Precor EFX 222 Elliptical Review, Pros, Cons, & Comparison

Precor EFX 222 Overview

For those who are looking for a way to remain fit during the rather unfortunate combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ever-approaching winter, there are a variety of options to help. Rowing machines, treadmills, and ellipticals are all available to those who are willing to invest in their bodily health. But let’s be real: if you are going to make such an investment, you want it to pay off.

That’s why we’re looking at all of the ellipticals made and offered by Precor Home Fitness. In this round, we’re going to be looking at their cheapest elliptical. The Precor EFX 222 home elliptical should still have the same sort of quality that has given Precor the reputation it has, but it’s always worth it to double-check the products.

We’re going to be looking at just what sort of elements make up this machine. The specifications, monitor, handlebars and so on shall all be closely examined in order to see how good they are. Then we’re going to compare it to the price that comes with the machine and give our opinion on whether or not it would be worth such a price. Then it’s up to you to decide if we’re right in our evaluation. So with all of that out of the way, let’s jump right into our review of the Precor EFX 222 elliptical cross trainer!

Precor EFX 222 Review and Specs:

It only makes sense that we start with what the Precor EFX 222 elliptical trainer looks like and how much it weighs. After all, this could make a large difference depending on the size of your home. In terms of the dimensions, it takes up a pretty decent amount of space. It is 75 inches (191 cm) long, 29 inches (74 cm) wide and 65 inches (165 cm) tall. Clearly the EFX 222 wasn’t built for small storage, as it isn’t foldable either. Small homes might struggle to fit this elliptical, but medium and larger ones should have no real problem at all.

The EFX 222 is also a rather heavy machine, so you won’t be able to just lug it around wherever you wish. It weighs a hefty 193 lbs (72 kg) in total. Meanwhile, it can hold a maximum weight of 275 lbs (125 kg). While it does weigh quite a bit, the EFX 222 can still be moved around thanks to a pair of wheels situated on the rear of the elliptical.

You might want to set the EFX 222 next to an outlet, as one of the main features that it sports is a monitor that requires such charge to work. In the United States and Canada, it works with 120 VAC outlets. Unlike some of the more expensive series, the specifications do not say if the EFX 222 will be adapted to the 240 VAC outlets of other international countries We would imagine that it should be, but without the confirmation that the other ellipticals had, we can’t be sure.

Precor EFX 222 Cross Trainer Monitor

The monitor and console are perhaps the biggest strengths of Precor ellipticals across the board. They typically have so many features and customization options that they seem to make up half of the price alone. As the Precor EFX 222 elliptical trainer is the lowest ranked of the 200 series, it does not feature the same sort of customization as those in the upper series. However, you can still make User IDs. These IDs allow users to pick up from where they left off and keep a longer track of what sorts of workouts they are performing. The monitor also allows them to switch between metric and U.S standard measurements for the statistical tracking.

Speaking of such statistics, you get a pretty good amount of them with the monitor. Once again, not quite as many as in the upper-tier ellipticals, but certainly still enough to make them work in your favour. There are 12 different metrics, such as the time, calories, strides per minute and resistance. You also get some heart rate measurements thanks to the stationary handlebars near the console (more on those handlebars below).

The last major feature of the Precor EFX 222 elliptical machine’s monitor is the collection of preset workouts that it comes with. There are 10 of them, including the manual workout mode. You can pick from options like hill climbing, cross country and weight loss. Once again, while you might not have the same sort of variety as the 800 series monitors (20+), you still have enough that it should keep you busy for a long while.

Precor EFX 222 Stride and Incline

The CrossRamp® Technology that Precor have used in their various ellipticals is one of the most appealing reasons that people have bought them. It allows for the adjustment of both the stride and incline in order to match the more natural stride that people would feel comfortable with while they workout. This is especially evident in the 800 series, where you can get quite specific in how the elliptical adjusts to your stride.

However, as the Precor EFX 222 elliptical is not in the 800 series, you are not going to find a similar feature here. In fact, there are very few levels to choose from when adjusting the stride and incline of this machine. There are only 3 of them: one at 15 degrees, one at 20 degrees and one at 25 degrees. This also means that there are only 3 stride lengths. For those who were really hoping for this sort of technology and the ability to customize the elliptical to match their own stride, this is surely a disappointment.

Before we complain too much about this lack of variation in the stride and incline, we must keep in mind who the EFX 222 is for and how much it costs (more on that below). If it included all the features of the other series’ ellipticals, it wouldn’t be as cheap as it is. The fact that it still has and uses the CrossRamp® tech at all should be praised and appreciated by its users.

Precor EFX 222 Handlebar and Pedals

As we alluded to earlier, the handlebars can make for a special addition to any elliptical – especially if they are implemented in the correct way. Fortunately, finding that right way has never been an issue for the Precor ellipticals. The same is true for the Precor EFX 222 cross trainer. On this machine, you’ll have two sets on handlebars: an outer set that can move and an inner one that cannot. The inner one has heart rate sensors located on it and serves as a place to rest your arms if they get tired. The outer handlebars serve as the spot to make your arms tired, allowing you to get a full-body workout while onboard.

