The Best Cross Trainer Machines for a Cardio and Strength Workout in One

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Buying cardio fitness equipment for your home gym is a great way to maximize the convenience and privacy of your workout routine. Although treadmills, exercise bikes, rowing machines and elliptical trainers are among the most popular pieces of at-home cardio exercise equipment, cross trainer machines can also be a valuable alternative. A cross trainer works muscles in your upper body and lower body simultaneously, and can provide a low-impact cardio and resistance workout in one.

There are many different cross trainers designed for home use. In this article, we break down our top picks for the best cross trainers for a variety of different fitness goals, price ranges and desired features, as well as a comprehensive buying guide for how to choose the best cross trainer for your home gym.

Our Picks for the Best Cross Trainers of 2024:

• Overall Best Cross Trainer: NordicTrack FS14i
• Best Budget Cross Trainer: Sole Fitness E25
• Best Cross Trainer for On-Demand Workouts: NordicTrack FS10i
• Best Splurge Cross Trainer: Sole Fitness E98
• Best Cross Trainer for HIIT Workouts: ProForm Pro HIIT H14
• Best No-Frills Cross Trainer: Horizon Fitness EX-59 Elliptical
• Best Cross Trainer for Small Spaces: Sunny Health and Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Cross Trainer

Overall Best Cross Trainer: NordicTrack FS14i

Key Features:

• Stride length: 32-inch auto adjustable stride
• Stride type: Hybrid of a stepper, elliptical and treadmill
• Monitor: 14-inch smart HD touchscreen
• Dimensions: 58.5 inches long, 29.5 inches wide and 74 inches tall
• Price: $2,299 plus iFit subscription fees

If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line cross trainer for maximum versatility in your cardio workouts, you’ll love the NordicTrack FS14i. This trainer elliptical effectively combines three cardio machines in one: a stepper, elliptical and treadmill. Like all cross training machines, the FS14i has moveable handlebars, enabling a full-body workout.

The FreeStride FS14i is constructed with commercial-grade solid steel, capable of supporting users up to 375 pounds. One unique feature is that it has a 32-inch auto adjustable stride, which means that the stride length will adjust to the length of your natural movement pattern as you workout. The auto-adjustable stride gives you the versatility of three cardio machines and increases the functionality of the unit. This maximizes the versatility of the type of exercise you can perform on the unit and challenges different muscle groups while still affording a low-impact but high-intensity cardio workout. Plus, the adjusting stride range can be comfortable for users of different heights and body sizes.

One of the best features of the FS14i is that it has a power-adjustable incline from -10 percent decline to 10 percent incline. This allows you to replicate both downhill and uphill training so that you can target different muscles. You can also modify the intensity of your workout by using the 26 digital resistance levels.

The large 14-inch smart HD touchscreen display provides an immersive training experience when streaming iFit guided workouts or enjoying any of the virtual courses. It also displays useful metrics such as your distance, resistance level, workout time, incline and calories burned. As with most NordicTrack exercise equipment, the FS14i has numerous built-in comfort and convenience features, such as one-touch handle controls, Bluetooth-enabled audio, adjustable oversized foot pedals with cushioning, a water bottle holder and a workout fan for temperature control.

Pros

• Commercial-grade solid steel frame supports a high weight capacity
• Cross trainer machine combines a stepper, treadmill and elliptical into one for a versatile workout
• Smaller footprint than most elliptical cross trainers
• Immersive 14-inch smart HD touchscreen
• iFIt-enabled for interactive training, Explore the World and Google Maps compatible
• 26 silent magnetic resistance levels

Cons

• Expensive and requires ongoing iFit subscription
• Movement pattern might not be as familiar or intuitive as basic elliptical trainers

Best Budget Cross Trainer: Sole Fitness E25

Key Features:

• Stride length: 20 inches
• Stride type: Elliptical striding
• Monitor: 6.5-inch LCD backlit display (black and white)
• Dimensions: 70 inches long (front to back), 24 inches wide (side to side) and 71 inches tall
• Price: $1,099 plus optional Sole Studio subscription of $199 per year

Although far from an inexpensive piece of exercise equipment, the Sole Fitness E25 is certainly one of the best values for a cross trainer or elliptical machine. It may not have all of the features of more expensive machines, but the quality of construction and performance specs are top-of-the-line for this price range.

