Best Elliptical Machines

When it comes to innovative, top-quality exercise equipment, Nautilus often comes up as one of the best manufacturers in the industry. Being among leaders in the exercise equipment field, it produces sturdy fitness machines that come with a generous warranty that they are sure to outlast. Besides that, their products aren't too expensive so anyone interested in getting top-of-the-line sports gear that won't break the bank can find something suitable for themselves. One of such machines is the E616 model - it falls into a mid-range category yet offers a great combination of performance specs and features. Let's take a closer look at it.

To begin with, the trainer looks very solid and sturdy with its perimeter-weighted flywheel and sizeable 72" footprint. Due to this large footprint, it's well balanced and isn’t going to move during even the most intense workouts. Next comes its motorized incline which allows adjusting the angle of the machine up to  11° so as to let you vary the intensity of your workouts. Plus, there are 25 levels of magnetic resistance included. Thanks to all this, the machine provides for multiple adjustment options. 

Among other highlights, we'd like to point out the machine's 20″ stride length and max load of 300 lbs that allow it to comfortably accommodate athletes of all sizes. At the same time, the machine itself isn't too big. Made of high-quality materials, the construction weighs only 173 lbs, which's about 50 lbs less than most similar elliptical machines that have the same max load. 

Last but not least, the assembly of the E616 is fairly straightforward and won't take you too long. The machine comes with detailed instructions so you will know what bolt/goes where and will be able to put this elliptical together without professional assistance.

Schwinn is a big name in the fitness industry that is famous for making great fitness equipment for reasonable costs, and the 470 Elliptical is great proof. It's a quiet-running, durable, and sturdy machine with some extra features that’ll help you stay motivated from workout to workout.

To understand how reliable the machine is, just consider the fact that its frame is backed with a 10-year warranty. So, we can admit that this Schwinn elliptical falls into the category of heavy-duty machines. No wonder, it's quite hefty and requires considerable effort and time for assembly even though it comes with a step-by-step, fully-illustrated manual. Once put together, it looks and feels quite substantial - it weighs about 165 lbs and can accommodate users up to 300 lbs.

The 470 has a 20-lb flywheel, which is an average weight for most high-quality machines. Its 20-inch stride length is also quite standard. However, what makes it different is the Schwinn’s Precision Path Foot Motion Technology. It's designed to mimic a natural running motion and make users feel as comfortable as possible. Thus, every movement will be natural and smooth.

For the convenience of use, the unit is made with a 3-speed fan and a water bottle holder. Its sound system includes sealed acoustic chamber speakers with a USB charging port.

If you're limited in space but still want to burn some calories in the comfort of your own home, the Sunny Health and Fitness elliptical bike may be a good solution. This small machine fully lives up to the company's great reputation by being a quality, basic cardio trainer that comes at a very affordable price tag.

The unit measures just 37.8" x 26.6" x 60", meaning it's much more compact than the majority of ellipticals available for sale. That's why it can easily fit into most corners of your home. With that, it weighs manageable 68 lbs and has transportation wheels, ridding you of the need to lift heavy weights and strain your muscles if you want to move it to another place or put it out of sight.

Despite being so lightweight, the trainer is relatively steady owing to the floor stabilizers at the bottom. They show good results on both carpets and hardwood floors by preventing tipping and swaying. To help users achieve even more safety and stability, this cross-trainer comes equipped with anti-slip handlebars and footpads. They provide a smooth upper and lower body workout without a jarring impact on your knee joints. The only slight gripe is that the stride length makes only 11 inches, which may be uncomfortable for individuals that like longer strides.

The Doufit EM-01 is another affordable elliptical trainer for those who lead a busy life and want to exercise occasionally without wasting time and spending money on visiting a gym. The Doufit stepper is a good low-impact machine for general toning of your body and exercising of your muscles. It's very easy on joints and bones, so it's also ideal for family use. Even seniors that have a hard time using treadmills and other cardio trainers due to the knee and hip issues will find this elliptical useful and enjoyable.

At a glance, it becomes obvious that the Doufit EM-01 looks different. Instead of a plain all-black design, it comes in an attractive combination of white and black colors. Also, it has a quite small form factor compared to bulky commercial ellipticals, so it can easily fit into a bedroom. And if you need to transport the trainer to another room, you'll be able to do that by tilting it forward and rolling on the two wheels neatly tucked into the front base.

The major selling point of the Doufit EM-01 is the fact that it's stunningly quiet. The high-quality flywheel provides noise-free workouts - the machine doesn’t make any noise when in use, so you can easily watch TV or listen to an audiobook without a need to wear earphones. Plus, the trainer won’t disturb or bother people around you at all.

When it comes to durability, the Doufit elliptical machine boasts a heavy-duty steel frame to provide stable and safe performance. It's equipped with large, textured pedals that are very supportive and can accommodate any foot size really well.

The ProForm Endurance 520 E is a golden mean in a vast range of elliptical machines. Priced lower than $600, this machine is hard to beat in terms of performance and level of comfort you can expect for the money. Actually, it meets all the requirements of a light-commercial elliptical trainer and offers everything you may need for medium-intensity workouts.

First off, we would like to emphasize that the trainer offers a respectable 19" elliptical path, which is a good stride length for most adults up to 6’4" of height. They will experience a full range of motion with no limitations.

Yet, what really sells the product is the variable incline options - there are five incline levels, between 0 and 20 degrees. With each increase in incline, you'll be able to target your muscles a bit differently. Even though the incline function is manual rather than electronic (you'll need to get off the machine and then get back on again), it's a very unique feature for a sub-$600 cross-trainer.

Like most high-end ellipticals, the ProForm 520 E is featured with both stationary and mobile handlebars. The fixed ones have a nicely curved design and offer just the right grip. They have built-in heart rate sensors, which is an important aspect for anyone going to monitor their pulse during workouts.