Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 9 Best Elliptical Machines for Men in 2022

NordicTrack Commercial 14.9
NordicTrack Commercial 14.9
Best Overall
Jump to details
Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical Machine
Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical Machine
Best for Small Spaces
Jump to details
Nautilus E618 Elliptical Machine
Nautilus E618 Elliptical Machine
Best for Tall Guys
Jump to details
Sole E55 Elliptical
Sole E55
Best for Guys with Knee Pain
Jump to details
Bowflex Max Trainer M9
Bowflex Max Trainer M9
Best for Athletes
Jump to details
Precor EFX 225
Precor EFX 225
Best for Heavy Users
Jump to details
ProForm Hybrid Trainer
ProForm Hybrid Trainer
Best 2-In-1 Elliptical Machine
Jump to details
Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Trainer Machine w/Device Holder, Programmable Monitor and Heart Rate Monitoring, 330 LB Max Weight - SF-E3912
Sunny Fitness SF-3912
Best Low-Budget Option
Jump to details
ElliptiGO 8C
ElliptiGo 8C
Best for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Jump to details

Elliptical trainers are among the most popular pieces of cardio equipment. Depending on the settings you use and the effort you put in, the cardio workout you can get on an elliptical machine can match — or even exceed — that of a tough treadmill workout or outdoor run (especially if you download a workout app] that lets you build a targeted routine specifically utilizing this piece of equipment). And, if you’re looking to skip the hassle of going to the gym and prefer the convenience and privacy of at-home workouts, there are plenty of high-quality elliptical trainers for home use that can replicate your cardio session from the gym in the comfort of your own home. 

If you’re in the market for an elliptical trainer for your home gym, keep reading to help you find the best model for your needs. There are plenty of home elliptical trainers that are rickety, unnecessarily bulky, or simply far inferior to gym models, so we’ve curated a list of the best elliptical machines for home use so that you can be confident in your purchase and get the workout you desire (and may we suggest a podcast to make your workouts go by even faster?).

best elliptical machines norditrack commercial
Image used with permission by copyright holder

NordicTrack Commercial 14.9

Best Overall

If you’re looking for a gym-quality experience with your home elliptical trainer, you can’t go wrong with the NordicTrack Commercial 14.9. It offers one of the smoothest strides due to the heavy, 32-pound inertia-enhanced flywheel, electromagnetic resistance, and power-adjustable stride length to help you get the most natural feel. The elliptical has a 14-inch Smart HD touchscreen for an immersive training experience where you can stream iFit workouts, on-demand classes, your favorite shows, and exercise apps.

In addition to a nearly unbeatable 26 levels of resistance, the NordicTrack Commercial 14.9 has live decline and incline control. This means that if you’re following an on-demand workout, the virtual trainer can automatically adjust the incline of your machine to match the streaming workout. You can also adjust it manually, selecting from 0–20 degrees of incline. The elliptical machine comes equipped with all sorts of additional bells and whistles like integrated speakers, EKG-enabled handlebars, a fan, and transport wheels.

NordicTrack Commercial 14.9
NordicTrack Commercial 14.9
Best Overall
best elliptical machines schwinn 411 compact machine
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical Machine

Best for Small Spaces

The Schwinn 411 earns our award for the best compact elliptical machine. It’s a high-quality machine that has a surprisingly significant number of bells and whistles with an affordable price point and an even more impressively manageable footprint. If you don’t want your elliptical machine to swallow up the entire room, this is the machine to consider.

While being incredibly compact, the Schwinn 411 still offers a full 18-inch stride, which should feel relatively natural for almost all guys. There are 13 programs to explore, and the elliptical is compatible with the Explore The World app, so you can be transported virtually to courses all over the world while you work out. There are 16 levels of quiet, electromagnetic resistance; comfortable, moveable handlebars to give your upper body and core a workout; and an integrated screen to display your in-session stats. The maximum weight capacity is 300 pounds, so it may not be suitable for bigger guys.

Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical Machine
Schwinn 411 Compact Elliptical Machine
Best for Small Spaces
best elliptical machines nautilus e618
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nautilus E618 Elliptical Machine

Best for Tall Guys

The Nautilus E618 is especially great for guys with long legs because its impressively long 22-inch stride will feel gloriously natural compared to the short, choppy feel of smaller machines. Even if you’re not especially tall, this machine has plenty of strong selling points. The integrated Bluetooth technology allows you to connect to all sorts of fitness tracking apps and streaming platforms like Explore The World. The dual stride rails and high-speed, high-inertia drive system with the perimeter-weighted flywheel allows for a really smooth and stable stride.

The Nautilus E618 has 25 levels of quiet, electromagnetic resistance and 10 levels of motorized incline adjustments, making it a versatile machine with enough adjustability for even the fittest athletes to get a challenging workout. There are also 29 programs to choose from, and you can create user profiles to keep track of your personal progress.

