I’ve been using the M5i Strider Elliptical for a few months now. There is lots that I love about it and a few things, not so much. Here are the pros/cons…

Pros
- Build quality. Nothing feels cheap or weak. Very solid.
- Quiet and smooth. It’s whisper quiet, with no squeaks or clicks (I’ve had several elliptical… the random clicking or rubbing sounds would drive me insane)
- Small footprint. I replaced a Sole e95 Elliptical with the M5i. The Sole was HUGE, with a really long stride-length. The M5i is half the size. The compact size could be a turn-off for some people, thinking that it might be less sturdy and the short stride length would be a problem. I don’t mind the short stride at all. And again, it’s very sturdy. I’m a pretty large guy (6 feet tall and 250 lbs), and even when I get the M5i really moving there is no wobbling.

Cons
- The pedals are very narrow for a guy. I have a size 10.5 shoe with normal width, and my foot barely fits the width of the pedal. I’m constantly adjusting my foot to keep it from slipping off. I’m thinking I will cut up an old yoga mat and put the peices on top of the pedals and use it barefoot (going barefoot on the pedals isn’t really an option because they have little spikes for better grip when wearing training shoes).
- The tension control is way too sensitive. If you want to set it to a specific number, you have to slow down and make little adjustments up and down to get to the number you want. Sometimes I would just give up and leave it wherever it lands.

Overall I’m pretty happy with it, but I haven’t found the perfect elliptical yet. The M5i is great for anyone looking for a very simple, extremely solid, and whisper quiet and smooth cardio machine.

I bought this for my brother who is removing from a stroke, and I was really hopeful as the marketing for the M5i shows how it was designed to mimic a good walking stride. I thought this will be perfect for him to get back to walking normally. His foot is wider than mine and the narrow foot-pedals make it pretty hard to use… hard, but not impossible. Having to constantly adjust your feet is not a huge deal… just annoying.

I wanted this machine all the way up on the third floor of my townhouse. Non-white glove delivery drivers cannot take the package up any stairs, so keep that in mind when selecting delivery options. I didn’t even have white glove available as a delivery option, but it was surprisingly easy to move all the pieces up two flights of stairs without the help of professionals. I moved the smaller pieces myself, and then my partner and I moved the base together. We should’ve watched the assembly video, but we figured out the paper instructions in about an hour. Leave your tools nearby after assembly, as you might have to tighten things back up for the first few workouts. I love how small the footprint of this machine is. It fits easily in a bedroom without obstructing walking space. It also looks sleek and stylish, and the resistance really packs a punch. I’m usually pouring sweat after a workout. Right now I’m using the free trial of The Ride for my workouts, which has been good so far, and I intend to try the free trial of Elliptica after this free trial is over. The one thing I’m having trouble figuring out is the Bluetooth. Overall, love the machine so far!