Like many of the best cross trainer machines, the E25 functions in both forward and reverse motion, giving you more versatility in your workout and the ability to target different muscle groups. To provide a smooth and consistent stride, the Sole E25 has a heavy 20-pound flywheel and a high gear ratio. This enables users of all fitness levels to increase the resistance and workout at a vigorous intensity without the machine feeling jerky or unstable. Adding to the smoothness of the pedal striding motion, the four rear wheels glide on heavy duty rails to reduce side-to-side foot pedal motion. User reviews rave about the stability.

You can increase the difficulty of your workouts and add variety to the muscle groups you are targeting by taking advantage of the power incline feature. Unlike many regular elliptical machines and budget cross trainers, the E25 is fully adjustable from a flat striding motion through 20 different levels of incline. Because the movable handlebars allow you to pump your arms in opposition with your legs, you can get a full-body workout by engaging your upper body, lower body and core muscles simultaneously. If you decide that you only want to target your lower body, you can hold the stationary handlebars. These handles also have built-in pulse sensors for heart rate monitoring or you can wear the included chest strap heart rate monitor.

One unique feature of the Sole E25 cross trainer is that the oversized foot pedals, which were designed with the help of physical therapists and engineered to provide a slight inward slope. This is aimed to reduce stress on your ankles and knees, making this one of the best cross trainer exercise machines if you have joint issues or a history of ankle, knee or hip pain. The maximum stride length is 20 inches, which should be comfortable and natural, even for taller users, and is on-par with commercial gym equipment. Although many people are looking for a budget-friendly exercise machine, cheap cross trainers will often have a very short stride length, which ends up feeling choppy and awkward.

Although the E25 doesn’t have an integrated touchscreen display, it has a built-in tablet holder so that you can stream your favorite shows or workout classes using a fitness app. (If you choose to add on the Sole Studio membership, you get access to over 3,000 on-demand workout classes.) There’s also a USB charging port and Bluetooth speakers so you can keep your device powered up while listening to whatever keeps you motivated.

Pros

• Robust construction and performance specs makes for a great value at the price point
• Good warranty
• 20 levels of power incline to target different muscle groups
• Can be used without a subscription
• Optimized foot pedal placement to reduce joint stress

Cons

• No integrated touchscreen tablet
• Large footprint

Best Cross Trainer for On-Demand Workouts: NordicTrack FS10i

Key Features:

• Stride length: 32-inch auto adjustable stride
• Stride type: Hybrid of a stepper, elliptical and treadmill
• Monitor: 10-inch smart HD touchscreen
• Dimensions: 58.5 inches long, 29.5 inches wide and 74 inches tall
• Price: $1,799 plus iFit subscription fees

The NordicTrack FS10i cross trainer machine is similar to the FS14i, but with a lower price point. It has the same 32-inch auto-adjustable stride, 20-pound inertia-enhanced flywheel and commercial-grade solid steel construction with a maximum weight capacity of 375 pounds. However, this lower-priced version only allows for incline, no decline, and there are 24 levels of resistance rather than 26. Still, this cross trainer can be adjusted to provide a challenging workout for users of nearly all fitness levels.

The FS10i features hands-free interactive training through iFit, using the 10-inch smart HD display. The machine will automatically adjust the resistance level and ramp incline in accordance with the on-demand workout or virtual course you’re following. In addition to running, walking or elliptical workouts, you can also stream exercise classes for strength training, bootcamp, HIIT, sprints, yoga and recovery. You can also choose workouts based on the muscle groups you want to target.

