The 5 Best Ellipticals with Incline for 2024, According to Our Experts

Whether you’re dealing with joint issues, recovering from an injury, or just really like moving your arms, the best ellipticals offer a rigorous form of low-impact cardio exercise that, unlike treadmills and most exercise bikes, also engages your upper body. As Kate Bush can attest, huffing and puffing up an incline can get your heart pumping even harder. The best ellipticals with incline can help you ramp up typical elliptical training, reaping cardiovascular benefits like lower blood pressure and decreased risk of heart disease. (1)

If you’re thinking of bringing home one of these machines, you may already know you want the challenge that an incline range can add to your workouts. Raising the angle on your elliptical not only adds some variety, but it can also allow you engage muscle groups like the quadriceps even more. (2)(3) Our team of certified fitness pros worked up a sweat on over 20 ellipticals to find the most comfortable, affordable, and tech-laden options with incline. Check out how we tested them, how we picked them, and which ellipticals with incline made the cut in the below round-up. .

The 5 Best Ellipticals with Incline for 2024

• Best Elliptical with Incline Overall: NordicTrack AirGlide 14i
• Best Elliptical with Incline for Comfort: Sole E25
• Best Budget Elliptical With Incline: Schwinn 430 Elliptical
• Best Elliptical with Incline for Small Spaces: NordicTrack FS10i
• Best Elliptical with Incline for Streaming: Sole E35 Elliptical

How We Tested and Chose the Best Ellipticals with Incline

The BarBend team of certified personal trainers, CrossFit coaches, and gym owners has been around the block when it comes to the best cardio machines on the market. We’ve gotten in the weeds on 23 different ellipticals, scoring them on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) across 13 different categories. We scrutinized the durability, adjustability, and customizations available on each, along with other considerations. These are a few of the factors that helped us choose the best ellipticals with incline.

Incline Range

After years of purchasing, assembling, and using ellipticals, we’ve found that few actually feature an adjustable incline range. For our list, we only included options with at least a 10-percent incline, though can reach pitches up to 15- or 20-percent (and one even has decline capabilities). 

Ramping up the incline on your elliptical during a workout has been shown to increase strength in the quadriceps, as well as increase your VO₂ max — the amount of oxygen your body can absorb during exercise. (2)(3)(4) 

Stride Length

When we put together our list, we looked for ellipticals with stride lengths in the area of 20 inches. According to Sunny Health & Fitness, this is the ideal length for the majority of athletes. (5) Of course, every user and pair of legs are different, but a 20-inch stride length should be comfortable for anyone between 5 foot 3 inches and 6 feet. If you fall outside of that range, you may want to visit a gym or fitness equipment store to identify that measurement before you make your purchase.  

Programming

Many ellipticals feature preset workouts like HIIT or Fat Burn programs, but most of the options on our list offer integration with some of the best fitness apps out there, like Sole+ and iFIT. Whether you want to tap Start on a preloaded workout for a bit of guidance, or want to (virtually, of course) hike up Mount Fuji, there’s an elliptical on this list for you.

While some of the advanced programming options require monthly subscriptions — typically ranging from $20 to $44  — our expert reviewer Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC, thinks that they can be a good way to bring variety to your workouts. “iFIT is some of the best interactive programming out there and really helps prevent boredom.”

Best Elliptical with Incline Overall: NordicTrack AirGlide 14i

NordicTrack’s AirGlide 14i boasts the widest range we’ve seen on an elliptical with incline — -5-percent to 15-percent — but also enjoys the distinction of being the only elliptical we’ve tested with decline capabilities. Its 32-pound flywheel helps create a smooth and steady workout, while having iFIT baked in lets you access thousands of virtual workouts. Some of those workouts can even utilize iFIT’s SmartAdjust automatic resistance and incline control, leaving you to focus on your sweat.

When our tester —a certified personal trainer — used the 14i, their first note was how sturdy their workouts were, which earned it a 5 out of 5 for durability. “I felt zero shakiness and the entire time it felt super sturdy,” they pointed out. “The fact that it has a 300-pound weight capacity indicates that this thing is durable.” 

The technology onboard the AirGlide 14i also enhanced our workout experience when we compared it to other ellipticals with incline. Between the iFIT integration, 14-inch HD touchscreen, Automatic Trainer Control, and Bluetooth connectivity, its tech capabilities and dynamic programming both earned 5 out of 5. (Noticing a theme? We love this thing.)

[Related: iFit Review – Is Virtual Coaching The New Normal?]

As they adjusted -5 to 15-percent incline and 26 resistance levels, our tester did notice a few loud hums, so keep in mind that you may hear the motor from time to time. “It wasn’t too loud, but I did notice it as it worked through the levels,” they noted. 

