The StrideTrainer 680 is one of the latest elliptical machines from Gold’s Gym. It’s sold exclusively at Wal-Mart.com for about $600. The Gold’s Gym 680 is actually the Proform One-Step Spacesaver 500 Elliptical with a different name.
Elliptical Hits: Best Features of the Gold’s Gym 680 StrideTrainer Elliptical
- Preset workouts – Six preset workouts, including two heart rate control workouts and four weight loss programs, are included. It also has an iFit card reader. Owners can purchase 8-week personal training programs to load onto the machine.
- Three-position stride – A three-position adjustable stride helps people target different muscle groups. However, the maximum stride of this machine, 18”, is too short for most users. The three positions don’t offer a true elliptical stride for taller people and make the machine feel more like a stairclimber.
- Heart rate monitor – Grip pulse sensors are built into the handlebars.
- Free shipping to store – The machine is not delivered to residences, but customers can get free shipping by ordering the machine online and then picking it up at the nearest Wal-Mart store.
Elliptical Misses: Why to Think Twice about the StrideTrainer 680 SpaceSaver
- No cross training – Most elliptical trainers have movable handlebars. By using upper-body workout bars on an elliptical machine, people can double calorie expenditure and tone their arms, chest, back, and torso while also exercising the lower body.
- Resistance – The 680 only offers ten resistance levels. Sixteen or twenty levels is the norm on home ellipticals.
- Low capacity – This machine has an advertised 250-pound user weight capacity, but that’s an optimistic rating.
- Warranty – This machine has a poor warranty for its price: just a year on parts and labor. The frame is guaranteed for 10 years.
Overall Rating for the Gold’s Gym StrideTrainer 680
The StrideTrainer 680 features the basics for starting a home exercise program. It has a long enough stride for shorter adults, plus it can mimic a stairclimber with its incline option. But at full price, why take a chance on a squeaky product with a short warranty? NordicTrack, Schwinn, and ProForm offer better deals with at least a year of parts coverage on their cheapest elliptical trainers.