The NordicTrack FS10i comes with a 30-day iFit free trial, but you will need to pay for the iFit subscription after that. Although you can use the exercise machine without an iFit subscription, you won’t have access to the trainer-guided workouts, interactive training, Google maps courses or Explore the World global routes.

Pros

• Commercial-grade solid steel frame with a high maximum user weight capacity
• Cross trainer has a unique striding motion that combines three cardio machines in one and has an auto-adjustable stride increasing the versatility
• 10-inch smart HD touchscreen
• Smaller footprint than most elliptical cross trainers
• 0-10 percent incline to target different muscles

Cons

• Expensive and requires ongoing iFit subscription
• Doesn’t have decline 

Best Splurge Cross Trainer: Sole Fitness E98

Key Features:

• Stride length: 20 inches
• Stride type: Elliptical striding
• Monitor: 10.1-inch TFT LCD backlit display (black and white)
• Dimensions: 71 inches long, 31 inches wide and 82 inches tall
• Price: $2,299.99 plus optional Sole Studio subscription of $199 per year

If you have a bigger budget, one of the best cross trainers you can buy is the Sole Fitness E98. This top-of-the-line model is engineered to provide the ultimate smooth stride. It features ergonomically positioned articulating foot pedals spaced in a way that minimizes joint stress, a 20-inch stride length for a natural movement pattern and a precision-balanced flywheel system to promote efficiency in your stride even at high speeds. The flywheel itself is 32 pounds, which is on par with most commercial gym ellipticals and will give you a stable stride that capitalizes on your momentum to prevent the jerky motions. To keep your workouts challenging as your fitness level improves, there are 20 levels of digital magnetic resistance and 20 levels of automatic incline to target different muscle groups.

This elliptical cross trainer machine has a 10.1-inch commercial-grade TFT LCD screen that displays all of your workout metrics and can be used to select one of 10 different workout programs such as target heart rate training, fat burning and interval training. There is even a fitness test program to assess your current fitness level and based on the results, the machine will automatically make adjustments to the resistance of the machine during your workout based on your heart rate, training goals and set work levels.

One thing to keep in mind is that this machine takes up a lot of room, so your home gym needs to have ample space, and you need additional room in front of and behind the machine to accommodate the moving pedals. Although this is undeniably a hefty machine, weighing in at 249 pounds, its robust steel construction supports a 400-pound maximum user weight capacity, which is more than most at-home ellipticals.

Another major benefit is that Sole Fitness offers a fantastic warranty. This cross trainer is backed by a lifetime warranty on the frame, five-year warranty on electronics and parts and two-year labor warranty. User reviews are overwhelmingly positive, celebrating how quietly and smoothly it operates, the built-in workout programs and how comfortable it feels as you work out.

Pros

• Commercial-grade solid steel frame supports up to 400 pounds
• 32-pound flywheel provides smooth and stable stride
• 20 levels of resistance and 20 levels of incline to target different muscle groups and challenge users of different fitness levels
• Good warranty
• Built-in workout programs
• Ergonomically-positioned articulating foot pedals to reduce stress on the hips, knees and ankles

Cons

• Expensive
• Very large footprint and heavy machine

Best Cross Trainer for HIIT Workouts: ProForm Pro HIIT H14

Key Features:

• Stride length: 10 inches in vertical height and five inches in horizontal distance per step
• Stride type: Hybrid of stair climbing and elliptical
• Monitor: 14-inch smart touchscreen with HD display
• Dimensions: 29 inches wide, 52 inches long and 66 inches tall
• Price: $1,599 plus iFit subscription fees

The movement pattern of the ProForm Pro HIIT H14 combines vertical stair climbing against resistance with horizontal striding, designed for an intense HIIT workout.

