If you’re in the market for a budget elliptical cross trainer, you’re going to like what we’ve got to show you here. Hopefully this guide will save you some time and some money picking your new cross trainer. And we love these machines. They offer a low impact, safe way to shed calories and get in shape. So let’s get started with out top 5 trainers for under £200!
Help buying and to choose a budget elliptical machine
Basically, every gym you walk into has ranks of ellipticals (also called cross trainers, there’s very little actual difference) alongside the other cardio systems.
This is incredibly impressive for a piece of kit that’s only existed in the fitness world for a short amount of time, as these things go.
It’s no wonder that home sales of ellipticals (cheap or premium) are just as high.
This guide goes into the best ellipticals you can buy on a budget, what to expect, and which one is right for you.
Is it worth buying a budget cross trainer?
As with everything fitness, the answer is the same. It depends on your goals. But for most people, the answer is a resounding yes.
An elliptical is a great source of cardio that will happily fit into a lot of health and fitness plans. On top of this, most people are going to notice the little quirks and issues a budget elliptical might have a lot less than they would with other pieces of kit, like treadmills and bikes.
Manufacturers are also taking notice, and in the last few years, there’s been a flood of budget models hitting the market, giving you far more option to choose from.
If an elliptical is something that you’re going to be relying on as your main focus of fitness, we’d recommend investing a little more, but for the majority of people out there, any of the ellipticals on this list would be a great addition to their home gym.
How to choose a decent cheap elliptical: A buyer’s guide
When you’re buying exercise equipment on a budget, it’s a good idea to set expectations, and have an idea about what’s most important, so you can make the right choice.
A lower price tag means fewer overall features, and the manufacturers will have made choices about what to focus on, what to keep, and what isn’t important to a consumer looking to buy a budget elliptical. Here’s what you should pay attention to when making your choice.
If you’re looking for an elliptical and you’re under 6 feet, check out our Best Ellipticals For Short People guide.
The flywheel
The single most important part of any elliptical is the flywheel. It’s the beating heart of the machine. The part that provides all of the resistance, and so the part that decides whether you’re going to be able to work out effectively.
Cheaper ellipticals tend to have smaller flywheels, on average. But smaller doesn’t mean ineffective. Several of the systems featured in our list have flywheels that weigh around
which is a solid weight that can provide a decent amount of resistance
Magnetic resistance
When looking at ellipticals, pay close attention to whether it uses silent magnetic resistance. (SMR.)
SMR, sometimes just called magnetic resistance, means that the flywheel uses magnets instead of friction to provide its resistance as you exercise. The range of ways in which this improves your workouts is huge, including smooth resistance throughout every rep, less wear on the machine so it lasts longer, far less noise, and more.
Put simply, if you can buy an elliptical with magnetic resistance, do it.
Getting to know your elliptical’s display
One of the biggest differences between cheap and expensive exercise gear is the consoles.
At the higher end, it’s common to see integrated touch screens, built-in workout apps and big, powerful speakers. But these are all expensive, and can really jack up the cost of a machine.
But it’s becoming a lot more common for even the cheapest exercise machines to let you link your own phones and tablets via Bluetooth, giving you the same benefits as a touchscreen, without increasing the cost.
Overall build quality
Cheaper ellipticals tend to be built less sturdily and with weaker, thinner materials than more expensive models. In most circumstances, this won’t make a difference to performance, but it does tend to mean a few things:
- The overall weight limit will be lower
- Fittings like the seat and handles will be cheaper and less comfortable
- Expect more noise in operation
- Lower overall lifespan, and needing to be replaced earlier
