Best Elliptical For Home
24-Sept-2022 — 1. Sunny Essentials Series Elliptical 2. Schwinn Fitness 430 Elliptical 3. Teeter FreeStep Recumbent 4. Body Power 3-in-1 5. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E902
If you're looking to invest in a piece of cardio equipment that is low impact, you might consider an elliptical machine. The elliptical is a useful addition if you want to build up a home gym with a cardio machine. The best elliptical machines give you the ability to efficiently work your upper and lower body in a controlled manner. It also takes up less space and is easier on the joints than if you were to use a treadmill. If you're not sure how to use an elliptical, try some of our helpful tips.
With so many ellipticals on the market, we reviewed various models to help you choose the best fit for your lifestyle. If you're looking for more budget-friendly ellipticals, these are some of our favorites.
Buyers Guide to the Best Elliptical For Home
When it comes to building a home gym, an elliptical machine is a fantastic investment. It offers a low-impact, full-body workout that's easy on the joints, making it ideal for all fitness levels. With so many options available, finding the best elliptical for your home can be challenging. This comprehensive guide will help you navigate the key features and considerations to make an informed decision.
1. Determine Your Fitness Goals
- Weight Loss: Look for an elliptical with a variety of resistance levels and workout programs to keep your workouts challenging and varied.
- Cardiovascular Health: Consider an elliptical with heart rate monitoring and cardio-specific programs.
- Low-Impact Exercise: Ensure the machine has smooth motion and ergonomic design to minimize strain on your joints.
2. Types of Ellipticals
- Front-Drive Ellipticals: These machines have a flywheel in the front, providing a smooth and natural stride. They tend to be more affordable but can be noisier.
- Rear-Drive Ellipticals: With the flywheel at the back, these offer a quieter operation and a more stable workout experience.
- Center-Drive Ellipticals: Compact and space-saving, these machines have a balanced design that feels natural and stable.
3. Key Features to Consider
- Stride Length: A stride length of 18-20 inches is suitable for most users. Adjustable stride lengths offer flexibility for multiple users in a household.
- Resistance Levels: Look for a machine with multiple resistance levels to accommodate your fitness progress.
- Incline Settings: Adjustable incline adds variety to your workouts and targets different muscle groups.
- Smooth Motion: Ensure the elliptical provides a smooth and quiet operation. Test it if possible to check for any wobbling or noise.
4. Technology and Connectivity
- Display Console: A clear, easy-to-read display that shows key metrics like time, distance, calories burned, and heart rate is essential.
- Workout Programs: Pre-set programs can keep your workouts interesting and help you achieve specific fitness goals.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Allows you to sync your workouts with fitness apps and track your progress over time.
- Entertainment Options: Some ellipticals come with built-in speakers, tablet holders, or even integrated screens for streaming workouts or entertainment.
5. Comfort and Ergonomics
- Pedal Design: Look for large, cushioned pedals that reduce strain on your feet. Some ellipticals offer adjustable pedal angles for added comfort.
- Handlebars: Dual handlebars (stationary and moving) provide options for upper-body workouts. Ensure they are comfortable and easy to grip.
- Stability and Weight Capacity: Check the machine's weight capacity and ensure it feels stable and secure during use.
6. Space and Storage
- Footprint: Measure your available space and compare it with the elliptical’s dimensions. Foldable models are ideal for small spaces.
- Portability: Consider machines with transport wheels for easy movement and storage.
7. Budget Considerations
- Entry-Level Models: Typically range from $200 to $700. These offer basic features and are suitable for beginners or occasional use.
- Mid-Range Models: Cost between $700 and $1,500. They offer a good balance of features, durability, and performance.
- High-End Models: Priced above $1,500, these machines provide advanced features, and superior build quality, and often come with extended warranties.
8. Warranty and Customer Support
- Warranty: Look for a machine with a comprehensive warranty covering the frame, parts, and labor. A longer warranty indicates better quality and reliability.
- Customer Support: Check the brand’s reputation for customer service. Responsive support can make a big difference if you encounter any issues.
Choosing the best elliptical for your home involves considering your fitness goals, the machine’s features, and your budget. By understanding the different types of ellipticals and what features to look for, you can find a machine that will provide a great workout and fit seamlessly into your home gym. Investing in a high-quality elliptical can help you achieve your fitness goals while providing a convenient and enjoyable workout experience at home.
Top Picks
Sunny Essentials Series Elliptical
Specifications
- Dimensions: 34.25 x 19.75 x 13.62 inches
- Item Weight: 60.8 Pounds
- Material: Steel
- Resistance Mechanism: Magnetic
- Max Weight: 220 Pounds
- Display Type: 13"
Why We Love It
The Sunny Essentials Series Elliptical is perfect for any fitness enthusiast. Stride along with Sunny Health & Fitness expert trainers on the Sunny Health & Fitness SunnyFit APP. Connect your preferred mobile device through Bluetooth and view your performance metrics in real time.
