Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is an initial review after assembling it and using it once. I'll update it if needed. I spent a long time looking at the different vertical climbers on the market. The main reason I chose this one was because of the adjustable resistance. After receiving it, I'm glad I went with this one. The resistance makes a huge difference. Here are the pros and cons. Pros: --Easy assembly. The instructions look a lot more complicated that it really is. It took me about 30 minutes including unpacking everything. I was a little worried because I read several reviews from people who were missing parts or received the wrong parts like two of the same side pedal instead of a R and L pedal, but fortunately mine had all the correct parts and nothing was missing. --Folds up small. It can be folded up and placed against a wall unobtrusively. When folded it has a very small footprint. Great for a small apartment/studio/room. --The workout. This was the first time I used a vertical climber. Before Covid I went to the gym 3 times a week and did weight training. Because of Covid I started working out at home using a Total Gym and some dumbbells but I realized I needed to add some cardio to my routine. I absolutely hate jogging so that was out, and I don't have room for an elliptical. I set the resistance to 1, which still feels like a decent amount compared to having the resistance pistons disconnected. After 10 minutes of alternating between slow and fast strides, I was beat. You can feel it in a big way after just 30 seconds at a moderate to fast pace. The adjustable resistance is very important, IMO. I tried it without the resistance hydraulics attached and although you can still get your heart rate up, there really is no resistance so it doesn't work your muscles at all - it's pure cardio. Having resistance makes a huge difference because it allows for cardio while still engaging your muscles. I can't imagine using any of the other vertical climbers that don't have adjustable resistance. To me, when I tried it without resistance I felt like I could get just as good of a cardio workout by doing jumping jacks as fast as I can. So if anyone is reading this wondering if the XL is worth the extra money, in my opinion, yes. The resistance makes all the difference. The fact that it's a low-impact workout is also very important to me. I'm in my 50s and have a bad knee due to years of playing tennis competitively so like I mentioned, jogging or any other high impact cardio are not for me. The motion is smooth, quiet, and feels stable. It's not as well balanced as a $3,000 commercial grade climber will be but for a few hundred bucks, it's stable and balanced enough. --The fact that it adjusts for people of different heights is also great. I'm 5'10", my GF is about 5'3" and we were able to find settings that work for both of us. It only takes a few seconds to change the height of the handles. That said, we were also able to find a setting that works for both of us so if I'm feeling lazy, I don't even need to change anything. Cons: --The Android app. First problem - when I went to install it, it says it needs full access to my entire call history, who I call, who calls me, etc.. WTF? Why does a simple fitness app need access to all my call records and what business is it of theirs who I call and who calls me? It also said it needed access to my microphone. Why? It doesn't seem to have any voice features. It also needs access to all my files. Again, why? I have a couple of other fitness tracking apps and none of them require any of this stuff. I decided to install it anyway and once installed, I'd then remove those permissions. When I installed it, I got a message that the app was old and was designed for an older phone and may not work properly with mine. It looks like they don't really care too much about the app. It's a security risk and apparently outdated. There are plenty of other fitness tracking apps, HIIT workout apps, etc., that don't have these issues and will work just fine. --It looks like you need to disconnect the resistance pistons in order to fold the unit. I wish there was a way to fold it without disconnecting them. This makes it a little less convenient than I'd like. It's only an extra minute or so but it's a little annoying. I wonder if I can find some cotter pins to take the place of the screw knobs. I might also look into using cotter pins for the height adjustment for the handles. The rest of the cons are mostly just concerns. --Their customer service. Before I ordered it I called them to ask how much it weighs. The conversation turned into a scene out of a comedy. I asked how much it weighs, the rep told me it supports up to 300 pounds. I explained I wasn't asking how much weight it supports, but how much the item actually weighs. She then read me the dimensions - length, width, etc... but no weight. We went round and round and no matter how I phrased the question, the answers I got were 300 pounds and the length and width. "How much does it weigh?" "25 inches..." "No, not the size, how much does it weigh?" "It will support 300 pounds." "Not how much will it support, but how heavy is it?" "ummm....25 inches...." 10 minutes of this. Come on now. I hope I don't have to call them again for anything. Other concerns - there are enough reviews of these breaking after light to moderate use that it does make me a little concerned about long term durability. Because of this I bought the Amazon extended 2 year warranty for it. For only $25 it seemed like a good idea. Bottom line, if you're looking for a cardio machine for home use, I do recommend this one. Get the XL because of the adjustable resistance. It makes a huge difference. It's a great workout and can be as light or intense as you want it to be. I prefer it to ellipticals and treadmills. I would also recommend getting the $25 Amazon extended warranty just in case....