Best Elliptical Machines for 2017: Elliptical Buyer’s Guide & Reviews

True M30

The M30 from True Fitness is the brand new king of the hill when it comes to high end elliptical trainers.

Where most trainers stop with preset exercise programs, True went even further and created an interactive fitness coach program that communicates with you through the LCD via text messages, notifications, etc., and advises you on what presets are best for your physique, and which resistance settings you should use.

This virtual coach gets its data from your fitness readings such as calories burned, strides per minute, etc.

You can also choose to control your pedaling speed using the innovative HRC cruise control feature that prevents you from over or under-stressing on the pedals.

There are a bunch of preset exercise modules that help out with increasing stamina, losing calories, and increasing your muscle mass. You can choose to workout either your lower or your upper body as well, for the lower body all you need to do is keep pedaling while holding onto the stationary bars. If you wish to work out the muscles in your back, chest, hands, etc., just keep your feet stationary on the pedals, and pull-push the dual action handlebars.

The patented Core Drive feature makes the elliptical motion feels super smooth and balanced. Since this machine has the flywheel situated on the side (there are two flywheels, one on each side), it provides an equally intensive workout for both the upper and lower body as the amount of force needed to move the flywheel is the same in case of the handlebars as well as the pedals. Stride length is a full 21”, and the maximum load capacity is 300 lbs.

This machine is extremely well built, as is evident from its near 300-lb weight despite being so compact. There are sealed bearings on every joint and the flywheels feel perfectly steady and balanced with no signs of wobble at all.

There are adjustable stabilizers on the rear and easy transport on the front to move the machine. Unfortunately, there’s no incline adjustment. But there is an exercise fan so you can keep your body cool during those intense workouts. Warranty on the frame is lifetime, while the parts are covered by a 5-year limited warranty.

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Octane Fitness Q35x

While it may look like someone took a giant luggage trolley and stuck a bunch of metal rods on it, the Octane Fitness Q35X is actually a super high performance elliptical trainer that handily beats most elliptical trainers in terms of performance-per-dollar, comfort, and customizability.

It is an really efficient cross trainer that combines strength and cardio training into one machine, with a super compact footprint that saves floor space.

The machine uses intelligently designed handlebars with a low pivot point, so that you use your upper body more extensively as compared to regular elliptical trainers, this provides a more thorough arm workout and burns also more calories at the same time.

The space between its oversized rubber coated pedals is just 1.8”, and they move in perfect elliptical motion to emulate the act of running, this allows for a smoother, more natural, stress-free experience for your legs and hips.

There are a bunch of exercise presets on the console that emulate endurance runs, cardio, and fat burning exercises. There are interactive heart rate monitored routines as well, and some of the major exercise programs are- marathon (10K, 5K, etc.), glute-kicker, arm blaster, X-mode, calorie buster (350, 750, 1000, etc.), cardio, fitness testing, recovery, hill climbing, etc.

You can create separate presets for multiple users in the family, and can add or customize your very own exercise programs. The stride length is 20”, so you also burn extra calories with each stride.

Then you have the standard high end features, such as a giant LCD display that shows all important stats simultaneously (and also allows you to customize and load presets).

You also have the book and cellphone tray, along with the proprietary bottle holder. There is a USB charging dock, and Bluetooth so you can connect your smartphone with your trainer and share fitness data, listen to songs, etc. The maximum user weight capacity is 300 lbs, and this machine comes with a lifetime warranty on the frame, and a 5 year warranty on parts.

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LifeSpan E3i

The LifeSpan E3i elliptical trainer is equipped with all the bells and whistles that you normally only see in professional grade elliptical trainers used by gyms and athletes.

This one is not marketed for athletes, but it performs on a different level compared to regular elliptical trainers, even the premium ones. It uses a giant 34-lb flywheel, along with 20 distinct ramp levels and 20 resistance settings.

The stride length is a massive 20” for burning down extra calories, and there are 21 exercise programs built into the console.

