ProForm
ProForm Carbon EL
$799.99
Best Ellipticals · head-to-head
ProForm Carbon EL vs Horizon EX-59
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Horizon EX-59 is cheaper at $799. Every spec and price links to its source.
Horizon Fitness
Horizon EX-59
$799Cheaper
Which is better: the ProForm Carbon EL or Horizon EX-59?
They split the 2 specs we compare evenly. The Horizon EX-59 is the cheaper at $799.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | ProForm Carbon EL | Horizon EX-59 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $799.99 | $799 |
| Brand | ProForm | Horizon Fitness |
| Released | — | — |
| Type | front_drive | front_drive |
| Stride length (in) | 19 in (manual adjustable) | 18 in |
| Resistance levels | 18 | 10 |
| Power incline | No | No |
| Max user weight (lb) | 275 | 300 |
| Flywheel (lb) | 15 | 14.3 |
| Built in programs | — | 5 |
Sources — ProForm Carbon EL: scheels.com (verified 2026-06-19). Horizon EX-59: horizonfitness.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the ProForm Carbon EL and Horizon EX-59?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (4 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Stride length (in): ProForm Carbon EL 19 in (manual adjustable) vs Horizon EX-59 18 in
- Resistance levels: ProForm Carbon EL 18 vs Horizon EX-59 10
- Max user weight (lb): ProForm Carbon EL 275 vs Horizon EX-59 300
- Flywheel (lb): ProForm Carbon EL 15 vs Horizon EX-59 14.3
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
ProForm Carbon EL
Two whitelisted testers rode this $799 budget elliptical hands-on: Garage Gym Reviews (3.8/5) and BarBend. Both call it sturdy, near-silent and a strong value, praising 18 resistance levels (above the ~12 average), iFIT SmartAdjust auto-resistance and a 19-inch adjustable stride. Shared gripes: no built-in touchscreen (bring your own tablet plus a paid iFIT subscription), difficult assembly, and a large/heavy/non-folding frame. GGR alone flags the light 15-lb flywheel, the 275-lb capacity and a missing safety key. Neither ran instrumented lab (dB/watt) benchmarks. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Sturdy build with no noticeable shifting or shaking during workouts; Near-silent magnetic resistance; 18 resistance levels, above the ~12-level industry average.
Flagged: No built-in touchscreen; requires your own tablet plus a paid iFIT subscription; Difficult assembly, better done with two people; Large, heavy, non-folding and hard to move (not apartment-friendly).
Horizon EX-59
Two whitelisted outlets, Garage Gym Reviews and BarBend, both hands-on tested the Horizon EX-59 and agree it is a stable, no-frills budget elliptical that punches above its price. Both flag its light 14.3-pound flywheel, the missing flywheel warranty, and its basic no-touchscreen LCD tech. Both reviews are qualitative — neither reports lab-measured values. (2 sourced reviews, 2 lab-tested.)
Praised: Stable, locked-down feel that is surprising at a budget price; Strong value for a sub-$1,000 machine; 18-inch stride length meets the industry standard.
Flagged: Light 14.3-pound flywheel, below the ~16 lb testers prefer; No warranty coverage on the flywheel; Basic LCD, no touchscreen and limited tech features.