20 Best Elliptical Machines For Seniors (2023 Updated)

I am a longtime customer of Best Buy Canada and had previously purchased a Schwinn recumbent bike. I was on the market for an elliptical machine and after conducting some basic research, I decided to purchase the Schwinn 411.

After unboxing, the unit was compact and was aesthetically pleasing. Immediately, I was troubled by the high resistance even on the entry levels. A few weeks later, a persistent squeak began to emerge.

Now, the unit has developed a severe grinding noise. All of the above have occurred despite very light use. With the unit being only a few months old and defective, I had expected that the situation would be made right by allowing an exchange.

Instead, I was informed that the window for an exchange is 30 days, despite the above referenced circumstances. I understand that return window with less expensive items, but this was quite a costly purchase.

The response from customer service was beyond dismissive and I wasn’t given any further direction regarding the warranty. My only recourse now has been to plead with the manufacturer for assistance. I cannot stress how deeply disappointed I am in Best Buy customer service.

I now have a unit that I had anticipated to use for years and it has essentially been rendered useless. Buyer beware!.

I bought this for my son for his room. Needed something with a small footprint. My son runs in one spot in his room for 1 hour every day, so I thought this would be perfect for him. I got a good vibe just based on the way it was packaged.

As we assembled it, every part was flawless and solid. We took our time and followed the easily laid out instructions. Once complete, we tried it out. It is very smooth. Some people have complained that the least resistance is too hard.

That is not the case. I suspect that upon assembly, if the spacers and spring washers aren’t being installed correctly, then that might be contributing to this problem. At the lowest, it’s like an easy jog, but if you’re out of shape like me, it’ll tire you out.

All in all, it looks and acts like a quality build. Of course, this is day one.

I am extremely familiar with ellipticals. It is the only cardio equipment I enjoy using for long periods of time. I love 1 hour sessions. I can barely do 4 minutes on this machine. I wanted so badly a compact elliptical for my small place.

I cannot stress this enough, this machine is TOO DIFFICULT TO USE. I do heavy lifting, constant manual labor at my work. I log in at least 12000 steps a day. The lowest resistance is stupid hard. They sent me new parts.

A service person came and installed them. Nothing is wrong, this is just how difficult the machine is. He was winded after using the machine for 30 seconds. I am not joking. My option is to send this back by paying for shipping which is around $200.

Pay for a more expensive machine. I would have. Why would I buy something I can barely use? So disappointed.

I purchased this machine last week. Assembling instructions and process were straightforward and easy. However since I’m not an handy man I took 3 hours to fix this. Once built this machine is a beast.

Heavy and sturdy that gives you confidence stepping up on the pedals. I heard a squeaky noise when using and just adjusted the nuts and bolts at that specific spot and the noise stopped and it was smooth thereafter.

So guys if you worry about noise then check the spot and tighten or losen it a bit and it stops. So far used it 2 days and felt good. Definitely would recommend to anyone. I hope this machine would do justice for a longer time.

I am afraid my experience with this elliptical was not good. Delivery and customer service by Best Buy was AMAZING and flawless. My local Harrisburg Best Buy delivery team is amazing. Thanks Carlos and son.

I am a very capable person at putting fitness equipment together. This however was the most challenging thing I have ever come across. First of all the directions were nuts. Then some of the bolts and pieces didn’t line up.

I proceeded to calmly put this together for three evenings after working all day. By the weekend, I was spent. On the 3 rd eve. I tried to put the other petal on it after successfully putting the left on with no problems.

This thing would not line up. After doing some inspection of the pedal I realized that is was cracked at the screws in the plastic part. All of that time and energy wasted. I returned it and decided not to get another.

Best Buy has the most amazing customer service ever!!! The delivery team came out and picked it up a week later and I had my refund in 2 days. Amazing job Best Buy!!! Schwinn, I really tried and wanted this to work out for me but there were to many issues.

Sorry.

Works well nice and smooth. Adjustable and configurable to your liking. I like it. Took longer to assemble than indicated. Screw driver provided to assemble not long enough to tighten recessed screws and wrenches poor quality fitting the nuts/bolts.

Had to use my own tools. Does not have as good a screen that I have seen on other brands. Major disappointment is it is starting to “rust” at the base of both handle mechanisms just above the lower pivot points.

