As you age, it is essential to let strength training trigger all sorts of benefits of maintaining and improving your physical health. Below is our list of the best exercise machines for seniors:
Here are the best cardio machines for seniors you can buy in 2024:
- Best Overall: Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike ME-709
- Most Versatile: Schwinn Recumbent Bike 270
- Best For Both Lower And Upper Body: MaxKare Stationary Bike
- Best Overall: NordicTrack T Series TreadmillsNTL17915
- Best For All Levels: XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill
- Best For Beginners: Merax Electric Folding Treadmill
- Best Overall: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E902 Air Walk Trainer Elliptical Machine
- Runner-Up: ncient Elliptical Machine
- Most Compact: Stamina Inmotion Compact Strider 55-1631
| Top 9 Best Cardio Machines For Seniors | ||
|---|---|---|
Best Overall | Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike ME-709 | Read Our Review |
Most Versatile | Schwinn Recumbent Bike 270 | Read Our Review |
Best For Both Lower And Upper Body | MaxKare Stationary Bike | Read Our Review |
Best Overall | NordicTrack T Series TreadmillsNTL17915 | Read Our Review |
Best For All Levels | XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill | Read Our Review |
Best For Beginners | Merax Electric Folding Treadmill | Read Our Review |
Best Overall | Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E902 Air Walk Trainer Elliptical Machine | Read Our Review |
Runner-Up | ncient Elliptical Machine | Read Our Review |
Most Compact | Stamina Inmotion Compact Strider 55-1631 | Read Our Review |
It might be challenging for seniors who are new to strength training or who want to improve their strength and fitness right at their home comfort to select the right equipment. Our suggestions are recumbent bikes, treadmills, and elliptical training machines.
Elliptical machines or elliptical cross trainers are great for seniors as they combine a vigorous aerobic workout with full-body strength training without the harsh impact on your knees, hips, and back.
While cross trainers are often safer for those with aging knees than treadmills, these running machines have their own advantages. Its greatest pros is that it mimics jogging or walking on city streets, thus helping you improve seniors’ balance skills and preventing them from hospitalization due to falls.
A recumbent bike offers an easy, safe and effective solution for seniors with a bad back to condition their leg muscles and improve their bone density.
Recumbent Bike
Best Overall: Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike ME-709
- Step-through design for optimal mobility during training
- Senior-friendly
- Easy and comfortable to use
- Moveable without any difficulty
- Come with the manufacturer’s 2-year limited warranty
- A certain clicking noise in the machinery after several times using
If you are looking for a machine that eliminates all those unwanted pounds while boosting your cardiovascular endurance, the Recumbent Exercise Bike ME-709 is the must-have equipment in your home gym.
Featuring eight smooth magnetic preset levels of resistance, this exercise bike from Marcy addresses seniors off all fitness levels. Just choose the one that suits your requirements & skills to burn calories & lose weight while shaping, firming, and toning your physique.
Moreover, the step-through design is created for quick mounting and dismounting for less stress on your knees and back and the adjustable foot straps allow for the best fit for your feet.
What users don’t like about this machine is the
| Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike ME-709 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 61 pounds |
Dimension | 55.5 x 25 x 37.5 inches |
Max User Weight | 300 lbs |
Resistance Levels | 8 |
Adjustable Length (Front stabilizer to rear stabilizer) | 39 - 49 inches |
Highlight Features | Heavy-duty construction 14-gauge steel tubing with a powder-coated finish An ergonomically designed saddle furnished with comfortable high-density foam Adjustable pedals and seat Transport wheels for portability 3.5" LCD display |
Regardless of your fitness goals, the Marcy Recumbent Exercise Bike ME-709 is a perfect piece of home gym equipment.
Most Versatile: Schwinn Recumbent Bike 270
- Solid, sturdy frame, and impressive functionality
- Intuitive to use
- Syncs with the Schwinn Trainer App
- Offer a wide range of smooth, consistent workout intensity options
- Easy start up
- Assembly could be much easier
From 29 workout programs with 4 saved profiles and 25 eddy current levels of resistance to speakers & an aux port as well as Ride Social compatibility& Bluetooth connectivity, the Schwinn Recumbent Bike270 guarantees that every single minute you spend cycling will aid in yielding outstanding results.
Not to mention a handful of other nice add-ons created with seniors in mind. For example, the heart rate pulse grips allow you to monitor your heart rate while working out. The aluminum slider seat rail system with easy & quick lever and padded & contoured seat ensure adjustments for your maximum comfort.