Nautilus E618 Elliptical Machine
Nautilus E618 Elliptical Machine
Best for Tall Guys
best elliptical machines sole e55
Sole

Sole E55

Best for Guys with Knee Pain

Sole is well-known for producing top-quality home exercise equipment, and its line of elliptical machines is no exception. The Sole E55 is one of its midrange models, with plenty of impressive features and a very reasonable price tag, making it a smart, economic purchase. It’s smaller and more compact than the E95 but still boasts sturdy construction and technology features. The drive mechanism is very quiet and smooth, and you can pedal forward and backward, which allows you to challenge different muscles. The motorized power incline allows the ramp angle to be adjusted through 20 levels of incline at the touch of a button, allowing for nearly unbeatable variety and the ability to target all major lower body muscles. Like most other elliptical machines in the same price range, the Sole E55 has integrated Bluetooth technology, heart rate monitoring, numerous preset programs, moveable handlebars as well as stationary ones, and an integrated sound system.

One thing that sets this elliptical apart is the well-designed ergonomic foot pedals. Designed as a collaborative effort between engineers and physical therapists, the foot pedals have a 2-degree inward slope, which reduces the ankle and knee stress often caused by other elliptical machines, making this a great option for those with chronic knee pain or joint injuries.

Sole E55 Elliptical
Sole E55
Best for Guys with Knee Pain
best elliptical machines bowflex max trainer m9
Bowflex

Bowflex Max Trainer M9

Best for Athletes

For those who like the maximum cardio workout, the Bowflex Max Trainer M9 is the machine to consider. Its unique motion is sort of a hybrid of standard elliptical machine strides and stair climber machines. This also makes the machine much more compact than most ellipticals because the motion is more vertical. It’s a fantastic form of exercise for low-impact HIIT workouts, and even the fittest athletes are likely to be challenged by at least some of the 20 resistance levels. The other major perk to the Bowflex Max Trainer M9 is on-board technology and app-integration capabilities. It has a 10-inch HD touchscreen where you can stream your favorite shows, personalized workouts, or on-demand classes. The weight capacity is a moderate 300 pounds.

Bowflex Max Trainer M9
Bowflex Max Trainer M9
Best for Athletes
best elliptical machines precor home fitness efx 225
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Precor EFX 225

Best for Heavy Users

Precor is one of the industry leaders in commercial elliptical machines, and if you’ve used an elliptical trainer at the gym before, there’s a good chance it was a Precor. The Precor EFX 225 is part of the new Precor Energy Series, which aims to bring the impressive technology of its commercial models to home exercise equipment. The EFX 225 has a motorized CrossRamp with eight different heights, ranging from inclines of 15-25 degrees, enabling you to target specific muscles and vary your workouts.

The elliptical is constructed from welded steel and has both moving and stationary handlebars, pulse sensors with target heart zone monitoring, 16 levels of electromagnetic resistance, and 10 preset programs. The display offers up to 13 metrics at once, so you can keep track of all your stats, and you can create up to two user profiles to save your workout data. The Precor EFX is great for tall guys or bigger men because it has a variable stride length of 18-21 inches and can accommodate up to 500 pounds.

Precor EFX 225
Precor EFX 225
Best for Heavy Users
best elliptical machines proform hybrid trainer
Image used with permission by copyright holder

ProForm Hybrid Trainer

Best 2-In-1 Elliptical Machine

If you like more variety in your cardio routine and have limited space, the ProForm Hybrid Trainer may be the best option. This 2-in-1 machine combines an elliptical trainer and a recumbent bike in one efficient footprint. The elliptical portion has 16 digital levels of resistance, moveable handlebars, an inertia-enhanced flywheel, and integrated iFit technology, so you can stream tons of interactive workouts with the purchase of a subscription. The magnetic resistance is virtually silent, allowing you to work out without disrupting anyone’s sleep. The recumbent bike seat is surprisingly comfortable and riders also can select from 16 resistance levels when biking. The machine has a 350-pound weight capacity.

ProForm Hybrid Trainer
ProForm Hybrid Trainer
Best 2-In-1 Elliptical Machine
best elliptical machines sunny health and fitness machine
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sunny Fitness SF-3912

Best Low-Budget Option

Sunny Health and Fitness is well known for affordable home fitness equipment. It has several elliptical trainers in its lineup, but unless you’re looking for something quite basic and very compact, we recommend you consider the SF-3912. Constructed from steel, this model accommodates up to 330 pounds and feels sturdy for such an inexpensive machine. This compact machine is not to be confused with some of the fancier models and certainly isn’t the gym-quality elliptical trainer you might be used to. The biggest difference lies in the abbreviated stride length — at just 15.5 inches, the Sunny Health and Fitness elliptical has quite a different feel than larger machines.

