Cybex 360A Arc Trainer Review

In comparison to ordinary elliptical cross trainers, the Cybex 360A is an unusual looking machine. Cybex are best known for high quality commercial gym equipment. Their equipment can be found in many of the more refined gyms out there and includes a whole varierty of strength machines, treadmills and exercise bikes. However, instead of ordinary elliptical cross trainers, Cybex gyms have Arc Trainers. The Arc Trainer has been developed by the scientists at Cybex as a similar, but superior machine to a traditional elliptical cross trainer. Whilst the conventional wisdom has always been that elliptical trainers offer the best whole body workout (among traditional fitness machines). However, Cybex have taken minimising stress to the joints and lower back to a whole new level by coming up with the patented Arc Trainer. Whilst the science behind it is a little complicated, the basic principal is simple: on pretty much all normal elliptical trainers, your knee ends up going past your toes during part of the stride and this results in stress to both the knees and the ankles. By changing the motion from a full elliptical pattern to an arc, problem solved! Not only that, Cybex have commissioned lots of research that shows that the Arc Trainer concept results in more calorie burn than any cross trainer or elliptical cross trainer on the market. The Cybex Arc trainers are a huge hit in US gyms and Cybex now have a version of the machine designed for home use: The 360A. So, the theory sounds good and exciting, but what's the home arc trainer like to use? Having regularly used and become accustomed to elliptical cross trainers, the first use of the Cybex felt somewhat different! On a traditional elliptical trainer, the arms and legs on the same side of the body are always going in different directions, whereas on the Cybex they travel in the same direction. Also, unsuprisingly, the motion itself is rather different. Once the mental comparisons with an elliptical were binned, your reviewer started to get into the arc movement and quickly became a convert! The Cybex 360A is a very smooth cross trainer that is most comfortable to use and this home version really does feel like using a quality piece of kit at the gym. This is in no small part due to to the fact that the machine itself weighs a hefty 133kg! This ensures that the 360A feels rock solid and steady, even when being used strenuously. An innovative feature of the machine is that it offers 10 levels of computer controlled incline, which changes the stride motion and subsequently the muscle groups getting exercised. In terms of varying intensity, the 360A has 20 levels of resistance and we can confirm that the higher levels are resistance make for a truely hard workout. This is important (and not always the case on lots of machines) as it means that the 360A will continue to provide a challenging workout as your fitness levels improve. The console is clear and simple and we're pleased that the gym approach of sticking to easy to read LED displays has been carried through to the home version of this machine. There are plenty of good selection of programmes to choose from in addition to manual control mode. The console has a wireless heart rate receiver build in and the machine is supplied as standard with a chest strap. For the most efficient workout possible, the Arc Trainer also offers heart rate controlled programmes. The Cybex 360A home Arc Trainer is certainly an expensive piece of home fitness equipment, but it has so much going for it. Less stress on the joints, more muscle groups worked and a faster rate of calorie burn in a machine that is actually more compact than many of the front drive elliptical cross trainers on the market. This cross trainer is easily the most desirable cross trainer for home use on the market today! Dimensions: Machine weight: Max. user weight: Stride Length: Incline Options: Resistance:   Length: 180cm, Width: 73cm, Height: 158cm 133 kg 136 kg (21 stones) 61 cm (24") 10 levels of computer controlled incline 20 levels, electromagnetic braking, maximum resistance of 450 watts Pros: Long 24" stride length Super smooth to use Heart rate control for effective workouts Clear and easy to read display Excellent warranty Cons: No stored user profiles Our score : 9.5 ( out of 10 ) - a simply amazing machine! Best Price: Currently available for £3000 with free delivery & installation from Sweatband.com. Hold the Press: Get an extra 10% Discount on the Cybex 360A From Sweatband.com  Use Code: C360-10 in basket page to apply discount Also see our Elliptical Trainer Comparison Table. Whilst every effort is made to give you accurate information we cannot guarantee the technical specification. Models change on a regular basis and may differ slightly from the above review. We recommend you contact the retailer if you have a question regarding technical data. Please read our Legal Disclaimer Home        Benefits       Buyers Guide       Price Table       Trainer Reviews       Contact Us