The ramp incline is fully motorized and you can select different exercise programs from the console to simulate conditions such walking uphill, walking on uneven terrain, and climbing a steep valley.

The dual action handle bars are well padded, and they synchronize perfectly with the giant flywheel to provide a full upper body workout, without putting any stress on your hands or arms.

The heart rate sensors display your heart rate data on the 7.5” LCD and the computer uses the same data to modify your exercise plan goals on the fly, as you exercise, depending on how much stress your body is in. You can define your own workout programs, or choose from over 20 of them, many of which are designed for different purposes- cutting down weight, increasing time spent on training, developing stamina, etc.

The whole machine measures 80” x 24” x 69” in length, breadth, and height, when fully assembled. It weighs a hefty 240 lbs due to the steel frame and sturdy construction.

The maximum weight capacity is a full 350 lbs, and there are front transport wheels to facilitate relocation of the device. There are phone and book racks above the console, as well as speakers and a bottle holder. There is a lifetime warranty on the frame, and a 3 year warranty on parts, along with a 1 year warranty on labor.

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Lifecore Fitness VSTV4

With a frame that is only 54” long, the Lifecore Fitness VSTV4 elliptical trainer provides a ton of functionality as well as the stride length of a machine twice its size.

The console can hold separate profiles and settings for up to 4 different users, and the stride length is a full 24”. The company claims that people of all heights can use it, especially the tallest ones, and this trainer has a maximum weight capacity of 325 lbs to support that claim. All moving parts employ sealed bearings for added durability and smoothness of motion.

Talking of smoothness, the magnetic resistance allows you to enjoy a totally noise free and super consistent exercise motion, in which your feet will never feel any sudden jerks or bumps like in mechanically braked trainers.

Sixteen levels of magnetic resistance allow you to go from “easy”, all the way up to “super hard”, based on your physical conditioning. The various presets in the console helps you switch between multiple exercise programs. In fact, this machine can even simulate the situation of walking up a hill or valley, by varying the resistance levels.

With the ability to use any one of the multiple presets in the console, you can choose from a variety of goal based exercise programs, and even create your own based on how many calories you need to burn, or how many minutes you aim to spend on the trainer.

The flywheel is mounted between the dual action handlebars and the pedals, allowing you to truly workout your upper body, especially the arms. There is an adjustable seat, along with 11 different height levels to suit people of all sizes.

Over-sized, slip-resistant pedals protect your feet, and adjustable rear stabilizers keep your elliptical steady on uneven floors, or carpets. Warranty lasts 3 years on the frame, and 1 year on labor.

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AFG 3.3AE

This is one elliptical trainer with a lot of 20’s in the specs sheet. It has a 20-level adjustable incline (motorized of course), 20 magnetic resistance levels, and a maximum stride length of 20”.

The large 23 lb flywheel is heavy at the rim and provides a lot of initial inertia. Once you hit the pedals, the great amount of momentum that these heavy flywheels generate is enough to keep your legs moving, and it almost feels like you are walking on a velvety soft cushion of air.

Your feet will be held steady by the oversized ergonomic foot pedals, and these are coated with ribbed rubber and are provided with ridges to prevent any slipping.

There are 10 preset programs in the console, which fitness testing programs, recovery programs, as well as heart rate controlled exercise programs.

The console is decorated with a big 7.5” LCD screen that shows all the important workout data and lets you switch between your favorite music tracks on your smartphone or iPod.

There is a pause button and a reading rack to place your favorite books. Other accessories include a USB port with cover, a bottle holder, a phone/tablet tray and a 3-Watt speaker, which may come in handy if you ever forget to bring your headphones.

The maximum user weight capacity is 325 lbs, and the step on height is 11”. There is a dual color rubber traction insert for the footpad, and the machine is kept steady by the two adjustable levelers on the rear.

There are two transport wheels on the front so you can easily move this 205 pound machine around between rooms. It also features a fan and an energy saving mode. The frame carries a lifetime warranty, while the parts carry a 3-year warranty, and there is a one year warranty on labor.

