Nautilus is a well-known name in the fitness world, especially when it comes to home gyms. The company manufactures an extensive variety of gym equipment, treadmills, exercise bikes and elliptical machines. Among its offerings is the Nautilus E514 Elliptical.

This exercise machine is equipped with 17 workout programs, including one that is manual, 11 that offer workout profiles and two that can be custom-designed for two different users. You also get 16 different resistance levels, which can add diversity to your exercise program to keep you from being bored and also to work muscle groups at different levels as you train. Another welcome feature for you is the ability to pedal backwards, which adds yet another dimension to any workout. You also are safer going “backwards” on an elliptical than trying to run backwards outdoors, which many workout enthusiasts actually do, but clearly at the risk of stumbling and getting hurt.

The movable handle bars done in a synchronized fashion with the oval-shaped leg movements provides you with a vigorous aerobic exercise session. You also can get good toning for muscles for both the upper and lower parts of your body.

Unfortunately, the stride length is set at 18 inches. For a number of people, that is quite an acceptable stride length and they will be able to get an excellent workout from this machine. However, if you are tall or have quite a lengthy stride, the 18-inch length with this elliptical might feel too short and uncomfortably constraining.

As you are working out, you can check the blue, backlit LCD monitor to see how you are doing and, especially, take note of your pulse. Along with that, you can check the time, interval time, RPMs, watts, distance travelled, speed, calories burned, resistance level and course profile. You can check your pulse by holding the heart rate sensors on the elliptical’s stationery handlebars. You also get a chest strap with this machine for an additional, and typically more accurate, reading of how your heart is working.

To make your exercise routine more pleasant, this elliptical comes with a water bottle holder and a magazine rack. You also can move this machine since it comes equipped with transport wheels, which is a real boon if you want to exercise in an area that gives you more privacy, or you want to place it in front of the TV, or you simply want it located somewhere else in the house. However, this elliptical does not come with a locking pin, quick start option, speakers or music plug-ins.

The warranty provides 10 years of coverage for the frame. In the warranty package, you also get coverage of 2 years for parts, 1 year for electronic parts; and 6 months for wear parts. You do not, however, get warranty coverage for labor.

Nautilus offers customer support through phone and email contact, as well as providing online product manuals. However, there is no FAQs section about the machine. There is a FAQs section regarding warranty matters.