Horizon EX-59 Elliptical Trainer review: Easing you into the world of ellipticals

There are so many upsides to using an elliptical trainer for cardiovascular workouts — chiefly among those is the fact they offer a full-body workout that doesn’t pound joints to dust with continuous impact… like a treadmill might.

An elliptical, or cross trainer, uses handles and foot platforms to turn a weighted flywheel or other resistance mechanism at the front or rear of the unit. They are akin to giant exercise bikes that can also be operated with the upper body.

While the feet will always move, it’s possible to switch focus between leg drive and arm drive mid-workout.

For this reason, they are fantastic for spiking the heart rate quickly, working numerous muscle groups in the body, as well as enduring longer workouts without the associated joint pain.

The Horizon EX-59 is a great example of a no-frills elliptical that doesn’t break the bank, yet delivers a solid full-body workout whenever and wherever.

What it lacks in a flashy Peloton-esque touchscreen it makes up for with solid build quality, built-in workout programmes and the ability to connect third-party apps via the FTMS bluetooth protocol.

Sure, it’s not the most handsome addition to a home gym environment, but it’s super easy to live with and plays nicely with tighter budgets.

Function over form

The first thing that stands out is the footprint. At just over 6ft long, this is hardly compact, taking up roughly the same space as a small sofa. It’s definitely a good idea to measure up your rooms before committing.

That said, it’s relatively light for an elliptical at around 52kg, and transport wheels make it manageable to shuffle around on hard floors. You simply tip it on its end and wheel it, but it remains a bulky thing to shift alone, so bear that in mind.

Build quality is where it punches above its price tag. The handles feel solid and don’t suffer from any awful creaks or rattle like some cheaper units can. The footplates are also of a good size and there’s a pair of fixed handles that offer a heart rate readout, but it’s not the most accurate.

For those wanting a more accurate reading, it’s best to invest in a chest-based heart strap, which can be linked to the digital console, or rely on broadcasting as heart rate via a dedicated fitness watch.

At time of writing, the Horizon EX-59 is on sale at Johnson Fitness for £699.99. Otherwise, it can be picked up for the RRP of £999.99 at Decathlon.

Working hard or hardly working?

It is difficult to get to the bottom of the exact weight Horizon uses for its front-mounted flywheel mechanism, but official sources suggest it is around 6.5kg.

This is lighter than more expensive options from the likes of Sole Fitness, NordicTrack and Technogym, which push things to the 10-15kg mark, but the weight should be good enough for those just beginning their fitness journey.

During testing, the smooth front-mounted ECB Magnetic Brake drive system delivered 10 levels of quiet resistance, which would make it great for using in the house when other people are trying to watch TV. It was also weighty enough to work up a sweat when bumped up to the highest resistance settings..

The oversized foot platforms can also accommodate a variety of user heights and sizes, while the stride length of around 45cm is more akin to the larger elliptical machines you might find in a gym, so will feel more natural and less intense to use than a stepper or cross trainer.

There are also nine built-in workout programmes to choose from if all you need is a quick fire session. These are all essentially variations on the various resistance levels, but they cater for things like weight loss or High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), where the machine will automatically adjust resistance.

Alas, they are very basic and a lack of touchscreen or interactive display (more on that below) makes it difficult to remain engaged, but they are perfectly acceptable if you just want to hop on and push for 20 minutes.

Above all else, the machine felt smooth and quiet to use, while the handles all felt solid, even when really going for it. At this price point, that’s an achievement in itself.

No tech expert

The compact digital console that sits in the centre of the unit is very basic, with an LCD screen delivering information on workout time, the resistance level and strides, while hard keys are in place to quickly jump resistance levels.

During testing, I found the unit relatively slow to adjust levels, while the digital display proved only good for very basic readouts. That lackadaisical approach to resistance levels made it tricky to pound a HIIT session, where quick jumps are required, but it’s not a deal-breaker.

On the plus side, there is a large tablet or smartphone holder and, thanks to the FTMS protocol, the EX-59 will connect to third party apps via Bluetooth.

This means data from the unit can be sent to things like Zwift, while those using workout platforms like iFit can see heart rate (if holding the static handles) and resistance levels beamed to an app if it allows.

Horizon Fitness also offers its own @Zone workout app, which offers a number of high-quality on-demand workouts and training plans free of charge. You can also elliptical around a whole host of exotic locations if you want something to look at while torching calories.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the fact that EX-59 features a built-in speaker system, which can be synched to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth.

As you can probably guess, the sound quality is pretty dreadful and you’d be much better off investing in a standalone Bluetooth speaker or simply plugging some headphones in.

Verdict

The Horizon EX-59 is a reminder that not every piece of home fitness kit needs to be smart, connected or overly complicated to be effective. It focuses on the fundamentals – a stable frame, a comfortable stride and quiet operation – and delivers the goods.

It’s arguably not built for chasing performance gains or smashing out intense HIIT sessions, but for steady, repeatable cardio, it’s very easy to live with.

That simplicity does come at a cost. The console feels dated, resistance changes lack the urgency of more accomplished rivals, and the overall experience feels more functional than fun. Without third-party software, it’s certainly not as engaging as a Peloton or iFIT class.

But if you can look past the basic tech and slightly sluggish response, what you’re left with is a dependable, well-built elliptical that prioritises usability over gimmicks.

Ultimately, the EX-59 is best suited for beginners or anyone looking to build a consistent routine without spending a lot. It won’t wow you, but it will quietly get the job done, and for many users, that’s exactly what matters.