The all-new SunnyFit APP takes your Sunny workouts to the next level! View your live metrics displayed in real-time as you tour the world with real location maps. Get the results you want with customized workout plans. Explore 100+ workout videos that fit your schedule and goals. Compare your results on the elliptical leaderboard, share your fitness experiences, get workout tips, and much more!
Keeping track of your fitness results is essential for any exercise routine. The standalone digital monitor displays: Calories, Distance, Odometer, Pulse, Speed, Time, and Scan.
What You Should Know
Choose between 8 levels of magnetic resistance using the tension knob to provide multi-variable levels of resistance to your workout or fitness lessons. The bidirectional 11-inch stride length provides the Essential Interactive Series Elliptical machine with an optimal and efficient striding motion.
In tight spaces, you can tilt and roll away for easy storage with convenient transport wheels allowing easy movement of equipment. Monitor your cardiovascular performance with the built-in pulse-sensing grips so you can actively check your workout progress, displayed on the digital monitor or the SunnyFit APP.
Ride along with our Sunny Health & Fitness trainers using your phone, tablet, or any other mobile device of your choice!
Points to Consider Before Purchasing
- Good price in this range of elliptical
- Helpful to work out at home
- Compact Size to fit anywhere
- Easy to assemble because of well-written instructions
Schwinn Fitness 430 Elliptical
Specifications
- Dimensions: 70"D x 28"W x 71"H
- Item Weight: 165 Pounds
- Material: Steel
- Resistance Mechanism: Magnetic
- Max Weight: 300 Pounds
Why We Love It
Schwinn Fitness 430 Elliptical brings you a smooth, comfortable workout experience that increases cardio and muscle strength while shedding unwanted pounds. With its sleek, streamlined console, it makes it easy to track your data and monitor your results. Goal Track capability enables users to set individual exercise goals by tracking time, distance, and calories to compare with previous workouts. 20" stride with Precision Path foot motion technology simulates a natural running motion. The High-speed, high-inertia drive system offers easy start-up and smooth, quiet workouts.
One thing that makes this machine stand out is that it's fully integrated with iFit, an immersive training experience that gives you access to elite personal trainers and structured, guided workouts to help you achieve your fitness goal.
When you choose a workout through iFit, you're taken through terrain in places like Chile and the Canary Islands as an elliptical trainer guides you through a simulated workout that automatically adjusts both incline and resistance on your machine as you go. And the 14-inch touchscreen made it that much better and more realistic. You can skip iFit altogether and run the machine manually, but the iFit experience takes this elliptical trainer machine from good to great.
What You Should Know
One common concern is the fact that there's no power button for the Schwinn Fitness 430 Elliptical. The manual says the machine has an auto shut-off. One common concern is that you need to unplug it to turn it off manually.
22 preset workout programs allow 9 profiles, 8 heart rate control, 2 fitness tests, and a quick start. Immersive 14-inch interactive HD touchscreen streams live & on-demand iFit workouts directly to your equipment.
Silent Magnetic Resistance for near-silent home exercise .26 Digital Levels of Resistance; Automatic Trainer Control allows your iFit Trainer to auto-adjust your resistance in real-time;
Enjoy hands-free exercise that matches the global terrain in your home. Stepper plus Elliptical Stride. The HIIT H14 features a unique 10” vertical and 5” horizontal stride. Low-impact cardio and integrated CoolAire Workout Fan with multi-grip handlebars engage your upper body. Great for heavy people up to 325-pound weight capacity. Comes with a good warranty.
Points to Consider Before Purchasing
- Solid-body but comes with cheap electronics
- A great addition to your home workout
Teeter FreeStep Recumbent Cross Trainer
Specifications
- Dimensions: 54"D x 29"W x 53"H
- Material: Alloy Steel
- Resistance Mechanism: Magnetic
- Item Weight: 110.2 Pounds
- Max Weight: 300 Pounds
- Display Type: 10” inches
Why We Love It
Easy to use with zero-impact exercise for all fitness levels. The naturally reclined seated position eliminates stress on the joints and back and reduces body fatigue while delivering a total body, fat-burning cardio workout. A great exercise option for those with Arthritis or Parkinson's. The natural striding motion follows a smooth, linear path to protect your knees and joints. With 13 levels of smooth magnetic resistance, a simple turn of the dial takes your workout from zero to intense.
Dual power motion works your upper and lower body simultaneously, engaging all major muscle groups to build strength and burn more calories. Modify the workout by isolating your legs or arms for added intensity.