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Proform Endurance 720 E

The Proform Endurance 720 E elliptical trainer is designed with a ton of adjustable features, so that you get the most efficient and comfortable workout according to your needs and preferences.

There is a power ramp to adjust incline from 0-20°, so you can enjoy the challenge of walking uphill, or on uneven terrain, right from the comfort of your home.

The front drive system decreases overall length, and its flywheel is designed with perimeter-focused weight so that both inertia, as well as momentum is increased.

This helps you maintain a smooth and comfortable motion once you start pedaling. Choose from 20 digital resistance levels to find the one that suits your strength and stamina.

If you wish to sync this trainer with your smartphone, just use the USB interface or the Bluetooth to instantly play music, share fitness and workout data, or access the data from your previous fitness programs and workouts. It is also fully compatible with the iPod, and includes a USB charging station on the dock, right above the LCD panels.

There are a total of 29 preset workout programs built into the console and many of them are heart rate controlled, meaning that they change the fitness goals and workout resistance/ incline levels automatically based on your heart rate.

Heart rate is measured by the EKG pulse detectors on the grip, and is displayed alongside other data such as speed, calories, distance, strides, etc. on either of the two LCD’s.

There is a speaker system located towards the lower part of the console, and it sits right above the oversized bottle/cup holder. Transport wheels and rear leveling feet help with stability and movement, while the workout fan keeps you cool.

The maximum user weight capacity is 325 lbs. There is a lifetime warranty on the frame, a 2-year warranty on electronics, a 1-year warranty on moving parts, and a 90-day warranty on labor.

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Schwinn 470

The Schwinn 470 is an elliptical trainer that is basically a whole gym-membership replacement, packed into a compact 164 lb package.

It packs a super high-end exercise computer, and a heavy duty flywheel with all the weight concentrated around the perimeter to deliver faster, smoother, and more consistent motion.

The resistance is provided by Eddy currents, and there are 25 levels of tension for you to choose from. This means that the trainer is suitable for both men and women of all sizes and fitness levels.

The pedals are large, well built, and are cushioned to make your workout sessions more comfortable. A stride of 20” makes the elliptical motion feel totally natural and unrestricted, letting you exercise longer, and burn more calories per unit time compared to other elliptical trainers.

There are 29 preset exercise programs onboard the computer, 4 of which can be customized by the users themselves. Nine of them are heart rate controlled (4 beginner + 4 advanced + one custom), and there are 2 fitness tests as well as a recovery program that is designed to provide a low impact workout for people recovering from injuries.

The 10° motorized ramp can be controlled directly from 5 hotkeys, each proving a different level of incline, ranging between easy to hard.

There are two LCD displays, the main one is a 3” x 5” backlit screen and the secondary display is a tiny 1” x 5” display (also backlit). You can customize what information is displayed on each of them, and the standard cardio data includes speed, heart rate, calories, time, strides, distance, etc.

The speakers are placed in acoustic chambers for boosting their sound levels and there are trays to hold your smartphone, book, or tablet, as well as a water bottle holder.

There are two rear stabilizers/ levelers for stability on uneven surfaces. Maximum weight capacity is 300 lbs, and warranty is 10 years on frame, 2 years on electrical parts, 1 year on other parts, and 90 days on labor.

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Nautilus E616

The Nautilus E616 offers almost every feature that the commercial grade elliptical trainer at your local gym has. And, you get to ditch your gym membership and enjoy a full-body cardio workout from the convenience of your living room (or even your basement, if you prefer).

There are 25 steps of adjustable resistance that are generated by a series of powerful electromagnets. A motorized 20° incline lets you step up the challenge even further and mimic the effects of climbing a hill.

There are 29 different exercise programs saved in the exercise computer, with the option to create and save 4 of your own custom programs. The 29 pre-installed programs contain a warm-up or quick start program, 2 fitness tests, 9 heart-rate controlled exercises, a recovery test, and 12 preset profiles.

The menu and exercise data is accessible from a two separate backlit-LCD displays on the console, one of which also shows your heart rate as captured by the telemetric sensors on the stationary handlebars.

