The FreeMotion e5.3 Elliptical Trainer – Well-Built Center-Drive Model

The center-drive FreeMotion e5.3 elliptical trainer is a well-built but expensive home model that offers a natural stride pattern as well as an adjustable stride length to accommodate any size user in your household.

What You Get

The CrystalClear™ commercial display has readouts for calories burned per hour, time, RPM, heart rate, distance, resistance, watts, and mets. The FreeMotion e5.3 elliptical trainer features 16 pre-set programs and 2 user-defined programs, plus is compatible with iFit™ Workout programs designed by Jillian Michaels from The Biggest Loser as well as other certified personal trainers.

The full list of specs includes:

• Electromagnetic Resistance System
• 16 Resistance levels
• Adjustable Stride Length
• 16 Programs
• Upper Body Handles
• Contact HR grips
• Polar® Wireless HR compatible
• UltraComfort™ Cushioned Gel Pedals
• 350 lb. user weight capacity
• Rear-access Design
• Self-generating power
• Weight/Dimensions – 275 lbs/ 51" x 35" x 34" (L x W x H)
• Warranty –lifetime frame; 7 yrs parts; 1 year labor

Compare Popular Freemotion Elliptical Trainers Here

The Word on the Street

Let’s take a look at the advantages of the Freemotion e5.3 elliptical trainer: a rear-access design for easy mounting, spacesaving C-drive design and 51" long footprint, covered wheel tracks to prevent dirt and dust from collecting on the rails, cushioned gel pads on the pedals for added comfort, 16 levels of the custom-designed Electromagnetic Resistance System (ERS), and the self-generating power design (no plug in needed) means it can be set up anywhere.

Other pluses of the FreeMotion e5.3 include the StrideAdjust™ technology to change stride length from 18" to 20" and 22" with just the push of a lever, an AutoAdjust™ stride technology to target different muscle groups in the body, and the custom-designed Electromagnetic Resistance System (ERS) that applies consistent resistance to the flywheel giving the user years of reliable use.

Elliptical reviews by consumers have mentioned a few niggling issues with the machine, mainly dealing with the self-generating power display. Unlike commercial models, which will stay lit for several minutes after you stop pedaling, the FreeMotion e5.3 display will go dark after 15 seconds.

Worse, it is a complete power down, meaning you lose readouts for the current exercise session. It does have NiMH rechargeable batteries installed but if you don’t exercise long enough, they won’t recharge. A final criticism is that the resistance isn’t stiff enough and even an out-of-shape user can max out the resistance.

In other words, if you are already in shape, this model may not give you the challenge you want in a trainer.

Our Thoughts

We are sold on center-drive ellipticals and this model has a lot going for it – except that it is priced quite a bit higher than the C-drive ellipticals in the $1400 to $1800 range.

At $2,800, we give the FreeMotion e5.3 elliptical trainer a pass — unless, of course, you can get it for much much less. As an alternative, you should check out other center-drives such as the Lifecore LC-CD400 and the Endurance E400, which sell for $1700 and $1900 respectively.

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