Have had it since september 2020. I sweat a lot when I work out and I have been religeous in wiping down the entire unit at the end of a session. Rust is getting worse every day. Tiny rust spots are starting to appear all over the handle unit.

The black coating is obiously not durable and/or waterproof. Paint coating rough, not smooth so it does not wipe dry completely.

I’m 6’2″ and 215 lbs and the e95 works well for me. Stride length is great and the unit is as stable as any Precor or other commercial brand I’ve used in gyms, and I push it pretty hard. My wife is 5’4″ and the stride length works great for her, too.

I haven’t needed the warranty, but it provides worry-free ownership. Assembly was really easy and I’m not very patient with that kind of thing. Kudos to Sole for packaging the hardware separately per assembly step and including wrenches and screwdrivers.

I used a socket wrench in conjunction with the supplied wrenches and it was a cinch, although it took about 3 hours. The only knock on Sole is the electronics. The screen is very basic, but does the job.

Entering info for a profile is a waste of time because it doesn’t save, so that’s annoying. An app can be downloaded that controls the machine and supposedly lets you save workouts, but like all e95 connections, it uses bluetooth.

You can only use 1 at a time and I usually opt for the heart rate strap, which works well. The fan and speakers are awful. Sole would be better off just leaving them out. My phone speakers sound better.

I bought a 10″ Amazon Fire tablet and use the tablet holder to get the technology that is lacking on the e95. It stays plugged into the USB port, so it remains charged. I also use a cheap bluetooth speaker for music.

I bought the e95 based on it’s high-quality build and not the electronics. I’m very satisfied with the purchase.

It’s a pain to set up. Very heavy. Mine came damaged so it just sat here for two weeks until the parts came. The bottom frame holes weren’t drilled correctly so I have 3 out of 4 bolts connected, although they did give me $50.

After using it for a month or two there is a HORRENDOUSLY annoying popping sound coming from each of the pedals. I don’t think this should make any noise for the price. Overall, meh, it’s ok if you blast your music but that noise seriously just eats away at you over time.

We purchased this elliptical directly from The manufacture a couple of years ago. We made this purchase after buying a cheapo $200 elliptical from Amazon that totally disintegrated after a couple of months.

from the beginning of the pandemic until now my wife and I have used this one to two hours a day almost every single day for a couple of years and that is not to mention other people who’ve gotten on it.

We have never had one single problem or mechanical issue. It is quiet and importantly for us since we have it in the living room it is narrow enough that I can lift it up and roll it into a side room when we have company.

I give it a solid five stars for durability, practicality and enjoyment. I can assure you that my wife and I are in better shape as a result of this machine than we have been in years and I am always involved in something athletic.

Now I will make a few suggestions. First of all the fan is almost useless unless you are 7 feet tall. It does not adjust downward and I believe that is a design error. 🙂 after about three or four months we started hearing a loud knocking noise which really bothered us after the horrendous experience we had with our last elliptical.

I called the manufacture, read the instructions and they assured me that I just needed to lubricate the rails even though the sound was exactly as if it were coming from the weighted wheel. I would have laid money that lubrication would not have solved the problem.

It did. Periodically clean and lubricate the rails and the wheels that go on the rails. When you do that it works like a charm. I started using graphite lubricant and have had a much longer period of time between needing to do anything even though it is a tiny bit messy.

Once it is on you don’t have to do anything for a long time. other than that and keeping it balanced if I move it to a different place on the floor which is easy enough by adjusting each end of it with the rubber screw adjustments-there have been virtually no problems which is hard to believe with the use we have put it under.

If it breaks down tomorrow, Which I don’t anticipate, I consider it still to be one of the best buys I have made in a long time.

Haven’t had it for long but has worked great so far. Quiet and easy to use. Some cons: Fan is loud and will only hit you if you’re tall, I’m 5’2 and it doesn’t reach me. I don’t use fans on machines so not a big deal to me but if you need one this is something to consider -resistance is good but wish it got a little stronger.

I like my higher resistance to feel like I’m going through quicksand. For me it’s a bit weak on the higher settings -wish you could mute the buttons. Makes a pretty loud beeping sound when adjusting resistance and incline, not really a huge deal but I can hear it through my headphones -adjustment buttons on the handles are right at the top.