With such wide incline and resistance ranges, the noise certainly wasn’t enough to stop them from scoring its adjustability, ergonomics, and customizations — including its adjustable stride length— all 5’s out of 5. “Oh, and I also loved that the pedals adjust to three different tilts — an underrated feature.”

As far as assembly goes, we decided that it’s best left to the pros. We opted for the white-glove assembly option, which took more than 2 hours. This prompted a 3 out of 5 for set up. With all its heavy-duty moving parts, we think it would be tough to take on by yourself.

Best Elliptical with Incline for Comfort: Sole E25

Ellipticals are low impact by design, but if you’re looking for an even more comfort-focused machine, the Sole E25 may be your best bet. Its unique inward sloping pedals and drive system were designed to provide a comfortable and smooth operation. This can not only help you work around knee discomfort, but more naturally accommodate the ankles and feet. 

In fact, when she took on one of the 10 preset workout programs, certified personal trainer and BarBend editorial member Kate Meier, NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, highlighted a few of these features when she rated both its adjustability and ergonomics a 4.5 out of 5. “It just seems like they set it up for comfort — angled and textured pedals, handlebar grips, even the fan. Some of these ‘little’ things made a huge difference,” she stated.

Meier also pointed out that the Whisper-Quiet Drive System made for very smooth adjustments through the 0- to 20-percent incline range and 20 resistance levels. “Overall, it was just a quiet machine,” she said, rating its customizations 4.5 out of 5. “It did move ever so slightly side to side, but not enough that I had to adjust my stride or intensity.”

The console’s pair of Bluetooth speakers let you connect your own device to pump out your favorite music, though you can also use your smartphone or tablet to stream a show or follow a virtual workout. The Sole+ companion app also allows you to take on guided elliptical workouts and it can sync your stats and history. 

To get the full experience start to finish, Meier even trudged through assembling the E25, which she ended up regretting. “The instructions were ludicrous. There was one picture that contained like 30 steps,” she said when rating its set up 3 out 5. “I definitely wish I had opted for the professional assembly so I could get those two hours of my life back.”

Read our full Sole E25 Elliptical Review.

Best Budget Elliptical With Incline: Schwinn 430 Elliptical

If you want an elliptical with incline, you’re probably going to end up paying well over $1,000 — unless you opt for the Schwinn IC4. Sure, the IC4’s six levels of incline need to be manually adjusted off the machine, but it’s still impressive to see for just $999. Also impressive? Its 26 levels of resistance and 22 preset workouts. 

In fact, its value and features, including its 300-pound user weight capacity and 20-inch stride length, earned scores of 4 out of 5 from certified personal trainer and BarBend editorial member Kate Meier NASM-CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1. “Those levels of resistance and incline, along with the stride length, are not usually found on ellipticals at this price,” she said.

[Related: The 7 Best Ellipticals Under $1000]

While the footprint (the amount of floor space it takes up) of most ellipticals we’ve used falls between 11 and 13 square feet, the 430 occupies a bit more — 13.73 square feet. A larger concern for Meier, however, was its height. “I’d tell people who are above-average height to measure, measure, measure — especially in rooms with lower ceilings,” she cautioned, rating its footprint and portability both 3 out of 5.

The 430 won’t win any awards for its tech capabilities — 3 out of 5 from Meier — but the heart rate monitor, USB charging port, water bottle holder, and speakers earned it a 3.5 for conveniences. “I like the speakers, but you have to use an AUX cord instead of connecting via Bluetooth.” Budget machines have to compromise somewhere. 

Best Elliptical with Incline for Small Spaces: NordicTrack FS10i

For all its impressive features, the three-in-one NordicTrack FS10i takes up remarkably little space. It’s our pick for small spaces because its overall footprint — 11.98 square feet — is on the lower end of the average for ellipticals — 11 to 13 square feet — and it measures 10 inches shorter than many of the models we’ve tested. 

What makes the FS10i unique is that its pedals are incredibly responsive to your stride. As BarBend’s lead video reviewer, Jake Herod, NASM-CNC, demonstrates in his video review, the “FreeStride” moniker is an apt description. 

“It operates as a stair master, elliptical, and even a treadmill — all based on your specific stride,” Herod explains. “It’s going to change in a matter of seconds…and it’s a pretty smooth process.”

[Related: Elliptical vs. Treadmill]

Curious how that works? See it in action in the below video. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjAk_-tqnw0

Given its footprint, our tester, a CrossFit Level 1 trainer, immediately highlighted the FS10i’s weight capacity and durability. “There was absolutely no shaking or rocking while I used it,” they pointed out. “It felt like a machine you’d find in a commercial gym.” 

