Owning a compact elliptical for home use removes many of the obstacles to exercising. It costs a lot less in the long run when compared to a gym membership. For many people, having a home gym is essential to staying on course with their fitness goals.
Carving out a few hours per day to get out to the gym, come home, and take a shower, is just not practical. Many have a long workday and the last thing they ever want to do is step foot in a gym.
The cost may be prohibitive as well. Gym memberships require a recurring subscription and for many people that is not feasible.
Others are not comfortable walking into a gym and exercising for social reasons. They may not have the confidence in their skill, ability, or in their body image right now.
9 Best Compact Elliptical Machine List
Top 9 Best Compact Elliptical Machine Reviews
1. Best Overall- Schwinn Elliptical Machine for Home
- Durable and sturdy construction
- Plenty of resistance levels
- Rubberized grips
- Excellent stability
- Plenty of resistance levels
- Comfortable stride
- No folding design
It is an elliptical machine that offers you great features between Schwinn 430 and Schwinn A40 models. It is designed to be used at home, and its features enable you to save on space with a vertical setup for the internal elements. It has a small footprint but still offers decent strides for optimal motions. You will not have to worry about the rust because it is steel and it is coated with corrosion-resistant paint finish.
The dimensions when fully assembles are 137 by 61 by 159 cm and it weighs 100lbs. It can support the weight of up to 300lbs. The stride is 18 inches with no incline, and the drive is through a belt. It offers 16 levels of resistance, 13 programs, Bluetooth, and RunSocial compatibility. Also, it has a 10-year warranty for the frame, 2-year warranty on parts, 1-year warranty on electronics, and 90 days warranty for labor. It is stable since it is equipped with large adjustable stabilizers on the front and rear base bars.
It doesn’t have a folding design. However, it has a transport wheel that is attached to the front vase bar, making relocation easy. It features two sets of handlebars, where one is fixed and the other one is mobile. The mobile handles have long and upward grips as well as a rounded grip at the top. They will move as long as you are peddling. The fixed ones are directly welded to the front mast of the machine. They are curved up towards you. The two sets of handlebars have rubberized grips to prevent cases of blistering.
2. Best Budget- Body Rider Compact Elliptical Trainer
- Full-body workout
- Easy to use and operate
- Great adjustability
- A knob for adjusting resistance
- Offers minimal to no impact technology
- Affordable price
- Minor foot spillage, especially with the downward slope of the footpad
Body Rider Elliptical is a super compact elliptical machine that will allow you to perform upper and lower workouts with minimal to no impact. It is very affordable and comes with a fan wheel, which is effortless and quiet when running. You are able to adjust resistance levels using the control knob that either decreases or increases the resistance of the belt on the wheel.
Additionally, it comes with an instructional video that is very helpful because it will clarify the best way to use the elliptical machine. The design is compact and it is not dependent on electricity for its functionality. It will work for all people regardless of their body size or age. It works using patented elliptical motion design, providing you with a full-body workout at the comfort of your home.
The elliptical has a digital display screen that ensures you are monitoring your progress while exercising. It indicates your worktime duration, the calories that you have burnt, your heart rate as you work out, and the distance you have covered. It has a solid steel frame base that helps you to be supported. Plus, It can support up to 250lbs. Also, the limited manufacturer’s warranty is included.
3. Best Rear Drive- Precor EFX222 Compact Elliptical
- Movable handlebars
- Adjustable stride length and incline
- Offers reversible motion
- Quiet magnetic resistance
- 16 resistance levels and has 10 varied pre-set workout programs
- Has a water bottle and accessory holders
- Two user profile
- Not a folding elliptical
The design of Precor EFX222 is comfortable and trouble-free, which allows smooth natural motions and does not feel like it would break down. It makes it easy for you to maintain an upright posture rather than leaning forward. It has fewer parts compared to other elliptical machines. The streamlined design of the product minimizes room for any problems.
It has three incline levels that are 15 degrees, 20 degrees, and 25 degrees. Additionally, it offers you options of choosing from three stride lengths. The moving handlebars are for helping your upper body. It comes with a workout screen that has contrast blue and white LCD. It allows you to watch a movie or listen to music by covering the LCD screen with your tablet. Also, the console of the elliptical machine allows you to control the volume of your smartphone or iPod.
For heart rate monitoring, you can wear the Polar chest strap or use in-built contact sensors. It has a lifetime warranty on the frame, 5-year warranty on parts, 3-year warranty on the console, and 1-year warranty on labor.