I’m shorter so this isn’t an issue for me since I hold the handles at the middle, but for someone taller who usually holds the handles at the top, the buttons will be in your way Other than some nitpicking items, this is a great elliptical for the price.

WATCH THE ASSEMBLY VIDEO ON YOUTUBE TO PUT IT TOGETHER!!! The written directions are a nightmare with very confusing graphics. Sole has a video on their YouTube channel showing how to assemble this. With the video it’s very simple and easy, my husband and I put it together in an hour.

Just search “sole e25 elliptical assembly”.

It took me hours of frustrating time to put this together. The plastic sleeves were almost impossible to fit and screw together. One person alone – it was possible, but as I said, terribly frustrating.

The console wires would NOT fit down out of the way to screw the console in tightly – in fact the top two screws are still not in. I’m just using it as is and not putting any pressure on it when I put my Fire tablet in the tablet holder.

That’s another thing, the tablet just barely fits, in fact it slides in about half-way and sticks out half-way. Definitely can watch it but. The speakers don’t work. The fact that I don’t need them as I have earbuds that bluetooth with my tablet, is the only thing keeping me from really being unhappy about the speakers on the unit not working.

The actual working of the elliptical itself has so far been good and I can get a good workout, which is really, for me what it’s all about. So upshot: the rating for the put-together and workability of the machine: 1 The rating for the workout it gives me 5.

Average overall rating 2. 5 – 3. I’d recommend the product with the caveats I’ve noted above. If you are prepared for a huge time-suck and frustration to put it together, if you don’t care if the speakers work – go for it.

I was shopping for a piece of equipment like the one I used at Planet Fitness and at my Physical Therapist. Everything I found was priced around 4-5 thousand dollars. I could not afford them. Then I found the Teeter product.

It looked very similar to what I was looking for and in my price range. However, after I got it in my home I was very disappointed. Perhaps it is just me but I did not fit on this piece of equipment and I could not adjust it to make it feel right.

In order to adjust the leg length I had to push the seat back except that when you do that it also raises up and it didn’t work. Also the handles were at the wrong angle for me and try as I might I could not adjust them so they would feel comfortable.

I also noticed that the leg action was not what I was thinking it was. I was looking for just forward and backward but it didn’t work that way. When my foot was forward the front of my foot would leave the pedal.

On the machines I liked at the gym, the foot stays flat at all times. I have ‘foot drop’ on my right foot and the raising of the toe is difficult and did not feel right. I just could not get comfortable on it.

I’m sure it’s just me, I’m almost 85 years old and out of shape. Someone young and in physical condition may find the machine just what they are looking for. When I discovered that the machine was out of sync with my body I decided to return it immediately because I knew it would just sit there, unused.

Sorry, the quality of workmanship is excellent, but it just did not fit my body.

I’ve been using my cross trainer for around 3 months. I know I’m comparing it to much more expensive machines I used in heart rehab but there are some problems you could address in future models. 1. The seat is way too hard and not contoured correctly with a sharp drop off in the front.

This cuts off circulation to your leg. I had to use a memory foam pad to fix the problem. 2. The the resistance tensioner needs changing. I have very little resistance at any setting below 7. 3. The angle on the handles doesn’t match my palms.

This puts my hands to sleep after 10 minutes. Providing some sort of rotational adjustment would fix the issue. 4. The knob for the seat back just permits lowering the angle. There is no method to tighten and lock the seat back in position.

Therefore, it squeaks when I’m pushing hard on the handles. 5. The absence of a fan is an issue. Had to install an aftermarket clamp on fan. 6. The electronics are useful for time only. If a friend asked me for a recommendation I’d say “If you can afford it, buy a much more expensive and adjustable machine.

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My husband and I are 75 and 77 respectively and have issues with joint pain and balance. Our daily walk was not cutting it and with COVID we were reluctant to go to the gym. We had seen the ads for the FreeStep, considered the two models and opted to go with the higher priced unit, knowing we would want a larger seat.

The unit came in about ten business days and we both were able to unpack and assemble the unit with the use of the BILT video. All the pieces and hardware were labeled by assembly step and it went together easily as we really took our time.