Its 375-pound weight capacity is 75 pounds more than average for ellipticals, which also helped it earn a 5 out of 5 for durability.

Since it’s a three-in-one machine, it shouldn’t be surprising that its customizations also earned a 5 out of 5. “Between the 24 resistance levels and 10-percent incline range, I could do just about any workout I wanted,” they said. 

With iFIT onboard, you certainly won’t be lacking for workout options. Herod also emphasized the variety of training the FS10i can support. “You’re never going to get bored or run out of possibilities when it comes to workouts,” he said. 

[Related: The 7 Best Compact Ellipticals of 2024]

Herod also noted the machine’s hefty price tag and 284-pound weight — roughly 50 to 100 pounds heavier than the average elliptical — and suggested leaving it in place, as transport can be a bear. That earned it a 3.75 out of 5 for portability. 

“It’s definitely not easy to move around,” he said. “The legs can’t lock into place, so sometimes when I’m moving it, they kind of bump into me, which is annoying.”

Best Elliptical with Incline for Streaming: Sole E35 Elliptical

While the Sole E35’s previous model had an LCD screen for metrics and a tablet holder, the newest iteration features a tilting 10.1-inch HD touchscreen with Bluetooth compatibility. On top of that, you can mirror your own iOS device to the display or access its 12 preloaded streaming apps, including Netflix and Amazon Prime (subscriptions required). You will never be bored on this elliptical. 

While the free Sole+ app offers virtual workouts, the mirroring capability means you can access any of the best online workout programs on the display. Even if following workouts from iFIT or Peloton isn’t your jam, the E35 comes loaded with 12 preset workouts — Fat Burn, Cardio, and HIIT, among others — and the option to build your own custom programs. No matter how you use it, its 20 levels of magnetic resistance and 20-percent incline range should provide plenty of versatility as you train. 

We were also impressed by the 350-pound weight capacity, which is 50 pounds higher than the average we’ve seen among ellipticals. It also comes with a lifetime frame warranty, which should provide plenty of assurance about this machine’s durability.

As you might imagine, durable machines tend to be heavy machines. The E35’s 211-pound overall weight can make it difficult to move around for one person, despite its two transport wheels. It also exceeds the typical footprint range for ellipticals by around 2 square feet, gobbling up 15.07 total square feet.

How Much Do the Best Ellipticals with Incline Cost?

Like other cardio machines, ellipticals can be a big investment, especially models that feature incline. Many standard ellipticals are available for under $1,000, but the inclusion of incline (and sometimes decline) capabilities can bump up the price point. Check out the chart below to get an idea of what you can expect to spend on an elliptical with incline.

Our picks orbiting $2,000 offer wider incline ranges up to 20 percent, smart HD touchscreens, app integration, and increased stability. The ones closer to $1,000, meanwhile, cut down costs by eschewing fancy displays or opting for manual incline options that need to be adjusted off the machine. 

What to Consider When Buying an Elliptical with Incline

Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned elliptical pro, if you’re thinking about bringing home an elliptical with incline, there are a few key factors you should consider. 

[Related: What to Consider Before Buying an Elliptical Machine]

After you establish your budget, look for a machine in your price range that is comfortable and has a wide enough incline range to suit the type of training you prefer. Here are a few important considerations as you look for your best match.  

Stride Length

When determining the proper stride length to match your legs, consider your height. According to Sunny Health & Fitness, athletes between roughly 5 feet 3 inches and 6 feet should feel comfortable with the standard 20-inch stride length. (5) 

While we listed the stride lengths on each of our top picks, not every product page makes their specs so readily available. Athletes outside of that height range may still be comfortable with a 20-inch length, but during your search, you may want to test out a few models at a gym or fitness store. Just make sure to identify that measurement before clicking add to cart. 

Price

Before writing that big check — OK, typing in your credit card number — for your new elliptical, consider how big of a bite out of your bank account it will take. Just like the best treadmills or rowing machines, ellipticals can vary widely in price based on their features and programming options. 

Incline, for example, is a premium feature that can significantly bump up the cost to well over $1,000. If you don’t think you’ll use it often or incline isn’t part of your training plan, you can find a high-quality elliptical that suits your needs for under $1,000. The same goes for touchscreen displays and app integration — they can be great tools for motivation and immersion, but they may push at the confines at your budget. 

Incline Range

If you’re interested in using an elliptical with incline to train for a hike or beef up your legs, use our list to do a bit of research on the available ranges out there. The highest range we’ve seen on an elliptical with incline is 20-percent, which is a pretty steep pitch on par with what you’ll find on many treadmills. If you don’t see yourself shooting for that 20-percent maximum, you can find less expensive options that top out at 6 or 10 percent. 

[Related: What Muscles Does An Elliptical Work?]

