Best Folding Elliptical in 2021 – Top Picks, Reviews and Guide

So you have finally decided to invest in the best folding elliptical machine? That’s great!!! A folding elliptical trainer is an ideal workout machine to help you get back in shape and achieve your fitness goals. It’s a dream come true if you love to exercise at home at your own pace.

But chances are, a lot of options on the market overwhelm you from features, design, color, and branding. Sometimes you feel you are looking for a needle in the haystack. You need not worry. You need not go all the way to the rabbit hole to get the best folding machine.

We’ve done all the hard stuff for you from researching, testing, interviewing gym experts on different folding elliptical machines available. We’ve also spent lots of man-hours to compile a product review to assist you in selecting the best elliptical machine.

Let’s dive right in.

Top 10 of the Best Folding Elliptical Machine

Here are the elliptical machines that made it to our list. Learn more to find out which machine will help achieve your fitness goals.

• 1. Nordic Track – T Series Treadmills (6.55 & 6.55mile)
• 2. Sunny Health and Fitness – Pro Indoor Cycling Bike
• 3. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 – Rowing Machine Power
• 4. ProForm Cardio – HIIT Elliptical Trainer
• 5. EXERPEUTIC – Folding Bluetooth
• 6. Exerpeutic – Aero Air Elliptical
• 7. Schwinn – 270 Recumbent Bike
• 8. Stamina – InMotion E1000 Compact Strider
• 9. Marcy Recumbent – Exercise Bike with Resistance Me-709
• 10. Body Rider Elliptical – Trainer and Exercise Bike with Seats and Easy

#1. Nordic Track – T Series Treadmills (6.55 & 6.55mile)

To work out means to challenge your body’s limits and reach new horizons. A great way to put your body into that position is to use the Nordic Track T series treadmills. It’s built with 20 different workout programs. You can choose from fat loss to HIIT training.

If you are the person who loves to monitor your heart rate, the machine comes with a dual grip cardio grip heart rate. It will allow you to keep tabs with training heart rate while training.

Its cushion has an innovative flex select system that turns on and off. When you are running on a cushion, you have a rigid surface that offers you joint support. Since the treadmill has Easylift Assists, it means you can fold up the machine with a single action.

Final Views

There’s no doubt that NordicTrack has a great reputation in the fitness industry. It captures quality engineering and innovative design. It never needs a WiFi to run the onboard programs, so it is an excellent for anyone that wants to put it in a basement or garage without internet

#2. Sunny Health and Fitness – Pro Indoor Cycling Bike

Whether your main goal is to lose weight, strength training, or outdoor riding, the sunny pro indoor cycle is an excellent partner. This bike is excellent for beginners and experienced spinners who want their bike at home without getting out in the cold.

The bike has an adjustable resistance setting to allow you to customize your workout routine according to your goals. Whether you are tall or short, the handlebar and seat can be adjusted to suit your height. The bike is made of a steel frame which means it doesn’t wobble or move around.

Keep in mind that a heavier flywheel needs a lot of effort to get it running and takes time to slow down. With this 40lbs flywheel, you’ll get a feel of riding a bike outdoors. The bike allows for a variety of resistance settings from low to high. The sunny health bike is quiet but not silent. Its chain makes noise when you peddle.

Final Views

For anyone looking for the value of their money with a simple bike that can do great workout, this is the one. The bike is light yet solid and durable. Most important, it has a flywheel that enhances your performance during workout. With its level of resistance, you can customize it to suit your workout needs.

#3. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW1205 – Rowing Machine Power

Do you live in a small home? Here’s the good news: Sunny health and fitness SF-RW1205 is for you. It doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles you find on a high-end model, but it offers excellent value for your money.

The Sunny health is durable, and you’ll see this on the solid steel frame and the silver-colored anti-corrosive finish it has. The bike comes with 12 levels of hydraulic resistance. You can access all these 12levels at the turn of the knob without having to pause.

