Best Ellipticals 2022

Dimensions: 73 L x 27 W x 66.9 H inches | Maximum user capacity: 350 pounds | Stride length: 22 inches

If you want an elliptical machine that’s rugged, versatile and features great ergonomics, the Nautilus E618 Elliptical Trainer is a solid choice. You get 25 levels of resistance, a 10-degree motorized incline and a generous 22-inch stride. The padded foot pedals are adjustable so you can set it up to perfectly fit your natural movement, and the system tracks metrics like time, distance and calories on the LCD display. Granted, the LCD display is nothing to write home about, but if you’re mainly looking to keep track of your workouts, it’ll get the job done.

The E618 works best in conjunction with Nautilus’s Explore the World app, which lets you cycle through beautiful courses around the world (you’ll need to pay a subscription for certain features). If you want to follow along as you work out, you can connect your own tablet via Bluetooth.

Pros:

• Lots of resistance
• Large stride

Cons:

• LCD display is simplistic

Dimensions: 49.2 L x 30.5 W x 65.1 H inches | Maximum user capacity: 300 pounds | Stride length: N/A

Bowflex’s Max Trainer series is what you get when you cross an elliptical with a stair stepper. The result is a machine with 20 levels of resistance that delivers full-body, low-impact exercise with an intense calorie-burning workout. Bowflex says that lets you burn more calories in less time for more efficient workouts, and the company cites a study that asserts the M9’s unique motion provides greater upper body muscle activation than traditional ellipticals. Because the M9 is vertical rather than horizontal, it also takes up less space.

The 10-inch color HD touchscreen keeps you informed about your exercise progress and is compatible with the JRNY app—that’s Bowflex’s own subscription service for personalized exercises. You get a free two month trial with your purchase—and up to four users can work out with their own profile and progress. And don’t forget the matching workout mat, a must for protecting your floors and adding stability to your workout.

Pros:

• Smaller footprint
• Free workout mat

Cons:

• Can be loud at higher speeds

Dimensions: 80 L x 32 W x 67 H inches | Maximum user capacity: 325 pounds | Stride length: 18 inches

It’s right there in the name. The NordicTrack SE9i is called the SpaceSaver, and it gets that title by folding up like a transformer vertically for storage. In other words, it can easily stand unobtrusively in a corner instead of taking up half the room.

But there’s a lot more to this elliptical than just easy storage. Thoughtful ergonomic touches include padded foot pedals that lower the impact of your workout as well as an integrated fan. You get 24 resistance levels and 10 degrees of adjustable incline. The 7-inch HD touchscreen is compatible with iFit software, so with a subscription, you can take advantage of live coaches and trainers, and jog your way through courses that take you to gorgeous real-world locations. Meanwhile, the SE9i can automatically change incline and resistance based on your route and workout.

Pros:

• Folds up easily
• Good ergonomics

Cons:

• Stride too short for some users

Dimensions: 63 L x 28 W x 70 H inches | Maximum user capacity: 300 pounds | Stride length: 20 inches

If you’re looking for a higher quality machine at a budget-friendly price, the Schwinn 470 is it. While it doesn’t have a fancy display or large touchscreen, the console features a basic backlit LCD console that allows you to monitor your speed, progress and calorie burn. This full-size machine has a 20-inch stride path, 25 resistance levels and a motorized adjustable ramp that lets you set inclines of up to 10 degrees.

While all ellipticals provide a lower impact workout than other cardio machines, this one also has large cushioned footplates and ergonomically placed handles that add to the comfort and flexibility. Plus, it’s integrated with Bluetooth, so you can connect to Schwinn’s Explore the World app or most other metric-tracking apps, like MyFitness Pal, GoogleFit or Apple Health.