The Nautilus Connect app lets you share exercise data with your iOS or Android smartphone, and a USB port allows you to listen to music and charge your phone at the same time as it rests in the phone tray on top of the console. Acoustic chambered speakers deliver amazing sound (for an exercise machine), and there is a water bottle holder, right beside the phone tray.

The trainer weighs 173 lbs, and measures 71.5” long, 26.7” wide, and 63.2” tall. It supports a weight of 300 lbs thanks to the super tough steel frame, and includes stabilizers to keep it steady on uneven or slippery surfaces.

The front feet include transport wheels, for easy movement and storage after exercising. It also includes Bluetooth connectivity for easy synchronization with your phone or music devices. A 3-speed fan driven by the flywheel keeps you cool and comforted as you exercise.

There is a 10 year warranty on the frame, a 2 year warranty on parts, a 1-year warranty on electronics, and a 90-day warranty on labor.

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Horizon Fitness EX-59-02

The Horizon Fitness EX-50-02 uses intelligently spaced dual-action handle bars, and uniquely designed zero-spacing pedals to deliver a smooth and natural elliptic experience, that feels as close to walking as you can get on any trainer at this price.

Since the strides are 18” long, you can exercise for as long as you want without cramping or restricting the natural motion of your legs, and the pedals themselves are placed as close as possible to each other, to make it feel like you’re walking on solid ground.

The 10-step electronically adjustable resistance system offers ample room to grow, and keeps you engaged even after your body gets conditioned to the machine.

There are 10 presets on the console that offer different exercise programs such as weight loss, calorie buster, constant watts, rolling, random, etc.

Built in speakers, a bottle holder rack, and a tablet/phone rack make using this machine a very pleasant and entertaining experience. Assembled weight is 145 lbs, and its maximum weight capacity is 275 lbs.

The flywheel is a heavy duty 14-pounder, and helps with maintaining the momentum as you keep pedaling. A 5” LCD display shows the menu, lets you change music, and displays the stats such as time, speed, calories, distance, heartbeat rate, etc.

The dimensions of this machine when fully assembled are- 68” long, 25” wide, and 64” tall. There is a lifetime warranty on the steel frame, a 2-year warranty on parts, and a 1-year warranty on labor.

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Schwinn 430

If you want a commercial gym-grade elliptical workout in your living room, then consider getting a Schwinn 430 elliptical trainer. This machine is solidly built from the ground up, and focuses on delivering a fully balanced and intensive workout experience.

The flywheel is inertia weighted for maximum precision and comfort, while the 20-step resistance ensures that you never run of challenges no matter how tough your body gets.

The pedals on this machine can pivot around their supports so your ankles feel much less pressure and move more naturally.

Ribbed rubber coating and anti-slip ridges keep your feet locked in place at all speeds. It even features a 10°, 6-step manual ramp incline to step up the challenge and create a more natural exercise environment.

Since a good elliptical trainer is not all about resistance levels and smooth motion, there are 22 preset exercise profiles on the console that let you try out a new exercise routine each day. If you exercise 4-5 days a week on this trainer, this means you can enjoy a different goal-based training program each day.

Then, you have the built in heart rate monitors that are also able to link with the programmable exercise routines, so the machine can raise or lower your immediate goals depending on the nature of your heart rate.

This is extremely useful for people with medical conditions or for people recovering from certain types of injuries. You can even set two custom programs based on your own needs, and there are 2 fitness test programs, one each for both beginners and advanced users.

Apart from all the core stuff, there are some fancy utility features as well such as the stereo speaker, phone.mp3 player pouch, bottle holder, and secondary LCD display. There is a USB port as well so you can sync and charge your phone, as well as upload workout data.

The whole machine weighs nearly 168 lbs and is built on a black-coated corrosion resistant steel frame. It measures 70.1” long, 28.2” wide, and 63.2” tall. Maximum user weight capacity is 300 lbs and stride length is 20”. The warranty on the frame is 10 years with 2 years mechanical warranty, 90 days labor warranty, and a 1-year electrical warranty.

