FAQs
Here is where you will find answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions regarding FitnessProfessor Review and specialty fitness equipment. Simply select the question to view our answer.
How is FIT PROF different from the other reviews?
i) A complete and effective fitness routine requires cardiovascular, strength, core and flexibility training. This is why FIT PROF searches for the very best in each category for our reviews
ii) Reviews had to cover more than just the specifications of each machine. The overall aesthetic design, construction, ‘user friendliness’ and versatility all had to be considered
iii) FitnessProfessorReview could not profit from the sale, service and or maintenance of any of the fitness equipment reviewed.
Does FIT PROF receive any payment from manufacturers of products reviewed or from any sales directly attributed to its reviews?
If FIT PROF does not profit from the sale or service of the equipment reviewed, how are the reviews and website funded?
Those costs are partially offset through donations we receive from site visitors who appreciate our efforts as well as through the licensing of our FitnessProfessorReview trademarks (Best Buy seal) and the support of the companies showcased on the right section of the screen. It is also important to note that all reviews are completed and posted BEFORE manufacturers are given the opportunity to participate in any of the above mentioned programs
How can I support the efforts of FitnessProfessorReview.com?
Why are there pictures and bios of the Review Board members?
Which member of the Review Board is a professor?
How are products reviewed?
Each score is based on each unit’s own merits, as well as how it compares to other products in its category, as determined by the review board’s evaluation of the product at retail locations, manufacturer’s facilities, trade-shows as well as the information received from our trusted network of industry insiders (residential / commercial sellers, service providers and end use consumers). The highest graded unit per product type and/or price range earns our Head of the Class BEST BUY award.
From 2008 through to 2016, every product reviewed for that year was posted to our website. Starting in 2017, we chose to only post products that, after our review process, had earned our BEST BUY award designation. This focus on only the “winning” products allowed us to post expanded written overviews of the products (rather than just a few short quips).
What scoring characteristics does FIT PROF use?
Aesthetic – how ‘clean’ the unit is constructed, designed and finished, how it looks standing alone as well as in someone’s home
Construction – quality of components, construction and overall reliability (historical)
Ergonomics – adjustability, comfort and overall ease of operation
Versatility – number of exercises, programs, variables, etc
Warranty – how long the manufacturer is willing to standing behind the frame, parts and labor
How do I know that the reviews on FitnessProfessorReview are fair and honest?
What is a Head of the Class BEST BUY Award?
How does a product win a Head of the Class BEST BUY Award one year and not the next even if the product remains unchanged?
Why does FIT PROF use MSRP and not ~ street price ~ for its reviews?
Are the reviews found on FIT PROF the “end all be all”?
Why are there so few FIT PROF reviews of the fitness equipment sold online or in department and big box stores?
I am looking for a review on a specific product I saw in a specialty store but cannot find it on your site?
What is the difference between a climber, cross-trainer and an elliptical?
With that history in mind, FIT PROF has tried to categorize the various units reviewed in climbers, crosstrainer and ellipticals. Generally speaking, a climber does not have the same rotation movement that an elliptical does, while a crosstrainer allows for completely different motions to be performed on the same machine and or allow different body parts to be incorporated together or individually. And to confuse things even more, the ‘original’ cross-trainer is a dual-action bike as it allowed the legs and arm to work together or independently.
Bottom line, find a unit that feels good for you, and one that will keep you challenged and motivated for the longterm.
What is the difference between a home gym and a functional trainer?
The primary downfall with this type of design is that it forces a person to move within the machines path and not their own natural path. Unfortunately, the human body does not move in a straight line. It arcs and rotates and every body moves in a slightly different way. Designers have spent years trying to create machines that mimic this natural motion. The result has been to remove the machinery and simply have the user pull on the cable itself.
They are now numerous cable driven machines that allow the user to dictate where and how their limbs move the cable handle and therefore the weight. However these machines fall into one of two categories; cable driven home gyms or functional trainers.
The two main differences are that functional trainers can be used with an exercise ball, weight bench or nothing at all and their pulley positions can be adjusted vertically and or horizontally. These differences allow for a wider scope of exercises and can be used for more sports specific and rehabilitation based workouts than a basic free cable machine which has fixed or less pulley positions / versatility.