Top 15 Best Heavy-Duty Elliptical Machines for Heavy Persons

If you are planning to lose more weight, you may not want to skip the elliptical machine. Compared to the treadmill, the elliptical machines are far more effective in burning calories.

An elliptical is a cardio machine that can be used to perform exercises in the comfort of the home. It can effectively mimic stair climbing, walking, jogging, and striding-like movements.

While finding a heavy-duty elliptical machine that suits your weight is not an easy job, especially if you are a heavy person. You need a durable elliptical with a high weight capacity that can bear your weight.

This article provides the details on the 15 best durable ellipticals for heavy and big people. Next, there is a FAQ section that discusses more details on the ellipticals, such as the merits offered, their effectiveness in achieving weight loss, methods to reap maximum benefits from them, and so on.

• Exerpeutic Heavy-duty Magnetic elliptical
• Teeter Free Step Recumbent Cross Trainer and Elliptical
• NordicTrack NTEL71218
• Sole Fitness E35
• Schwinn 470
• ProForm Hybrid Trainer
• ProForm PFEL55916 Endurance 520 E Elliptical

Why Should You Choose a Durable Elliptical Machine If You Are Overweight?

The elliptical machine is considered one of the best exercise equipment for heavy people. This equipment mainly targets a large portion of your lower body.

Since your feet never take off from the pedals, the joints get less beating. Calves, hamstrings, add knees are its focal points.

So, if you are a sufferer of joint pain, the elliptical machine becomes more important for you.

Will Elliptical Bad for Your Knees?

It won’t if done properly. On the contrary, it will strengthen your ligaments by encouraging better blood circulation. Even without proper cushioning, the elliptical won’t allow you to complain about comfort. 

The elliptical machine focuses mainly on the muscle of your lower body. Working on it is intense yet comforting.

But the movement and effort are not just limited to knees. With the help of grab handles, the upper body can too participate in the workout.

This allows the efforts to distribute among the upper and lower sects of the body evenly.

What to Look for If You Want to Buy a Heavy-Duty Home Elliptical Machine?

Besides strengthening joints, many purchase them to lose weight. Therefore, it is very important to have the proper selection.

An unreliable machine can lead to wear and tear and make you face reliability issues. Judging equipment is an art. To master this art, you’ll have to take certain aspects into account.

• When it comes to an elliptical for heavy people, weight-bearing capacity must be your priority. As the machine has more dynamic movement towards the lower end, weight mustn’t be compromised. So, check the weight capacity to get yourself a reliable product.
• Another important aspect is stability. A stable elliptical helps your workout to be hassle-free. Without better stability, your elliptical might invite injuries. Besides, no trainer wants to have an unstable elliptical for their gym.
• Your elliptical must be easy to assemble. Elliptical with transportation wheels reduce the effort in assembling it. It will be easier to relocate and transport even it is heavier than your expectations.
• Elliptical stride length is one of the most important things when deciding on a high weight capacity elliptical, which ensures comfortable and effective workout sessions.

Top 15 Best Heavy-Duty Elliptical Machines for Heavy and Big Persons

Judging any product is more simple by contemplating some of the best-sellers. But when it comes to heavy-duty elliptical, I made some strict standards.

Mentioned below are the top 15 best heavy-duty ellipticals for people over 300 lbs, 350 lbs, or even 400 lbs.

Exerpeutic Heavy-duty Magnetic elliptical

Reigning on top is an Exerpeutic Heavy-duty Magnetic elliptical. The Exerpeutic franchise has a good reputation in the market.

The packaging quality was perfect without much sealing. Then, I unboxed the product and measured its dimensions. It stands 63” tall with a base area of 23”×54”.

Moreover, it weighs 74.5 lbs and can accommodate up to 300 lbs. So, these figures are quite acceptable for a heavy-duty elliptical.

Its eight levels of magnetic resistance ensure a quiet workout for apartments and will make your workout more challenging. Now, it’s all up to you to choose your level of exercise. The pedals are designed by assuming the size-to-weight ratio of heavy individuals.