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Horizon Fitness EX-57

With the Horizon Fitness EX-57, you get all the features of a full size elliptical trainer in a pint-sized package. Well, it actually measures 29” x 67” x 55”, but if you compare it to even the “small” elliptical trainers, this one will turn out to be much more compact.

Its flywheel is positioned towards the front and sits above the pedal height. This helps in keeping the step-on height low at just 9.1”. The flywheel is rather heavy at 14 lbs, considering how small this machine is.

It has 9 different presets for exercising, and they are all goal-oriented. Some of them are geared towards burning calories, the others are designed to keep you working out for a longer period, and you can even customize them to create your own profiles.

The 8-step magnetic resistance is extremely versatile and matches up to the 16 and 24-step resistance levels found on high end elliptical trainers in terms of resistance offered.

Normally, a person who does not do a lot of cardio will find that the first level of resistance is more than enough for offering a decent challenge to their legs and hips. Once you begin to crank up the difficulty, it gets progressively harder to keep pedaling and moving the dual action arm bars.

At level 8, even the fittest people will have a hard time doing more than 20 minutes on this machine. It does not mean that exercising on this trainer is uncomfortable, in fact the padded handlebars and ergonomic motion of the pedals create an extremely natural elliptic motion that feels no different from walking, and the magnetic resistance only makes the experience smoother.

There is a 2.4” x 4.8” LCD for easy readout of exercise data such as time, distance, speed, etc. Stride length is 18”, similar to what you get on an elliptical trainer twice as big as this one.

Weight capacity is a good 275 lbs, and there is a lifetime warranty on the frame along with a 1-year warranty on parts and 20-year warranty on the magnetic braking system.

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Avari Magnetic Elliptical

If you are need of a no-nonsense, easy to use, high performance elliptical machine for less than $500, consider getting an Avari Magnetic Elliptical trainer.

This trainer features many unique design modifications over the traditional elliptical trainers, which is why it is one of the most comfortable and easy to use models out there.

The 14” stride length and adjustable pedal positioning makes this amazing for people of all heights since you can basically slide the pedals on the crank rails depending on how tall or short you are.

The pedals themselves are built with slip-protectors on the side and are coated with textured rubber for extra grip. This trainer also uses a dual-flywheel mechanism for extra balance and smoothness in motion, so your hands or legs do not feel jittery or stressed even after several hours of exercise.

The magnetic resistance system is super silent, and can be controlled by an easy to access dial on the side of the console panel, that can be reached by people of any height. One of the really cool features of this trainer is the fact that it lets you switch between upper and lower body workout modes really easily.

Just keep your feet firmly planted on the pedals as if you are standing on the floor, and run the dual action arms to exercise your upper body. The maximum weight capacity of this trainer is 250 lbs.

If you hold the stationary handle bars and pedal, you will be able to keep your arms comfortably rested while you only work out your lower body.

The multi-function display lets you select between multiple presets and user-defined programs, and you can see your heart rate when you hold the stationary handle bars. Distance, time, speed, strides, calories, etc. are all shown on the big LCD screen.

There are leveling stabilizer caps on each foot of the base stand for maximum stability even on uneven floors and carpets, while the transport wheel on the front let you pick up this super compact 90-pound machine and transport it to the corner of the room for storage once you are done exercising.

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Exerpeutic 5000

The Exerpeutic 5000 is one of the best elliptical machines that you can get for less than $500.

It features a 18” stride length, so it actually feels like you are walking when you put this machine into use, the handle bars flow smoothly and magnetic resistance on the flywheel keeps everything fluid and under control.

The large pedals are ridged, and coated with ribbed rubber padding for extra grip and comfort. There is a 3-stage cranking system mated to a double transmission drive (2 flywheels) for extreme durability and ease of use.

They are also designed to keep noise levels down to a bare minimum, while also increasing longevity and decreasing the need for maintenance.

