ProForm Smart Strider 695 CSE Elliptical Review

Quick Summary

The ProForm Smart Strider 695 CSE ($1299 MSRP, $799 Sale Price) is an iFit-Ready elliptical trainer especially for beginning to intermediate challenge levels.

Built for convenience, it arrives almost fully assembled and folds for storage.

Performance specs include a sturdy rear-drive design, an 18” footpath, an 18-pound resistance system and a zero-to-10% power incline.

Plenty of training programs are included and iFit can be accessed with a connected mobile device.

Get the details from our full ProForm 695 CSE review…

Specifications

Model	ProForm Smart Strider 695 CSE
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the elliptical's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	84.4%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$1,299
Best Price Since prices change daily, this link goes to our preferred retailer for the best price we've found.
Resistance Resistance is what determines calories burned per stride. The more levels, the more precisely you can control the difficulty.	30 Levels
Resistance Type The type of resistance affects the performance of your elliptical. Magnetic and Eddy-Current are the most common types.	SMR Silent Magnetic
Stride Length Stride Length is important for comfort and smooth strides. A stride length of 18-21 inches is ideal for most heights (5'3 - 6'7).	Not Posted
Pedals Elliptical pedals can be cushioned and adjustable for maximum comfort and minimum impact on joints for injury prevention.	Oversized, Adjustable & Cushioned
Incline Some elliptical trainers can be set at an incline to increase difficulty and burn more calories.	0 - 10 degrees
Flywheel The flywheel controls the smoothness and resistance of your workout. In general, the higher the better.	18 lb. Inertia-Enhanced
Programs Elliptical Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	24
User Profiles For each profile the elliptical allows, you can create a custom user account with saved programs and goal settings.	1 User
Heart Rate Heart Rate programs allow you to track how many times your heart is beating per minute (bpm), and some control the workout for you.	Pulse Grips & Wireless Chest Strap
Display Elliptical Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	Round Watts LED
Max. Weight Max User Weight is the amount of weight, in pounds (lbs), that it can safely support, which can represent durability.	300 lbs
Dimensions Dimensions are included to help you figure out if this elliptical will fit properly (Length x Width x Height and Height x Depth).	65" x 32" x 80"
Upper Body Most ellipticals have handles to hold while you're working out that provide an upper body workout.
Accessory Tray Some ellipticals include an accessory tray for holding items such as water bottles, wallets, keys, or MP3 players like iPods.
Speakers Ellipticals that include a sound system allow you to listen to your MP3 player/iPod through built-in speakers (without headphones).
Cooling Fans Cooling Fans are designed to help keep you cool during an intense workout on your elliptical.
Folding? Some ellipticals are designed to conserve space by folding up. This is a convenient option, but some features might be reduced.
Quick Controls Quick Controls allow you to select speed, incline and even workout programs with the touch of a button (usually on the handles).
Warranty The warranty is an important part of your investment. The longer the warranty, the longer you can get free/discounted repairs.	Frame: Lifetime Parts: 2 Years Labor: 1 Year

Our Rating

Rating: 84.4/100. The ProForm Smart Strider 695 CSE with 18” elliptical path offers an affordable way to cross-train with the fun of iFit’s virtual outdoor workouts. Equipped with moving arm bars and pedals that use silent magnetic resistance, the Smart Strider is gentle on your frame as it sculpts your whole body and revs up your metabolism.

This fitness machine’s main source of challenge is the effectively 18-pound drive, which is tied to 20 resistance levels. Additionally the ProForm 695 CSE has a power incline for extra challenge and honing in on different muscle groups: As the incline shifts up to 10 percent, the emphasis of your lower-body exercise naturally adjusts upward from your calves to the quads and glutes. Your metabolic rate also naturally climbs with the challenge of an incline. The many benefits of using the Smart Strider incline include better lean muscle definition, improved bone density, a faster resting metabolism and more.

ProForm Smart Striders are well-equipped in terms of motivation. The 695 CSE arrives with 24 quick-start workouts to help you train efficiently and see results quickly. It’s also ready for iFit’s many benefits including Google Maps™ training routes. Additionally the console has smartphone-compatible speakers and can display your tablet computer or smartphone for use during workouts.

