If you're looking to add a new piece of equipment to your home fitness room, one option to consider is a good elliptical. Long a staple of cardio workouts, elliptical machines provide a number of benefits: Not only can an elliptical workout help you lose weight and burn calories, but the impact on your knees is considerably less than what you'd experienced with running on a treadmill. And one name that continues to stand out from the crowd is Proform—Proform ellipticals are known for their top-notch quality and variety of options.
The question is, which ProForm elliptical is right for you? The ACTIVE Reviews Team is here to answer that question. Keep reading for a comprehensive breakdown of the Proform ellipticals.
Why Trust Us?
The ACTIVE Reviews Team is made up of fitness experts that include athletes, coaches, and certified trainers who bring their years of knowledge and experience to each review. More importantly, each member of our team is a fitness enthusiast. Fitness may be our job, but it is also our passion. Therefore, we strive to bring you products that we trust and would personally use.
ProForm Elliptical Lineup
By clicking on the product links in this article, we may receive a commission fee at no cost to you, the reader.
A Quick Look at the ProForm Elliptical Lineup
ProForm is a big name in the world of home fitness equipment, notable for its high-quality stationary bikes as well as ellipticals. They even have some hybrid trainers, which make it easy to transition seamlessly between biking and hiking modes. The ProForm line is also closely tied to an online fitness subscription service called iFIT, and while you don't have to be an iFIT devotee to make good use of their products, it's certainly a major selling point. We break down each Proform elliptical below:
ProForm Carbon HIIT H7
Specs
- Footprint: 29.25"W x 52"D x 66.7"H
- Resistance: 24 resistance levels
- Stride: 10" vertical, 5" horizontal
- Pedal style: Oversized cushioned pedals
- Handle style: Multi-function handlebars
- Bluetooth capability: Dual 2" Bluetooth speakers
- Monitor: 7" smart HD touchscreen
- Weight: 225 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 325 lbs.
- Warranty: 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor
The ProForm Carbon HIIT H7 is truly a top-of-the-line elliptical. That's especially true if you make use of the iFIT programming (which costs $39 a month), allowing you to work out alongside a full range of trainer-led programs. The trainer can even change the resistance settings on your machine, meaning you can just focus on putting forth your best physical effort.
Additionally, the ProForm Carbon HIIT H7 boasts a unique elliptical path that promotes calorie- and fat-burning. The machine can simulate stair climbing, allowing you to work a wider array of muscle groups. A built-in fan and super-silent resistance only add to the comfort and elegance of this elliptical.
What We Like
- Silent Magnetic Resistance ensures a quiet and smooth workout
- Unique elliptical pattern promotes muscle activation and fat-burning
- CoolAire™ fan included
- Smart HD touchscreen
- Oversized, cushioned pedals
- Water bottle holder
- Wheels for easy transport/storage
- Supports up to 325 lbs.
What We Don't Like
- iFIT membership is required
- Display screen may be a little small for some
ProForm HIIT H14
Specs
- Footprint: 29"W x 66"D x 52"H
- Resistance: 26 resistance levels
- Stride: 10" vertical, 5" horizontal
- Pedal style: Oversized cushioned pedals
- Handle style: Multi-function handlebars
- Bluetooth capability: Dual 2" Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth headphone compatible
- Monitor: 14" smart HD touchscreen
- Weight: N/A
- Weight capacity: 325 lbs.
- Warranty: 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor
The ProForm HIIT H14 is recommended for a number of reasons. For one, the Silent Magnetic Resistance ensures a smooth and quiet workout, while 26 levels of resistance adjustability help you customize your workouts. Relatively compact in its footprint, the ProForm HIIT H14 is a smart choice for those whose home gym space is limited. And, a vivid, generously sized screen makes it easy to track your fitness metrics and to follow along with your favorite iFIT instruction.