Track your progress with the easy-to-read, battery-powered digital console; device stand, and water bottle holder; convenient transport wheels. Friction-free linkage system means long-lasting use and a low-profile 54" x 38" footprint.
This brings a new level of ease to exercising in your own home with a stress-free, zero‑impact cardio and strength workout. FreeStep takes the load off your back and joints, elevating comfort beyond traditional ellipticals, treadmills, and steppers while delivering exceptional calorie-burning results. With patented stride technology to protect the knees, with a natural stepping stride that follows a smooth, linear path.
Using dual power motion, the FreeStep distributes muscle exertion throughout the body. Shift from working hard with your legs to focusing on your arms, so you can exercise longer without getting tired. Your workout will feel easier while burning more calories for faster results.
What You Should Know
Patented technology offers the same gentle and effective motion but in an affordable home-use solution. The FreeStep is a home-use machine with this unique linkage system. Simply put, the FreeStep offers a superior low-stress, low-impact cardio and resistance workout at a fraction of the cost of comparable commercial equipment.
The unique motion of the FreeStep sets it apart from other recumbent options which can be hard on your body for two reasons: 1) a cycle motion can cause knee shear (ouch!) and 2) the motion can add sway to the hips, destabilizing the hips and lower back.
Incorporating both the upper and lower body distributes muscle exertion to avoid muscle burnout. Your workout feels easier while burning more calories. The linkage system between the upper and lower body is perfectly synchronized for smooth comfortable motion. No drag or popping motion is found in typical seated full-body equipment.
The FreeStep gives you a full-body workout that surpasses the benefits and calorie-burn of regular gym equipment so you can save time with better results, AND exercise at your convenience in your own home, day or night.
Well-constructed
- Oversized Pedals that help in placing your feet
- Well-constructed and very sturdy
- Helpful to work out at home
Body Power 3-in-1 Exercise Machine
Specifications
- Dimensions: 43.7"D x 62.2"W x 29.13"H
- Item Weight: 71.65 Pounds
- Material: Plastic, Other
- Resistance Mechanism: Magnetic
- Max Weight: 250 Pounds
- Display Type: 3"
Why We Love It
The Body Power 3-in-1 Exercise Machine is perfect for any fitness enthusiast. It can serve as an elliptical, an upright bike, or a recumbent bike for a varied cardio workout.
There are three integrated handlebar options to use based on the exercise method you choose: U-shaped with a built-in heart rate monitor system, moving elliptical style, and a wraparound style for a reclined seat. To transition to more challenging workouts, the resistance level can be adjusted using a handy dial knob without having to dismount.
However, the stride of this machine is 13.5 inches according to its manufacturer. This means it may be uncomfortable for users with longer legs, who won’t be able to stretch them like they might on a machine with a longer stride. It has a good star average rating.
joint issues
Save space and get a killer workout with the body power 3-in-1 Trio trainer from Body Flex Sports. This compact trainer can be used as an elliptical, upright bike, and also recumbent bike. Its resistance can be adjusted magnetically, so it's easy to get the workout you need. Simple electronic computer console to track your calories burned, time, speed, and distance.
Each of the exercises possible with this unique machine is low-impact, making it perfect for people with joint issues. Its resistance can be adjusted magnetically, so it’s easy to get the workout you need. Adjust hand positioning or stand to tone different parts of the body for a better workout.
Points to Consider Before Purchasing
- Comfortable bike seat and handlebars with integrated heart rate
- Helpful to work out at home and not very noisy
- Easy to assemble because of well-written instructions
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E902
Specifications
- Dimensions: 19"D x 25"W x 57"H
- Item Weight: 35 Pounds
- Material: Steel
- Resistance Mechanism: Air
- Max Weight: 220 lbs
- Display Type: 30”
Why We Love It
It comes with non-slip pedals that will help simulate a slow walk or work up to a full run while maintaining a continuous motion capability without interruption with a 30" stride length.
The air walker exercise machine comes with LCD and targets muscles in your arms as well as your legs. When you maintain an upright posture on the machine, your abdominal muscles will work as stabilizing muscles increasing your stability and endurance.
LCD monitor displays time, count, total count, calories, and scan. Aerobic exercise increases cardiorespiratory fitness, which is one of the 5 essential components of physical fitness. Compact when not in use 15L x 19w x 61.5H for easy storage.
Come with a 6" display that shows a few different stats (using the red button) including calories burned, the time elapsed, and the total count of your strides.
What You Should Know
An informative LCD monitor displays time, count, total count, scan, and calories. Easy movement with up and down to ensure proper support and placement for aerobic exercise to increase cardiorespiratory fitness.
