Elliptical Trainer

What Are the Best Elliptical Brands for Reliability? Here Are the 4 Best Brands

When thinking about fitness, I usually associate it with consistency, effort, and most important of all hard work!

For people who go beyond their limits and push themselves out of their comfort zones, you deserve equipment that will go through the lengths with you.

In this article, I’ll enumerate the best elliptical brands for reliability, what makes them stand out, and some tips in choosing your next equipment. Let’s dive right in!

List of the Best Elliptical Brands for Reliability

The brands in this section have been tried, tested, and proven to be worthy of the recognition. Of course, I only want what’s best for you and your fitness journey.

So, without further ado, here are the best elliptical brands for reliability!

1) Bowflex

Bowflex Max Trainer M6

Have you ever wondered who started the concept of building a gym inside one’s home? 

Well, the home gym concept is pioneered by none other than Bowflex.

As a brand, I consider Bowflex to be the most inclusive one. Every piece of equipment is built for every person in all walks of life. 

Not only are their cardio machines affordable, they are also effective, lightweight, and built to withstand hours of training and heavy use. I’d even consider Bowflex one of the best compact elliptical machines.

Whether you’re a beginner in using an elliptical trainer, training for an upcoming competition, or somewhere in between, there is a Bowflex product just for you.

What I love about Bowflex ellipticals is that it’s easy to customize

Everytime I’ve wanted to do a relaxing cardio workout, Bowflex can be set at a gentle pace. But, if I wanted to go the extra mile and go faster than usual, the machines are capable of doing so!

If you’re worried that you might be overwhelmed with information when choosing the right elliptical for you, the Bowflex’s website provides a comparison guide.

Last but not the least, all the products of Bowflex come with a 90-day warranty for labor and 3-year warranty for both the frame and the parts.

2) NordicTrack

NordicTrack

Owned by the huge fitness company ICON, it’s no wonder that NordicTrack has phenomenal performance specs and reliability.

Known for the original cross-country ski machine, NordicTrack has kept its reputation up by producing cardio equipment like treadmills, bikes, ellipticals, and rowers.

What I absolutely adore about NordicTrack is its amazing value for money! I will use the FS10I as an example of why I love NordicTrack’s products!

For its price, you will already get a 3-in-1 cardio equipment. 

It can be an elliptical, a treadmill, and a stepper. It also has an auto-adjusting resistance and 10-inch Smart HD Touchscreen.

Not only will your workouts be interactive, you will surely be more immersed into your training while watching other people train too.

If you want to up your game, NordicTrack has got your back too. Every purchase of an elliptical will subscribe you to an iFIT experience, giving you a month of on-demand studio workouts and more.NordicTrack boasts of an auto adjust technology to guide you to your fitness goals. This is especially best for those who are undergoing physical therapy or overcoming a previous injury.

3) ProForm

ProForm

If you are a beginner in the world of ellipticals and want to test the waters first before diving in, ProForm is the best brand for you.

ProForm has three types of ellipticals: rear drive, front drive, and center drive. The rear drive is usually the largest, the front drive the more budget-friendly version, and the center drive the newest type.

What sets apart the ProForm brand from the rest is their HIIT Trainer Series. Aside from the 3-year family membership to iFit, they have 26 levels of magnetic resistance, which helps determine how smooth or quiet your workout can be.

They also boast of a Hybrid Series, which is a part bike and part elliptical. In all of their models, I particularly like that their ellipticals have moving handlebars that help support total body training.

The ellipticals also have very sturdy steel frames and the incline is adjustable so you can target which muscles you want to engage.

The bottomline is, all ProForms products are effective performance-wise. The only question here is choosing which model is the right one for you and your fitness goals.

#4 Life Fitness

Life Fitness

Want a brand that has been proven and tested by time? Life Fitness is the brand for you.

Founded in 1977, Life Fitness created its first treadmill in 1991, and all its products can be found in various gyms worldwide. Their tagline is to provide opportunities for everyone to be active.

Life Fitness currently has four types of ellipticals: elevation, integrity, aspire, and activate series of elliptical trainers.

Elevation elliptical is one of the best products of Life Fitness. It’s created with expert biomechanics so that every stride you make is quiet, smooth, and effective.

It has wireless internet connectivity options and is easy to update to the latest software developments. The handlebars are moving too, ensuring a full body workout.
What I love about this elliptical is that it has an integrated accessory tray with a cup holder and a reading rack. In this way, your drink can stay within arm’s reach and a book or a gadget to keep you entertained.

What to Look for When Buying an Elliptical Machine

Buying an Elliptical Machine

Buying the best elliptical machine for you shouldn’t be a stressful task. 

So, in this section, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about choosing an elliptical machine.

Incline

An elliptical machine is a cross-trainer, which means that it targets different parts of your body for a holistic workout.

I recommend that you find an incline that is adjustable, so you can vary your routine and keep you from experiencing exercise plateau. This will also ensure that you stay motivated.

Fitness Goals

Another important factor that you need to consider are your personal preferences. What is your priority in choosing an elliptical trainer? 

Is it the price, the value for money, or a unique feature?

Some unique features, for instance, can only be found in high-end elliptical trainers. 

If you are a beginner in using this cardio equipment, you can also opt for a trainer that is simple and easy to understand.

Elliptical Motion

To test if an elliptical has good motion, check which one provides a feeling that is similar to walking and running.

One thing that I recommend you can do is to check out if you can feel any “kick” or “bounce” in the motion of the equipment.

Resistance

Using ellipticals to slowly gain strength or overcome physical trauma? You can make use of the adjustable resistance of the equipment.

I recommend that you choose a brand which makes adjusting resistance a simple task. 

Smooth Operation

A well-designed elliptical trainer will be quiet and smooth. I advise you to be cautious around equipment that feels clunky, even when you can’t exactly pinpoint how so.

Your safety matters when you are working out. Make sure to choose products that run smoothly.

Other Features

Other features include the relevant subscription, warranty, or customer service. It can also be how interactive the features are.

I advise you to look for electronic packages that will not only help you progress but will support you in your fitness journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In this section, I answer the most common questions about elliptical machines:

How Long Does an Elliptical Last?

The average lifespan of an elliptical is usually up to 10 years. If properly maintained, they can even last up to 20 years.

There are important steps you must do in order to extend the life of an elliptical. This includes regular cleaning, inspection, and maintenance.

This will prevent unnecessary wear on the parts, and extend its lifespan.

What Ellipticals Do Gyms Use?

There is no one brand that gyms use when it comes to ellipticals. Instead, it’s totally up to the type of workout or regimen that they are promoting.

For instance, when they are using a general elliptical, they will often use NordicTrack FS10I. However, if they are promoting HIIT workouts, the elliptical they use is probably ProForm HIIT H14.

Commercial brands like Life Fitness and Adidas might be what you are used to in gyms, and that is because they are designed to withstand the use of different people.

Home gym brands such as Bowflex are designed for home use, but are still durable nevertheless.

You can easily check different places to buy ellipticals if you want to get the same brands as those in gyms.

Final Words

I hope you learned a thing or two from this article. There are a lot of great brands for elliptical trainers, and I have filtered this list based on proven tests and methods.

I recommend that you try an elliptical trainer first before purchasing it. See if it feels right for you, especially the specifications for your health.