Thanks to the single-centered piston on the control rowing arm, you’ll have a smooth rowing motion. Best of all, it will also eliminate uneven wear, which occurs with the dual-piston rowers. So you keep track of what you are doing, the bike has time, calories burned, and many more. All those stats are visible when you exercise.

Final Views

The Sunny health and fitness SF machine is a great bike for anyone who wants to start cycling without the bells and whistles. It’s sturdy construction and compact size defeats the need to buy an expensive bike for your home gym. But that’s not all, it’s 12  levels of hydraulic resistance will challenge you a lot to improve your workout experience.

#4. ProForm Cardio – HIIT Elliptical Trainer

If you have ever done high-intensity interval training before you know the risk associated with damaging knees and joints. The solution to that is investing in proform cardio HIIT trainer because it allows you to have high-intensity interval training without the risk of damaging through harsh impact.

You can use this machine for aerobic workouts to build strength and endurance to burn calories. You can always choose from 29 resistance levels and guidance on 32 built-in workout apps. Its handlebar has a great design to allow for multiple grip positions. This machine is aimed at intermediate HIIT users.

Final Views

What sets this machine is its ability to burn calories four times more than most treadmills. It has enticing electronics and preset programs that guide you when you are doing the HIlT workout. But the feature that got our attention is the smooth and yet steep elliptical footpath. Overall, this is  an excellent folding machine that’s worth the money.

#5. EXERPEUTIC – Folding Bluetooth

It’s a foldable upright bike having lots of features such as LCD and heart rate sensors. It has a compact design that’s easy to store when you are not using it. The bike may not have a heavy flywheel, but it’s eight levels of magnetic resistance will make you sweat during workouts.

It has a small light flywheel paired with a v-belt to promote a quiet ride. The bike is a magnetic resistance that can decrease or increase resistance levels fast. Since it is a magnetic resistance based bike, it does not need much maintenance.

It includes 8 levels of resistance. Will this be enough for you? Well, we don’t know, but it also doesn’t mean that you won’t sweat using this bike. The overall engineering of this bike is robust and sturdy. That said, expect this bike to last you long. Besides that, the bike only weighs 42lbs. What that means is, you can move it from one place to another.

Final Views

Exerpeutic folding Bluetooth folding machine deserves a positive review. It delivers impressive results without discomfort or a harsh impact on your legs. This is an excellent solution for people who want to be fit without the risk of impact-related health challenges like tendonitis and osteoarthritis.

#6. Exerpeutic – Aero Air Elliptical

Are you looking for a small fitness machine that can accommodate up to 220 pounds of weight? Exerpeutic aero is your best choice. The machine has many moving bars and eight resistance settings. Looking at the Aero air elliptical, we discovered it might not be suited for high-intensity workouts like other elliptical machines.

You’ll find a built-in LCD  console that tracks distance, calories burnt, time, and speed. When it comes to comfort, we don’t think it might be comfortable for all.

First, it has a 12-inch stride, and chances are you may want a long stride if you are a tall person. Even short people may still find the stride to be too short.

The machine doesn’t make many noises as long as it’s working well. Since the machine has lots of screws, if you don’t check most of them well, they will loosen and there will be noise. Lots of noise is a sign you need to tighten the screw. If you are serious about achieving your fitness goals, this might not be the best machine for you.

Final Views

Judging from our own experience with this machine, we noticed it is cheap. Second, it is also cheap in quality. It has low-quality construction and biomechanics. What that means is, it might pose danger to trainees. Although its price is hard to beat, it may not be the right machine for you if safety is your number one priority.

#7. Schwinn – 270 Recumbent Bike

It’s a top-rated product from Schwinn having 29 preset workout programs with two fitness sets and workouts. What makes it a better choice for many households is the adjustability, resistance range, and four user profiles. It’s a flywheel weighs 17 pounds, which is enough to weight to tone your lower body.

The bike has a sliding seat that has an aluminum rail system that offers a fore-and-aft adjustment. 