To help decide how much of an incline you need to get your heart rate up, consider your fitness goals. At least one study has shown that increasing the incline during elliptical workouts can increase knee and quadricep strength, while others suggest that adding incline to any cardio exercise can boost your VO₂ max — the amount of oxygen your body can absorb during exercise. (2)(3)(4)

Benefits of Best Ellipticals with Incline

Beyond the convenience of having an exercise machine in your own home, ramping up the incline on an elliptical has been shown to increase knee and quadriceps strength over time. (2)(6) You’ll also reap the benefits of cardio exercise, like lower blood pressure and reduced risk of heart disease. (7)

As our expert reviewer, Amanda Capritto, CPT, CES, CNC, CF-L1, CSNC, puts it: “For those who need low-impact exercise options, ellipticals sit near the top of the list. These cardio machines provide a full-body workout without putting undue stress on the joints.” 

Less Impact on Joints

Elliptical training can unlock the benefits of cardiovascular exercise while saving your knees, ankles, and back from taking on the force of each step. At least one study has shown that the elliptical stepping motion can increase knee strength over time. (6) 

Beyond allowing the user to avoid absorbing the impact of each stride, Capritto says that these machines are uniquely designed to support athletes with back issues. “Compared to other forms of low-impact cardio, like cycling and rowing, ellipticals keep the user in the upright position, making them ideal for individuals who struggle with back pain, too.”

Small Footprint

Adding exercise equipment to your home requires a financial commitment, but also a space commitment. Most ellipticals will occupy around 11 to 13 square feet of floor space. That’s up to 12 square feet less than the average treadmill, allowing you to reap the benefits of cardio workouts while saving a bit of room. (7) Ellipticals also tend to be roughly 8 to 10 inches narrower than treadmills, which can open up more floor space in your gym. 

Improved Health and Higher Caloric Burn

Whether they’re in a home gym or commercial gym, ellipticals can improve your cardiovascular health by lowering your blood pressure, reducing your risk of heart disease, and more. (1) In fact, ramping up the incline on your elliptical has also been shown to improve your VO₂ max. (4)

[Related: Elliptical Workouts for Weight Loss]

If you’re looking for efficient calorie burn, research suggests that a 30-minute elliptical workout can burn more calories than running at a 12-minute-mile pace, and roughly the same number of calories as a 30-minute boxing session. (8) 

Final Word

For athletes on the hunt for low-impact cardio exercise, ellipticals have been shown to be effective calorie burners while saving your joints from taking on the impact of running or walking. (7)(8)(9) Ellipticals with incline can help you to boost that training by targeting muscle groups like the quadriceps and increase its variety by pitting you against a classic nemesis: gravity. (2)

Whether you prefer a solo sweat session or a (virtual) climb up Mount Fuji with a (virtual) personal trainer, make sure to consider your stride length and how much of a hit your bank account can take. Use our curated list of ellipticals with incline as a guide to remove some of the stress from your search (as well as your joints). 

FAQs

References

1. Nystoriak, M. A., & Bhatnagar, A. (2018). Cardiovascular Effects and Benefits of Exercise. Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine, 5, 135.
2. Hummer, E. T., Murphy, E. N., Suprak, D. N., Brilla, L. R., & San Juan, J. G. (2021). Movement direction impacts knee joint kinematics during elliptical exercise at varying incline angles. The Knee, 29, 201–207.
3. Ferley, D. D., Osborn, R. W., & Vukovich, M. D. (2014). The effects of incline and level-grade high-intensity interval treadmill training on running economy and muscle power in well-trained distance runners. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 28(5), 1298–1309.
4. Jewell, T. (2023, August 15). Everything to know about vo₂ max. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/vo2-max 
5. Bueckert, S. (2021, May 19). What is the ideal elliptical stride length to best fit you?. Sunny Health and Fitness. https://sunnyhealthfitness.com/blogs/products/best-elliptical-stride-length
6. Choi, M., Yoo, J., Shin, S., & Lee, W. (2015). The effects of Stepper exercise with visual feedback on strength, walking, and stair climbing in individuals following stroke. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(6), 1861–1864. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4499999/
7. Long, C. (2023, November 8). Elliptical benefits: Advice from an exercise physiologist. Hospital for Special Surgery. https://www.hss.edu/article_elliptical-benefits.asp
8. Calories burned in 30 minutes of leisure and routine activities. Harvard Health. (2021, March 8). https://www.health.harvard.edu/diet-and-weight-loss/calories-burned-in-30-minutes-for-people-of-three-different-weights
9. Egaña, M., & Donne, B. (2004, June). Physiological changes following a 12 week gym based stair-climbing, elliptical trainer and treadmill running program in females. The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15470311/

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