Like other ProForm Pro models, the HIIT H14 features a touchscreen that can be used to stream on-demand workout classes and global virtual training courses with an iFit subscription. To provide a fun and immersive training experience, the machine features automatic adjustment, such that the resistance level will change automatically in accordance to the personal trainer’s specifications. You don’t have to take your hands off the handlebars or interrupt your flow to fiddle with the machine’s adjustments.

User reviews note that the ProForm Pro HIIT H14 feels smooth and operates quietly and seamlessly between levels, likely due to the effective, inertia-enhanced 30-pound flywheel and 26 levels of magnetic resistance so you can easily adjust your workout to your fitness level.

The sturdy steel frame supports users up to 325 pounds, and there are lots of built in comfort and convenience features, such as oversized foot pedals, a CoolAire™ fan, water bottle holder and transport wheels.

Pros

• Heavy flywheel can provide a smooth and stable stride
• Cross trainer combines cardio and resistance training in one to maximize efficiency
• Smaller footprint than most elliptical cross trainers
• iFit-enabled for interactive training, Explore the World and Google Maps compatible

Cons

• Requires iFit
• Slightly lower maximum weight capacity

Best No-Frills Cross Trainer: Horizon Fitness EX-59 Elliptical

Key Features:

• Stride length: 18 inches
• Stride type: Elliptical
• Monitor: 4.5-inch yellow-green LCD display
• Dimensions: 74 inches long, 25 inches wide and 64.5 inches tall
• Price: $699

The Horizon Fitness EX-59 is an entry-level elliptical cross trainer ideal for anyone on a budget looking for an accessible, yet reliable elliptical trainer for low-impact, lower-intensity cardio workouts. Given its more limited functionality and stripped down features, the EX-59 is best for beginners who do not plan on doing particularly vigorous workouts. For example, there is no adjustable incline, but there are 10 levels of digitally-controlled silent magnetic resistance.

Compared to many of the budget cross trainers from competitors, the Horizon EX-59 features a full 18-inch stride, which is as long, or nearly as long, as many commercial-grade ellipticals and will feel natural and smooth. The Horizon EX-59 elliptical also has a relatively small and basic console with a yellow-green LCD display. You can monitor workout metrics like calories burned, distance, heart rate, resistance level, speed, workout time and watts. There are also five preloaded workout programs right on the console. You can input your target calories or distance, and then there is an interval, manual option and weight loss program.

One of the design features of the EX-59 we appreciate is that the foot pedals are closer together than on most commercial and home ellipticals. According to Horizon, this spacing better mimics the natural foot spread used during walking, and reduces the between the hips and knees, potentially reducing hip and knee strain.

There is a maximum weight capacity of 300 pounds, which is more than you will find on most entry-level elliptical cross trainers. However, the flywheel is only 14 pounds, so the machine may be a little less stable and smooth at fast speeds.

Overall, the EX-59 is a feature-packed cross trainer for the price point, and offers perks like Bluetooth-connected speakers, a built-in device holder, water bottle holder and USB port to charge your device while you are exercising.

Pros

• Smaller footprint than most elliptical cross trainers
• Many features for the price point

Cons

• No incline adjustability
• 18-inch stride is shorter than some commercial grade ellipticals
• No built-in touchscreen to streaming workout classes or media

Best Cross Trainer for Small Spaces: Sunny Health and Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Cross Trainer

Key Features:

• Stride length: 12.5-inch stride
• Stride type: Short elliptical stride that feels more like a stepper
• Monitor: Five-inch digital monitor with an LCD display
• Dimensions: 43.7 inches long, 24 inches wide and 59.4 inches tall
• Price: $271.99

The Sunny Health and Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Cross Trainer is ideal for anyone looking for a budget-friendly cross trainer who has very little space in their home gym. This compact unit has a short stride length of only 12.5 inches, so the movement pattern will certainly feel more like stepping than a striding out. However, because the foot pedals move through an abbreviated range of motion, the required footprint for the unit is much smaller than a traditional cross trainer machine.