However, it takes you at least 1 hour to assemble the Schwinn Recumbent Bike270to see how effective it is.
| Schwinn Recumbent Bike 270 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 93 pounds |
Dimension | 64 x 27.7 x 49.9 inches |
Max User Weight | 300 lbs |
Resistance Levels | 25 |
Adjustable Length (Front stabilizer to rear stabilizer) | 39 - 49 inches |
Highlight Features | Bluetooth connectivity 29 programs 2 Blue Backlit LCD Displays High-speed High-inertia drive system A perimeter weighted flywheel |
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced gym buff, the Schwinn Recumbent Bike 270 is specially designed for you.
Best For Both Lower And Upper Body: MaxKare Stationary Bike
- Easily convert from recumbent to upright bike to engage various groups of muscles
- Highly functional
- Easy to transport & store
- Ensure smooth and quiet workouts
- Able to accommodate riders as tall as 6’3”
- Instructions need improvement
When it comes to the best solid and customizable stationary exercise bike for both home and gym use, the MaxKare Stationary Bike is the top pick. With 8solid resistance levels for your arms, legs, and back, it targets various groups of muscles and guarantees a complete range of motion.
There is a comfortable and spacious padded seat back or backrest with a maximum weight capacity of 265 pounds. But even with such a durable body and large adjustable seat, this bike is foldable and easy to store in your closet or basement.
The only thing that users complain about the MaxKare Stationary Bike is the instructions that need improvement for ease of assembly.
| MaxKare Stationary Bike Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 47.8 pounds |
Dimension | 64 x 27.7 x 49.9 inches |
Max User Weight | 265 lbs |
Resistance Levels | 8 |
Adjustable Length (Front stabilizer to rear stabilizer) | 39.3 – 52.7 inches |
Highlight Features | Magnetic resistance Arm resistance bands design Customized design Advanced tension rope design LCD monitor & tablet phone bracket |
Since MaxKare Stationary Bike can accommodate taller riders and work for both upper & lower body.
Treadmills
Best Overall: NordicTrack T Series TreadmillsNTL17915
- Run on a quiet operation
- Automatically adjust your treadmill’s speed and incline to match trainer recommendations
- Mimic real-life terrain
- Foldable for compact, simple storage
- Difficulty in assembly
The list of the best treadmill for an aged buff cannot complete without this machine from NordicTrack.
The T Series TreadmillsNTL17915come with an excellent library of exercises giving you the freedom to select an already existing workout or personalize your experience, thus reaching your workout goals more enjoyably.
For the speed and incline setting adjustment, all you have to do is to push the button to see what the 2.6 HP motor can do.
To take your workout to the next level, the T Series Treadmills NTL17915 even feature a Google map training route, meaning that you can ride any city streets you love.
The only trouble you might have is the hard assembly.
| NordicTrack T Series TreadmillsNTL17915 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 93 pounds |
Horsepower | 2.6 HP |
Dimension | 73 x 35.8 x 67.5 inches |
Max User Weight | 300 lbs |
Tread Belt | 20” x 55” |
Maximum Speed | 10MPH |
Highlight Features | Bluetooth connectivity 10% One Touch incline control Innovative Space Saver design with Easy Lift Assist EKG Grip Pulse w/ iFit Tracking Capabilities |
NordicTrack T Series Treadmills NTL17915 helps you jog, run, and walk right in the comfort of your home.
Best For All Levels: XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill
- Ideal for users of all fitness levels
- Quick and easy to use
- Quick access speeds from 1mph to 9mph
- Provide a more comfortable workout
- Built to last for many years to come
- Expose you to chemicals
The XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill combines all the flexibility, quality, and performance of the best running machine.
The motor provides 2.25HPof power for a top speed of 10mph. 3 manual incline settings and 12 preset programs deliver unmatched variety for your exercise routine.
While the tread belt is a bit shorter and narrower than the #1 treadmill, it can still work best for walkers, joggers, and runners.
The biggest issue we have with this product is the fact that it exposes you to chemicals including Acrylamide & Toluene which are thought to cause reproductive harm, cancer, and birth defects.
| XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 108 pounds |
Horsepower | 2.25HP |
Dimension | 28.5 x 28.75 x 61 inches |
Max User Weight | 250 lbs |
Tread Belt | 16" X 50" |
Maximum Speed | 10MPH |
Highlight Features | Bluetooth connectivity 3 Manual incline settings Large 5 inch LCD display Direct access speed keys 12 presets Built-in reading rack with optimal viewing angle Hand pulse grips sensors |
From relaxed walking to serious running, the XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill is the best model for you to get the most out of your workout machine.