As a high weight capacity elliptical, it will suit you even if you are a 300 pounder. LCD console is 3.5’’ which is quite easy to read even at a single glance.

It reveals valuable information like time, speed, pulse, and scan. For heavy seniors, the pulse meter is a boon that helps them to adjust their workout intensity.

This quiet and foldable elliptical is also embedded with a Bluetooth connectivity feature. This helps you to connect your Android or iOS device to the elliptical to operate the “MyCloudFitness” app.

Teeter FreeStep Recumbent Cross Trainer and Elliptical

This Teeter Freestep cross trainer is an ideal elliptical for heavyweight people and has a weight capacity of 300 lbs. This black elliptical looks fabulous and futuristic.

The company exaggerates a bit in terms of packaging and logistics. After unboxing, it measured the product dimensions to be 54”×38”×52”. So, this is a better option for people obsessed with technology and performance.

This cross trainer provides a zero-impact exercise and with a rectilinear seated position that doesn’t make any noise, it burns 17.4% more calories than a regular elliptical.

There is an informative battery-powered digital console embedded in the system. It’s easy to read and discloses information like speed, time, and pulse rate. Resistance is offered by a dial input system that is quite easy to use.

NordicTrack NTEL71218

If you want a more feature-loaded option, the NTEL71218 will serve you right. The packaging quality was decent without any complexities.

This grey-colored elliptical has a dimension of 63.3”×28.8”×68.5” with a pair of oversized foot pedals. Pedals are cushioned where you can work barefoot.

As a 350 lb capacity elliptical machine, Nordic Track NTEL71218 has a rigid and stable construction. For middleweight people, it’s the most stable product.

This NordicTrack elliptical machine is also a feature-loaded elliptical. It has a 7” HD touchscreen that enables you to adjust 24 resistance levels. So, you don’t have to tighten or lose the screws again. Moreover, it has a water bottle holder, which is quite easy to access.

The silent magnetic resistance offers a more refined and noiseless workout. Upper grips are comfortable that have pulse detecting sensors.

For individual searching assistance, the Nordic Track NTEL71218 outstands their expectations. Users will be benefited from a free iFit membership and lifetime frame warranty.

Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Elliptical for Overweight Persons

Sunny Health & Fitness is a magnetic elliptical for overweight people. Characterized by a 20-inch stride, the machine offers full-range motion in both forward as well as backward directions. This will stimulate greater muscle action and yields a better overall workout.

It is loaded with 12 exercise programs and offers an option to choose from 7 different types of workout modes. This helps set a definite target for the fitness sessions of persons weighing up to a maximum of 265 pounds, either in heart rate, watt output, or heart rate control.

The most interesting feature of this machine is its ability to adjust the resistance level to the required level, accomplished through a smart computer. For instance, resistance will automatically lower when the pulse rate increases beyond an optimal level and vice versa.

The 265 lbs capacity elliptical machine is fitted with a tablet holder and a water bottle holder to increase the level of comfort, particularly during long exercise sessions. There is a manual mode that helps in the easy controlling of various variables. Its heavy-duty frame is also fitted with wheels to aid in easy transportation.

Further, there are floor stabilizers that assure stability, a lever that can be used to adjust the foot height to create necessary balance, slip-resistant pedals that assure optimal grip, and a performance monitor that displays time, rpm, watt value, calories burnt, and the distance covered.

Schwinn 430 Quiet Elliptical for Overweight Beginners

Schwinn 430, characterized by 20 inches stride length, is an ideal elliptical for 300 lbs person. It is driven by a high-speed, high inertial system that ensures easy and quick start-up that continues as smooth, noiseless working.

It works on precision path foot motion technology and stimulates a natural running motion that effectively strengthens the muscles and cardio system. There are 20 different computer-controlled resistance levels to choose from depending on the desired rigorousness and versatility.

It comes with 22 preset exercise programs, among which 9 deal with profile building, 8 with heart rate control, 2 with fitness testing, and 1 with the quick start. Its Goal Track feature offers an option to choose individual workout goals in terms of time, calories, and distance.

