Why The Horizon Sonic 11 ===================== If I am fit I am happy, if I can lose weight I am even happier. The weight is gradually going off from following the Atkins Diet, but I am nowhere near as fit as when I was working. I like walking, but not by myself. We live in the country and around us are so many lonely roads which make me nervious.
I joined the local fitness club, but every time I turned up the treadmills were occupied by people who were determined to do the marathon, so I spent most of my time hanging around waiting. It was rather expensive too.
I decided the only solution would be to get a treadmill of my own. I had two problems, it would have to be stored in the sitting room and it had to be quiet. Hubby likes watching the TV!!! I checked out reviews in Ciao and then looked in Ebay, but I was not lucky enough to find one in my area so I went to JJP to see what they had on offer.
There were quite a few. Some where very large and a bit too sophisticated for me. They were selling the Horizon Sonic II at a reduced price of £399, a reduction of £100, this was the smallest one they had and it folded away. JJP were very helpful, letting me hear it running, (I didn't try it in the shop, knowing me I would have fallen off it or made a fool of myself by getting puffed out after only two minutes). I wanted the treadmill just for walking, but you can also jog on the Horizon Sonic and who knows, I might get fit enough to up my speed to jogging! Ha! Ha!
I found the treadmill very heavy at first, but it was easy to fold up and unfold and when the shop assistant showed me how to safely move it about on its wheels, the fact that it was heavy did not seem to matter. I was not planning to move it any great distance anyway.
PROFILE DETAILS =============== P1 - Manual Profile -------------------------- Primary Fitness goal: Customized Workouts Course Description: The Manual Profile allows you to choose your own speed at any time during the workout.
P2 - Intervals Profile - Speed Changes ---------------------------------------------------- Preset Time: 24 Minutes Primary fitness goal: Improve strength, speed and endurance Course Description: The intervals Profile is one of the most challenging workouts. The alternating high and low intensity load will improve your power, speed and endurance while keeping your metabolism high for the entire workout.
P3 - Weight Loss Profile - Speed Changes ----------------------------------------------------------- Preset Time: 48 Minutes Primary fitness goal: Weight Loss Course Description: With regular use, the Weight Loss Profile is a powerful tool for weight loss. The combination of low load intensity over a longer period of time has been found to be the most effective for weight control.
This treadmill should only be used by people of 220lbs and less and It also has a manual incline
The console shows time, speed, calorie loss, distance, and heart rate. Attached to it is a safety key which you attach to your clothing so if you fall it comes off the machine and immediately stops it.
My Decision ========== It covered all my criteria so I took a note of all the measurements to see if there would be enough room for it. (Whatever, I was determined it would, even if we had to get rid of the dinning room table and chairs!!!)
As soon as I got home out came the tape measure. Well, wherever it went it would look horrible, but it would fit in. That was good enough for me, so first thing the next morning I hurried back to JJP and paid for it, this was on the 6th March.
That was the easy part, my problems were about to begin!!!!
Delivery Problems ============== There was not enough room in our car and JJP didn't deliver, so they had to order another one from a firm called Johnson Health Tech UK Ltd, who in turn used Sprint Home Deliveries Limited; three individual firms, that seemed a recipe for disaster!!
On the 9th March I received a letter from Sprint saying that it would be delivered on the 24th March and that they would ring two days prior to delivery. When they rang I was out so missed their call, which on hindsight was a good thing as when I rang them back I found they had received the wrong post code from JJP. The treadmill was packed on a lorry earmarked for Peterborough, I live in Hampshire. They rang back later in the day to say that the Reading lorry was full and they would have to put it on the next one which was due on the 31st March. I was so disappointed.
Assembly ======== My Horizon treadmill duly arrived on the 31st and I hurriedly unpacked it. There were several parts which I had to put together. I got on really well at first until it came to the console part, there were no instructions in the manual with regard to the wiring and I was left with an earth and two black identical wires. Not wanting to electrocute myself or blow the machine up I thought it best to seek help. I found a help desk number and was very impressed as I got straight through to an engineer who explained what I should do and gave me his direct dial number should I have any trouble.
Although I could have done with three hands I managed to complete the assembly of the console without further problems. I dubiously plugged it in; nothing, not a murmur!!
Right let's read the manual again. "Your treadmill will not start unless the Safety Key is placed on the key holder in the center of the console". Safety Key, ah, that must be this piece of square plastic with a cord and peg attached to it and a separate magnet - separate magnet that can't be right!!! No it wasn't the magnet had come un-stuck.
Back to the engineer - "I will put a replacement in the post straight away and sorry for the inconvenience". I think he sensed my frustration!
One week later no Safety Key. Rang the engineer back again, checked the post code and they had not changed it on my records. "I am so sorry, I will put another one in the post".
The next morning I received it; oh great I can now get on with my keep fit regime. I placed the key on the front of the treadmill, attaching the cord to my t-shirt with the peg and joy of joys it started. I put my noisiest, beatiest CD and got started, it was marvellous.
Conclusion ========== I did have some trouble with the delivery, but that wasn't the fault of the machine. The Horizon Sonic II is a must if you are looking for a reasonably priced jogging/walking machine with all the basic attributes. I love it and have never regretted spending out nearly £400 for it.
Pros: It is an easy to use machine, quiet, has most of the basic facilities and folds neatly away. Saves spending out for fitness sessions.
Cons: Assembly Instructions are incomplete and you need three hands to put the console together.
Thank you for reading my review.
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