The non-slip pedals will help simulate a slow walk or work up to a full run while maintaining a continuous motion capability without interruption. 30" stride length allows you to propel your legs forward and backward with ease and stability. It helps target your arm and leg muscles. Includes your abdominal muscles will work as stabilizing muscles increasing your stability and endurance.
With a high weight capacity of 220 lb, feel confident on the elliptical that will support your body. The heavy-duty, steel frame is built for the toughest and the strongest fitness users.
One of the more interesting features of this machine is the abdominal pad. I can see it being useful for people with weaker cores or an injury that makes them pitch forward while exercising. If neither of these applies to you, you may find this add-on to be more of a nuisance than anything else. Although it is adjustable, some reviewers reported it didn’t adjust enough to be used for shorter folks, which is worth keeping in mind.
Although the footprint of the SF-E902 is already small, this elliptical can also fold. After doing a ton of research, I can confidently say that not many ellipticals or gliders fold, which makes this a great option for small spaces. Lightweight and easy to move around.
Points to Consider Before Purchasing
- Warranty is short
- A single set of handlebars.
- Non-slip pedals and easy to assemble because of well-written instructions
- Missing a device holder or water bottle slot on this machine.
Best Elliptical For Home FAQs
With so many famous brands and so many models available on the market decide which is best for you. Our comprehensive buyer's guide with frequently asked questions helps you choose the best ellipticals for your home that are affordable and fulfill your needs. This guide will help you understand what to look for when choosing the best ones.
Here are some of the common frequently asked questions about Home Ellipticals.
Q: Are home ellipticals worth it?
Answer: Including the elliptical machine in your fitness routine can help strengthen your heart, lungs, and muscles, all while boosting your stamina, improving your balance, and burning a lot of calories. It's also a great option if you have joint issues or want to build or maintain your fitness after an injury.
Q: Which elliptical is most like running?
Answer: If you're looking for a natural, run-like feeling from your elliptical, this is likely your best bet. The machine lets you set its movement pattern to replicate the functionality of a stair climber, standard elliptical, or treadmill.
The best way to determine whether or not an elliptical is right for you is to try it out. Many gyms have ellipticals available for members to use, so go ahead and take a spin on a few different machines to see which one feels the best.
Q: Can elliptical burn belly fat?
Answer: Elliptical trainers can help burn calories, reduce belly fat, and tone the body. When used properly, an elliptical trainer works the entire body and can engage the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, chest, back, triceps, and biceps.
Q: Is the elliptical better than the treadmill?
Answer: Which machine is a better option depends on your individual needs. If you have a musculoskeletal condition or are injury-prone, you may want to stick with the elliptical. If you want to burn a lot of calories and build up leg strength and speed, the treadmill may be a better choice.
Q: Are ellipticals good for the knees?
Answer: Studies show low-impact cardio workouts, like on elliptical machines, can increase blood flow to knee cartilage and strengthen the muscles around the knee. This helps keep your knee joints healthy, particularly if you suffer from arthritic knees.
Q: Which is better front or rear wheel elliptical?
Answer: Having a flatter movement pattern gives rear drive ellipticals a more natural fee. Users report they feel more upright and don't feel as if they have to lean forward as many do with front-drive ellipticals. This isn't a given, but many rear-drive machines also offer longer stride lengths than front-drive ellipticals.
Q: Is elliptical better than walking?
Answer: You burn more calories on an elliptical machine. On average someone exercising for an hour on an elliptical machine burns 365 calories compared to 314 calories burned while walking. An elliptical machine puts far less stress on the hips and knee joints.
Q: What do 30 minutes on the elliptical do?
Answer: 30 minutes on the elliptical per day will burn an average of 335 calories, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Elliptical workouts are a great form of exercise because they offer weight-bearing movement with less impact on the joints than running. And there are many more reasons, including significant health gains.
Q: Is an elliptical better than a treadmill for weight loss?
Answer: Treadmills and ellipticals both have their pros and cons, but when it comes to weight loss, the treadmill helps you burn a little bit more calories than the elliptical machine. That's because the treadmill is a high-impact machine. What you should choose for your cardio session, depends on your fitness level.
Q: Do seated ellipticals work?
Answer: A 2020 study notes that seated elliptical machines can be beneficial for older adults as they can reduce sedentary behavior. Elliptical trainers offer low-impact exercise because the feet stay on the pedals as a person moves them, and these movements do not place much stress on the legs.
Key Takeaways
So, if you’re in the market for a Home elliptical and want to buy the best budget elliptical machine with all the essential and advanced features and new technology our top pick is the Sunny Health & Fitness Essentials Series Elliptical, which has all of the features you need to get started on your fitness journey.
If you already have Sunny Health & Fitness or are looking for something with more bells and whistles, check out our other top picks. Schwinn, & Body Power can also help you fulfill your needs and help you make a progressive day.
Happy Shopping!