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10 Best Elliptical Machines in 2023
It’s a low-impact cardio workout that your knees will thank you for.

If you want to buy just one machine to help you stay in shape, pull up a chair: When it comes to at-home cardio machines, your main choices are treadmills, bikes, and ellipticals. However, the elliptical machine is the standout of this group, because it works your entire body — picture pushing the pedals with your legs and pulling the handles with your arms. It also mimics the mechanics of running in a way that a stationary bike can’t, and it’s comparable with a treadmill in terms of calorie burn, but the elliptical actually feels easier.
This is because an elliptical workout is gentler on your body than running. “The elliptical is non-weight-bearing,” says Todd Buckingham, Ph.D., an exercise physiologist at Mary Free Bed Sports Rehabilitation Performance Lab. “That means your muscles, bones, and joints don’t get the pounding that running produces.” This makes the elliptical the best and safest way to improve cardio health, without being detrimental to your joints.
“Adding more stress to the heart and lungs while reducing stress placed on the bones, tendons, ligaments, joints, and muscles of the legs is a good way to build the aerobic energy system without causing more stress to the rest of the body,” Buckingham explains.
If you’re ready to take your fitness and health to new heights with an elliptical, read on for the 10 best bets.
The Best Elliptical Machines
What to Consider
While budget and the size of a machine’s footprint are often the main consideration when shopping for at-home fitness equipment, ellipticals have certain features that can drastically affect the experience of the person using them. To ensure you’re happy with your purchase for years to come, here’s what to look for:
Stride Length
One of the most important is the stride length. Eighteen to 20 inches is pretty standard in ellipticals and will accommodate people of most heights; users up to 5 foot, 3 inches tall will want a machine that has a stride length between 11 and 16 inches, while taller users will be best served with a stride length of 20 inches or more. The best options are those with adjustable stride lengths for multiple users.
Drive Systems
There are three different drive systems that power ellipticals (not counting manual treadmills): center drive (built like a treadmill but with pedals), front drive (the most common type, with a large wheel housing at the front), and rear drive (with a smaller wheel housing behind the pedals). Rear-drive machines tend to be the largest but quietest, while those with smaller spaces should probably veer toward center-drive machines. No matter what system you get, your stride on the elliptical should feel smooth and fluid, not jerky.
Extra Features
Other key features include resistance and incline. Some budget machines don’t have either, which means you’re responsible for manually powering the elliptical — the faster you go, the more challenging the workout is. But that only works up to a point: If you’re looking for diverse workout options, you’ll want as many resistance and incline levels as possible. (Some high-end machines even adjust those features for you.) Moving handlebars also up the intensity, as they activate muscles in your upper body and turn an elliptical into a total-body machine.
Ellipticals don’t yet have the same caliber of smart features as indoor bikes or treadmills, but you can find some with built-in programming, Bluetooth connectivity to sync to apps, and decent-sized screens on which to view your stats and workouts. If you like streaming on-demand classes or want to watch Netflix while sweating, make sure you choose a machine with an integrated media tray to hold your phone or tablet. Other amenities that may be of interest include water bottle holders, USB ports, and fans.
These are the best elliptical machines for your low-impact cardio workouts. Each one is equipped with its own set of special features, from multiple resistance levels to auto-adjustments to virtual training classes. Get ready to torch calories while preventing injury to your joints!

Eunice Lucero-Lee is the Senior Editor for Best Products, and is a beauty, astrology, and pop culture obsessive whose work has been featured in publications such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, The Numinous, and woman&home, among many others. A (very) proud cat mom, she spends her time in Manhattan obsessing over celebrity natal charts, luxury skincare, and Scandi-noir, as well as finding the perfect K-Pop vid to save the day. She can order drinks perfectly in Korean.
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