ANCHEER Elliptical Exercise Machine, Elliptical Training Machines for Home

Why it's worth it

The ANCHEER uses magnetic resistance for near-silent pedaling and claims a 500-pound weight capacity, which is far beyond what most home ellipticals handle. The catch is a 16-inch stride that's shorter than what taller riders need.

Magnetic resistance is the reason this thing is so quiet. Nothing rubs against anything, so there's no friction pad wearing down and no whine building up over the months. Owners consistently describe it as near-silent and steadier than they expected for the money. If you live above someone, or you want to work out while a kid naps down the hall, that quiet is worth more than any feature on the console.

The 500-pound capacity is the headline, and it's a genuinely rare number. Most home ellipticals top out somewhere around 250 to 300 pounds, which quietly rules them out for a lot of people. ANCHEER builds this one on a reinforced steel frame with the weight distributed for stability, and larger owners report it holding up without the flex and creak they'd found elsewhere. If you've been struggling to find equipment rated for you, start here.

From our review of 4 home cardio machines, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +Magnetic resistance is the reason this thing is so quiet
• +The 500-pound capacity is the headline, and it's a genuinely rare number
• +It's compact enough to live in a normal room
• +The console keeps it simple: an LCD showing time, speed, distance and calories, plus hand pulse sensors for a rough heart rate…

What to know

• –The 16-inch stride is the real limitation
• –At 66 pounds, the frame is light for a machine rated to 500 pounds
• –The lifetime warranty and free replacement parts sound generous, but a promise like that is only as good as the company standing…