You should never blindly buy any home gym equipment based on the TV ad or infomercial alone. These ads are biased and are designed to get you to part with your money.
If some home gym equipment has caught your attention, you should read articles like this one that are honest and unbiased, speak from actual experience with the machine, that detail both pros and cons, and that sum up the general opinion of the machine across the net.
In this article I’m going to tell you all about the Echelon EX3, detailing all its features, it’s value for money, and so on, and by the end of the article when I’m wrapping up, you will be much more well-informed, and in a position to decide whether it’s right for you.
Please feel free to scroll ahead to any section that catches your attention. Here goes!
Table of Contents
ToggleOverview
To look at, the Echelon EX3 looks just like the bikes you see in spin class at the gym. But it boasts one feature in particular that gives it the edge over spin class bikes…
For those of you who don’t already know, the Echelon EX3 is a Smart bike. And what this means is that you can pair the bike with a smartphone or tablet to enjoy additional features online, including both live and on-demand fitness classes, led by world class instructors.
Aesthetic
The Echelon EX3 is available in 3 different color options…
There’s an all black version, and this one is much more smart and sleek than its red and black counterpart. But on the flip side the one which is mostly black but with many red accents, looks much more sporty and has a more energetic vibe to it.
Then there’s the one that’s mostly white with a few black elements. This one also looks very smart, but it could easily start to look dirty if it’s left to attract dust.
It doesn’t have too big a physical footprint and it’s dimensions measure 54.33 x 19.88 x 54.92 inches, so fitting it into your home should be a breeze.
Build Quality
The bike is well-made (which it should be for the price) and it can take a maximum rider weight of 300 pounds.
It also features a powder coat frame to protect it from scratches.
Features
Adjustable Device Holder
The Echelon EX3 features a dedicated holder at the front of the machine, to which you can attach just about any size tablet or smartphone. This rotates a full 180 degrees, so you can use it for off-bike exercises too.
Exclusive Live And On-Demand Classes
The USP of the Echelon EX3 is the exclusive content. With Echelon Premier Membership, you get access to over a whopping 3,000 live and on-demand classes. The live classes are particularly valuable because they are so interactive and the instructor can speak to you directly with encouraging words.
Music
Another great feature of the Echelon EX3 is the music. Echelon has partnered with the top record labels, so you can enjoy working out to some of your favorite tunes.
Dumbbell Storage
There’s also storage behind the seat where you can keep your dumbbells, in order to carry out various arm exercises in addition to your pedaling.
Value For Money
Initial Cost
In my personal opinion, the value for money of the Echelon EX3 is hands down one of its best features. Whereas most smart home gym equipment that comes with online classes usually costs upwards of $1,000, the Echelon cost just under $800 when this article was written. That’s a saving of about $200 right there.
What’s more, if you buy through Amazon, you can arrange to pay in installments over 12 months with zero interest on approval for an Amazon store card.
Membership Pricing
When this article was written, monthly Echelon Premier Membership cost about $40, but if you pay annually it cost about $400 a year, saving you about $80.
Alternatively, you could also book in bulk for a two period at a cost of about $600, saving you a whopping $200 off the annual membership, or saving you a staggering $360 off monthly membership fees.
Even at the more costly monthly membership price tag, you’d still be paying less money than a monthly gym membership.
And the Premier membership also gives you full access to other forms of exercise besides cycling and spin, including the likes of yoga, strength training, Pilates, boxing, and more.
If you buy the bike through Amazon, you get a FREE 90-day trial of Premier membership.
After-Sales Service
100% Money-Back Guarantee
The bike comes backed by a 100% 30-day money-back guarantee. Which means that if for whatever reason you decide that you’re unhappy with it up to 30 days from the date of purchase, Echelon will refund your money back in full. This means that you literally have nothing to lose by giving it a try.
12-Month Manufacturer Warranty
It also comes backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty that covers both parts and labor. 12 months warranty is standard for most machines these days, but I’d have preferred that the warranty lasted longer, given how much the machine costs to buy. But I guess the machine could see quite a lot of general wear over the course of a year.
Customer Service
I didn’t need to contact the after-sales customer service team personally because nothing went wrong with the machine. But I checked out what other customers had to say about the customer service, and it seems that most people found it personable and professional.
My Personal Experience With The Echelon EX3
Assembly
I had help putting the machine together, and having two of us really helped to make light work of the assembly. It took a while, though.
Once assembled we attempted to move it where we wanted it set up, but found it very difficult to move.
Classes
After watching the ad, I thought that the classes were going to be really full on and difficult. However, I was pleased to discover that not all of the classes are just as demanding as spin class at the gym.
What’s more you can choose how long you want to work out for, and if you just don’t have the time (or inclination) for a 45 minute class you can instead set up a class in slots for as little as 5 minutes long (though I would recommend longer!)
Although the ads say that the classes are given by world class instructors, I honestly couldn’t tell the difference between the quality of the sessions I took part in on the Echelon and the quality of the sessions at the gym.
I found that the music available in the classes was very energizing and motivating with none of that too laid back, barely there elevator music rubbish. I was also impressed with the range of music genres covered.
For example, there’s hip-hop, folk and funk, Latin, and my personal favorite EDM. Having music I liked on really enhanced my experience of using the machine.
Comfort
The seat position was adjustable, and so were the toe cages. I managed to set the seat, so I was perfectly comfortable. I like that the handlebars were padded, and I noticed that even when I sweat, my hands didn’t slip.
Intensity
The machine has a whopping 32 levels of resistance you can set. The lower levels were a breeze to use, but at the upper levels, I found the pedals quite hard to move.
What Other People Say About The Echelon EX3
It’s a bestseller with the leading online retailers, which is telling enough. But I’m pleased to report that on the whole, opinion of the machine across the net is very positive…
On Amazon for example, after well over 1,500 individual customer ratings, the average customer rating still comes in at an impressive 4 and a half stars out of 5, with more than 75% of customers giving it a full 5-star rating.
These customers gave it 4 and a half stars out of 5 for noise level, sturdiness and ease of assembly.
They then gave it 4 stars out of 5 for maneuverability, comfort, and value for money.
Summary Of Pros And Cons
Pros:
- As with any home gym equipment, being able to work out from the comfort of your own home is a huge plus for most people. Not only do you get to ditch the commute back and fore to the gym, but you also tend to get a nicer shower afterwards
- Excellent selection of live and on-demand classes to enjoy, accompanied by excellent music
Cons:
- No troubleshooting section in the manual
- Difficult to maneuver once assembled
- Requires membership fee to make best use of the machine
Final Verdict
All in all, I guess I would say that the Echelon EX3 is good value for money compared to some of the other smart bikes out there. I wasn’t as impressed with the value for money with the classes, though, and I’m going to cancel my membership before the free trial runs out.