Quick Summary
The ProForm Smart Strider 495 CSE is an entry level elliptical trainer for light workouts.
It arrives almost entirely assembled and can be folded to conserve space between workouts.
Key specs include an 18″ footpath, a rear drive to promote easy balance, 18 preset workouts and iFit readiness.
This home fitness machine has a $599 sale price and carries a one-year parts and labor warranty. Get the details from our full 495 CSE review below.
Specifications
Model | ProForm Smart Strider 495 CSE |
Rating | 82.6% |
List Price | $599 |
Best Price | |
Resistance | 18 Levels |
Resistance Type | SMR Silent Magnetic |
Stride Length | 18" |
Pedals | Adjustable & Oversized |
Incline | no |
Flywheel | 13 lb. Inertia-Enhanced |
Programs | 18 |
User Profiles | 1 User |
Heart Rate | Pulse Grips |
Display | Round Watts LED |
Max. Weight | 275 lbs |
Dimensions | 65" x 32" x 80" |
Upper Body | |
Accessory Tray | |
Speakers | |
Cooling Fans | |
Folding? | |
Quick Controls | |
Warranty | Frame: Lifetime Parts: 1 Years Labor: 1 Year |
Our Rating
Rating: 82.6/100. The Smart Strider 495 CSE by ProForm is a very light duty elliptical machine for whole-body training. It’s the new entry-level model in the ProForm CSE Series, a collection of four elliptical trainers that require minimal assembly time, share 18″ strides, and are compatible with the iFit app for unlimited workout downloads and easy tracking of fitness activity.
The 18″ stride makes ProForm Smart Striders an especially good match for people with shorter gaits, who find that the standard 20″ elliptical path is a bit of a stretch. But it’s not so good for tall folks; riders around 6’0″ and taller report that their knees knock into the machine.
Also important to consider is the resistance. The Smart Strider 495 CSE has a 13-pound flywheel, which is the lightest we’ve seen on an elliptical trainer. It explains why this trainer is priced at just $599, which is well below average for home elliptical machines. Compared with the other Smart Striders and most other elliptical machines, the 495 CSE offers less of a challenge. It also won’t feel as smooth-running, with the difference being more noticeable by people who carry more weight.
Other specs include 18 built-in workout apps, iFit readiness for unlimited workout downloads (iFit subscription required), oversized pedals and soft-grip upper-body workout arms. This unit has a steel frame with lifetime warranty. Parts and labor are free for one year.
Pros:
- Rear drive stability
- Arrives almost fully assembled
- 18 preset workouts
- Smartphone-compatible (2″ speakers)
- Grip heart rate sensors
- Tablet/smartphone holder
- Water bottle holder
- Steel frame has lifetime warranty
- Holds up to 275 pounds
- Space-Saver® design (Folds for storage)
- Transport wheels attached
Another important spec is the 18″ stride. This is a “pro” if you have a shorter natural gait because it will feel very natural. Otherwise it could be a “con” and we’d choose a different series of ProForm ellipticals.
Cons:
- Very light drive (13 pounds)
- No incline
- No workout fan
- No wireless heart rate receiver
- Short warranty on parts
Introduction
With a full price of just $799 and sale price hovering around $599 the ProForm Smart Strider 495 CSE is one of the lowest-priced elliptical machines on the market. It has a rear drive design, which helps promote a rider’s balance, and an 18″ stride that’s ideal for smaller adults and teens. Here’s a look at the 495 CSE’s workout programming and other features.
Workout Programs
The Smart Strider 495 CSE has 18 preset workout programs to help you work on endurance and calorie burn. Each program has a preset duration and adjusts the machine’s resistance. Programs draw from 18 resistance levels that are produced with a 13-pound flywheel.
Besides having preset workouts the 495 CSE is iFit-Ready. With an iFit membership (monthly or yearly) you can download an unlimited number of workouts that you generate with Google Maps™. Virtually visit your favorite cities, hike the Rockies or the Alps, jog along scenic coastlines… With iFit and a streaming Google Street View, the possibilities are endless. Additionally iFit lets you download a new and customized personal training workout anytime, and members get access to a library of high-def video training programs. You can access iFit through your own smartphone or tablet computer docked on the elliptical console. iFit is also available on desktop computers, where you can check your workout stats, use a workout calendar and more.
ProForm Smart Strider 495 CSE Features
The 495 CSE and other ProForm Smart Striders have 18″ elliptical paths. That’s on the shorter end of industry standards for residential and commercial ellipticals. It’s ideal for people with shorter inseams. The taller you are, the more the Smart Strider will feel more like a stepper than an elliptical.
The Smart Strider 495 CSE has a 13-pound flywheel, which is relatively light. (Other Smart Striders have 18-pound wheels.) You can choose from 18 resistance levels with easy digital controls.
A dashboard with circular Watts display and LED screen tops the 495 CSE. The Watts readout uses color-coded lights to help you quickly understand your exertion level. The LED screen shows time, distance, estimated calories burned, and your heart rate as measured by grip pulse sensors built into the handlebars.
A water bottle is integrated with the console to make hydration convenient.
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 elliptical machine’s frame is built from commercial-gauge steel and is under lifetime warranty.
Warranty & Guarantee
The ProForm Smart Strider 495 CSE warranty package includes:
– Frame: Lifetime
– Parts: 1 Year
– Labor: 1 Year
ProForm also provides a 30-day money back guarantee.
Conclusion
The $599 ProForm Smart Strider 495 CSE is one of the lowest-priced rear drive ellipticals. When used with an iFit membership it can be especially motivating. But owing to its very light drive and lack of incline, the machine would be easy to outgrow within a year of regular use… just around the time that its parts warranty expires. For most shoppers interested in a Smart Strider, we recommend checking out a higher model number instead (or our main elliptical trainer page). When sale prices kick in you might pay just a few hundred more for a much more capable and longer-lasting fitness machine.