In this article we will take a look at Exerpeutic, a brand of exercise machines aimed at the home-use exercise market. We will look at Exerpeutic brand offerings in general, take a more specific look at the the brand philosophy or approach to home exercise, and we will compare a number of Exerpeutic models of exercise equipment (specifically exercise bikes) to see how they rate in terms of ease of use, features, and overall value.
What Is Exerpeutic?
Exerpeutic is a leading brand of home-use exercise equipment. The brand’s focus is on providing effective, reliable, and also affordable exercise options to its customers. The brand is part of the exercise equipment offerings at Paradigm Health and Wellness, a Southern California supplier to the fitness, health, and wellness industry.
Before we examine the Exerpeutic product line in more detail, let’s talk for a moment about the product focus and customer expectations in the home exercise equipment marketplace.
No Time but Lots of Need
The home use of exercise equipment has generated the dominant portion of sales for manufacturers. While sales of high-end equipment to health clubs and gyms are expected to keep growing, equipment purchased by home-use exercisers will continue to generate at least 50% of sales.
Why is the demand for home exercise equipment so strong? One answer is that people have less and less time to devote to an exercise routine, particularly if that means going back and forth to a gym a number of days a week. It is a lot easier to get a workout in if the equipment to enable that routine is available in a person’s home. Also, people often view going to the gym as the kind of serious commitment to fitness that beginners can shy away from. Comfort and privacy are two other concerns that motivate people to begin their workout routines at home.
But the most important point is that while people have less and less time to exercise, they have more and more need to do so. Obesity levels continue to rise in the USA and globally. People increasingly recognize for the sake of their health, short-term and long-term, they need to start exercising.
The home exercise market has always understood that the home-user has certain key concerns regarding the equipment they purchase:
Affordability
Everybody likes a “deal,” of course, but home exercise equipment can be extremely expensive if you are looking at high-end options such as NordicTrack. And spending $1,000 or much more on a first exercise machine is simply not where most consumers comfortably reside in their thinking about fitness.
So, affordability is maybe the most important consideration for home-use exercise equipment customers. This has tended to mean suppliers of this equipment had to opt for less-expensive manufacturing materials and standards, and home-use equipment is often viewed by people as being cheap, both in terms of the performance or efficiency of the equipment and in terms of its durability. Suppliers who can provide better efficiency and perceived overall value at an affordable price usually get high ratings from consumers.
Efficiency
The key to understanding this aspect of the home-user expectations regarding their choice of exercise equipment is to remember what we said above about how much (or how little) time the average consumer has to devote to a regular routine of exercise.
Equipment that provides too light a workout, which may appeal to people who are not in such great physical shape to begin with, is likely to be abandoned because it does not effectively or efficiently produce the desired outcome: improved fitness and especially a reduction in the home-user’s weight and waistline.
At the same time, equipment that is too challenging is also not going to be used. What good home-use exercise equipment aims to supply is a reasonable (and adjustable) balance of ease of use and workout intensity with workout efficiency—a product that delivers what the user needs in as little time as possible.
Good Value
If a manufacturer can build an effective, efficient piece of home-use workout equipment at an affordable price (and if the manufacturer builds the equipment with sufficient durability that it is going to last) then the product will be perceived as supplying good value.
Let’s take a look now at the Exerpeutic brand and see where its main focus is in supplying good value to consumers.
Product Specs
Since Exerpeutic exercise equipment is aimed at the home-use market, individual models all share certain key features and specifications, which show the brand’s commitment to meeting the needs of busy, results-oriented, and value-minded consumers.
In our comparison below, all models of the exercise bikes we review provide certain key features: a large comfortable seat, large foot pedals with straps (to prevent slipping), a comfortable arrangement of seat to pedals to handlebars and hand grips, and standard digital displays providing real-time exercise metrics like pulse rate and calories burned per workout.
Pricing
Pricing on Exerpeutic exercise equipment varies according to models and features, but the equipment we compare below ranges in price from around $140 on the economical side to around $300 for more full-featured models. Since the vast majority of consumers will be able to find a bike they can afford in that price range, that makes all these exercise bikes affordable.
How They Compare
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.
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Exerpeutic 900XL Recumbent Bike
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Exerpeutic 250XL 1200 Folding Magnetic Upright Bike
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Exerpeutic 3000 Magnetic Upright Bike
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Exerpeutic 500 XLS Foldable Magnetic Upright Bike
Exerpeutic 900XL Recumbent Bike
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Price
Around $160 to $220
Ease of Use
To some extent, all recumbent exercise bikes are all about ease of use. Since the person is in a comfortable sitting position throughout the course of the exercise routine, certain types of fatigue (for example in one’s joints and back), which might shorten a person’s workout using other types of exercise bikes, are not an issue with a recumbent design. As with all these models, the large seat and pedals make getting into and out of the bike very easy.
Assembly Time
Most users report assembly to be fairly basic, taking about an hour. The company provides online manuals and tech support to help customers assemble the bike.