We found only two places where the screw holes did not line up. The unit is very sturdy and easy to use. Our unit has developed a slight ticking sound when we pedal but otherwise it is very quiet and smooth.

We opted to buy a foam seat cover but can’t say it’s a big improvement to the comfort of the original seat, still smaller and harder than we would like. Our only other comment would be on the tracker display unit.

As it is not backlit, it is hard to read when using. Other than these issues, we really enjoy using the FreeStep and have made using it a part to our everyday routine.

My husband and I purchased this elliptical to use for our home gym. We chose this machine based on our friend’s recommendation. I ordered online, picked up curbside, staff was super nice to us, took it home, backed in the driveway and that’s when the honeymoon ended.

The whole thing weighs about 250lbs, and between my husband and I we were able to get it into the house, and started unpacking. The instructions for assembly are horribly written, hard to understand, and need more up close illustrations of the parts.

There are also SO MANY PARTS. I quit assembly last night with the cosmetic plastic pieces because I couldn’t figure out where they went, the tiny screws kept falling and I was just frustrated. I have to finish the project today but will be referring to a youtube video, getting out my cordless drill, and using painters tape to hold things in place while I fasten them with the screws.

If you choose to buy this elliptical, save your sanity and pay for delivery and setup. If you choose to assemble it yourself, use your own tools, a socket set, and a cordless drill.

Very happy with 1st week with my E25. Bought with curbside pickup at Dick’s SG with my RAV4. – The box fit with under 2 inch to spare. I wrangled the 212 lb box up 2 6-inch steps with a good dolly and wife’s guidance.

Build took maybe 3 hrs over 4 days. Apparently the 1-2 hr build time applies if you’ve built it many times before, LOL. Pros: It is absolutely silent and smooth. The design looks to prevent against the “Kachunk” you get on 20% of the ellipticals at 24 hr fitness.

Very impressed so far. Improvements: Assembly: Very doable. But why do they give you 2 metric wrenches when the bolts/nuts are in inches? In one case resulted in the 12mm wrench easily slipping off and slightly rounding a nut.

Also the diagrams are SO tiny. Or a link to a good video. Needs a better diagram of plugging the 4 connectors onto the circuit board to clarify that there is one connector with nothing plugged to it and that is correct.

Also, the cable from the console to the left handle bar Resistance switch was not coming through the mast hole and I had to refeed it with a coathanger and long guidewire. If I was not an electronic engineer I may not have deduced this solution.

Finally, the roller wheels at front need to be wider as the pressure will mar your wood floor. I would buy wider replacement wheels if Sole offered them. The axle seems to have space for wider wheels.

But besides that I’m very happy. Addendum: in the last few weeks I started using it at max incline of 20. Got much more extension and marked improvement on my hip ball joints! Very improved workout.

Horrible experience from start to finish. Assemblers had never assembled the elliptical before. Machine collapsed TWICE while using it and assemblers handed me a bag of screws etc when they were departing.

Dealing with customer service has been a nightmare. Trying to return the machine within 30 days and they hang up and never call back. Went to doctor with ankle and back injuries after machine collapsed during use.

Get what you pay for in life as a general rule but my goodness is this elliptical impressive. It’s so much better than the cheap one we bought just under a year ago which got thrown out last week that I’m simply kicking myself for not going for the real deal to begin with.

This feels so smooth that it’s light years away from my old model. Assembly was simple for a machine this large and it took two of us less than an hour and a half to build it. It’s really sturdy despite the fact that we put it together ourselves (I’m generally clueless about building things).

Best of all though it feels good quality. Everything is quiet and smooth and it runs like clockwork. The iFit account you get for free does a lot of things and so far I’ve just dipped my toes in the water but it looks incredibly in-depth.

Very good elliptical trainer at a very sensible price. For what you get it’s well worth the money and far better value than spending quite a lot less on a cheap model!.

I’ve used plenty of ellipticals in the gym and I’ve also previously had 2 of them at home (both cheap models I admit) and this feels completely different in a good way. It’s so far ahead of my previous machines at home that they can’t even be compared and it’s definitely on a level of the ones in the gym, but feels better because of the way it works.

