Guide to Elliptical Machines for Home
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Elliptical Machines are a great cardiovascular workout option. They provide a low-impact workout that’s gentle on your knees & hips while also being challenging enough to give you a good cardiovascular workout. The best Elliptical Machines combine safety, durability, and fun.
While Ellipticals Machines have been a mainstay of health clubs over the past two decades, they’ve traditionally lagged behind Treadmills and Exercise Bikes when it comes to home use. This has been changing with the introduction of some high-quality Ellipticals designed for at-home users.
In this article, we review some of the factors you should consider when selecting the best elliptical for your home gym and take a look at some of the best home ellipticals on the market.
Are Ellipticals Actually Effective?
One question you hear frequently is “are ellipticals good cardio?”. And the answer is “yes”. A study by Harvard Health Publishing looked at the calorie burning potential of 18 different exercises. And while it varies slightly by the weight of the exerciser, ellipticals are surprisingly competitive. They have calorie-burning potential similar to other cardio machines like stationary bikes and rowing machines. Plus Ellipticals are a full-body exercise and extremely low-impact so they’re gentle on your joints.
Things to Consider When Looking for the Best Elliptical Machines for Home
Stride Length: One of the most important factors when selecting an Elliptical is Stride Length. A Stride Length that doesn’t fit the user will result in a uncomfortable, unpleasant workout. Stride Length refers to the distance between the two foot pedals when they’re at their farthest. For a comfortable workout it should correlate somewhat to your natural walking stride. The standard stride length for a commercial, health-club elliptical is 20-inches which is good for the majority of people. But if you’re shorter than 5’3″ or taller than 6′, you may want to get a shorter or longer stride machine. If the machine is more of a ‘climber’ model, the stride length will be shorter but the vertical movement will be greater. Most ‘premium’ at-home ellipticals will have a stride of 18″ – 20″; lower-cost machines may be only 15″ – 18″.
Handles: Most Elliptical machines (but not all) have movable handles which give you a great way to engage your upper body for a full-body workout. Whether the machine has movable handles or not, it should also have non-movable handlebars for safety – they give you something to hold onto if you need added support and stability. We greatly prefer ellipticals with movable handles because of the option for a full-body workout – and if you don’t want a full-body workout you can always just not hold them.
Many Ellipticals will heart rate monitors built into their handles. These allow you to track your pulse making sure you’re in the target zone to achieve your workout goals. Some higher-end models are compatible with chest strap heart rate monitors.
Motion: When comparing elliptical machines, one difference to keep in mind is the motion. Some have a vertical, ‘stepping’ or ‘climbing’ motion. Others have a more horizonal striding or ‘gliding’ motion. A Stepper machine will give you a more intense and challenging workout than a Glider but it may also be a bit tougher on your knees and other lower body joints.
Stability: On most Elliptical machines, you’re usually a foot or two above the floor, so you want to make sure the machine is very stable and sturdy. There should be no ‘wobbling’ or other movement. Look for a well-made machine with a sturdy frame. We prefer machines with a solid steel frame. Some lower cost machines may rely too much on plastics rather than steel.
Programs & Features: More affordable machines may be ‘manual’ – the user adjusts the resistance themself to tailor your workout. Higher-end models will offer a range of pre-programmed workouts automatically altering the resistance during your workout. Higher end models may offer other features like built-in speaker and Bluetooth capability, allowing you to listen to music from your phone or tablet.
Many models now offer synchronization with fitness apps. These apps run the gamut from basic apps that collect & track your workout data to more comprehensive apps (such as iFit, or Run The World) which offer pre-programmed trainer led workouts and studio classes. Many people feel these apps help them stay motivated and get a better workout. In most cases there is a subscription fee for these services.
Our Favorite Elliptical Machines For Home
Sole Fitness E95 Elliptical - $999.99
The Sole E95 is a solid, sturdy piece of equipment that supports users up to 400lbs. It has ‘variable foot pedals’ so each user can adjust the pedals to their individual stride. It comes with 20 levels of automatically adjusted incline giving you the ability to target specific muscle areas of your legs. It has a large 27-inch flywheel which results in a ultra-smooth movement.
- 6 pre-programmed and 2 custom workouts
- Heart rate monitoring through either handle sensors or chest strap
- Built-in Bluetooth compatible speakers
- Integrated tablet/phone holder with USB charging
Amazon Review Highlight: “The first thing you notice about the Sole E95 is the imposing size of the unit…it’s big and sturdy. Once you step on and start your workout, you notice how smooth and quiet it is during operation. No more having to crank up the TV or iPad volume to hear a program over the noise like we had to do with our old elliptical.”
