity workouts. However, it would be nice to have hands-free monitoring. This elliptical machine doesn’t provide, nor does it have the option to use a chest strap for heart rate monitoring. If this is something you’re interested in, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

Final Word on the Horizon EX-69-2 Elliptical:

At around $400, you’re getting a lot for your money. At this price, you are getting solid construction and a quality machine built specifically for excellent motion. This elliptical machine is loaded with conveniences to keep you on the machine and motivating you for your next workout. The EX-69-2 Elliptical does lack a couple of options like automatic incline adjustment, adjustable stride and hands-free heart monitoring.  None of these, however, will affect your ability to get an intense workout.  Recommended.