Schwinn 430 is fitted with 2 easy-to-read dual-track displays that help to monitor the workout parameters while tracking the set goal. Further, the customizations can be set for 2 different user profiles, facilitating the use of the machine by more than one person.

Besides, there are ergonomically placed stationary and movable handles, large cushioned footplates, heart rate contact grips, USB charging port, MP3 input for entertainment, media rack to place an electronic device, adjustable three-speed fan, water bottle holder, and speakers.

Nordic Track NTEL71218 Elliptical for Heavy People Over 350 lbs

Nordic Track NTEL71218 is a compact elliptical that is good for people weighing up to a maximum of 350 pounds. It operates smoothly owing to its 10 kg flywheel fitted with enough ball bearings found at the front part of the machine.

It is characterized by a 19-inch adjustable stride and is fitted with soft-touch upper body grips. The incline can be set up to 20 degrees with a push of a button. There are also 24 different levels of resistance that can be smoothly chosen based on the Silent Magnetic Resistance (SMR) system.

With Nordic Track NTEL71218 comes the complimentary offer: 1-year membership of iFit, an interactive personal training program. This provides access to numerous on-demand workout programs that can be streamed directly to high-density, 7-inch, interactive, touch-sensitive LCD.

This helps in converting low-impact cardio workouts into full-body exercise sessions, including the back, arms, shoulders, and chest. Further, iFit can be made to adjust both incline positions and resistances automatically, depending on the data obtained from these pre-set programs.

Adding to these, there are many other attractive features like auto breeze workout fan, water bottle holder, large-sized levelers, oversized cushioned pedals, inertia-enhanced flywheel, 10 years warranty on frame, 2 years warranty on parts, and 1-year labor warranty.

Nautilus E616 Elliptical with 300 lb Weight Capacity for Obese

Nautilus E616 is an elliptical that can effectively burn fat, strengthen the muscles, and help you recover from restricted motion. It supports a weight of 300 pounds in maximum and comes with a 20-inch long stride.

Its lowest step is 6 inches off the ground, and the incline can be set to up to 6%. To enjoy the complete range of motion, it is required to install the equipment in a spacious area whose ceiling is at least 21 inches above the highest possible user.

The machine is featured with 25 different levels of resistance and Goal Track capability. This helps in setting the resistance to the desired level. The result will be quick and great improvement towards the goal set, leveraging maximum benefits even from low-impact workouts.

All data about the exercise sessions, like time, calories, and distance, can be readily viewed on the visually appealing dual-track LCD console. Further, there are add-ons like an MP3 input port, adjustable cooling fan, media shelf, USB port, and in-built speakers.

Horizon 7.0 AE Elliptical for Heavy and Big People

Horizon 7.0 AE is a mid-range elliptical that supports the user weight of 325 pounds at max. It is characterized by a 20-inch long stride and thus can be used by a person measuring up to 6 inches 5 feet without any setbacks.

It has a 23 lb flywheel that makes for a sturdy, smooth, quiet workout. It offers 20 different levels of resistances and 20 incline positions to opt from. This makes the machine ideal for both beginners as well as advanced users aiming for more intense workouts.

The machine is sturdy-built and is storage-friendly and compact, owing to its front-wheel-drive mechanism. Its frame and motor are warrantied for the lifetime, its parts hold a warranty of 3 years, and there is a 1-year warranty for labor.

There is a 7-inch LCD panel that displays various workout statistics, including speed, heart rate, calories burnt, distance covered, % of incline, time spent, and heart rate. The model is compatible with various fitness apps like MyFitnessPal, AFG, and Record by Under Armour.

It offers Bluetooth connectivity to connect devices wirelessly, onboard speakers to listen to music, a USB port to transfer the data, an in-built device holder to hold the electronic gadgets in place, a fan to drive off the heat, and a water bottle holder to ensure workouts without breaks!

Bowflex M7 Max Trainer for Heavy and Tall People

Bowflex M7 is an elliptical that offers zero-impact workouts. It has advanced stainless steel pedals that impart the necessary comfort to the foot. The machine offers high-standard grips that assure necessary safety eliminating the fear of slipping.

