Looking for the best elliptical machine for tight spaces? Maybe you have a small exercise room or you want an elliptical that will fit in a condo or apartment.
These days, you can find small elliptical shoes at most department stores. However, these are usually pretty cheap models that will break (or start squeaking) within the first month that you bring them home.
How do you find a well-made, high-quality elliptical that doesn’t take up much space yet? Here are 3 elliptical exerciser options that are great value, but small in size for you to consider:
# 1 in Nordictrack ACT
The ACT elliptical is unique in that it is not a rear-wheel drive elliptical (where the steering wheel is behind the pedals) or a front-wheel drive trainer (where the steering wheel is on the front pedals).
It’s actually a center-drive elliptical, where you have two smaller flywheels on either side of the pedals.
This has the effect of shortening the footprint of the elliptical and giving it a more square footprint rather than the typical long rectangle.
While there are a couple of different ACT models, the main ACT elliptical measures only 31 x 54 inches, which is smaller than many standard elliptical trainers.
Another advantage of the ACT is that it stands more upright on the pedals and relies less on the handrails, which for many people is more comfortable overall.
And finally, as long as we talk about small spaces, the ACT has a lower step height than many normal ellipticals, making it ideal if you have a low ceiling height.
# 2 Bowflex Max Trainer
This is a new type of elliptical trainer, more of a vertical climbing machine that combines an elliptical with a stair climbing motion.
This uses more muscles in your lower body and helps you burn more calories than a normal elliptical trainer.
According to the manufacturer, you can burn up to 2.5 times more calories on the Max trainer than on a regular elliptical, which means you will see results very fast.
Also, the Max trainer is about half the size of a standard elliptical trainer. There are a couple of different models, however the main M5 model is 25 x 46.1 inches in size, even smaller than the previous ACT.
# 3 Elliptical Proform Smart Strider
Proform currently has a few different Smart Strider elliptical models, each with different consoles and features. But the main thing you should know is that all these trainers are designed so that you can easily fold and store them.
In fact, when folded, they can easily be unrolled outside of your workout areas and put away. They even fit in your closet!
It can be difficult to find a folding elliptical these days, and if you do, many of them tend to be cheap and flimsy due to the limits of a folding design.
However, the Smart Strider ellipticals are made with heavier flywheels and a steel gauge frame to give them more weight and stability.
Plus, you also get incline on most models, which most folding trainers don’t offer you (again due to the limits of a folding design).
So you can change the incline of your incline elliptical running route and get a better cross-training workout.
However, it’s fair to note that they are standard (not compact) size when in use, roughly 32 by 65 inches. They are actually only small when folded. So this may not be the best option if you’re just looking for a small elliptical overall.
So those are 3 of the best elliptical trainers for small spaces, still giving you well-built machines with a feeling of stability. Each has its benefits. Take your time, do your research, and choose a trainer that fits your space and your fitness goals.