Elliptical Trainer: Precor 5.37 vs Octane Q47

As the beacon of the elliptical industry, the Precor 5.37 has the best simulation of running and walking because Precor is the company that first patented the elliptical motion exercise machine. Precor has also developed a high-standard of Relative Perceived Exertion; meaning that when you work out you feel as if you’re hardly exerting any force, when in actuality your body is receiving an amazing workout. Precor’s CrossRamp® makes it a leader in Variable Stride Geometry, allowing the elliptical to tilt from 15 to 40 degrees which will also automatically adjust your stride from 21” to 24.5”. This is a great feature for those who aren’t just looking for a walk in the park, but an exhilarating uphill climb.

The Precor 5.37 has abundant features like Touch Sensitive Display, 20 resistance levels, 15 programs, convertible arms technology, heart rate telemetry, heart rate monitor. It comes with a lifetime frame warranty, 10-year warranty on parts and wears items and a 1-year warranty on labor.

While Octane is not the inventor of ellipticals, they are certainly a contender, especially with their new Q47. While the Q47 only has 12 programs compared to Precor’s 15 programs, the Q47 does come with a unique size based exercise routine programming as well as body mapping ergonomics. Another unique thing about the Octane Q47 is its front quad link drive (two rails per pedal in a four-bar linkage). Combined with pedals that are spaced 1.8” apart, the Octane Q47 has a smooth, comfortable ride that rivals and possibly even outperform that of the Precor 5.37. Both machines weigh in at 290lbs, so there’s no lighter machine, but the warranty of the Q47 (lifetime frame, 3 years for parts and 1 year for labor) isn’t as impressive as that of the Precor.

Both of these durable, hard-working cardio healthy machines can be found at Fitness Expo; a store that specializes in exercise equipment. The staff at Fitness Expo is much more knowledgeable in determining the best fitness machine for you compared to large department stores that sell a variety of different products. Fitness Expo has stores in Metairie, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and Kenner, Louisiana; and a store in Jackson, Mississippi.