If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best elliptical for a basement gym is, then I’d recommend the Teeter Power10 Elliptical Rower as the best one.
If you’re looking for a way to crush calories quickly, an elliptical is the perfect machine for that.
It’s also a great exercise machine for a basement gym, depending on which one you choose.
There are a lot of great ellipticals out there, so I did some research to find the best elliptical for a basement gym.
This article has our top five pics, plus everything you need to know about them.
Keep reading to find out more.
Here are the top ellipticals we’ll be reviewing:
- ProForm Cardio HIIT Trainer
- Schwinn 470 Elliptical
- SOLE E95 Elliptical
- Nautilus E618 Elliptical
- Teeter Power10 Elliptical Rower
Everything You Need to Know About Ellipticals
Choosing the Best Elliptical for a Basement Gym
Having a gym in a basement completely changes the environment of the gym.
There are differences, even if they’re subtle, that will impact the brand and model of the machine you buy.
That’s why you need to look for certain qualities in an elliptical if you’re going to set it up in your basement.
High-Quality Materials
You should not get a cheap elliptical for your gym.
Cheap ellipticals are made with cheap material and the air quality in your basement could break down some of these materials.
For example, aluminum might rust faster in your basement than it would in your living room.
Some people have a great air quality in their basement.
Perhaps you have a great ventilation system down there or a high-quality air filter.
This will make a big difference, but to be on the safe side, you should still try to stay away from ellipticals made with cheap materials.
High Contrast, Back Lit LCD Display
Most basements tend to be dimmer than the rest of the house.
You may not have any windows in your basement, or you may have small windows that don’t stream in too much light.
Having an LCD display that lights up well is essential in such a dim environment.
Shopping for an Elliptical: Must-Have Features
Stability
You’re going to be working hard on this machine.
You don’t want to break your confidence and motivation because you fear that you’re going to tilt over.
Make sure you get an elliptical with wide, sturdy legs. It helps if it has a middle set of legs also to aid in supporting you while you work out.
Being able to adjust the footplates is helpful.
We’re not all the same height and we don’t have the same size legs.
This is especially important if more than one person is going to be using the elliptical. Having multiple sets of handlebars goes along with this concept.
Some people may be more comfortable holding one set of handlebars over the other. At the very least, the elliptical should have adjustable handlebars.
Drive of the Elliptical
This doesn’t mean you’re taking the elliptical out for a spin.
The drive of an elliptical refers to the placement of the flywheel. The placement of the flywheel can affect the center of gravity, which may affect your stability.
A front drive places the flywheel in the front of the elliptical while the foot plates are connected to roller tracks behind the flywheel.
This is a quite common configuration these days. This type of elliptical gives you a workout that is like a stair stepper. It’s also easier to get on this type of elliptical.
A rear drive is the exact opposite.
These ellipticals feel more like you’re walking instead of climbing stairs. They’re the oldest type of ellipticals and they will give you a great workout just like a front drive.
A center drive elliptical is the newest type.
It places the foot plates in the center of two flywheels – one on each side. These ellipticals are great for people who need a compact machine.
It’s also great if you want less strain on your knees and legs. Keep in mind that these models may cost more than the others.
I would recommend a front drive or a center drive elliptical.
These are the newer types of ellipticals and would have the best features and extras.
They’re easier to get on, require a lower level of maintenance, and they’re more common so they’re easier to find.
Programs and Incline Levels
Ellipticals without programs and incline levels is a machine that is essentially meant to maintain your fitness level.
An elliptical with plenty of programs and incline levels can keep your workout interesting while you continuously challenge yourself.
If you want to improve your fitness, you need a challenge.
Some ellipticals may have a few programs and incline levels while others have tons of them.
It doesn’t matter whether it has a little or a lot, as long as the elliptical has what you need for your specific goals.
Five Picks for the Best Elliptical for a Basement Gym
ProForm Cardio HIIT Trainer
If you want a treadmill with top-quality construction, look no further than the ProForm Cardio HIIT Trainer.
This elliptical is built like a tank.
It has a solid steel construction with three sets of welded handlebars and welded support legs.
It can handle anything you throw at it.
The LCD screen is a great size and has a high contrast which is perfect for the basement.
Saying that it’s bright would be an understatement!
If you have dim lighting in your basement, it won’t matter because the information on this screen is going to jump right out at you.
The ProForm is a front drive elliptical, so it’s compact and gives you an almost completely vertical stride.
This is what makes it a hybrid trainer – it’s like being on a stair stepper and an elliptical all at once.
Pair that with 24 levels of digital resistance, four programs, and Bluetooth capability so it can connect with the iFit app and you have a powerhouse elliptical that will challenge you more than you can imagine.
The ProForm Cardio HIIT Trainer weighs 212 pounds and measures 29.25″ W x 66.7″ D x 52″ H.
It can support up to 325 pounds. It has a vertical stride of ten inches and horizontal stride of five inches.
Pros
- Resistance levels can be trainer-controlled through the iFit app.
- Magnetic resistance means a quiet operation.
- Large, 7″ display that’s easy to read.
- Frame has a lifetime warranty.
Cons
- It’s very heavy.
- Doesn’t have the ability to create custom user settings.
- Very few preset programs.
Schwinn 470 Elliptical
The Schwinn 470 Elliptical has a strong and sturdy steel frame.
While it does have a few plastic parts to it, it’s steel in all the right places and still comes with a solid frame warranty.
It has two highly contrasted LCD screens.
The larger one shows your program information while the smaller one shows your numbers (distance, speed, etc.).
This makes it a solid choice for a basement.
It’s a front drive elliptical with the roller path under the foot plates. It has incredible stability and balance – the middle support legs help tremendously with this.