4. Body Power 2-IN-1 Elliptical Stepper Trainer
- Heart rate monitor is included
- 8 level of resistance control
- Quiet and smooth flywheel
- Simple LCD screen
- Assemble video instruction
- Combines two workout machine movements in one machine
- Take some time to assemble
You can comfortably use this machine if your fitness goals are to be healthy and fit. It is very comfortable when using. It is compact and very practical. It will not take too much of your home space and will offer efficient motion to help you get the most out of your workout sessions. It can support up to 250lbs of weight.
It comes with 2-in-1 motion, transport rollers, patented curve-crank technology, and LCD display screen. The LCD screen displays time, distance, speed, and calories burned. It is considered the best elliptical machine if you want to exercise from your home or fitness room. It is a 2-in-1 HIIT trainer. It offers synchronized handlebars as well as a stepper movement, which offers total body workout. This elliptical machine combines the advantages of a vertical climber, exercise steppes, and an elliptical trainer.
It uses curve-crank technology that applies constant tension to the Y-axis and the X-axis. This ensures that there is the delivery of a dead-zone-free rotation as you are stepping. You will be able to get the most out of your cardio equipment if you use a smooth operation in addition to an efficient motion. It is a resistance training machine. It allows you to adjust the resistance levels easily and safely while you are still running for a fill indoor HIIT exercise.
5. Best Folding- Experpeutic Compact Elliptical Trainer
- Folding design for easy storage
- 8 levels of magnetic tension
- Portable and compact
- In-built heart rate and pulse sensors
- Easy to set up and use
- Large set cushion for any size
- Not recommended for high-intensity exercises
This elliptical machine is a folding elliptical machine that is convenient, practical and safe to use. It has a sturdy design that will comfortably and safely accommodate up to 300lbs of weight. It has padded handlebars that are comfortably placed and comes with a large well-cushioned seat.
It weighs just more than 42lbs and comes with transporting wheels, making it lightweight and easy to move if needed. The extended leg stabilizers are important to help the machine from tipping over or moving around when you are exercising. Additionally, it comes with a large pedal design with a safety strap that keeps you from slipping.
It offers you full control when you are working out. It has 8 levels of magnetic tension control that allows you to adjust the tension from easy to difficult, and any level that is in between. It has a precision-balanced flywheel as well as a V-Belt drive, which ensures that your ride is quiet and smooth. Also, it comes with an easy to read LCD screen that indicates the distance, time, pulse rate, calories burned, odometer, and speed. It has an in-built heart rate and pulse sensor on the handlebars.
6. Best Cost Effective- Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E905 Elliptical
- 8 resistance levels
- Compact design and lightweight
- Advanced LCD display screen
- Micro-tension controller
- 2 sets of handlebars
- The stride path is a bit short
It is a lightweight elliptical machine that comes with wheels, making it easy to move if required. It makes training safer and easier mainly because of the presence of large and safe anti-slip platforms. The elliptical features a pulse sensor on the handlebars, and thus you will be able to monitor your heartbeat. It also tracks your speed, time, and calories that you have burned when working out, that are displayed on the LCD screen.
It can support the weight of up to 220lbs. It comes with rubberized handlebars for firm grip as well as the prevention of blisters. Moreover, it has a magnetic brake system and thus it does not require electricity to function. The brake pad is connected to the resistance control knob using wires. It involves a steel pulley, flywheel, and a solid belt. It requires 2AA-type batteries and will automatically shut down after continuous use of more than 3 minutes.
The magnetic resistance of this elliptical trainer offers smooth and quiet training using 8 resistance levels. This ensures that you will be able to maximize your fitness routine and achieve your fitness goals. The console is easy to use and has only three buttons, that is, mode, set, and reset.
7. Best for Home Gym- Aceshin Compact Fitness Elliptical Machine
- Built-in effective flywheel
- Quiet operation
- Stable, comfortable, and sturdy design
- Solid Elliptical for the price
- It saves on space
- Heavy-duty pedal
- The assembly process can be noisy
This machine offers a combination of functionality, sleekness, adjustment, and calmness. It can help you to speed up the process of burning excess calories without leaving your home. It offers 8 levels of resistance that can be set to be synchronized with your specified physical agility and requirements. It comes with an easy-to-read LCD display screen. With this, you will be able to track the calories burned, heart rate, speed, and distance. This will help you track your day-to-day progress.
The design is compact and has double strength construction. Also, it is made of steel to ensure that it is durable and offers safe stability when you are riding. It has a precision V-belt drive as well as a flywheel that offers smooth and quiet operation. The frame is strong and has the ability of supporting up to 330lbs. It has large petals that prevent you from slipping while working out.
Why Buy A Compact Elliptical Machine For Home?