The exercise sessions on Bowflex M7 are claimed to be more effective in comparison to those performed on other machine types. The arm movements yield two-fold benefits to the upper body while the lower body enjoys minimal stress as it moves in sync with the pedals.

It offers 20 different levels of resistance that can be controlled either through handlebars or through the console. A maximum of 4 user profiles can be set and saved on the trainer and can be customized to meet the individual goals.

The model comes with 11 in-built workout programs that can be set to either target or performance mode. Besides, the machine can work in close conjunction with many third-party fitness apps like My Trainer, Daily Burn, and Motion Traxx Fitness App.

Other features that make the product attractive include the water bottle holder, the presence of the media shelf, compatibility with the Max Trainer App installed on Android or Apple, wireless heart rate monitor, a chest strap, and the pulse readers that are integrated into handlebars.

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-905

Sunny Health & Fitness SF-905 is an elliptical that supports the use of persons weighing up to a maximum of 280 pounds. It is compact in size and quite economical and offers a decent number of features.

The machine is ideal for performing low-impact cardio workouts that benefit both the upper and lower body. The machine is fitted with large pedals that are resistant to slipping. Its hand pulse monitoring sensors, imbibed into stationary bars, help in tracking the heart rate of the user.

It works based on the magnetic resonance technique and comes with 8 different levels of resistance. These can be controlled at ease, resorting to a micro-tension controlling system, thus setting the difficulty to the required level.

It comes with a computer system that keeps track of workout statistics like the time spent, speed setting, calories burned and distance covered. Besides, a heart rate monitor and scan mode are also available that add to the benefits offered.

However, the model lacks built-in exercise programs, which might pose a difficulty for newbies while disappointing the fitness freaks! Moreover, it is characterized by a 13-inch stride length which can pose a difficulty for longer persons.

Sole Fitness E35

The Sole Fitness E35 is a piece of versatile equipment full of variations in accommodation. The packaging quality was decent, but I expected more from the company. On unboxing the product, I found the dimensions to be 27”×58”×83”, and weight to be 230 pounds.

Unlike many of its rivals, it is bulkier due to its variations. In terms of accommodation, the E35 is meant for heavy-duty that can bear up to 350lbs. However, I found a stiffness issue for people weighing more than 250 pounds.

Coming to its looks, the E35 has a more futuristic design. Its blue and backlit LCD is easy to read and gives it a more appealing look.

The most amazing feature that attracted me is the built-in cooling fan. This makes you work for extended periods without overheating issues.

With pulse sensors embedded in the handlebars, it also comes with a chest strap. You can tie it around your chest to monitor your heart readings.

This function is rare and can be seen only in some counted equipment. With music, the engagement gets doubled. The Sole Fitness has an in-built MP3 speaker that adds energetic vibes to your workout.

Schwinn 470

If you want to feel lighter, you can’t ignore this machine. The Schwinn 470 is an affordable yet effective elliptical.

I enjoyed the unboxing carefully without being in a hurry. Schwinn 470 is an elliptical machine with 300 lb weight capacity and the dimensions are 52 x 22 x 34.5 inches.

The handrails are wide, thick, and easy to grasp. So, you won’t face any discomfort, as the product is highly spacious.

Just like its rivals, it has an LCD console with an advanced monitoring system. The package includes 29 unique programs that consist of 12 profiles, nine heart rate controls, four customs, two fitness tests, and a quick start.

With such versatility, there is no room for complaint. Users can also adjust the resistance levels as per their convenience.

Also, you can sync your device to your phone by Bluetooth connecting. Download the Run Through App, and join fitness enthusiasts from all around the world. With the Schwinn 470, reducing weight is never so complex.

ProForm Hybrid Trainer

ProForm Hybrid Trainer is a piece of simple yet effective training equipment. The product is a combination of an elliptical and an exercise bike.

So, you are benefited by both with the price of an elliptical. However, I was disappointed with the packaging, as it wasn’t up to the mark.

ProForm focuses more on performance, but it should improve the packaging. It is an elliptical that can hold up to 350 pounds of user weight and has an elliptical that has a dimension of 70.5” L x 24.5” W x 60.5” H.