It has 25 programs, 25 levels of resistance, and can store custom settings for up to four users. It even has five incline levels.
The elliptical is Bluetooth capable and can transfer metrics to many different fitness apps like Explore the World, GoogleFit, Apple Health, and more.
The best part is that it can work with these apps without a subscription.
The Schwinn 470 Elliptical weighs 162 pounds and measures 70.1″ L x 28.2″ W x 63.2″ H. It can support users up to 300 pounds and it has a 20-inch stride.
Pros
- Frame has a ten-year warranty.
- Wide stride is great for people with long legs.
- Can work with many different fitness apps for free (apps may or may not charge).
- Plenty of programs and resistance levels.
- Has a three-speed fan.
Cons
- Wheels on the roller path are plastic.
- Console is a bit busy with a plethora of buttons and small writing.
SOLE E95 Elliptical
The SOLE E95 Elliptical is another machine that is built to last a lifetime. It’s made with a high-grade of steel and is constructed with precision.
The LCD screen doesn’t have as much contrast as some of the others, but it’s bright and has large, easy to read numbers.
This is a perfect choice for a basement gym due to sheer quality. Once you get it down there, you can leave it knowing you won’t have to bring it up for repairs any time soon.
The SOLE E95 is a front drive elliptical. Instead of regular wheels that can wear out eventually, the welded bar has “built-in” wheels that glide along the roller path.
This is much more durable as well as stable.
It provides a smoother experience. Something that sets the SOLE E95 apart from the other ellipticals is that it’s highly adjustable.
The foot plates as well as the console both have ten different adjustment settings.
The elliptical comes with eight different preset programs and lets you customize settings for two users.
While it may not have a ton of programs, you will be able to challenge yourself immensely because it has 20 incline levels and 20 resistance levels.
It’s Bluetooth capable so you can play music through the speakers or connect to the SOLE app. You can also connect to many other fitness apps as well.
The SOLE E95 Elliptical weighs 236 pounds and measures 82″L x 31″W x 77″H. It has an amazing weight capacity of up to 400 pounds due to the incredibly strong frame.
The stride width is 20 inches.
Pros
- Lifetime warranty on the frame.
- Foot plates developed in conjunction with a physical therapist.
- Wide stride is great for people with long legs.
- Has a USB charging port near the media holder.
Cons
- Expensive.
- Very heavy.
- LCD display doesn’t have much contrast.
Nautilus E618 Elliptical
Nautilus and Schwinn are manufactured by the same company so it’s no surprise that you’ll see quite a few similarities between the Nautilus E618 elliptical and the Schwinn 470 from earlier in the list.
Their frames are almost identical except for a curve here or a curve there. So are the consoles.
The main difference in the consoles is that the Nautilus has actual buttons while the Schwinn has touch buttons.
The Nautilus E618 can be thought of as an upgraded version of the Schwinn because of a few “extras” that it has.
One of those is an adjustable console. Another is being able to support 50 pounds more weight than the Schwinn.
It has an extra set of incline and resistance buttons on the large handlebars and five extra years on the frame warranty.
Keep in mind that all these extras make the price of the Nautilus E618 higher than the Schwinn.
The Nautilus E618 Elliptical weighs 210 pounds and measures 73″L x 27″W x 67″H. It can support up to 350 pounds and has a 20-inch stride.
Pros
- Supports a high amount of user weight.
- Has a 15-year warranty on the frame.
- Wide stride is great for people with long legs.
- Adjustable console and foot plates.
Cons
- It’s very heavy.
- The console is busy and has a lot of small writing.
Teeter Power10 Elliptical Rower
Teeter is a company that is known for offering innovative products and the Teeter Power10 Elliptical Rower is a perfect example of that.
It’s an elliptical and a rower all wrapped up into one big steel machine.
For a hybrid of this caliber to work well, the machine must be built well, and Teeter manufactures exercise machines with incredible precision.
While it doesn’t have any preset programs or inclines (which is understandable because of the type of machine it is), it does have seven levels of magnetic resistance.
What sets the resistance levels apart from other machines is that you can change it mid-rowing without skipping a beat.
This allows you to easily do a HIIT program without having to stop.
The purchase of the Power 10 comes with access to the Teeter app where you can access trainer-led workouts with no subscription needed.
The Power 10 is a great exercise machine for a basement gym because it’s two machines in one.
That means you’ll take up less space than you would with two machines. Another great point is that it can be stored in a compact, upright position so it’s perfect for smaller basements.
Just take down when you want to use it and put it back up so it’s not in the way. The Power 10 weighs 180 pounds and measures 62.8″L x 37.5″W x 43.3″H.
The Teeter Power10 Elliptical Rower can support up to 300 pounds of user weight and can accommodate people up to seven feet tall.
Pros
- Targets all muscle groups at once.
- Can be stored upright.
- Runs smoothly and quietly.
Cons
- LCD display is small and doesn’t light up well.
- Only has a one-year warranty.
Final Thoughts on the Best Elliptical for a Basement Gym
There are a lot of great ellipticals on the market, but the five in the list above stood out like diamonds among the rest.
These machines are from the top manufacturers in the industry. They make great investments because you’ll get a lifetime of use from them.
If I had to choose one to get the title of Overall Best Elliptical for a Basement Gym, I would choose the Teeter Power10 Elliptical Rower.
For one, having a lifetime warranty is comforting when you’re spending this much money on something.
Plus, the quality of this machine is unmatched. It has everything you need for a great workout.
No matter which one you choose, or even if you choose something other than what I’ve reviewed here, make sure you check for the important features.
With some patience and the newfound knowledge you have about ellipticals, you’ll make a great choice.
