Basic Elliptical Trainers

Best ellipticals under $1,000

In general, fitness reviews say the best elliptical trainers cost at least $1,000. If that's beyond your budget for an elliptical trainer, you still have some options. The key to being satisfied, according to experts, is to keep your expectations in check. Lower-end machines will not offer the same flexibility and durability as more expensive elliptical trainers. That's most evident in the manufacturer warranty. On the higher quality elliptical machines, one-year labor warranties are standard, but less expensive models are often backed by a 90-day warranty.

Even so, there are plenty of good deals to be had at $1,000 and less, including the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 Pro (*Est. $1,000). The Pro version replaces the previous NordicTrack AudioStrider 990, which has earned numerous recommendations over the years. It has been updated with NordicTrack's iFit Live, which connects to your home Wi-Fi connection to download new exercise programs, allow you to race against your Facebook friends or track your elliptical workouts. However, it does require a $10 monthly subscription fee. The AudioStrider 990 Pro elliptical trainer has an adjustable stride length of 18 to 20 inches, and the automated incline can be adjusted up to 30 degrees. Other features include 16 levels of resistance, workout fans, a handgrip heart-rate monitor and built-in speakers with a port for an MP3 player. The weight capacity is 350 pounds, and the elliptical machine is covered by a lifetime frame warranty and one year for parts and labor.

The NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 Pro earns a Best Buy recommendation from a leading testing organization, and it also receives a positive review from the industry experts at Fitness-Equipment-Source.com. "The power incline and adjustable stride make this an appealing offer," says Fred Waters, the site's owner and primary reviewer. TreadmillDoctor.com agrees, saying the AudioStrider elliptical trainers are "a very good value" at this price range. Users at Sears.com love the automated incline feature, which helps them get a more varied workout. "I especially love the automatic incline during the workouts, not to mention I can play my iTouch through the sound system and not have to have the buds in my ears," one owner writes. The NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 Pro is solidly built and heavy, according to reviews, and most say it operates quietly.

However, reviewers at Sears.com have a number of durability complaints, which isn't unusual for elliptical trainers under $1,000. One owner complains of deteriorating rollers, while another has a faulty electronics module. Given the short warranty, these owners say they wish they had spent more for an elliptical with longer coverage.

If your budget is tight, the Schwinn 420 (*Est. $675) is worth a look. Like the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 Pro, the Schwinn 420 elliptical trainer earns a Best Buy award from a consumer testing organization. It has an 18-inch stride length and can accommodate users up to 300 pounds. The Schwinn 420 comes with 12 elliptical workout programs, a handgrip heart-rate monitor and 16 resistance levels, but it doesn't have an incline, speakers or a fan like the NordicTrack elliptical trainer. The warranty is also shorter -- the frame is covered for five years, but parts and electronics are covered only for one year. Wear parts have only 90 days of coverage.

Though it lacks the bells and whistles of pricier elliptical trainers, the Schwinn 420 enjoys excellent user reviews. Nearly 100 users review this basic elliptical at Amazon.com, (where it maintains a 4.5-star rating) saying it is well constructed and doesn't squeak or rattle like other budget ellipticals as long as you keep the moving parts clean and lubricated. The Schwinn 420 elliptical trainer is quiet, and assembly is relatively straightforward. Reviewers like that the elliptical is easy to move from room to room. The workout programs also get high marks. "The 16 levels of resistance are more than enough to keep you busy for a long time and I like the programmable work out feature," says one reviewer.

According to user reviews, the drawback of the Schwinn 420 elliptical is that if something breaks, you might have to wait a long time for a replacement part. Several users were waiting for two to three months. In addition, numerous owners say they wish the Schwinn 420 included a water bottle holder. There were also complaints that the heart-rate monitor is slow to display a reading.

The Schwinn 431 elliptical trainer (*Est. $700) also gets excellent user reviews. It doesn't have an incline like the Schwinn 420, but it does include 19 workout programs and extra features like a bottle holder, speakers for an MP3 player and a workout fan. The warranty is also longer: 15 years for the frame, two years for parts, one year for electronics and six months for wear parts. Nearly 150 reviews at Amazon.com combine to the give the Schwinn 431 a 4.5-star rating. Reviewers say it's a great value, and they love how sturdy and stable the elliptical is while exercising. "The motion is quiet, smooth and steady, and the machine has a nice sturdy feeling," one owner writes. Assembly can be tedious, and reports indicate that it takes several hours to put together. There are a few durability complaints, but far fewer than we found for other budget ellipticals. Unlike the Schwinn 420 users, the Schwinn 431 users report better experiences saying that customer service is responsive and responds to their concerns in a timely matter.