Besides the bike having a cool USB port, it has an oversized drink holder that you can use to store your drinks, phones, and tablets. Its LCD allows you to monitor 13 types of feedback. The machine also equips you with an USB port to sync data with Schwinn connect website if you want to analyze your stats further.

Final Views

Schwinn is an excellent folding elliptical machine that is different from other low priced machines. If you have bought a low priced machine in the past you will notice that most of them break within one year. The Schwinn model will last you long. Besides that the machine supports a diverse range of work workout to help you achieve your goals..

#8. Stamina – InMotion E1000 Compact Strider

This machine is small and compact. That said, you can move it from one place to another. You can also store it under your computer desk or bed. If you are looking for a portable elliptical machine, you’ll be happy to know this one is 24 pounds only.

When you paddle, you’ll adjust the tension knob for your desired resistance. If you need more resistance, you’ll need a large wheel, but that would defeat the purpose of it being compact. Its electric motor display will allow you to see different metrics such as the number of strides, calories burnt, and many more.

The adjustable tension knob will increase the resistance. You turn it clockwise to increase and anti-clockwise to decrease tension. And the machine’s textured rubber prevents the shoe from slipping or sliding. What that means is, you’ll feel safe when you peddle.

Final Views

Should you buy the Stamina InMotion E100? If you spend the whole day sitting on your desk and you want to have some movements on your legs, then Stamina InMotion will serve you best. One thing you need to understand is Stamina will never replace the results you get in a cardio exercise.

#9. Marcy Recumbent – Exercise Bike with Resistance Me-709

The hardest part about working out is getting up in the morning. Having Mercy ME-709 recumbent bike will make you ditch the gym. The bike has features to make your workout comfortable. The design makes this bike easy to mount and dismount.

But it doesn’t stop there. Marcy’s recumbent bike has heavy-duty parts meant to last. The bike has eight resistance levels, which allows you to pedal for a short period and then slow down. With the easy-to-turn knob, you’ll be able to switch to different levels quickly.

The bike has an LCD computer screen to help you feel a sense of accomplishment. You’ll be able to track the speed, time, distance, and calories. You’ll never have to squint or disrupt because the stats are displayed in large numbers. What separates this bike from others is it has a counterbalanced pedal weighted well to give you extra support and in control.

Final Views

This is a basic folding elliptical bike that is budget-friendly. It is the best choice for anyone who is just getting started and wants a decent machine that will help them exercise, lose weight, and improve their lifestyle without spending much.

#10. Body Rider Elliptical – Trainer and Exercise Bike with Seats and Easy

The body rider elliptical trainer comes with a seat you can use when you train. The machine moves every part of your body to burn calories so you can stay in perfect shape. But the most important thing about this machine is it can serve two purposes. You can use it as a regular elliptical and general exercise.

Apart from that, the bike has an adjustable seat to expand your workout potential. Since the machine is versatile, it will provide you with a gentle and low impact workout. What we like about this machine is, it is a little impact exercise machine, a perfect choice for people who have a leg, back, and hip pain.

The machine has a compact design. What this means is, you can store it in small spaces in your home. The elliptical machine has a variable resistance, which makes it easy for you to pedal it with either the lowest or highest resistance. Its flywheel will also give you smooth strides since it’s heavy.

Last, The machine has an electrical console that displays distance, time, speed, and calories burnt. With its guidelines, you’ll enjoy the training.

Final Views

This is a distinctive folding elliptical machine that  combines two machines in one to expand your workout potential. What we love is that it  allows you to use it as a regular elliptical, or as an exercise bike. If you have ever wanted a dual trainer, this is one worth a try.

Budget Guide: Things you need to consider

Budget and Needs

How much are you going to spend on an elliptical machine? There’s no need to buy an elliptical machine with all the bells and whistles, which is above your budget. The best way to do this to purchase equipment that will fit in your budget.