There are 24 different magnetic resistance levels for you to truly feel free an comfortable with this machine, it can provide equally intensive and satisfying workouts to both amateurs as well as experienced users and can even hold up against the power of trained, muscular athletes, as long as it is set to a high enough resistance level.

Its unique drive system and magnetic resistance unit work together to create the smoothest, quietest elliptical machine at this price range and its weight capacity of 300 lbs means that it is great as a family exercise machine. The console includes a bottle/cup holder along with a latch for holding your mobile phone or mp3 player.

There are seven preset workout programs, along with the option to set 5 user defined programs, including heart-rate controlled programs for people with medical conditions.

The heart rate sensors are located on the handle bars. Both the moving as well as stationary handle bars are well padded with foam and are comfortable to the grip, while the LCD display is conveniently placed in the middle of the bars and shows all important data and lets you select and modify exercise programs.

Downloading an app to your Android or iOS phone lets you monitor and access your exercise data from anywhere as long as you have your phone with you. It measures 55” long, 25” wide, and 64” tall, and weighs 84 lbs when assembled. The parts are warranted for 90 days, while the frame carries a 1 year warranty.

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Xterra FS2.5

The Xterra FS2.5 is probably one of the most high performance and comfortable to use sub-$300 elliptical trainers out there.

It offers a heavy duty 22-pound flywheel which is perfect for delivering a smooth, fluid motion as you exercise on this trainer. The resistance is magnetic and has 16 steps for maximum precision and comfort of use.

The lower priced machines usually come with a dial adjustable mechanical resistance or an inferior 8-step magnetic resistance which is good for beginners and less muscular peoplebut begins to feel less challenging as you gain muscle mass and tone your body.

The Xterra FS2.5 however, ensures that your trainer can keep up with your ever improving stamina and power, by providing an extra 8 steps of resistance to truly challenge the body even at higher levels of fitness.

There is an entire assortment of features geared toward intermediate level users, such as heart rate monitor, built-in exercise modules, and speakers for an MP3 player.

The 24 training programs ensure that you never get bored of your daily exercise sessions and always keep you ready to train with new and exciting challenges, each requiring you to meet certain goals in terms of calories burned, time exercised, distance covered, etc.

There are 2 heart-rate dependent programs that are perfect for people with heart conditions or injuries, these programs will monitor your heart rate and modify the program goals accordingly. There are also 4 fully customizable user defined programs so that you can set your own priorities and goals while exercising.

Built in speakers let you enjoy your favorite songs by connecting any mp3 player, and the 5” X 2.5” LCD clearly display all menu options, and data such as speed, time ,calories, hear rate, etc. The stride is 14”, and the maximum load capacity is 300 lbs.

Oversized pedals with rubber padding and ribbing, prevent your feet from losing grip over time, and 4 transport wheels let you easily roll this machine out of the room or into a corner after exercise is over.

Rear spin out levelers keep it balanced on uneven surfaces, and at 116 lbs it is pretty lightweight despite the steel frame. Warranty lasts 1 year on the parts, and 5 years on the frame.

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Xterra FS1.5

The Xterra FS1.5 is designed with performance and user comfort in mind. It is a premium quality machine with best-in-class magnetic resistance for extremely smooth and highly customizable training sessions.

There are 16 resistance levels for you to choose from, so everyone from the absolute beginners, to the experienced users can enjoy exercising on this compact elliptical trainer.

It requires a 110 V supply from the nearby socket to perform, mainly because of the powerful electromagnets that are used in the flywheel braking system. The entire machine is extremely well built and the low noise chain drive is virtually silent at even the highest resistance levels and speeds.

If you wish to train even more muscle groups than normal, just set the flywheel to spin in reverse from the console. The heartbeat sensors are placed in the fixed handle bars, and allow you to constantly monitor your pulse. You can also choose from 13 different exercise programs, and each one utilizes a different resistance level and burns a different number of calories.

There are 2 heart-rate controlled exercise programs that modify their parameters and time goals based on your current heart rate. You can also custom-design and save one program according to your needs and preferences.

