Best Ellipticals Overall

Home elliptical trainers for less than $2,000

For home use, the $1,000 to $2,000 range seems to be a "sweet spot" for elliptical trainers. Sole, in particular, has a reputation for building quality treadmills that ring up for less than $1,500.

The Sole E35 (*Est. $1,300) is a good example of Sole's offerings in this price range; it's also our best-reviewed home elliptical trainer. The E35 earns a recommendation from a major consumer testing organization, as well as a first runner-up placement in its price range from TreadmillDoctor.com. This elliptical trainer has a 20-inch stride -- which expert reviewers and users alike say is long enough to suit most people -- and 16 levels of resistance. It also has a bevy of features, including built-in speakers, a powered incline and a heart-rate monitor. A lengthy warranty, including lifetime coverage on the frame and brake system, is another plus.

In a 2011 test, the Sole E35 posts higher ratings than any other top elliptical trainer under $2,000, and it receives excellent scores for construction quality and exercise range. This Sole elliptical trainer also earns positive reviews at Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com, with an overall 4-star rating at both sites. Owners say the elliptical is sturdy, and it operates smoothly and quietly. One owner says: "It seems to move effortlessly, but I worked up a pretty good sweat in just a short time." Reviewers also report that the control panel is intuitive, and that the incline adjusts quickly at the push of a button. Overall, a number of owners say the Sole E35 looks and feels like it should cost much more

However, numerous owners complain about the frustrating and time-consuming assembly process -- one owner calls it "maddening." Another user comments that "the directions are very good and its [sic] virtually impossible to put any part of it together wrong," but assembly still took two hours, with a helper's assistance, for that particular reviewer. Some owners complain that the E35's rollers can become noisy over time, but lubricating the rails and rollers, as directed in the user manual, usually alleviates that problem. We also saw a number of customer service complaints. Some users say Sole's representatives are unresponsive or don't return calls, but the company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

The biggest difference between the Sole E35 and the Sole E55 (*Est. $1,500) is the addition of a heart-rate control program, which automatically adjusts the workout intensity to help you maintain a target heart rate. We found some debate among reviewers about whether this extra feature is worth $200 more. There are a few other differences, too; they're mostly minor and unmentioned by reviewers but, if they matter to you, they might help justify the extra cost. The E55's incline ramp adjusts up to 40 degrees -- 10 degrees higher than the E35's incline ramp -- and the E55 has 20 levels of resistance instead of the E35's 16. The E55 also features handlebar mounted controls. We found some customer service complaints about the Sole E55 elliptical trainer, and a few user reports that the bolts loosen easily. On the other hand, TreadmillDoctor.com awards the E55 Best Buy status in its price range, praising Sole's reputation for good quality.

For a little bit more, the Sole E95 (*Est. $1,700) offers a 400-pound user weight capacity, 20 resistance levels and two heart-rate programs. The Sole E95 elliptical trainer also has handlebar-mounted controls and a power incline that adjusts up to 40 degrees. Other features, including the warranty, are largely the same as on the cheaper Sole E35, including a 20-inch stride and built-in speakers. The elliptical experts at TreadmillDoctor.com place the Sole E95 as third runner-up in its price range.

The E95 also gets good -- but not great -- user reviews on Amazon.com, with a 4-star average rating in more than 20 reviews.  Reviewers say they like this elliptical trainer's sturdy build and smooth, natural stride, but some struggle with the assembly process. Noise can also be an issue. "The longer I went the louder it became," one user says about a clicking noise that started two minutes into the first workout. More than a dozen users on Epinions.com echo the same praise and complaints. "Great machine! Worth every penny and then some," reports one user, while others relate struggling to put the elliptical together. "You'd need to be an expert mechanic or an MIT grad to be able to follow the guidebook they give you easily," says one owner. Some owners also complain that the Sole E95 is large and bulky, so you'll need lots of space; the elliptical measures more than 80 inches high and 30 inches wide when fully assembled. 

A couple of Smooth Fitness models also receive excellent reviews from users and experts. The Smooth CE 3.6 (*Est. $1,300) , in particular, earns excellent rankings for construction and safety in a recent test of 18 elliptical trainers, although it wasn't as easy to use as some of its competitors. TreadmillDoctor.com ranks the CE 3.6 behind the Sole E35 in this price range, although it's still described as "good quality in a value package." Fred Waters of Fitness-Equipment-Source.com chooses the CE 3.6 as "one of the best buys in this price range," citing Smooth's impressive service record. The Smooth model also has a heart-rate option, which the Sole E35 lacks. Overall, expert reviewers describe the Smooth 3.6 as "built like a rock," with smooth, quiet, stable operation.

There are only a dozen reviews on Amazon.com, yielding an average rating of 4.5 stars. Although most are positive, we also found some complaints from shorter people, including one reviewer who is 5 feet tall. They say it's hard to see over the Smooth's console if you want to watch television while working out. It's also worth noting that the Smooth CE 3.6 lacks the Sole elliptical trainers' adjustable incline feature, and the 3.6's stride length is 18 inches, two inches shorter than the Sole E35's 20-inch stride.

The Smooth CE 7.4 (*Est. $1,600) , a midrange elliptical trainer that earns a first runner-up placement from TreadmillDoctor.com, also gets very good reviews. Like the Sole E95 and the Smooth CE 3.6, the Smooth CE 7.4 comes with speakers for an MP3 player and a heart-rate program. Although the Smooth CE 7.4 has a 21-inch stride, 16 intensity levels and 15 workout programs, it lacks the adjustable incline that the Sole ellipticals have.

Though it lacks an incline, most reviewers say the Smooth CE 7.4 provides a good workout. At Amazon.com, where the elliptical trainer earns a 4-star overall rating after more than 50 reviews, users are generally pleased with the workout. "I really work up a sweat when I use it, but the impact on my body is low," one owner writes. Others note that the CE 7.4 is solidly built and runs quietly. We saw fewer complaints about assembly for the Smooth CE 7.4 than its Sole competitors; the Smooth elliptical trainer also gets high marks for value. On the other hand, some users report that the CE 7.4's large pivoting foot pedals take some getting used to.

If you want an elliptical trainer with an incline, the Diamondback 1260Ef (*Est. $2,200) is another option worth considering. The Diamondback 1260Ef earns the highest overall score in a 2011 test of 29 elliptical trainers, with excellent ratings for ease of use, construction quality and other factors. It comes with a powered incline that adjusts to 10  levels, along with 15 workout programs, 20 levels of resistance and a chest-strap heart-rate monitor. The stride length is 19 inches, and this elliptical can accommodate users weighing up to 325 pounds. Its warranty is on par with other elliptical trainers in this price range, including lifetime coverage for the frame and brake system, five years for parts and electronics and one year for labor. However, wear items are covered for only  90 days.

Assembling the Diamondback 1260Ef can be a little tricky, but owners say that once it's together, they are impressed with this elliptical trainer's quality. Users posting to Amazon.com say they especially like the varied workout programs and smooth motion. However, a number of reviewers complain that the Diamondback 1260Ef goes into pause mode and stops operating in the middle of a workout. "No matter what program is selected, it runs for five seconds and then goes into 'pause' mode," one owner writes. Some users have had luck contacting Diamondback for a repair, while others decided to return the elliptical.