Best For Beginners: Merax Electric Folding Treadmill
- Super fast and easy assembly
- Space-saving
- Safe to use
- Feature a smooth and quiet treadmill motor
- Affordable
- Abrupt stops
Next on our list of the best cardio machines for seniors is the Merax Electric Folding Treadmill which provides value to both aged runners and more traditional treadmill users.
Its top speed of 7.5mph is more than enough for the jogging, walking, and light cardio that a lot of seniors favor.
The treadmill’s anti-slip lawn texture running belt is exceptional for a machine in this price range. This feature is especially helpful for seniors with joint and knee issues seeking a fitness machine as safe as possible.
The only gripe about this product is the abrupt stops because the Stop/Go buttons are located on the handle.
| Merax Electric Folding Treadmill Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 64 pounds |
Horsepower | 1.5HP |
Dimension | 55 x 23.5 x 43 inches |
Max User Weight | 240 lbs |
Tread Belt | 29.5" X 49" |
Maximum Speed | 7.5 MPH |
Highlight Features | Multi-functional LCD Display 12 preset programs & 3 count-down modes Anti-slip lawn texture running belt Phone/Pad deck available |
Merax Electric Folding Treadmill offers a solid treadmill experience to exclusively senior beginners.
Elliptical Training Machines
Best Overall: Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E902 Air Walk Trainer Elliptical Machine
- Target muscles in your arms & your legs
- Compact, foldable, and lightweight
- Generous stride length for the most natural feel possible
- Quiet operation
- Safe to use
- Deliver smooth performance
- Unstable when you go too fast
While you might be quick to point out drawbacks in the unstable performance when you go too fast, this machine from Sunny Health & Fitness still has a ton of excellent features to offer seniors – especially those on the hunt for a budget-friendly introduction to cross trainers.
This SF-E902 Air Walk Trainer Elliptical Machine is impressively compact, lightweight, and foldable to half its dimension, for ease of transportation & storage in your closet.
At 30”, the generous stride length provides you with the most natural running strides. The non-slip pedals ensure a continuous motion capability while simulating relaxed jogging or work up to a longer run.
| Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E902 Air Walk Trainer Elliptical Machine Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 37 pounds |
Dimension | 28 x 17 x 57 inches |
Max User Weight | 220 lbs |
Stride Length | 30 inches |
Highlight Features | Informative LCD monitor Non-slip pedals Built-in fitness programs Abdominal pad |
Sunny Health & Fitness SF-E902 Air Walk Trainer Elliptical Machineultimately makes for an effective way to keep your body fat burning.
Runner-Up: ncient Elliptical Machine
- Quietly driven & easy to move
- Durable
- Portable
- Target your whole body
- There should be more resistance levels
Though having fewer resistance levels compared to a lot of other elliptical exercise machines out there, the ncient Elliptical Machine draws on everything you would expect at home gym fitness equipment.
What makes this no-nonsense elliptical outstanding are the comfort features added for your pleasant workout. It comes with 8 eddy current resistance levels for your greater variations; an LCD digital monitor allowing you to track your progress with distance, time, speed, scan, calories burned, and target zone heart rate. The 13-in-long stride guarantees a no-impact workout without any interruption for your whole body effects.
| ncient Elliptical Machine Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 78 pounds |
Dimension | 40.9 x 18.9 x 63 inch |
Max User Weight | 265 lbs |
Resistance Levels | 8 |
Stride Length | 13 inches |
Highlight Features | 13-inch non-slip pedal Digital monitor display Precision-balanced flywheel & V- belt drive and convenient tension knob |
ncient Elliptical Machine gives you an easy yet great full-body workout to help you meet your fitness goals.
Most Compact: Stamina Inmotion Compact Strider 55-1631
- Use sitting or standing
- Easy to use
- Come at a budget-friendly price – great to experiment with
- Solid & durable
- Burn fewer calories than a full-sized machine
Measuring just 22 x 14 x 13 inches, the Stamina Inmotion Strider 55-1631 is such a simple, modest under-desk elliptical trainer machine that proves to be among the most preferable mini cross trainers on the market.
While you can use it while standing with/without handles, it’s only when seated at your desk right in the comfort of your office or your own home that this compact strider comes into its own, offering an effective low-impact cardio by keeping your legs moving without jarring your knees, ankles, back, or hips.
