Name: ProForm 520 E
Brand: ProForm

Quick Summary

Often priced at just $599 the ProForm Endurance 520 E is among the lowest priced elliptical trainers.

Even so, it has a 20° incline and a respectable 19” elliptical path.

Exercise programming on this trainer is potentially unlimited too, but the light drive limits it to an elliptical for beginners.

Get the details here with our full ProForm 520 E review.

Specifications

Model	ProForm 520 E
Rating Our custom rating considers all of the elliptical's features, specs, warranties, and 100's of user & expert reviews, to save you time!	83.6%
List Price Suggested retail price, typically higher than the price you'll pay with our recommended retailers.	$599
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.	18 Levels
Resistance Type The type of resistance affects the performance of your elliptical. Magnetic and Eddy-Current are the most common types.	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).	19 inches
Pedals Elliptical pedals can be cushioned and adjustable for maximum comfort and minimum impact on joints for injury prevention.	Oversized & Cushioned
Incline Some elliptical trainers can be set at an incline to increase difficulty and burn more calories.	0 - 20 Degrees
Flywheel The flywheel controls the smoothness and resistance of your workout. In general, the higher the better.	16 lb.
Programs Elliptical Programs allow you to complete a workout with changing speeds and inclines, without changing anything manually.	18
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.	EKG Pulse Grips
Display Elliptical Display refers to the screen you'll look at to monitor workouts. LED and LCD displays are similar to TV screens.	5" Backlit LCD
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).	68.5" x 25.7" x 68.25"
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: 1 Year Labor: 1 Year

Our Rating

Rating: 83.6/100. The ProForm 520 E front drive elliptical is very low-priced but gets high marks in most customer reviews. Its selling points include a maximum 20° incline, a 19” stride, and potentially infinite workout variety thanks to iFit Coach readiness. (Tablet computer and iFit membership required.) Its automated incline with 20-degree max setting adds impressive challenge to this otherwise light-duty trainer. Advanced athletes and heavy trainees would clearly benefit from a heavier drive, but the 520 E elliptical can suit beginners well. Here are pros and cons to consider.

Pros:

Commercial steel frame
SMR™ Silent Magnetic Resistance
18 resistance levels
Manual incline (Zero to 20 degrees)
18 workout apps
Ready for iFit Coach
Secure tablet holder
Smartphone-compatible (2” speakers)
Grip sensors for pulse data
Water bottle holder
Transport wheels

Cons:

Basic display (5” LCD)
Does not have a wireless pulse receiver
Light resistance
Short warranty on the parts and electronics

520 E Introduction

The front drive ProForm Endurance 520 E is designed to help beginners stay motivated and reach goals efficiently with help from pro guidance. This elliptical is preloaded with 18 workouts and can work with unlimited training programs downloaded from iFit Coach. The default display for this elliptical is a 5” LCD, but the console can hold your own tablet computer at eye height for use with iFit Coach and other apps. Here are details about the workout programs, other features and factory-direct warranty package.

Endurance 520 E Workout Programs

The Endurance 520 arrives with 18 workout programs designed by a certified personal trainer. By controlling the duration and resistance of each exercise segment, these programs take the time and guesswork out of planning smart workouts. Each program is especially focused on calorie burn, incline training, speed or performance.

For unlimited training variety the Endurance 520 can be enhanced with iFit Coach, a subscription service that allows unlimited workout downloads among other advantages. Three main workout formats are available: personal training workout routines customized to your user profile; Google Map workouts that replicate the topography of outdoor routes; and HD video workouts featuring celebrity personal trainers.

ProForm 520 E Features

The 520 E has a 19” elliptical path. This stride length is a good fit for most adults, although not for those who are especially tall.

For stride variation that helps shape your muscles, the machine also has several manual incline options. The max incline setting is 20 degrees.

Resistance comes from a 15-pound drive. Eighteen digital settings make adjustment easy.

High tech options include integrating your own tablet computer or smartphone. The ProForm 520 E has a tablet computer shelf and an iPod-compatible sound system with 2” speakers.

Heart rate sensors are built into the stationary handlebars.

Sized reasonably for most homes, the new 520 E has a 68.25″ x 25.7″ footprint. Transport wheels are attached to make moving and storage easier.

Warranty & Guarantee

ProForm 520 E warranty includes:

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

ProForm includes a 30-day money back guarantee with all fitness machines.

Conclusion

The ProForm 520 E is an entry level elliptical in terms of power and durability, but it’s superior to other cheap ellipticals in terms of workout variety. This is one of the best options for a $599 fitness budget. Better value comes with higher-priced machines like the Endurance 720 E.