An LCD performance monitor displays workout metrics like total time, distance, calories burned, pulse and speed. Although there is no integrated tablet or touchscreen display, there is a built-in device holder so that you can use your own tablet or phone to stream shows or music during your workout.

There is no adjustable incline on this elliptical cross trainer, however there are eight levels of contactless magnetic resistance. While these resistance levels may provide enough of a challenging workout for beginners, this is not the best cross trainer for advanced athletes or those who plan to put the unit through heavy-duty use.

With that said, for such an inexpensive piece of cardio equipment, the reviews of this elliptical are positive. We also love features such as built-in pulse sensors on the handlebars for heart rate monitoring, anti-slip textured foot pedals, transportation wheels and a silent belt drive mechanism for smoother and quieter operation.

Pros

• Very compact and lightweight unit
• Inexpensive for home cardio fitness equipment
• Reviews say the cross trainer is very quiet

Cons

• No incline and limited number of resistance levels makes this better for beginners than advanced users
• No touchscreen
• Very light flywheel can reduce the stability and smoothness of the stride
• Stride length is very short and may feel choppy, especially for taller users
• Lower maximum user weight

How to choose the best cross trainer for you

As with buying any piece of fitness equipment for your home gym, there are several important factors to consider when choosing the best cross trainer for you:

Type of Cross Trainer

Technically, “cross trainer” is an umbrella term that can describe a variety of cardio exercise machines. All cross trainers on our list provide a low-impact, full-body working by incorporating moving handlebars and foot pedals. Ellipticals are considered cross trainers as long as they have movable arms instead of just stationary handles. This is ultimately what differentiates a cross trainer from a regular elliptical. The other type of cross trainer is more of a vertical or hybrid-style trainer that combines stair climbing and running, or stair climbing and elliptical with a stride that is as much or more vertical as it is horizontal. A good example of this type of cross trainer machine is the Bowflex Max Trainer series.

You’ll want to consider which type of cross trainer will best help you reach your fitness goals. Standard elliptical-type cross trainers are usually more beginner friendly and intuitive to use in terms of the movement pattern. They also tend to be less expensive. The primary benefit of the cross trainers that combine stair climbing and elliptical striding is that these units tend to be designed for high-intensity interval training, since you are performing a hybrid of resistance training through vertical climbing with cardio exercise. Ultimately, when deciding on the best type of cross trainer, you should consider your fitness goals, fitness level, available space and which type of movement seems most appealing to you.

Stride Length

The stride length is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a cross trainer or elliptical for your home gym. If you are looking for a commercial-grade elliptical trainer that is on par with a unit you might find at the gym, you should look for a minimum stride length of 18 inches. If you have long legs, a stride length less than 18 to 20 inches will feel short and awkward.

If you are more interested in hybrid trainers, the overall stride length is less important, but it is helpful to look at the vertical gain and horizontal distance traveled per step to get an idea of the movement pattern. The best hybrid trainers usually have about a 10-inch vertical distance and five to 10-inch horizontal distance traveled per step. The higher the vertical number and lower the horizontal number, the more the workout will feel like climbing stairs.

Price

Ultimately, your budget will guide what cross trainer you can buy. Premium cross trainers can cost several thousand dollars, but you can also find budget cross trainers for a few hundred dollars. Like most cardio equipment, you get what you pay for, so cheap cross trainer machines will have limited functionality, a short stride, flimsier frame that may wobble during use, lower weight capacity, fewer levels of resistance, no automatic adjustable incline and little to no technological features except perhaps a basic LCD display console. As when buying the best treadmills or best exercise bikes, the higher the price tag, the more performance, comfort and technology features you can expect.

Technology Features

Many people appreciate the option to stream Netflix or follow a guided workout class directly on their exercise machine. Premium cross trainers offer these features, but keep in mind they may also require ongoing subscription fees. These costs should be factored into your total purchase cost and budget when choosing the best cross trainer machine for your home gym.