Even budget elliptical trainers can be large and bulky, but the LifeCore LC985VG elliptical trainer (*Est. $800) gets high marks for its compact design. It measures only 52 inches long -- compare that to the NordicTrack AudioStrider 990 Pro, which is 81.5 inches long. The LifeCore LC985VG also performs well in independent testing. Like most inexpensive ellipticals, the LifeCore trainer does not have a powered incline, but users seem satisfied with the workout it provides. More than 35 owners review the LifeCore LC985VG at Amazon.com, where it earns a 4-star rating. The LifeCore LC985VG elliptical trainer has 12 preset programs, adjustable foot pedals and a weight capacity of 300 pounds. It weighs 125 pounds, which is pretty lightweight for an elliptical trainer. One reviewer comments that you can move it relatively easily from room to room. TreadmillDoctor.com say the LifeCore LC985VG is a ''good option'' if you want a compact elliptical.

A few downsides emerge in reviews -- there's no magazine holder or wireless heart-rate monitor, and several owners say the console is not very intuitive. The 17.5-inch stride length is also shorter than other ellipticals, but the foot pedals can be adjusted to accommodate different users. The LifeCore LC985VG comes with a five-year parts warranty; labor is covered for one year. 

The Nautilus E514 (*Est. $750) also performs very well in a recent independent test. In fact, it is the highest-rated elliptical under $1,300 in a test of 30 elliptical trainers. The stride length of 18 inches is slightly longer than the LifeCore LG985VG, and the Nautilus elliptical has features that the LifeCore lacks, including a magazine holder and a wireless heart-rate monitor. The Nautilus E514 also has more workout programs -- 17 in total. Other features include a built-in fan, 16 resistance levels and a 300-pound weight capacity. The elliptical is covered by a multi-year warranty, including 10 years for the frame, two years for parts, one year for electronics and 6 months for wear parts.

In addition to excellent results in independent testing, the Nautilus E514 earns a recommendation from Paige Waehner, the exercise guide at About.com. Waehner likes the extra features, including the fan and magazine rack -- features you won't always find on budget ellipticals. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.) TreadmillDoctor.com also gives the Nautilus E514 a positive review, saying it has "surprisingly good motion for the price." However, the site gives the E514 low ratings for adjustability and warranty. We also saw a few warranty complaints at Amazon.com from users who said they were frustrated trying to get parts or schedule a technician. Despite its positive reviews, we think that the Schwinn 420 is a better value at this price point.

The NordicTrack E5Vi (*Est. $600) is another budget elliptical that earns good reviews from owners. For the price, the NordicTrack E5Vi has a lot going for it, including a lifetime frame warranty (parts and labor are covered for one year) and an adjustable stride length. The stride can be adjusted to 13, 15 or 18 inches, which is useful if the elliptical will have multiple users. The NordicTrack E5Vi also comes with speakers for an MP3 player, a workout fan, handgrip heart-rate monitor and 16 workout programs. The elliptical folds for easy storage and can accommodate users up to 275 pounds.

Users at Sears.com give the NordicTrack E5Vi a 4-star rating in 30 reviews. Most owners are pleased with the elliptical, especially considering the budget-friendly price tag. "For its relatively low cost, this machine is fantastic and has so many excellent features," one reviewer writes. The workout is challenging, and most users say the elliptical runs quietly. The adjustable stride length also gets high marks from families who have members of varying heights. However, some users say the NordicTrack E5Vi feels unstable and wobbly. "While I like the fact that it's portable, I've put this machine on several surfaces, including concrete, and it still noticeably rocks back and forth," says one owner. A few users also have problems getting replacement parts from NordicTrack.

Because they aren't very durable and have short warranties, most ellipticals under $300 typically earn poor reviews from users and experts. However, the Gold's Gym StrideTrainer 380 (*Est. $280) does enjoy better user reviews than most cheap ellipticals. It's sold at Walmart and enjoys a 4-star rating after nearly 200 individual reviews. The 250-pound weight capacity isn't much less than the ellipticals discussed above, but the 14-inch stride length is short, and the Gold's Gym StrideTrainer 380 comes with a skimpy 90-day warranty. Other features include six workout programs, a handgrip heart-rate monitor and a water bottle holder.

Most users at Walmart.com say the Gold's Gym StrideTrainer 380 is a good value. "For under 300 bucks, I think this elliptical is incredible," one owner writes. Users say the workouts are challenging, and most are pleased with the results of their new exercise program. However, numerous owners say the elliptical is noisy. Others complain about the short stride length, which can feel too cramped. Not surprisingly for an cheap elliptical, there are also a number of durability complaints from users who have owned the Gold's Gym StrideTrainer 380 for more than a few months. TreadmillDoctor.com recommends spending a little more for a more expensive elliptical. "You just can't spend under $300 and get a machine that will hold up under normal use," they say.