Bowflex M3 Max Trainer - $999
The Max Trainer is a cross between an elliptical and a stepper and provides a great total body, calorie-burning workout. The foot pedals move in deep, nearly vertical motion – while this is a great way to work your entire lower body it might not be ideal for users with knee problems. We like its multi-position handlebars allow you to work your upper-body from different angles. Display shows calorie burn rate and heart rate zone so you have real time information on how your workout is going.
- 8 adjustable resistance levels and 2 pre-programmed workouts
- Heart rate monitor via chest strap (included)
- Maximum user weight of 300lbs
- Compact design doesn’t take up a lot of floor space
Amazon Review Highlight: “It is an AMAZING workout, absolutely the best imaginable and that I’ve ever had for sure. I quietly tell it I love it like every day lol.”
Schwinn Fitness 470 Elliptical Machine - $1,099
The 470 is Schwinn’s top-of-the-line elliptical machine and comes with a lot of features you’d expect on a more expensive machine – a hefty 20lb flywheel, 20-inch stride length, 25 levels of resistance, and more. It offers Bluetooth compatibility with many popular fitness apps including Explore The World, and MyFitnessPal.
- Automatic incline up to 10%
- 29 pre-programmed workouts with four custom user profiles available
- Maximum user weight of 300lbs
- Bluetooth compatible with chest heart monitor
Amazon Review Highlight: “Being used to a club-grade machine like the Precor, I was apprehensive about how it would compare to a commercial unit. The spoiler is, if you’re looking for a quality elliptical machine at a reasonable price, this is it! It’s as close to a club machine I’ve found at an affordable price”
Other Favorite Premium Elliptical Machines
Our Favorite Budget Elliptical Machine
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E3912 Elliptical Machine - $499.99
The SF-E3912 is a sturdy, well-built machine at a great price. While it lacks the fancy features of more expensive machines, it does offer 16 different resistance levels and 24 pre-programmed workouts. One caveat we’d offer is that the stride length is only 15.5″ – so this wouldn’t be a great option for taller users.
- 24 pre-programmed workouts and 16 resistance levels
- 15.4lb flywheel
- Maximum user weight of 330lbs
- Built-in device holder for tablet or phone
User Review Highlight: “Want an elliptical without spending a fortune? This is worth considering. It is sturdy, surprisingly so, and looks like it will last a typical home user for many years. It is quiet enough that it won’t disturb other people in the house, even if you use it in the early morning.”
Other Good Budget Ellipticals
Our Favorite Recumbent Elliptical Machines
Teeter Freestep LT1 Elliptical Exerciser - $798.29
A Recumbent Elliptical Machine can be a great exercise option for people with mobility or balance issues. It offers a safe, no-impact way to exercise. Recumbents have traditionally been found in Physical Therapy Offices and other medical facilities – but those machines are generally very pricey. Teeter makes a reasonably priced version for home use.
- 13 levels of resistance
- Adjustable seat to provide proper fit
- Built-in water bottle holder and device stand for tablet
- Built-in transport wheels for easy transportation
User Review Highlight: “I love my Teeter! It’s easy for me to ride, even though I have bad ankles, bad knees, bad hips and an arthritic low back. I can sit back against the seat and peddle through an entire half hour tv show. It’s a great way for me to keep moving. It’s quiet enough that it doesn’t bother anyone else in the room.”
The Best Elliptical Machines for Home
There are a tremendous variety of elliptical machines out in the marketplace at all price points and feature levels. We’ve tried to take a find the ones that offer the best features for the best value. When selecting an elliptical machine take some time to determine which features are most important to you. Are there any ‘must have’ features? What are things that would be ‘nice buy not necessary’? What’s your budget and where will you be using it? Because at the end of the day, the best elliptical machine is the one that’s best for your particular situation. The best elliptical machine is the one you’ll actually use.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. As a Sunny Health & Fitness Affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases. All prices accurate as of 5/7/24
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Additional Resources for Healthy Living
Unfortunately, there are a lot of web sites out there giving unreliable fitness advice. But there are also some great ones which we rely on when writing our articles. A few great resources for information you may want to also view include the National Institutes of Heath, the Mayo Clinic, and the World Health Organization.