For tall guys with long legs, this short stride may feel a bit more like pedaling a bike standing up, but it may feel perfectly adequate for those on the shorter side. One upside to a smaller stride is a much smaller footprint; this elliptical trainer is great for small spaces. The elliptical offers full-motion handlebars with pulse sensors, a device holder, 16 levels of electromagnetic resistance, and 24 pre-programmed workout modes.

Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Trainer Machine w/Device Holder, Programmable Monitor and Heart Rate Monitoring, 330 LB Max Weight - SF-E3912
Sunny Fitness SF-3912
Best Low-Budget Option
best elliptical machines elliptigo 8c ellitical
Image used with permission by copyright holder

ElliptiGo 8C

Best for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Not everyone can get on board with exercising indoors, even if it is in your own home. If you prefer the space and pace of the great outdoors for your workouts, the ElliptiGo is the way to go. There are several models, but the 8C tends to offer enough of an adjustable gear range for most users while saving quite a bit of money off the higher-end 11C model. You can also attach it to an indoor trainer for the winter months or days when you only have a few minutes to bang out a quick workout. It is a rather large “bike,” so transporting it on a car can be difficult, but certainly doable. It comes nearly fully assembled, so you can start enjoying it right away. One downside is that the weight capacity is only 250 pounds, which makes it unsuitable for larger guys.

$2,699 From ElliptiGo

ElliptiGO 8C
ElliptiGo 8C
Best for Outdoor Enthusiasts

What Are The Pros and Cons of an Elliptical?

Pros: Unlike regular running, striding on an elliptical, whether a slower pedaling pace or more vigorous run-like cadence, is low impact, which is easier on your bones and joints. This makes elliptical trainers an attractive exercise modality for anyone looking to reduce loads and forces on their body, such as those with musculoskeletal injuries or who are carrying extra weight and achy joints. Not to mention, aside from just the most basic, bare-bones models, elliptical trainers offer resistance levels and sometimes incline capabilities, allowing you to potentially build and strengthen your muscles while getting your heart rate up. Combined with the fact that running on an elliptical is a full-body workout, this makes a hard sweat session on the elliptical efficient work and a great way to torch a significant number of calories without having to spend so long on it that Netflix autoplay checks in to see if you are still watching.

Cons: Low impact is a pro but also a con because of its limitations. While you are able to burn calories with a low-impact workout, it is less effective in building bone density and it’s recommended to use weights.

Editors' Recommendations

Amber Sayer
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Amber Sayer is a fitness, nutrition, and wellness writer and editor, and was previously a Fitness Editor at Byrdie. She…
The best fitness gear to maximize your post-workout recovery
Use this equipment to help your body recuperate after a hard workout
A man using a massager on his leg on a yoga mat in the living room.

While the exercises themselves make up a big part of your workout routine, you can't forget about recovery! Skipping rest and recovery can increase your risk of injuries while minimizing the effectiveness of the work you consistently put in. To help encourage a healthy workout recovery routine, we have compiled 13 gear items that we highly recommend.

Read more
The 10 best men’s workout shirts to help you get fit in 2023
Man running in a workout shirt

There are multiple things to consider when purchasing new workout apparel. You want to make sure you do your due diligence beforehand. When looking for the optimal workout shirt, functionality often takes precedence over style, for most men. After all, a minimalist cotton t-shirt is ideal, but it won't look (or smell) so great after an hour-long workout, especially if your working out, outdoors. That's why, in the past decade, some of our favorite activewear brands like Lululemon, Vuori, and Under Armour have developed breathable fabrics with moisture-wicking and odor-fighting technology that are now practically must-haves for any exercise gear, especially when it comes to making high-quality shirts.

That being said, not all workout tops are created equal. When it comes to finding the right workout fit, make sure it doesn't feel too tight or baggy around your underarms, your shoulders, or across your chest, i.e., the areas you exercise most. We sifted through some of the most popular brands to select the best workout shirts that are as practical as they are fashionable. Here are our top picks for the best men's workout shirts of 2023.

Read more
The best stylish workout gear to help you stick to your 2023 fitness resolutions
This is the best men's fitness attire to work out in
Running workouts fitness jump rope

If you’re reading this by now then that unfortunately means that 85% of individuals who set forth to crush a fitness, health, or wellness goal to start off the year have sadly already admitted defeat. And that's not just fitness, that is all New Year’s Resolutions, of which, an overwhelming number of those are health-related. However, come January 21st, nearly five out of every six that committed have determined to not keep trying to improve themselves.

Hopefully, if you're reading this, maybe, just maybe you are part of the fifteen percent that are still hanging around, determined not to become just another stat casualty. However, maybe you are the larger percent that might have lapsed on crushing your newfound fitness goals, and maybe, just maybe this is what you needed to read to help get back on track.

Read more