What We Like
- Silent Magnetic Resistance ensures a quiet and smooth workout
- Unique elliptical pattern promotes muscle activation and fat-burning
- Small footprint
- Smooth, fluid movements
- CoolAire™ fan included
- Smart HD touchscreen
- Oversized, cushioned pedals
- 30-day iFIT family membership included
- Bluetooth sound options include headphones and speakers
- Water bottle holder
- Supports up to 325 lbs.
What We Don't Like
- Not everyone will be interested in the iFIT options
- Great elliptical, but not as versatile as a hybrid trainer
ProForm Carbon E7
Specs
- Footprint: 25"W x 68.5"D x 67.75"H
- Resistance: 24 resistance levels
- Stride: 19" power adjustable
- Pedal style: Adjustable, oversized cushioned pedals
- Handle style: Soft-touch upper body grips
- Bluetooth capability: N/A
- Monitor: 7" smart HD touchscreen
- Weight: 225 lbs.
- Weight capacity: 325 lbs.
- Warranty: 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor
For an intensely vigorous workout, the ProForm Carbon E7 more than delivers. Terrain-matching technology allows for a wide range of fully adjustable workouts, sure to work all the major muscle groups and promote serious calorie-burning. Adjustable pedals make it easy to find your footing, while front wheels make it a breeze to push this thing into storage.
The iFIT training options (and the fact that a three-year membership comes with your purchase) are icing on the cake for this all-around excellent home elliptical. It also costs under $1,500, making it one of the most affordable machines on this list.
What We Like
- Silent Magnetic Resistance ensures a quiet and smooth workout
- Terrain-matching technology
- CoolAire™ fan included
- Fully adjustable pedals
- Easy to store
- Quick button controls for ramp incline and resistance
- 3-year iFIT family membership included
- Supports up to 325 lbs.
What We Don't Like
- Not everyone will be interested in the iFIT options
- The screen may be a bit small for some
ProForm Carbon EL
Specs
- Footprint: 25"W x 68.5"D x 67.75"H
- Resistance: 18 resistance levels
- Stride: 19" power adjustable
- Pedal style: Oversized pedals
- Handle style: N/A
- Bluetooth capability: iFIT Bluetooth smart-enabled
- Monitor: 5" high-contrast multi-color display
- Weight: N/A
- Weight capacity: 275 lbs.
- Warranty: 10-year frame, 1-year parts and labor
If you're on a tighter budget, this option from Proform might be right up your alley. Priced well under $1,000, the Proform Carbon EL offers a number of features without costing you a fortune. There's a lot to love about the ProForm Carbon EL, starting with the fact that it makes it so easy to customize your workouts, and 18 quick-touch resistance buttons allow you to tweak your settings without disrupting your flow.
As with all of the ProForm ellipticals, this one is smooth, quiet, and built to last, with a reasonably small footprint and plenty of great iFIT workouts available. You get a 30-day iFIT membership with your purchase, which gives you a chance to try out the programs and see if it's worth a long-term investment. This is a great elliptical for first timers to consider, as it's both easy to master but also feature-rich.
What We Like
- Silent Magnetic Resistance ensures a quiet and smooth workout
- Easy to store
- Quick button controls for resistance
- Water bottle holder
- 30-day iFIT membership included
What We Don't Like
- The screen may be a bit small for some
- Larger footprint than other ProForm ellipticals
- Only supports up to 275 lbs.
ProForm Carbon E10
Specs
- Footprint: 25"W x 68.5"D x 67.75"H
- Resistance: 24 resistance levels
- Stride: 19" power adjustable
- Pedal style: Adjustable oversized cushioned pedals
- Handle style: N/A
- Bluetooth capability: Bluetooth speakers, Bluetooth headphones-compatible
- Monitor: 10" smart HD touchscreen
- Weight: N/A
- Weight capacity: 275 lbs.