The LCD is large and easy to read, even with a glance. It reveals valuable information like speed, time, and pulse rate. With SMR technology, the elliptical produces less noise.

So, you can choose over 16 digital resistance levels in your workout. Other features like a 15-inch elliptical stride, a target pacer, two oversized adjustable pedals, an inertia enhanced flywheel, and a water bottle holder make it more appealing to the customers.

ProForm PFEL55916 Endurance 520 E Elliptical

This product is better known for its front to follow the design. ProForm PFEL55916 elliptical is one of the best ellipticals for obese and has a dimension of 67 x 31 x 18 inches that is quite acceptable for an elliptical.

It is rigidly built and can accommodate up to 300 pounds. The display console is quite vast and easy to read. It has over 18 unique workout apps and 18 different resistance levels.

With so much to offer, you’ll be able to reduce mass for sure. Moreover, it can be inclined from 0°-20°, which stretches on your hamstrings.

Pedals are oversized and adjustable and feel ergonomic even to the heaviest users. When it comes to durability, the company offers a lifetime frame warranty and 1-year parts & labor warranty.

So, you’ll have to trust the product it serves. However, it might produce metal noises that can be very annoying sometimes.

HCL Fitness PhysioStep RXT-1000 Recumbent Elliptical Trainer

HCL Fitness PhysioStep RXT-1000 Recumbent is one of the best ellipticals for 500 lbs person, falling under the fully commercial category. It comes with a 12-inch recumbent elliptical stride that offers smooth movement for low-impact workouts.

It offers 16 different levels of resistance that can be controlled electrically. 18 different workout programs built into the system add much-needed versatility. This makes HCL trainers ideal to be used by a large range of users: from physically challenged to fitness freaks!

Ths 500 lbs high user weight capacity elliptical machine has a 9-inch color display that displays many statistics about the running exercise program vividly. There is also a provision to share this information across other electronic gadgets through the USB port.

There is a large footplate, an oversized heel cup, multi-grip ergonomically designed handles, and a big seat backed by support. These features make the workout sessions comfortable and secure, especially when they span for a long duration.

This self-powered equipment allows stress-free movements for the entire body. It comes with a lifetime warranty for its frame, 3 years warranty for mechanical parts, 3 years warranty for electronic parts, and a 1-year warranty for labor.

What Are the Benefits of Using an Elliptical for Heavier People?

Being heavy is not advisable and is never recommended. Heavyweight puts more pressure on the joints and hastens their wear and tear. This might make overweighing persons incapable of performing even their normal daily activities.

Further, overweight poses a serious of challenges for the body’s health, thus challenging not only the physical state but also the mental one. So, reducing weight to an optimal level is the critical requirement to remain healthy and fit.

The use of ellipticals is one of the promising ways that would lead to a reduction in weight. The ellipticals ensure minimal pressure on the joints as they provide low-impact workouts against other gym machines.

While working on ellipticals, the feet of the user never leave the pedals, and thus there will be less stress on the lower back, hips, knees, and ankles. This helps in rehabilitation apart from the strengthening of the muscles.

The best elliptical for big guys provides a full-body workout in a single instant, unlike, say, a stationary bike that provides a low-body workout only. Ellipticals come with a variety of settings like resistance. Thus they remain challenging no matter how proficient the user becomes!

What is more interesting is, the elliptical remains useful for not only heavy people but also others in the home. There are ellipticals that offer multi-user profile settings and savings. This makes it useable by many of them, even with customization, if demanded.

Is Using Elliptical Good for Weight Loss?

Yes, ellipticals are good for weight loss. They serve as an effective means of burning those extra calories that have accumulated in the body. Ellipticals provide full-body workouts without affecting the joints much.

The low-impact cardiac exercises performed using the ellipticals elevate the rate of metabolism. This burns the fat and the associated mass. This tones the body into shape and makes it weigh less over a period of time.

A renowned agency named Harvard Health Publication conducted a survey to evaluate the effectiveness of ellipticals in shedding the body mass. They assessed and compared a variety of 30-minute exercise sessions.