The action is ridiculously smooth and you alter the motion just by moving your body differently and believe me when I say that for the first couple of weeks it works muscles you forgot you had. Brilliant.

Great machine at an excellent price! Pretty much assembled in the box. Super simple instructions to put together a few components and ready for use. Screen is basic; however, overall machine functions well.

Very happy with the purchase, great for at home use. Machine is easy to fold up to minimize foot print required. Excellent option in smaller spaces. Be cognizant of the head room required for an elliptical vs a treadmill.

This machine also has different incline settings which will require more headroom. We’ve placed the machine in our basement gym, and we are unable to use the maximum incline setting due to lower headroom.

Overall, excellent machine, cannot go wrong with NordicTrack products.

Make no mistake this is a large piece of kit! I love the interaction with iFit, the workouts are varied and fun, I even get to climb mountains around the world from my front room. This elliptical was not cheap, however it is very much gym quality and am looking forward to using it well into the future.

I had to contact the manufacturer to get my iFit code, and they upgraded me to a family membership. It connects seamlessly with iPhone and iPad. Delivery was easy and quick. Set up of the Treadmill does need two people as it is heavy.

You also need space to install as you won’t be moving it much once sited. Overall a great purchase which I’m very pleased with.

Full disclosure, I am older and completely out of shape. When I decided to try to get in better health, my biggest concern was having equipment that was sturdy. I don’t care much about compatibility with apps, I just wanted good equipment that I wasn’t afraid to use.

I paid for the delivery and assembly, and for them to remove the old equipment. They arrived as expected and got to work immediately. After they finished the assembly, something was a little creaky, and the gentlemen took one arm apart to address that.

Six months later, it is a little creaky again, but the best I can tell, it is sound. The top seems a tiny bit wobbly while in motion, but not like it’s unsafe or anything. The bottom of the elliptical is fine.

I had a cheaper elliptical in the late 1990s/early 2000s, and the motion on this one is a little more like a stepper. It’s not difficult but took me a bit to get used to it. The first level of resistance is a bit tough, but I have no intention of getting to the top level, so I am fine moving slow.

The distance and calorie count are incorrect, so if that is important to you, this is not for you. The arms are oddly close to each other. If you need to reach for your phone or other in the little holder, the arms make that tricky while you are in motion.

Also, this is a large machine, and for someone not in great condition, consider your safety when getting on and off. The first month I actually used a stepstool to get on. I debated between 3 and 4 stars, and settled with 3+, because they still advertised the app features even though it is established those are no longer an option.

They should lower the price on this for that reason. Also, because that first level has so much resistance, this is not really for someone who hasn’t already achieved a certain level of fitness. I do think I would recommend this to a friend, at the right price.

I purchased this machine in January of 2021. My goal was to own a machine so that I would use it and exercise often. This machine is definitely worth the $$ and offers you all you really need. No high tech display, but comfortable foot pedals that offer 4 different tensions.

I like the setting that offers a spring in your step as it allows me to bounce while running. You can easily change the resistance and incline yet I can not move past the lowest setting on both. It has been difficult for me to use beyond 30 minutes as the resistance is high.

I am currently in contact with Nautilus directly to set up an appointment for a technician to check the resistance and fix a foot peddle that came damaged. Nautilus was very helpful in supporting the issues that I had.

This is a high quality machine for a good price and Best Buy offers financing and someone to set it up for you for a decent price. I highly recommend this machine and paying extra to have someone set it up for you.

FYI I purchased a large floor mat from Best Buy to lay under the machine and it fits perfectly with room around it.

I have owned this particular elliptical for over 2 years and have enjoyed it ever since. I opted to put together myself. This gave me an opportunity to familiarize myself with my elliptical and trouble shoot any items that may have come up.

The instructions are easy to follow, I will say it is more time consuming more than complex. There are portions where an extra person is needed on the heavy parts. Which I believe is only one part which is the wheel.

I traded my treadmill for my elliptical and I have no regrets when I use it every morning and enjoyed it ever since. The programs are easy to understand and use the only drawback is I have to opt for my tablet over the digital display since there is no additional holder for my tablet so it covers the display.

The programs are great and the resistance on the incline is quite challenging. After 2 years I am having to replace the rollers. I am very satisfied and would recommend for anyone exercise regiment.