But if you have some cash, you can get an elliptical machine with all the bells and whistles. Besides considering your budget, you also need to consider your workout  goals. Do you want a folding machine you can use to maintain your fitness with no tracking the intensity?

If that’s your case, then you will want to invest in the best folding machine. Second, if you will advance your workout goals, you’ll need an elliptical machine that has all the bells and whistles. Most important, you’ll want to track your heart and distance traveled.

Console

Choosing a console depends on your preferences. The question you need to ask yourself is, what kind of console do you need in an elliptical machine? Are you looking for an entertainment system like an MP3 player and LCD to display all the stats in your workout activities?

Some workout machines will come with Bluetooth connectivity, WI-FI, USB charging port, and mobile phone compatibility. The size of the LCD screen will vary, and it depends on what you want. Other exciting features are cup holders and fans.

Flywheel and Resistance

Flywheel and resistance determine the efficiency of a folding elliptical machine. Elements like this determine how long you’ll use this device and how to be efficient. 

Alternatively, you can choose an electromagnetic braking system because it is easy to use. Apart from that, the system will be smooth when you control it. That means you can change the system at the touch of a button.

Most elliptical machines will have from 8 to 30 levels of resistance to allow you to choose a set of resistance that works fine for your mood and your goals.

On the cheaper side, you will find less resistance, and some will offer no resistance. 

Stride Length

The distance between the front pedal toe and rear pedal heal is the stride.

The stride length makes a big difference in how usable the elliptical machine is for you. With a short distance, you won’t be able to stride naturally. Long length can put you at risk. No rule has been written about stride length, but the general opinion is, it should be 18″ to 20″ for most adults.

People who are 6ft will aim for a stride length of between 20” 22” for a comfortable experience-But you need will need to pay a high price.

Space and Location

Do you have lots of space at home? If not, you need not worry because elliptical machines are ideal for your home. For those who have minimal space, they can get a compact elliptical machine. One thing you need to remember is never struggling with a big machine if you have a small area. A space-saving elliptical machine is the best for urban apartments or condos. 

Incline

Increasing gradient, shortening your stride, and adding an incline is a wonderful way to challenge your limits while raising your heart rate.

A lot of machines come with different degrees of incline, and most are in the midrange and high end. If you want to buy an elliptical machine, it will be hard to find one with an incline.

Control Module

Features and control of an elliptical machine depend on how much you spend. A high-end elliptical offers you more than an elliptical. The digital control also depends on what’s there to control. For instance,  if you invest in an essential folding elliptical that has no resistance, then you have little you need to control.

If you have a machine that has 25 resistance levels with a motorized incline, workout program, and also a cooling fan, you are getting a pro machine. They’ll be in the form of +/- control to allow you to increase resistance or incline. This will let you jump to different levels.

Frequently Asked Question

Do all elliptical machines fold?

It depends. Some fold, while others don’t. There are so many factors that influence that, such as the model and brand. If you are looking to buy one, always check if it folds or not. If a manufacturer is going to build a foldable elliptical machine, it will cost more than the frame.

How much space do these require?

A typical elliptical machine will measure 6ft long and 3ft wide. You need to know  is the rear-drive units are longer than the front and center-drive ellipticals.

What muscles do elliptical machine targets?

The elliptical machine targets the entire body. When you push your legs, your quads are covered, glutes and hamstring move backward. Your calves and tibialis anterior muscles are in motion. Since you are pushing forward, you also exercise the upper body.

Does it burn fat?

It is a cardio workout which is enough worthy to get for you. It raises your heart rate and boosts your endurance levels. Sadly, it can’t make your fat lose. No matter which part of your body exercises, your body decides where to store fat. That said, you can’t target specific areas such as the stomach to reduce fats. The only way to reduce fat is through a calorie deficit.

Conclusion

There you have it. The list of best folding elliptical reviews for 2020. We hope that this guide gave you the insights and education you need to buy an elliptical machine with confidence. If you have any questions, you can ask in the comment below.

 

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