Best Elliptical for Small Spaces??

 

Looking for the best elliptical for small spaces?

Maybe you have an apartment or a condo – or just a very small home gym area. And you need a compact elliptical.

Not a problem – you came to the right place!

While traditional elliptical trainers can be fairly massive – there are more and more options now that are ideal for smaller spaces.

These are easier to move, fit nicely in smaller areas and may even mean less cleaning for you (bonus)!

This post will give you a few trainers to consider when you’re searching for the best elliptical for small spaces. Click on the links provided to learn more about each option:

 

Best Elliptical For Small Spaces – 3 Great Options:

 

 

#1 Nordictrack Freestride Trainer

You’ve probably seen that most standard elliptical machines have a long wheel-and-track design that stretches back behind the footpedals.

 

 

The Freestrider uses a completely different design. The footpedals ride on belts rather than traditional rails – and there’s no need for the long wheel-and-track design out behind you.

So by taking this out, it shortens up the elliptical and makes it smaller than a standard trainer. (An added bonus is that you don’t have a wheel-and-track design that you constantly have to keep clean from dust and grime).

The Freestride trainer is also a center drive machine – where the two smaller flywheels are on either side of your pedals (instead of one large flywheel either in front of you or in the back) – which again makes the machine more compact.

Just to give you some reference, the Freestride FS7i measures about 57.3″ L x 28.5″ W. Compare this to another popular Nordictrack trainer – the Commercial 14.9 which measures 70″ L x 34.5″ W and you’ll see that it’s much smaller than a standard trainer.

 

 

Another bonus?

The Freestride trainer has a stride that YOU set – yes the stride adapts to your body and not the other way around.

Because you’re not locked into a set stride, your body can’t adapt and thus you end up continually challenging your body and burning more calories.

There are 3 different Freestride Trainer models – each at different price points with varying entertainment and console options – but the general compact design is the same.

 

Click Here For More on the NT Freestrider 

 

 

 

#2 Bowflex Max

Now to be fair, this isn’t necessarily an elliptical trainer – more like an elliptical-stair-climber hybrid. Your lower body steps up and down like a stepper – but you move your arms like an elliptical trainer.

 

 

The benefit to the Max Trainer is that it is designed (along with a special HIIT training workout) to get you burning calories VERY fast. This machine is a beast. The last time a tried one I was sweating all over within 2 minutes.

In fact, some Bowflex Max Trial users burned up to 600 calories in 30 minutes which is incredible.

While there are 3 different kinds of Max Trainer models, they all tend to have the same design (the console and entertainment features vary). The Max M5 for example measures just 46.1″ L x 25″ W – which is really small.

 

 

Another thing to consider is that – unlike an elliptical trainer – you will be stepping up and down – not out. So that makes the Max Trainer even MORE compact when in use, since your legs won’t be kicking out behind you.

If you really don’t care too much about having that specific “elliptical running motion” on your trainer, the Max Trainer is an ideal elliptical for small spaces. Plus, if you use the link below, you can get a Free Promo code that’s good on ANY Bowflex Max Trainer model.

 

Click Here to Save on the Bowflex Max 

 

 

 

 

 

#3 Proform Smart-Strider Elliptical

Proform has a series of Smart-Stride elliptical trainers. These are not “compact” when you’re using them – they are very much like a regular elliptical in terms of space requirements.

 

 

What makes them great for smaller areas is that they fold up. They have wheels on the bottom so you can easily move them in and out of your workout area.

So if you have the space – but want to use your home gym as an office or a family room as well, a folding elliptical trainer might be what you need.

There are several elliptical brands that make folding elliptical trainers.

I chose the Proform Smart Strider series for this post because they also give you a few things other brands do not. First of all most models come with power incline – so you can change the slope of your elliptical path when working out.

 

 

Secondly they all come with easy out-of-the-box assembly, which means you won’t spend hours trying to put them together. There’s just a few little hookups and you’re good to go.

Also, the latest models all come with tablet holders above the consoles. So you can add your tablet and surf the net, watch YouTube or Netflex videos as you run. (Never underestimate the need for entertainment while working out, my friend).

There are several different Smart Stride models. You can use the link below to compare them direct at the Manufacturer and even get Free Shipping.

 

Click Here to Compare Smart Strider Ellipticals

 

 

To Sum Up…

 

So those are some options for the best elliptical for small spaces. They all offer their own unique benefits:

The Nordictrack Freestrider lets you choose the most comfortable stride. Plus you can use it as 3-machines-in-1 a stair-stepper, a treadmill and an elliptical depending on the motion you choose.

The Bowflex Max Trainer is the most compact elliptical when in use. Plus it’s a calorie incinerator.

And the Smart Strider ellipticals are easy to fold up and store in a corner of the room or even in a closet. And they give you training options like incline.

So at the end of the day it boils down to which trainer really gets you excited about working out. Do you know another elliptical trainer that should be listed under the “Best Elliptical for Small Spaces”? Let me know in the comments below!

 

 

Related: Bowflex Max Total Review – A Good Buy For You?

Bowflex Max vs Nordictrack Freestrider – Which is Best?