Additional technology features to consider are Bluetooth connectivity, wireless heart rate monitoring, the metrics displayed on the console and a free companion app or the ability to store your workout history on the machine itself.

Maximum Weight Capacity

If you have a larger body, one important product spec to pay attention to is the maximum user weight of the unit. Inexpensive cross trainers will typically have a lower maximum weight capacity, in the neighborhood of 220 to 260 pounds, so you will need to ensure that whatever cross trainer you want to buy can support your current body weight. Note that the maximum user weight capacity is also a decent indicator of the stability and quality of construction of the exercise equipment. The higher the maximum weight capacity, the more robust the components, and the more likely the unit will be durable and stable, even during high intensity workouts.

Warranty

Buying exercise equipment for your home gym is always an investment, so you want to make sure that your purchase is backed by a good warranty. The best cross trainers have at least a 10-year frame warranty and a three to five year warranty on parts. With a higher weight capacity, a longer product warranty is also usually a good indication that the product has been manufactured to be durable and long lasting because the company has confidence in the ability of the exercise machine to perform well over time.

How we chose the best elliptical cross trainers

To choose the best elliptical cross trainers, we considered the aforementioned factors such as the quality of construction, the performance specs, the machine’s features and functions, the stride length and stride type (whether it was an elliptical cross trainer or stair climber cross trainer), user ratings and reviews, technology features, warranty and the overall value given the price point of the unit relative to its features. We tried to choose the best elliptical cross trainers and best stair climber cross trainers for users of different fitness levels and primary fitness goals, as well as exercise machines to fit a variety of budgets.

What is a cross trainer?

A cross trainer is a piece of cardio exercise equipment that provides a low-impact, full-body workout. Like an elliptical, this type of exercise equipment involves running or walking on foot pedals that ride along rails on the machine, staying in contact with your foot at all times. This reduces joint stress because there are no impact forces. The primary difference between an elliptical and a cross trainer is that ellipticals may have stationary handlebars whereas a cross trainer always has movable handlebars to engage your upper body and lower body simultaneously. In this way, using a cross trainer can provide a full-body workout, helping you burn more calories does engage more muscle groups to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of your cardio workout.

Best Cross Trainer FAQs

Will a cross trainer tone my stomach?

When working out, your primary goal should be to feel healthy and strong, which doesn’t necessarily mean a “toned” stomach. If that happens to be one of your goals, you will be engaging your abdominal muscles to stay steady on the elliptical. Keep in mind that “toning“ is a matter of building muscle and losing body fat in order to see noticeable muscle definition.

Can you get fit by just using a cross trainer?

The best cross trainers have multiple levels of resistance and an adjustable incline feature, allowing you to increase the difficulty of your workout and target different muscles. When you work out on a cross trainer at a higher level of resistance, you can build muscle and get a cardio workout simultaneously. Although it is generally recommended to perform a variety of types of exercise for more well-rounded fitness, exclusively using a cross trainer can theoretically be all that you need to get fit, provided you work out frequently and intensely enough.

How long will it take to see results from a cross trainer?

Results will depend on how often, how long and how intensely you work out on your cross trainer, as well as your overall diet, physical activity levels and fitness goals you are trying to achieve.

How long should a beginner use a cross trainer for?

Whenever you start a new exercise program, you should build up gradually. Even beginning with just 10 minutes is a great starting place. Eventually, you should use a cross trainer for 20–30 minutes or more per workout, depending on the intensity of your workouts and whether you are performing any other types of cardio exercise during the week. A good goal is to meet the physical activity guidelines for adults set forth by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, which suggest either 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity cardio exercise per week.

Final Thoughts

Using a cross trainer provides a great low-impact, full-body workout. There are a couple of types of cross trainers to choose from, and selecting the best machine for your home gym involves considering your preferences in terms of the style of the unit, your budget, fitness goals, fitness level, stride type and the features that are most important to you.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.