While a compact unit like the Inmotion Strider 55-1631 cannot help you blitz calories as many as a full-sized machine does, the adjustable tension knob makes your heart beat faster.
| Stamina Inmotion Compact Strider 55-1631 Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 31.1 pounds |
Dimension | 22 x 14 x 13 inches |
Max User Weight | 250 lbs |
Resistance Levels | 8 |
Stride Length | 13 inches |
Highlight Features | Low-impact elliptical motion Padded handlebars Simple Dial tension Multi-function monitor Large Non-slip footplates Upgraded Easy-to-read multi-function monitor |
Stamina Inmotion Compact Strider offers a thoroughly effective cardiovascular workout for its price range without occupying your valuable abode floor room.
How To Choose The Best Cardio Machines For Seniors?
Adjustability & Customization
- Whether it’s recumbent bikes, treadmills, or elliptical training machines, the product you choose should let you make several adjustments to the resistance levels, seat, and handles to personalize your workout. That way, you can comfortably exercise and burn more calories.
Recumbent vs. Upright Bikes
- When it comes to gentle joint motion & good distribution of body weight, recumbent exercise bikes are superior to upright bikes. Larger riders and people with balance or back problems will find the oversized reclining seats of recumbent bikes much easier to climb onto and more comfortable to cycle. Thus, in terms of physical therapy, recumbent bikes are always preferred over upright models.
Treadmill Design
- A large number of running machines are built to endure serious punishment from avid sprinters. However, they seem to be heavy in weight and bulky in size. Unfortunately, this is not what seniors expect in a running treadmill.
- A machine with a light frame for more management to move around is great for those planning to walk or jog on their treadmill; while those living in an apartment or a small home should invest in a folding treadmill for easy storage in their closet.
- Note that ‘light’ is not synonymous with ‘flimsy’. These optimal choices for seniors are those treadmills made from durable steel frames yet still weighing no more than 100lbs.
Elliptical Stride Length
- The stride length of an elliptical can vary from one model to another. An average user can be happy with a 15-inch-long stride; while taller users prefer a model with a longer stride length. For the most natural stride almost everyone should have while jogging or walking fast, a 20” stride length is perfect.
Which Brands Make The Best Cardio Machines For Seniors?
Marcy
- Founded by Walter Marcyan in 1959, Marcy Gymnasium Equipment Company is now the most popular in not only home but also commercial applications. This legendary 60-year-old brand earns its reputation for constantly introducing new and innovative professional-grade machines that allow consumers worldwide to exercise at home.
Sunny Health & Fitness
- With more than one decade’s experience in the business, this California-headquartered has been helping millions of customers around the world achieve their exercise purposes.
- Sunny Health and Fitness is proud to be the world-class distributor of the finest fitness products including treadmills, recumbent bikes, cycle bikes, steppers, rowers, rowing machines, and elliptical to ensure optimized efficiency while you work out.
XTERRA Fitness
- Now, over three-decade-old and still developing stronger and faster than ever, XTERRA Fitness continues to make its mark by working closely with outdoor enthusiasts as well as amateur & professional athletes.
- XTERRA Fitness' commitment to every single user’s fitness success keeps them motivated to keep on providing equipment lineups that help you become a better self.
FAQs
How much cardio should seniors get?
Seniors at the age of 65 and older should get approximately 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise on most days of the week. So, they will spend at least 2.5 hours exercising per week. Getting 75-90 minutes of vigorous exercise every week is not a bad idea.
Is treadmill good for elderly?
Offering low-impact, functional, and user-friendly forms of exercises with just a little stress on your muscles and joints, a treadmill is a smart fitness machine for seniors. However, only by choosing the right treadmill can the elderly find them useful.
What's better manual or electric treadmill?
If you don’t expect such a great impact on your hip and knee joints, it’s better to go with a motorized treadmill, which offers the belt cushioning system for a more comfortable workout, thus helping you exercise faster and longer.
Which cardio machine burns the most calories?
When it comes to calorie-burning efficiency, treadmills that help you burn up to 1,200 calories are an obvious winner. For your comparison, a rowing machine can burn from 700 to 1,000 calories and a recumbent bike can burn from 500 to 1,000 calories per hour.
Is elliptical better than treadmill?
It depends on what you are looking for. For workout focusing on your abs and lower body muscles, treadmills should be your top pick. For a low-impact and easier exercise on your back and joints, you should work out on an elliptical trainer machine.
Conclusion
Whether you want to lose those extra pounds or ward off the aches and pains of aging, you’d better select the best exercise machine for seniors. Let’s save on premium gym memberships and create your home gym with our collection above!
Nancy Lang
