One of the best machines for HIIT with elliptical.
Name: XTERRA FS3.5 Elliptical
Website: xterrafitness.com
Price: $799.99($36.92 / month)
Warranty:
Frame: 5 years
Brake: 1 year
Parts: 1 year
Overall Rank: 85 out of 100
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XTERRA FS3.5 Elliptical Overview
FS3.5 is elliptical for both the lower and upper body, it has a front-drive design and small footprint which makes it suitable for any space. Position on this machine and movement is natural, the belt-drive and aluminum track wheel 
provide quiet, friction-free magnetic resistance.
Xterra has a reputation for producing quality products and this one is not an exception. On FS3.5 you can do HIIT with elliptical, which is very beneficial for busy people, or steady-state exercises if that is what you prefer.
Build and Possibilities
The frame is made of solid steel but some parts like the covers of the drive system and the pedal trays are made of plastic. FS3.5 is coated with protective paint, the exceptions are only the pedal rails. As mentioned, it has a smaller footprint, great for small spaces but you should always leave at least 2 feet of free space on the sides and at the back for easier access.
This machine has adjustable stabilizers at the back, so you can level it up in case of an uneven floor. It weighs 110 lbs, which provides very good stability. Moving it around should not be a problem since it is equipped with transport wheels.
Handlebars are rubberized for better comfort, there are two sets of them, moving and shorter static ones. Pedal bars can handle weight up to 300 lbs. Moving of the pedals is done with the help of ball bearings wheels along the rails which are rubberized on the outside to reduce the noise.
Stride is natural because of the horizontal movement path, and it has a length of 17″, which is best suited for people with height up to 6’0″ – 6’1″.
Drive and Resistance
XTERRA FS3.5 Elliptical has a motorized magnetic resistance drive, thus adjusting resistance automatically, a great thing especially for beginners who often get lost in too many setting possibilities. Since it is motorized it needs an external power source.
Motor and the magnetic brake is regulating the resistance difficulty, there are 24 resistance levels. Range goes from easy ones where pedaling is fairly easy to the ones with a lot of tension and that is where you can incorporate HIIT with elliptical for instance, or some other intensive plan of workout.
The flywheel weighs 15 lbs, which provides a lot of inertia thus reducing vibrations. One other great thing is that it can be used forward and backward, meaning it’s bi-directional. It is belt-driven, there is no chain, no noise, and maintenance is also a lot easier.
Display and Programs
With its 5″ and LED backlight display, it offers a lot of features. On the display, you can track time, distance, total distance, RPM, watts, calories, and pulse. There are two options for pulse tracking, a chest strap that has to be 
bought separately or a built-in sensor on shorter static handles. Choosing programs is very easy and practical.
The Manual program (P1) gives you the ability to adjust the resistance by yourself during the workout, you can also set targets for time, distance, calories, etc.
There are also preset programs (P2-P13), every one of them has 24 levels of resistance and a unique setting. Some presets are Rolling Hills, Valley, Fat Burn, Ramp, Steps, Obstacles, Intervals, Plateau, Climbing, Off-Road, Hill, and FasTrek.
Body Fat program (P15) and Watt Control (P14) allow you to enter gender, weight, height, and age into the console and get back your body mass index among other information. Custom programs (P16-P19) are designed to be used by up to four users, they can create their own routines of workout.
And last but not least are Heart Rate programs (P20-P24), on those programs, the machine automatically sets resistance appropriate for heart rate measurement with a tolerance of 5 BPM.
Elliptical offers also some other commodities like integrated speakers, audio jack, tablet holder, and accessory tray. Speakers come in real handy to listen to music while exercising.
Specifications
Dimensions: 57.1″ L x 20.5″ W x 63″ H (1450 x 520 x 1600mm)
Item Weight: 110 lbs (50 kg)
Weight Capacity: 300 lbs (136 kg)
Pedals: Included
Stride Length: 17 in (432mm)
Preset Programs: 12
Custom Programs: 6
Heart Rate Programs: 5
Heart Rate Chest Strap: (sold separately)
Cooling Fan: No
Heart Rate Monitoring: Yes
Resistance: 24 levels
Flywheel Weight System: 15lbs (7kg)
MP3 Jack & Speakers: Yes
Workout Display: 5″ x 2.5″ Dual Color LCD
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Durable- supports up to 300 lbs (136 kg)
- Transport wheels
- Adjustable stabilizers
- Fixed and moving handles
- Flywheel (15 lbs)- consistent pedaling motion
24 workout programs- Time, distance, calories, and watt settings
- Built-in receiver for heart strap
- Automatic resistance- 24 levels
- Large pedals
- Easy maintenance
- Audio jack and speakers
- Quiet usage
- Recovery function
- Easy assembly
- Integrated pulse measurement
24 workout programsCons
- No water bottle holder
- Heart chest strap not included
Overall Opinion
The XTERRA Fitness FS3.5 is an elliptical that is just perfect for home use and HIIT with elliptical when you have enough time for a good workout. It is very durable and can be used by the whole family since it allows up to four users to have their own custom programs. Whether your goal is to keep your body fit, muscle toning, or to lose weight and/or fat it is a perfect tool. Easy assembly and moving around make it suitable for smaller homes where space is an issue.
24 resistance levels in combination with the manual program, 12 preset, 5 heart rate, and 6 custom programs offer a great variety of workouts. Being able to include all muscles in your exercises means that FS3.5 is a full-body exercise machine with a low impact on the joints, suitable for anyone. Audio jack and built-in speakers are a nice touch to it, they certainly make workouts more pleasurable.
And in the end, there is a matter of the price, at the time of writing this FS3.5 elliptical costs $799.99 with the possibility of the monthly payment of $36.92. The majority of ellipticals on the market are way more expensive, and that along with the quality of the build and features it offers makes it a very desirable piece of home gym equipment.