The large 5” x 2.5” LCD on this machine is backlit and easy to read in dim lighting, it displays all the important data such as strides, distance, time, speed, calories, etc. and lets you view and select from any of the 13 different exercise layouts.

The stride is 14”, and the flywheel is heavier than most at 17.6” which allows you more control over your motion, and it also feels more balanced and less jittery while exercising, due to its weight. The assembled weight of this machine is 112 lbs, and it can comfortably support user weights up to 250 lbs.

There is a warranty of 1 year on the parts, and 5 years on the powder coated frame.

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Exerpeutic 1000Xl

For beginners who want to train on a compact and easy to use machine, the Exerpeutic 1000XL is a great elliptical trainer that’s available at a super affordable price.

Its design allows for a free-flowing, natural motion that synchronizes perfectly with your body and does not feel bumpy, or jittery like the other elliptical machines.

An 8-level magnetic resistance control assists with precision training and muscle toning, you only exercise with as much force as you desire, and the smoothness of a magnetic resistance flywheel is unmatched.

Once you reach an advanced level of training, the magnetic resistance will still provide a good enough workout if you set it to a higher resistance level.

There is also a large LCD display positioned at the center of the two dual action handles, this display lets you monitor data such as time, calories, speed, strides taken, distance covered, etc.

The pulse pads on the handles are extremely accurate and the heart rate displayed on the machine is actually quite close to that of a dedicated high-end heart rate monitor. If you like watching the TV or listening to music as you exercise, the V-belt drive chain is really good for you. It uses a special belt design to keep the noise levels down, and at the same time it also improves overall smoothness.

The pedals mounted on this trainer are coated with high friction rubber and include ridges as well as ribbing (grooved patterns) to improve the grip of your shoes on the pads. The trainers dimensions are- 54” long, 23” wide, and 63” tall.

Its steel frame is extremely sturdy and keeps this medium sized trainer light at just 76 lbs. The maximum weight capacity is 300 lbs, which makes it a really affordable trainer for the whole family, as well as larger people. Warranty is standard, and lasts for 3 years.

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Body Rider Fan

The Body Rider BRD2000 is a 2-in-1 elliptical trainer that can also function as an exercise bike if you go into a seated position.

The seat can adjust both vertically, as well as horizontally so people of all sizes can comfortably use this elliptical trainer.

The fan blades on the flywheel produce a gentle and relaxing breeze as you exercise, and the adjustable tension lets you increase or decrease the resistance offered, depending on your physical conditioning and training experience.

The chain-driven wheel is supported by a set of fluid suspended ball bearings that reduce sound, and increase smoothness of operation, so you can comfortably exercise without having to worry about noise levels or wear and tear to the machine.

The easy access dial located just behind the flywheel, lets you adjust the resistance and the slip-resistant ridged pedals prevent your feet from slipping.

The whole machine weighs just 60 lbs, and can be conveniently stored in a small space due to its compact dimensions. There are plastic transport wheels beneath for easy moving around, and they also with keeping your machine stable on carpets as well as hardwood floors.

This elliptical trainer has dimensions of- 48” x 28.5”x 59.5” for length, width, and height respectively. It is suitable for both men and women, with heights between 5’2” to 6’1”.

The maximum weight capacity is 230 lbs, and there is a convenient LCD display for monitoring your speed, strides, calories, time, etc. The stride length is 12”, sufficient for small, average as well as slightly larger than average people. Warranty is 90 days on parts, 2 years on the frame.

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Plasma Fit Trainer

The Plasma fit elliptical trainer is unique in the sense that it is very versatile in nature.

Compared to other low budget elliptical machines priced below $200, this one does not have any magnetic resistance, but includes a flywheel capable of reverse rotation as well as a seat that allows you to exercise in cycling mode.

There are fixed handlebars on the front so you can use this trainer as an elliptical, as well as a cycle/ reverse cycle.

Also, there is a conveniently located LCD screen which shows scan, time, speed, distance, calories, and more. And, it has pulse rate sensors built into the fixed handle bars so you can keep a tab on your heart rate, something that could be especially useful for people with certain medical conditions.