Pros:

• 25 resistance levels
• Cushioned footplates

Cons:

Dimensions: 66.9 L x 24.8 W x 64.6 H inches | Maximum user capacity: 330 pounds | Stride length: 18 inches

If price were no object, you’d probably work with a personal trainer every morning. But price often is an object. Sunny Health & Fitness offers the Magnetic Elliptical Trainer, a $700-ish model that shows you can get a quality exercise machine without breaking the bank. This machine is best for people with a short stride—the stride length is 18 inches—and the motorized magnetic resistance system has 16 levels.

There’s an on-board LCD display to track your speed, time, distance, calories and other metrics. You can also use it to choose from among a generous 24 workout modes. And while the display doesn’t work with any kind of coaching system or streaming workout program, you can easily mount your tablet or phone above it and watch your own streaming workout or video.

Pros:

• Good price
• 24 workout modes

Cons:

Dimensions: 83 L x 27 W x 58 H inches | Maximum user capacity: 375 pounds | Stride length: 20 inches

The Sole Fitness E35 has a feature not a lot of other ellipticals can claim: foot pedals designed in collaboration with physical therapists. The oversized pedals have adjustable foot beds and a 2-degree inward slope that reduces ankle and knee stress—a fairly common complaint with other ellipticals. The overall design of the E35 eliminates strain on your knee, hip and ankle joints so that turns an ordinarily low-impact workout into essentially a no-impact workout, regardless of which of the 20 resistance levels you choose.

The 7.5-inch display has built-in Bluetooth speakers for connecting your phone or tablet (which has its own handy mount), along with a USB port for powering or charging your device while you work out.

Pros:

• Reduces ankle and knee stress
• Extra low-impact workout

Cons:

Dimensions: 86 L x 29 W x 64 H inches | Maximum user capacity: 400 pounds | Stride length: 20 inches

You’ve probably used Life Fitness equipment at the gym, but you might not be aware that the company makes some of the best ellipticals for home as well. And these machines are just as durable as the commercial models. Case in point: The Life Fitness Club Series Elliptical Cross-Trainer is a quiet and reliable machine that feels as solid as gym equipment. It features an especially long stride of 20 inches, oversized pedals and 25 resistance levels to keep you challenged.

This machine is admittedly a substantial investment, but it also comes with technology to make it feel worthwhile—like an enormous 21-inch HD touchscreen that works with a wide variety of apps including Netflix, Pandora and Life Fitness On Demand, a subscription service that includes live coaching and workout sessions.

Pros:

• Durable
• Large touchscreen

Cons:

Dimensions: 23.5 L x 17.56 W x 10 H inches | Maximum user capacity: 250 pounds | Stride length: N/A

There’s no law that says you have to use your elliptical in a designated workout space—you can use it in your home office or from your couch with this under-desk machine. The Cubii Jr1 is just 10 inches high, making it easy to slide under most spaces. But don’t be fooled by its small size. This machine gives you that smooth gliding motion you love from an elliptical, along with eight different resistance levels to ramp up your heart rate.

The whole thing is quiet, so you can easily watch TV, read or take Zoom calls while you exercise. A built-in LCD display showcases your calories burned, strides pedaled and your distance traveled. The whole thing is portable, too, so you can take your workout on the road when you travel.

Pros:

• Highly portable
• No setup required

Cons:

Dimensions: 43 L x 28 W x 53.75 H inches | Maximum user capacity: 250 pounds | Stride length: N/A

The Gazelle Edge Glider is a little different from other ellipticals. For starters, it doesn’t plug in, so there’s no need to set it up near an outlet. There are also no resistance levels to flip through. Instead, you change the positioning of your body to work different areas. Since this isn’t electrical, there’s also very little distracting noise, so you can listen to your favorite shows, music or podcasts interruption-free.

Given that you provide the power here, you can easily shift speeds smoothly (and without pushing any buttons). Meanwhile, a tracker keeps tabs on your speed, distance, time and calories burned. Once you’re done, just fold the whole thing up and stash it away. It’s the very definition of a body weight workout.

Pros:

• Easy to stow
• No outlet needed

Cons:

• You create your own resistance