Spanking new in the elliptical machine market with its 2008 release, the ProForm FX7 Elliptical combines most of the best features of ProForm's other ellipticals and boasts a generous stride of 18" to give its user a satisfying lower-body workout.

Its drive system is essentially a knockoff of the Precor's front drive - the ProForm FX7 Elliptical has a rear drive with an incline ramp. It has a small flywheel and in terms of noise level rates about average. To make progress tracking hassle-free, it includes a user-friendly, easy-to-read monitor.

The ProForm FX7 Elliptical has a basic LCD display and features EKG grip pulse sensors to help you exercise within your target heart rate, a chest sensor, an on-board fan to keep you cool, and QuickResistance technology that would help you adjust resistance levels at the simple touch of a button.

Its most impressive feature is the preprogrammed workouts to keep you motivated and to lend variety to your daily routine. Much like having your own personal trainer at your beck and call, the ProForm FX7 Elliptical has 19 various workout programs, plus an additional 4 heart rate programs that help you keep track of your fat-burning zone.

The pre-programmed workouts have been designed by expert certified trainers, but even more impressive is that you can design your own program. With this feature, you can get as creative as you want, as the flexibility of your routines for the ProForm FX7 Elliptical becomes limitless.

As mentioned earlier, one of this power machine's outstanding features is its liberal stride. Most economy ellipticals only offer a 15" stride on average. The ProForm FX7 Elliptical's incline ramp can be integrated to give you a more substantial workout and to allow you to keep changing your routine for variety.

In light of these exciting features, the $600 price tag becomes reasonable and justifiable. The most pronounced beef about the ProForm FX7 Elliptical, however, is its small maximum weight user limit of 250 lbs. Even individuals whose weights are just slightly above 200 lbs are wary of using the ProForm FX7 Elliptical, for fear that the machine might give way under their weight.

Another complaint about this elliptical trainer is its instability. This may be due to other factors such as being placed on an unstable surface like a carpeted floor rather than a hard surface (tiled, marble, concrete, or wooden floors) but it is more likely due to the ProForm FX7 Elliptical's limited weight capacity.

This flaw could be ignored by users whose weights border on the limit, if not for the ProForm FX7 Elliptical's skimpy warranty. It offers a mere 90-day warranty for parts and labor, which doesn't seem proportionate to a $600 price tag.

Provied you're well under the maximum weight capacity, the ProForm FX7 Elliptical could be a good purchase, given its substantial stride, customizable programs, and 12 resistance levels. Just keep in mind that it's best to first try the product out at the store to see if it holds up to its maker's reputation.