The resistance of the flywheel is adjusted through an easy access dial, and allows you to step up or step down the amount of braking force that is applied on the flywheel.

It is not as smooth or silent as a magnetic elliptical, but gets the job done at this price. It is still silent enough for you to watch TV or listen to music while exercising, just don’t ride it on full speed in the middle of the night, or else you will wake up the kids.

But if you live in a small house (and also have a small budget too), then the compact frame size could come in really handy. It measures just 35.5” x 21.5” x 58.25” in length, width, and height, and weighs just 58 lbs.

The stride length is a little bit on the smaller side at 11”, but the large 13.5” X 6” slip-resistant pedals compensate for it. The machine has a maximum weight capacity of 250 lbs, which is pretty good for its size and price. Warranty lasts 90 days on parts, and one year on the frame.

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Sunny Health SF-E905

Sunny is well known for creating highly durable and super affordable exercise machines, and their brand new consumer product, the Sunny SF-E905 elliptical trainer is no exception.

It is one of the few elliptical trainers in the market that offers magnetic resistance for less than $200, and they even threw in a hand pulse monitoring system so that you can always keep a track on your heartbeat with the help of the easy to read LCD display, that is conveniently placed between the dual action handlebars.

While most machines provide dial based mechanical resistance at the sub-$200 price range, Sunny introduced their easy to use 8-step magnetic resistance system, which makes your workout sessions incredibly smooth, silent, and enjoyable.

Magnetic resistance systems are much smoother than their mechanical counterparts and are also less prone to wear and tear due to the fewer number of moving parts.

The easy to read LCD display allows you to select workout presets, monitor your heartbeat, and keep a tab on important details such as speed, time, strides, distance, calories, etc. The stride length of this trainer is 13”, and the pedals are large and slip-resistant.

This machine cuts no corners when it comes to quality, as is evident from the fact that it uses a tubular steel frame that’s well coated with anti-corrosive and stain resistant paint.

The tubular frame keeps its weight down to just 68 lbs, and allows it to take a maximum load of 220 lbs. Its frame measures just 37.8” x 26.6” x 60” in length, width, and height respectively so you can conveniently use the transport wheels to just roll it into any corner of your little exercise room or apartment bedroom. The warranty lasts 90-days on parts, and one year on the frame.

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Exerpeutic Aero Air

If you live in a small apartment or a crowded home and still want a good exercise machine that fits into your room as well as your budget, than you might want to check out the Exerpeutic Aero Air Elliptical trainer.

While most elliptical trainers in the sub-$200 range choose to trim down on quality and leave out crucial features, Exerpeutic has included almost everything that an elliptical should have, making this machine capable of competing with models priced twice as much.

It has a smooth, circular motion that reduces pressures on your joints, especially the knees and ankle.

The dual action exercise arms are designed to give your body a complete and balanced workout, and it even includes an exercise computer to monitor and display your strides, distance covered, calories, speed, etc. The LCD is large and easy to read, and is powered by two AAA batteries.

While it does not provide a magnetic resistance system, the mechanical resistance is still more than enough to deliver a consistent and challenging enough workout experience for novices as well as experienced users.

Fitness trainers and more muscular people might want to look elsewhere, because the dial based resistance system might not be enough to challenge their bodies. The pedals are large and have a ribbed dot surface to prevent your feet from slipping. The ribbed dots also provide cushioning, and are complemented by the adjustable nylon foot straps that secure your feet in place.

Stride length is a good 12”, and the machine is designed for users within the height range of 5’1” to 6’2”. The flywheel also supports reverse rotation in case you want to work out even more muscle groups.

Transportation wheels allow for easy relocation and storage, while the machine itself measures just 39” x 26” x 9” in length, width, and height respectively.

Its frame is made from steel, and is extremely lightweight at just 51 lbs, although the maximum load that this machine can take is 250 lbs. Its fan driven system, couple with a reinforced crank drive provides consistent momentum and low noise operation. There is a 90-day warranty on parts and a 1-year warranty on the frame.

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