The pedals are another factor that Precor tends to do pretty well with. Once again, while some of the higher ellipticals have the bonus of being specifically measured and made of the easy-to-clean polypropylene material, the pedals put on the EFX 222 should fit the vast majority of people quite comfortably. Otherwise there really isn’t that much to say about the pedals. They just work and work well.

Of the handlebars and pedals of the EFX 222, you’ll find that the handlebars are the definite highlight. The fact that you get both a heart rate sensor and the ability to workout both your upper and lower body in one aspect of the elliptical is quite brilliant. On the other hand, the pedals just do their job. There really isn’t a contest here.

Precor 222 Assembly and Accessories

The assembly of most Precor ellipticals really shouldn’t be that big of an issue to most people. Even those who consider themselves woefully out of their comfort zone when building these machines shouldn’t have an issue with it thanks to the in-depth instruction manual that comes with them. The Precor EFX 222 elliptical is no different in this respect. The assembly process shouldn’t take long at all so long as you follow these instructions.

The accessories that come with the EFX 22 are unsurprisingly limited. Even on the upper tier of Precor machines, you won’t find much in the realm of bonus features. So you shouldn’t be surprised about their absence on this lower tier one. The closest thing that you get is a small holding container that sits right beneath the console. It’s big enough for a water bottle, phone and TV remote if you have need of any such pieces of equipment.

We always will praise the assembly process of the Precor ellipticals. It makes a process that could take all day and every bit of patience you have into one that shouldn’t take more than an hour at most. The accessories on the other hand… They won’t be the key selling point of the EFX 222 anytime soon.

Price, Warranty and Shipping

One of the biggest downsides to all the Precor ellipticals that we’ve reviewed so far is their price point. While they might be quality machines, they also tend to cost the same amount as a vehicle or PC. This is still somewhat true with the Precor EFX 222, as it costs right around $2,600. This price can be paid in chunks for as low as $83 a month. Normally we’d complain about how much this is, but compared to many of the other ellipticals, this is actually a fairly reasonable price.

We criticize the price of Precor machines just as often as we praise the warranty. They are willing to back up their machines. The EFX 222 is no different in this regard. It has a lifetime warranty on the frame, 5 year warranty on the parts and wear items, 3 years on the console and a 1 year warranty on the labour. You’ll be guaranteed that this machine will not break (or will at least be replaced) for a while after you buy it.

Shipping is a process that is somewhat out of our hands. Under normal circumstances, the process shouldn’t take much longer than a week. However, as you may have noticed (or not, if you have been living under a rock), circumstances are not quite normal. If it does take longer thanks to either the holiday season or COVID, don’t be particularly surprised.

Precor EFX 222 Elliptical Pros:

• CrossRamp Tech At This Level: While the CrossRamp tech might not be as complex or fulfilling as you might find in more advanced machines, the fact that it is still implemented here is quite a good thing.
• High Quality Monitor: The fact is that this monitor is very good. It might lack some of the customization of higher tiers, but it still offers plenty of variety in the workouts and statistics that you can track.
• Good Guarantees: The warranties that come with the EFX 222 will make sure that you can use it for a long while, even if something breaks along the way. We are always going to praise good warranties.

Precor EFX 222 Elliptical Cons:

• Close To An Acceptable Price: We praised the price earlier for not being as ridiculous as some other Precor ellipticals. That still doesn’t mean it isn’t a tall one to pay. Keep the finances in mind when looking at the EFX 222.
• Lack of Any Real Bonus Accessories: The core features of the EFX 222 are good ones. However, for the price, it would be nice to see something more thrown in at least as an attempt to make up for what might be missing.

Final Verdict

Of the 200 series, we can confidently say that the Precor EFX 222 offers the highest amount of value for the money. It allows you to get some of the better features from more expensive Precor machines while also not coming with the quite-as-ridiculous price that normally comes with them. For those who have a bit of money to spend, but would also like to not drop a fortune on one of these machines, the EFX 222 would be a good place to start looking.

Compare Precor EFX Ellipticals From 200 Line

Review	Image	C.C.R	Price	Capacity	Display	Stride	Programs	Incline	Charger	Metrics	Handlebars	Resistance
Precor EFX 245		No Converging Cross Ramp	Check on Amazon	275 lbs / 125 kg	R40 - 7" LCD	18-21 in (46-53 cm)	27 programs	15-25° Motorized variable	Yes	27 Feedback Metrics	Moving and Stationary	550 Watts
Precor EFX 225		No Converging Cross Ramp	Check on Amazon	275 lbs / 125 kg	R20 - 5" LCD	18-21 in (46-53 cm)	12 programs	15-25°Motorized variable	No	13 Feedback Metrics	Moving and Stationary	550 Watts
Precor EFX 222		No Converging Cross Ramp	Check on Amazon	275 lbs / 125 kg	R20 - 5" LCD	18-21 in (46-53 cm)	10 programs	15-25° Manual variable	No	13 Feedback Metrics	Moving and Stationary	550 Watts
Precor EFX 221		No Converging Cross Ramp	Check on Amazon	275 lbs / 125 kg	R20 - 5" LCD	18-21 in (46-53 cm)	10 programs	15-25° Manual variable	No	13 Feedback Metrics	Only Stationary	550 Watts

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