The 6 Best Ellipticals to Finally Hit Your Stride

The Sole E25 gets back to basics with a simple console that includes two Bluetooth speakers and a USB charging port. You can select from 20 levels of incline and resistance, or choose from five built-in programs. Our testers called out the whisper-quiet motor—ideal for early morning workouts—and the durability of this large-and-in-charge machine. Overall, we’re impressed by the comfort and customization options on this elliptical—especially considering it’s one of the cheaper ones we tested—but if you love a touchscreen and thrive on instructor-led workouts, the Sole E25 is probably a little too no-frills for you.

BowFlex

BowFlex Max Trainer M9 Elliptical

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Pros

• Smaller than standard ellipticals
• Handlebars have four grip positions
• Compatible with Netflix and Prime Video
• Built-in, trainer-led programs

Cons

• No incline
• Loud motor
• Requires a Wi-Fi connection

Bowflex’s Max Trainer M9 is a high-intensity elliptical stepper that fits in your apartment or home gym with room to spare. You can connect to instructor-cued interval training or binge a show on Netflix via the built-in screen.

Our Tester’s Take

Back in the ‘90s, you couldn’t flip a channel without seeing a Bowflex infomercial, and the brand’s cred has stuck around. The Max Trainer M9 is technically a cross between an elliptical and stair stepper (kind of like the NordicTrack Airglide 14i), but it’s about half the size of a traditional elliptical.

The elliptical integrates with the brand’s JRNY fitness app to stream classes, but you can also dive into four preset workouts that function sans app (both the app classes and preset workouts range from light to intense). Because the short handles keep your arms closer to your body, you’re also maximizing effort in your lower body. At its most challenging, think of a SoulCycle or Peloton class without ever connecting butt to seat.

Our tester did warn us about the noise, however, saying that this elliptical gets loud, especially when you’re doing an intense workout. We wouldn’t recommend using it early in the morning or late at night so as not to wake up your roommates. But other than the noise, he reports feeling just as energized with the Max Trainer M9 as he does on a Peloton bike.

Merach E19 Classic Smart Elliptical

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Pros

• Resistance bands maximize workouts
• Compact size that’s easy to store
• Free access to the Merach fitness app

Cons

• No manual resistance control
• Limited customer reviews

The Merach E19 elliptical incorporates elliptical cardio with resistance band training for four different workout modes (walking, HIIT training, strength training, and lower-body training). It’s a budget-friendly pick, and the compact size is a win for small spaces.

Our Tester’s Take

For a sweet price of $400, the Merach E19 costs less than a month of Equinox’s most expensive membership. It’s small but mighty, easily tucking into a room’s corner. It combines the classic elliptical motion with resistance band cables—so you can add bursts of strength training to your steady-state cardio (plus: these have built-in heart rate sensors to track your effort levels). If you don’t want to use the bands, lean on the armrests instead, which adjust up to 7.88 inches to meet your ideal height.

To adjust the resistance, you have to connect the Merach with the brand’s free fitness app—unfortunately, there’s no way to manually do so, which our testers didn’t love. Both courses and games are built into the app, too, so if you want a connected fitness experience, you’ll be taken care of with this option. However, our tester says the app isn’t updated often and glitches every now and then, but there are plenty of diverse workouts to choose from in its existing library.

Life Fitness

Life Fitness E1 Elliptical Cross-Trainer

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Pros

• Two console options
• High-quality build
• Quiet machine
• Highest weight capacity of ellipticals we tested

Cons

• No touchscreen
• Not as many features as others on our list

The Life Fitness E1 with the modest Go Console built with durability to last for years. It boasts all your basic stat tracking too, but the high-quality materials are the standout features here.

Our Tester’s Take

You’ll find a lot of Life Fitness machines in hotels and commercial gyms because they’re durable and dependable. If you want to bring the luxury gym experience to your home, the E1 Elliptical Cross-Trainer is a good place to start. It isn’t as shiny and attention-grabbing as other ellipticals on our list (read: no interactive or on-demand classes), but in this case, you’re paying for quality first and foremost. Our tester loves that it’s quiet, the preset workouts are challenging, and you won’t have to replace this for years. The lifetime warranty comes in handy if you find yourself needing a replacement.