If space constraints were ever of great concern, the compact elliptical erases that problem entirely. The compact elliptical comes in a few forms, but the main idea is there — the stepper portion.
The foot pedals are simply attached to a base, with or without a handle for balance. The elliptical is as compact as possible, and that makes it better for the home.
There are programmable elliptical machines and bare-bones that work entirely on inertia and body mechanics. For many people, the latter is preferred for convenience, and to maintain their own control over their workout. Here is a compact elliptical for your reference:
Body Rider Fan Elliptical Trainer
Safety Tips For Compact Elliptical
Some of the main considerations to have in mind when owning any piece of gym equipment is safe operation, security from children or the elderly, and safe assembly.
The first step is if it comes with instructions read them, learn them, and practice them. Be sure to visit with your physician or health care practitioner before beginning a new workout. Whether you have heart troubles or a trick knee, make sure the moving action of the exercise will work with your body.
In addition, be mindful of not hyper-extension of your knees while using the compact elliptical. If you have an electronic elliptical, be mindful of the clothing or accessories you wear. If you are chilly, do not wear a long scarf that could get snagged or stuck in the mechanical apparatus.
While an elliptical generally does not move without your body’s movement — even for electronic elliptical machines — it is still a danger. But you can try this best safety under desk trainer at an affordable price:
Under Desk Or Stand Up Mini Elliptical With Angle Adjustable Pedals
* Compact: Will fit under most desks. Front rollers allow for easy moving.
* Convenient: Only elliptical on the market with adjustable pedals that allow for both stand up and sit down functions.
* Adjustable: Tension dial allows you to turn up the heat when you want more resistance, or lower the tension when you need
How to Choose the Best Rated Compact Ellipticals?
Let’s face it, no one wants to go through the trouble of purchasing an elliptical, setting it up, and being let down. It is a waste of time, and energy. Mailing back a heavy piece of equipment is expensive, and items can break. It is not convenient.
Look at the online user reviews, the pricing, the exact footprint size, shipping costs, and the features of the individual machine. The pricing varies greatly from the simplest, but effective models for $90 and $150 to higher-end models that have all the features for nearly $3,000.
You can see them:
Take into consideration what benefits you must have, and then take into account your own personal budget and any size constraints. For many people, it honestly is enough to have the very highly rated Stamina In Motion machine under $150. It is bare-bones but has the same ultimate result on the body as a $3,000 machine.
The main difference is that lower-cost machines require more self-directed workout capabilities. It is the individual who maybe has a “running track” they listen to daily while they run, so they know when their hour has eclipsed based upon their mp3 playlist.
Or, it is an individual who turns on the morning news shows and knows when their 30 minutes have elapsed from the television.
For others, who are used to training outdoors, the programmable routines are necessary. They may not only be used to changes in terrain and inclines but require them to help train for their next marathon or 5 K.
There are different abilities and goals for each person, and that must be taken into account when determining the right machine.
We have top pick Elliptical Bike for people who like training outdoor:
ElliptiGO 11R – The World’s First Outdoor Elliptical Bike
- Designed for serious enthusiasts who demand performance
- Ultimate portability thanks to the foldable steering column
- Natural “stand up” riding position reduces stress on your neck, back and eliminates seat pain
Those are just some of the ways to evaluate the machines. The value of reading the reviews cannot be overstated. It is important to look beyond just the number of stars. Overall, though, yes, it is useful to see a lot of 4 or 5-star out of 5-star reviews.
Go beyond that and actually read the reviews because they will give a great fountain of information about ownership of the machines.
Are they built out of quality materials?
Have the owners had to return their machine?
Does the machine work well? Is it durable?
More reviews for top brands, you can see Reviews Of The Best Brand Ellipticals
Most of all, though, read for any quirks that belong to that particular manufacturer or the model itself. These are going to shed light on whether the product is something that you will be able to overlook, live with, or let you know to skip buying the product.
Consider how you might improve your efforts for better health with a compact elliptical machine for the home. It could be that you were thinking you had to spend a lot of money, but in actuality, you will gain a lot more than you spend. For loss weight, you can choose The Elliptical Machine Best For Weight Loss
To round out the whole experience, consider these tips to know how to buy the best compact home elliptical. Read online user reviews, take into consideration the pricing and the features as well.
While most ellipticals are bulky and take up valuable space in your home, the 1260Ef is Compact and Space-Saving at just over 5 1/2 feet long. Check the Top picks one below:
Precor Energy Series Best Compact Elliptical Crosstrainer
— with Incline Compact Footprint and Heart Rate Monitor
Pedals ergonomically spaced closer together helping to prevent stress on the ankles, knees and hip joints, this low impact elliptical was designed to be an asset to your joint health.