The result of the survey turned out an interesting fact. It rated the ellipticals in 4^th place when it comes to the rate at which they burn the calories. This ‘one among the top 5 positions’ acquired by ellipticals stands as proof of their ability to meet the requirement of weight reduction.

Apart from the research data, there are many testimonies from the people that can be obtained over the world wide web. These stand as complimentary proof for the result obtained through the survey.

How to Get the Most out of an Elliptical Machine for Obese and Overweight People?

Obese people can reap a good level of benefit from working on the ellipticals. The intensity level of the workout and the duration of the exercise matters the most. In addition, the setting of the machine, such as resistance and the persistence of the user, also account equally.

There are many ready-to-practice programs that come in-built within the machine that helps to achieve a specific goal. These are proven and well-experimented on a variety of people and are shown to yield promising results.

Thus the user can just select the most suitable workout program by browsing over the benefits it would offer. This is quite easy and can be followed by both experts as well as novices without having to research extensively.

On the other hand, there are many exercise sessions that are thought through videos on a variety of fitness websites. These can be analyzed, and the most suitable one can be chosen and customized, if necessary, to suit the individual needs.

However, if the chosen exercise does not seem to work out, then the user would have to change to a different one! Also, they might be required to increase the time of workout and the resistance offered to burn the calories efficiently.

Further, the intervals between the exercise sessions must be taken into account. Nevertheless, whichever best elliptical for obese people you choose, perseverance and commitment towards the set goal are very important and should be maintained to obtain the best possible results.

How to Choose a Heavy-Duty Elliptical for Overweight People?

Having discussed top elliptical models that can work well for heavy weighing people, let us see what makes an elliptical the best heavy-duty elliptical.

Weight limit

The maximum weight that can be handled by a machine is a prime factor to look for! The greater the upper limit, the better the capability of the machine. This parameter is to be decided based on the weight of its user.

It is always wise to choose a machine whose weight limit is considerably higher in comparison to that of its user. For instance, if the weight of the user is 320 pounds, then it would be better to go for a machine whose limit is 400 pounds instead of 350 pounds. In other words, an elliptical for 400 lbs person is expected to have its maximum weight-bearing capacity greater than 450 lbs.

This is necessary to ensure security against breaking the machine due to the exertion of high pressure. Further, this will even guarantee a smoother workout without noticeable wobbling or loss of stability.

Flywheel

The flywheel is an important component of the elliptical that decides on the smoothness and ease of operation. It is desired to have high inertia and is expected to be driven by a system having a high momentum.

The flywheel is expected to start rotating right at the moment the user starts to pedal. The quicker the response, the better will be the machine. A good flywheel also contributes to lower the noise as you work at the maximum potential.

Flywheel also helps to control the amount of resistance. So, it is better to choose a flywheel that suits the level of the expected workout intensity. Besides, the flywheel must be decided based on the weight of the user as heavier users might need a heavier flywheel for smooth operation.

Stability

The stability of an elliptical is an important factor to consider when purchasing equipment for heavy-weighing people. Typically, the machines that weigh high tend to remain more stable under high pressure and heavy user weight.

The greater the weight of the individual materials, the higher will be the overall weight of the machine. The overall product weight after the assembly would provide an idea of the stability offered by the machine, making it a suitable elliptical for heavy people.

Primely because heavier machines wobble less and thus offer a good level of grip. This assures maximum confidence to the user, creating and enhancing a sense of security, the most needed psychological factor that drives the user towards success!

Final Thoughts

The secret behind the admirable fitness of many athletes is a reliable elliptical. Veteran trainers and professional athletes spare no expense in choosing their equipment.

Therefore, you must develop a more possessive attitude towards your machines.

So far, I’ve listed some of the best-selling elliptical that are worthy of being on the list. All you have to do is to check these out.

Read Also:

• Top 8 Best Ellipticals for Full Body Workout
• Top 18 Best Affordable Ellipticals for Home Gym
• Top 4 Best Compact Ellipticals for Small Spaces