- Warranty: 10-year frame, 2-year parts, 1-year labor
If you want a more basic elliptical that still packs in a lot of high-end features, the ProForm Carbon E10 may be right for you. The high-definition screen makes it easy to follow along with your interactive iFIT workouts, and to track your fitness stats. Oversized, adjustable cushioned pedals allow you to feel totally comfortable in your footwork, while the dual speakers and CoolAire fan make each workout that much more pleasurable.
What We Like
- Silent Magnetic Resistance ensures a quiet and smooth workout
- CoolAire™ fan
- Dual Bluetooth speakers
- Easy to store
- Water bottle holder
- 30-day iFIT membership included
What We Don't Like
- Larger footprint than other ProForm ellipticals
- Only supports up to 275 lbs.
ProForm Hybrid Trainer XT
Specs
- Footprint: 24.5"W x 70.5"D x 60.5"H
- Resistance: 16 resistance levels
- Stride: 15"
- Pedals style: Adjustable, oversized cushioned pedals
- Handle style: N/A
- Bluetooth capability: iFIT Bluetooth smart-enabled
- Monitor: 5" high-contrast multi-color screen
- Weight: N/A
- Weight capacity: 250 lbs.
- Warranty: 5-year frame, 1-year parts and labor
Here's something a little different: An elliptical machine that can seamlessly transition into a stationary bike. Hybrid machines offer a more full-body workout thanks to their ability to torch both the upper and lower body. And Proform's Hybrid Trainer XT is worth a second look. Essentially two machines in one, this is a great solution for anyone who wants a varied workout but has limited space in their home gym.
The actual elliptical portion is robust, offering a 15-inch stride and 16 levels of resistance, as smooth and as silent as with any other ProForm machine. And at just $1,403, this hybrid trainer packs in a ton of value for its price.
What We Like
- Silent Magnetic Resistance ensures a quiet and smooth workout
- 2-in-1 machine
- Great for smaller home gyms
- Easy to transition from bike to hike mode
- Fully adjustable pedals
- Easy to store
- 30-day iFIT family membership included
What We Don't Like
- Not everyone will be interested in the iFIT options
- Only supports up to 250 lbs.
- Warranty not quite as robust as with other ProForm models (but still pretty good)
BUY: ProForm Hybrid Trainer XT
Final Thoughts on the ProForm Elliptical Lineup
No matter what you're looking for in a home elliptical machine, you'll likely find it via ProForm. Their lineup of products offers options to meet every need, and to accommodate a wide range of budgets. We recommend ProForm ellipticals for home fitness enthusiasts who want to take advantage of iFIT, or who simply want sturdy equipment that will hold up well through many years of use.
ProForm Elliptical FAQs
Are Proform ellipticals any good?
ProForm ellipticals have a reputation for being very well-made, able to endure years of use and daily wear and tear. Additionally, they are made with adjustability in mind, making it easy to customize your home workout experience for maximum comfort and performance.
Is the elliptical better than walking?
Using an elliptical can be superior to walking, jogging, and other forms of cardio both for increasing the intensity of your calorie-burning and fat reduction and for eliminating strain on your knees and other joints. That said, there is ample merit to mixing things up, including a number of different cardio options within your personal workout routine.
Can you lose weight using an elliptical?
When combined with some strength training and sound nutrition, using an elliptical can be a great way to burn calories and ultimately lose weight. Of course, this does require a consistent, disciplined approach, and you shouldn't expect to see big results overnight. Remember that the biggest factor in weight loss is ensuring your body is in a calorie deficit, which means you're consuming fewer calories than you're burning.
About the Author
Josh is a journalist and writer whose work has appeared in magazines and local newspapers such as Christianity Today, IMAGE Journal, Relevant Magazine, FLOOD, The Nashville Scene, True Tunes, Rise Up Daily, and Looking Closer with Jeffrey Overstreet. Josh is an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast.
Get ACTIVE on the Go
Couch to 5K®
The best way to get new runners off the couch and across the finish line of their first 5K.
Available for iOS | Android
Discuss This Article