Other specs include oversized pedals, soft-grip upper-body workout arms, a workout fan and a foldable steel frame. The factory-direct warranty includes lifetime coverage for the frame and two years for parts. Any labor expenses are free during the first year of ownership.

Pros:

Rear drive stability
Arrives almost fully assembled
Cushioned pedals and handgrips
24 preset workouts
20 resistance levels
18-pound effective flywheel
10 percent power incline
Smartphone-compatible (2” speakers)
Grip heart rate sensors
Ledge for tablet computer
Water bottle holder
Workout fan
Steel frame has lifetime warranty
Holds up to 300 pounds
Space-Saver® design (Folds for storage)
Transport wheels attached

Cons:

No wireless heart rate receiver
Customer service has a reputation for being slow

Introduction

The 695 CSE is a new ProForm Smart Strider elliptical model for 2017. With a sale price of just $799, it’s one of the lower-priced rear drive ellipticals available with iFit. Key specs include an 18” stride, an 18-pound effective flywheel, a 10% power incline and 24 preloaded workout programs. Here’s a look at the 695 CSE’s electronics, mechanics and warranty.

Workout Programs

The Smart Strider 695 CSE has 24 preloaded workout programs to help you work on endurance and calorie burn at different challenge levels. Each program adjusts the machine’s resistance to match recommendations from a certified personal trainer. The programs draw from 20 resistance levels that are produced with an 18-pound effective flywheel, so they’re a good match for most beginners and intermediate trainees.

iFit workouts are an optional add-on with a monthly or yearly iFit subscription. iFit is an all-in-one fitness app that lets you download an unlimited number of workout programs, plus it has a digital workout calendar and other helpful features. You can use your own computer, such as a tablet connected to the elliptical, to use iFit with the 695 CSE elliptical. Three major categories of workouts are available. Most prominent in ProForm ads are the iFit workouts built with Google Maps™. With iFit Google Maps™ workouts you can choose from suggested routes or draw your own. Virtually visit anywhere that Google’s team has mapped, and the Smart Strider will automatically adjust its incline to mimic the topography. Depending on the route, you’ll also get a streaming Google Street View as you train. Additionally iFit lets you download video workouts and customized personal training workouts anytime.

ProForm Smart Strider 695 CSE Features

The 695 CSE elliptical has an 18” footpath. For comparison, the industry standard for supporting natural strides is about 18” to 21”. The shorter you are, the more likely you probably are to give this machine a positive review.

Pedals on this unit are cushioned, unlike those on cheaper alternatives.

For extra cardio challenge and muscle toning, the pedals can be tilted up to 10%. The incline can be controlled by workout programs and with console buttons.

The Smart Strider 695 CSE has an 18-pound flywheel. With digital controls you can alternate among 20 resistance levels.

Moving arm bars help tone your upper body and increase calorie burn.

This Smart Strider is topped with ProForm’s Round Watts Display. The console’s Watts readout takes your weight into account and uses color-coded lights to indicate your exertion level. At the same time an LED screen shows basic workout stats.

Pulse can be shown after a few seconds when you grip sensors built into the handlebars.

To help keep you cool, the console has a two-speed fan and a drink holder.

For quick and easy storage this machine has a Space-Saver design and transport wheels. When unfolded its dimensions are 80” long x 32” wide x 65” high.

The Smart Strider frame is built from commercial-gauge steel and is under lifetime warranty.

Warranty & Guarantee

The ProForm Smart Strider 695 CSE elliptical warranty package includes:

– Frame: Lifetime
– Parts: 2 Years
– Labor: 1 Year

ProForm also provides a 30-day money back guarantee on all of its factory-direct cardio trainers.

Conclusion

The $799 ProForm Smart Strider 695 CSE is one of the lower-priced rear drive ellipticals and is a good starter elliptical for many trainees, particularly people who aren’t so tall. While this model doesn’t feature ProForm’s latest HD display technology, it can show iFit’s motivating high-def programming on the rider’s own mobile device. We’d be sure to check out the whole ProForm line before committing though, as a more advanced Smart Strider with integrated touchscreen is occasionally on sale for less.