Design Quality
While aimed at home users and so very affordably priced, this exercise bike is designed to handle more challenging workouts, with eight different levels of resistance for more or less intense routines. As noted above, users will likely have a little easier time doing these more challenging workouts, and thus achieving fitness and weight loss more efficiently because of the recumbent design of this product. The product has a maximum user weight rating of 300 pounds. That being said, some users report minor durability issues that are common with economy or affordable exercise bikes.
Warranty
There is a 1-year limited warranty on the frame and 90 days on the parts plus 5 extra years when you buy on paradigmhw.com—the company website.
Pros
- Recumbent design easier on joints and back
- Ease of use is excellent
Cons
- Durability is standard for this level of bike
Exerpeutic 250XL 1200 Folding Magnetic Upright Bike
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This beginner exercise bike is extremely easy to use, compact (easy to fold up and store away when you’re done), and is the most affordable bike in this review.
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Price
Around $140 to $160
Ease of Use
This exercise bike emphasizes qualities and features—low-impact and safety of operation—that are suitable to this bike’s classification as a beginner-level machine. The idea is that beginners are often in less (sometimes much less) than optimum fitness levels. The bike takes this into consideration by offering features like an extra-large seat cushion and large easy-to-use pedals and straps. The bike is very easy to mount and dismount. And the computer to track performance metrics has a large easy-to-read screen and simple one-button operation.
Assembly Time
The bike comes mostly assembled. A user will have to assemble the seat, handle bars, peddles, and base supports—most of which just involves tightening a few screws and nuts and bolts. Assembly time, if you are not in a hurry, could take an hour or so.
Design Quality
The key features of this bike, as we have mentioned, are its ease of use, compactness, and its affordable price. That means that less expensive and less durable materials are used to make the bike more affordable. Larger users (the product is rated up to 300 pounds) may put more stress on what is, after all, an economy exercise bike. So, in that event, durability might be more of a concern.
Warranty
It has a 1-year limited warranty plus five extra years when you purchase the product on the manufacturer’s website: Paradigmhw.com.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Compact
- Very affordable
Cons
- Durability could be an issue for some users
- Not for advanced users
Exerpeutic 3000 Magnetic Upright Bike
While this exercise bike costs more than the other bikes in this review, it also offers a more sophisticated metrics computer and a user app that can enable control and monitoring of the machine (including recording and storing metrics) from a user’s phone (iPhone or Android) or iPad.
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Price
Around $190 to $300
Ease of Use
While the basic operation of this bike is simple, the additional features will require a user to learn a more involved computer metrics system as well as an optional user app. The emphasis on technology with this bike will please some users and perhaps may irritate those who were just looking for a basic bike to do their workouts.
Assembly Time
As with all these bikes, assembly with the 3000 Upright bike is standard, as most of the bike comes pre-assembled.
Design Quality
This bike is designed for more rugged and sophisticated use than most beginner bikes. The bike computer enables the user to prepare a personal profile and to use it to program up to 12 different workouts. The optional app can be used to interact with the computer and to store the metrics of each user workout. Precision balanced flywheel and V Belt drive enable quiet, smooth peddling, encouraging longer, more effective workout routines.
Warranty
It has a 1-year limited warranty.
Pros
- Advanced features in a beginner’s bike
- Computer metrics and app enable more user control
Cons
- Not as easy to use as other beginner models
Exerpeutic 500 XLS Foldable Magnetic Upright Bike
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This exercise bike represents a step up in ruggedness and durability compared to the other bikes in this review. With a user weight rating of 400 pounds and more emphasis on performance, this bike is intended for those either in need of a sturdier beginning exercise bike or for users ready to take the workouts to the next level.
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Price
Around $200 to $250
Ease of Use
While this exercise bike features a much more rugged and durable design, it doesn’t sacrifice ease of use. Basically, as a better-built version of the 250XL, this bike features the same large, comfortable seat, large peddles and safety straps, and simple-to-use bike computer as the less expensive model, but the 500 XLS is built to do more work and to accommodate larger users.
Assembly Time
Again, most of the bike comes pre-assembled. Basic sections like the seat, peddles, and handlebars and support bars require assembly. It is not difficult nor particularly time-consuming—about an hour to assemble in most cases.
Design Quality
Employing 20% more steel in its design than the 250XL, the 500 XLS offers a frame built for heavy-duty workouts and improved durability. Again, as noted above, the bike is rated for a maximum use weight of 400 pounds, much heavier than the other bikes in this review. Even if a user is nowhere near that large, the extra strength and durability of the bike will pay off for the smaller, lighter user with longer and more dependable product life.
Warranty
It comes with a 1-year limited warranty plus 5 years when you buy on the company website, Paradigmhw.com
Pros
- Stronger, better-built than other beginner models
- Ease of use not sacrificed in a sturdier bike
- Compact fold-away design
Cons
- Computer design is basic—which will be a pro for some users
Conclusion
In this article, we examined the Exerpeutic brand of exercise machines and reviewed four of the brand’s exercise bicycles. While each of these models of exercise bike is aimed at a slightly different kind of user, they are all basically beginner bikes. In our rating system, the winner was the 500 XLS Foldable Magnetic Upright Bike, with a perfect 5.0 rating.