If you’re shopping for home cardio equipment and trying to decide between a treadmill or an elliptical machine, let your joints decide for you. Many people prefer ellipticals because they put less stress on their bodies compared to the impact of running on a treadmill. With an elliptical machine, your feet never leave the pedals, which minimizes the potentially damaging impact on joints. Moreover, they tend to take up a lot less space even when up against folding treadmills which tend to be more compact than full-size options. Equally important to note, is that, unlike treadmills, most elliptical machines have handles that provide both an upper and lower body workout. If your 2021 goals include better cardiovascular conditioning, you’ll be all set with an elliptical machine ready to use. Below, we’ve collected some fantastic elliptical deals, after scouring many storefronts.
Top deals on elliptical machines
Body Rider BRD2000 2-in-1 elliptical trainer — $156, was $220
This stationary bike offers a smooth glide, full-body seated fitness workouts, and adjustable tension — easily changed without tools via a built-in knob. It supports a maximum weight of 250 pounds and is great for any skill level beginner to expert.
Doufit elliptical machine and cross trainer — $190, $220
This upright elliptical offers a host of convenient features to make your workouts more enjoyable. For example, there’s a built-in bottle shelf for water, a functional monitor to track your speed, time, distance, and more, and moving wheels so you can move it around your home or living space with relative ease. It has 8 resistance levels too, so you can adjust how difficult your workouts are.
Exerpeutic 2000XL Smart Cloud elliptical — $222, was $307
This smart elliptical connects with the MyCloudFitness app on Android and iOS to track your progress, and record your results. It has 8 levels of resistance, thanks to a magnetic tension system. Moreover, the 3.5-inch LCD shares all the stats you need while you’re in the middle of a workout. Hand pulse pads conveniently placed on the handlebars will monitor your heart rate too.
Cubii JR2 under desk elliptical — $239, was $258
Do you ever wish that you could work out while you’re doing other things, like working or browsing the web? That’s the idea behind the Cubii JR2 which tucks neatly under your desk when not in use. You can exercise, while seated, and while you do other things. It’s work-from-home fitness in a low-impact and smooth experience. You can also use the Cubii mobile app to track your progress, although bear in mind stats are entered manually.
Bowflex Max Trainer M9 — $1,700, was $2,000
Surely, Bowflex needs no introduction and its exceptionally-built exercise equipment is an expected entry here. This elliptical comes with a 1-year JRNY membership (worth $149). You can stream entertainment from Netflix, Disney+, and your favorite streaming apps right on the touchscreen display. You can also access on-demand workouts and routines, across 20 levels of magnetic resistance. It’s time to burn some fat, people.
Why can ellipticals give better workouts than treadmills?
Elliptical training works the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and anterior tibialis. Also, ellipticals work your quadriceps and hamstrings harder than treadmills. When you use the movable handles on most ellipticals, you also exercise your triceps, biceps, and shoulders, which doesn’t happen with most exercise bikes.
Using an elliptical allows you to follow the natural path of your feet and legs when they are in motion. The motion that your ankles, knees, and hip joints make during walking, jogging, or running is the same motion that an elliptical makes. Also, ellipticals provide a weight-bearing exercise, which is essential to prevent the onset of osteoporosis.
Since ellipticals exercise more muscles simultaneously than most other cardio exercises, you can burn more calories and fat in a short period. Studies show most people report that they didn’t think they worked as hard during workouts with an elliptical machine as when they were on a treadmill. This means that you are actually working out harder than it feels like you are.
Many elliptical machines today feature menus of challenging exercise programs that mimic hill climbing or interval training, which can make workouts more enjoyable and less repetitive. Many machines also have heart rate monitors and controls that allow you to optimize your workout based on heart rate control.
As you can see, there are many benefits to investing in an elliptical machine. There are hundreds of brands and elliptical machine models, but we have you covered. We’ve put together a list of some great deals on ellipticals for your home gym — some even double as an exercise bike. Also, be sure to check out our fitness equipment deals page for other items to round out your home gym.
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