AFG 3.1 AE Elliptical Review

When you are looking to spend $1100 on an elliptical you are going to want it to feel the part.  Smooth, comfortable and it also needs to look good!  At a shade over $1000 the AFG 3.1 AE is all of these.  In this review we will look at all the parts that goes into making this machine.

In addition we will also see how it stacks up with its biggest $1100 price competitors, the hugely popular and relatively new Proform 1110E.  As it stands the ProForm is well ahead, we have joined dozens of new users with the Proform following our review, will the AFG 3.1 be as popular?

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Who is the AFG 3.1 AE Elliptical Trainer for?

If you’re interested in maintaining shape or losing weight, the AFG 3.1 Elliptical Trainer is a great fitness partner to get your fitness goals in check.

Equipped with a standard load of workout programs, for heart training, interval work and fat loss.

It definitely works best for individuals who plan to spend their exercise time indoors and in the comfort of their homes.

What makes the ProForm 1110E Elliptical Trainer a Great Buy?

Standard Product Design. AFG have taken a no nonsense approach to the design of the 3.1  it looks squat and purposeful, with its wide foot plates, and lean upper works.  With a 23lb fly wheel though it does fall behind the Proform which packs an amazing 32lb wheel.   The handlebars feature good comfortable grips, keeping you in control at all times.

The AFG was upgraded in 2013 from the 3.0 to the 3.1 model.  Most of these changes were cosmetic, the 3.0 was a very successful and popular machine.  The Proform on the other hand is designed from the ground up for 2014.

Simple to use Console

To keep you on track the AFG 3.1 features a standard console that displays workout metrics such as time, speed, distance, resistance, calories burned and pulse.  In addition you can plug in your iPod and listen to the music through some reasonably powered speakers mounted in the console itself.  To connect the iPod will need an extra cable.  If you are feeling flash, then the next model up the 4.1AE includes a built-in iPod dock.

Built-in Workout Programs

This is the one real weakness of the AFG, it only has 10 pre installed workouts.  These include titles such as muscle builder and reverse tone.  At this price I would like to see more workout options, however in practice you will probably end up only using one or two of the programs regularly.

What is good is that two users can have their details saved in the machine, making it easy to swap between each other without having to update the height weight information.

Where to buy the AFG 3.1 AE Elliptical

We have searched the web and the best place to buy the AFG Elliptical, for price, service and free shipping to most states is Amazon. Click here to see the latest prices.

Alternatives to the AFG 3.1 Elliptical

Pros and Cons of the AFG 3.1

Pros

• Good Steady Machine, with good range of motion, and great workout!
• Highly rated on Consumer Reports
• Comes with Polar Heartrate monitor strap (one of the best in the business) with good feedback
• Cable to hook-up music, phone, ipod, ipad, etc.
• Available workout options, calorie, heartbeat, etc.
• Price – Not Gym quality machine, but much better than many home use ones
• Fairly easy to set-up by yourself under an hour.

Cons:

• Like all ellipticals the AFG 3.1 has moving parts, that if not lubricated can squeak.  Its a simple job, just apply some grease and the noise goes instanlty
• The console is a little basic.  However on balance with the high build quality its still great value.

In Summary

This is a high quality machine, designed to look good in your home (or even a gym!)  If your budget stretches to about $1000 then I would not hesitate to recommend this Elliptical. AFG have built a good quality machine, focusing on durability rather than features.

For a simple and easy to use elliptical then the AFG3.1AE is a great choice, backed by consistently good consumer feedback and comments.