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19 of the best cross trainers for runners to buy in 2024

Supplement your running fitness at home with our pick of the top elliptical trainers

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Sometimes, despite a deep-seated passion for running, you just need to mix up your training. Substituting some of your runs with another form of exercise can minimise injury, aid recovery and help you make those precious cardio gains. But what if we told you that shaking up your running routine could actually make you a better runner too? Step in the cross trainer...


Best cross trainers for runners in 2024

In a hurry? Here are the best cross trainers for runners at a glance. Keep scrolling for our full edit.

  • 1
    Commercial 9.9 Elliptical

    BEST CROSS TRAINER WITH BUILT-IN WORKOUTS

    NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical

    £999 at Amazon
    Read more
  • 2
    Magnetic Elliptical Cross Trainer

    BEST CROSS TRAINER ON A BUDGET

    Dripex Magnetic Elliptical Cross Trainer

    Read more
  • 3
    Elliptical Series 510E

    BEST SPACE-SAVING CROSS TRAINER

    Schwinn Fitness Elliptical Series 510E

    Read more
  • 4
    SpaceSaver SE7i

    BEST FOLDING CROSS TRAINER

    NordicTrack SpaceSaver SE7i

    Read more
  • 5
    2 in 1 Cross Trainer

    BEST 2-IN-1 CROSS TRAINER

    Neezee 2 in 1 Cross Trainer

    Read more

What is a cross trainer?

Also known as an elliptical trainer, a cross trainer is an exercise machine that targets the same muscles and cardio vascular system as running through climbing and power walking against resistance, but without the impact that running on a treadmill brings.

'A cross trainer is one of the most popular cardio machines in the gym. Comprised of two footrests and two handles that you push and pull, the cross trainer provides a full-body, low-impact workout,' says Dean Zweck from Total Fitness. 'To use a cross trainer, you move your feet in a striding pattern while pulling and pushing the handles to train multiple muscles at once.'


How do cross trainers compare with treadmills?

According to Zweck, there are a couple of key differences between using a cross trainer compared to a treadmill. 'Firstly, there is the impact – or lack of it when using a cross trainer,' he explains. 'When you run, typically a force of two to three times your body weight is absorbed by the body every time your foot strikes the floor. When multiplied by the volume of steps you take when you run, this is a lot of force and can cause muscle or joint pain. Cross trainers offer a zero-impact way to achieve similar results to running.'

Cross trainers also have the edge when it comes to overall fitness. 'Treadmills focus on speed and gradient to achieve intensity, whereas a cross trainer will use resistance,' adds Zweck. 'While both are great ways to train, cross trainers hold the advantage for strength and tone, particularly of the upper body, over a treadmill.'


What are the benefits of using a cross trainer?

Cross trainers have a number of benefits for runners – here are a handful of them.

Assists injury recovery and prevention

Because they're low impact, cross trainers can help you continue to train if you are injured. 'For the majority of avid runners, the temptation to push through your injuries to stick to your running plan, or hit your weekly targets is huge but not necessarily sensible,' says Zweck. 'Small injuries have the habit of intensifying if not managed correctly, and there is nothing more frustrating for a runner than to not be able to train.'

Lets you manage the intensity

It's also easier to monitor your training with a cross trainer. 'It is very easy to manage intensity while on a cross trainer by manipulating the resistance and steps per minute,' explains Zweck.

Works the upper body

While runners often have super strong calves, our upper-body strength can get overlooked. 'Cross trainers also strengthen and tone your arms (biceps and triceps, back, chest and core) giving it an advantage over running,' says Zweck. 'Depending on your goal, this may make the cross trainer a better choice to achieve multiple training results at once.'


Types of cross trainer

When choosing a cross trainer for your home, it's useful to know the different types that are available.

Magnetic

The first difference is how the resistance is achieved, whether magnetic or electromagnetic. 'Magnetic cross trainers are usually controlled by a knob or lever, whereas electromagnetic ones are controlled by a button on the console,' says Zweck. 'The electromagnetic versions have a much wider range of resistance and are more suited to the advanced exerciser but do cost a little more.'

Fly wheel

The second difference is where the fly wheel is located. 'The fly wheel is what creates the motion in the pedals,' explains Zweck. 'Some are located at the rear, while some are at the front. For a runner, you want to buy a rear-driven cross trainer, as the motion this creates is more alike to a natural running motion. Front-driven cross trainers are more circular or like climbing steps than running.


    Things to consider when shopping for a cross trainer

    From size to cost, it's worth considering the following points before you make a purchase:

    • Size: Check the size. 'You can get foldable cross trainers now which are great to save space,' says Zweck.
    Durability: How sturdy is it and does it have a warranty? 'Most home equipment is built to a decent standard but sometimes things break and after investing that money you don’t want to be out of pocket.'
    Cost: 'Ultimately the cross trainer you buy has to be suitable for your goal and situation, but also your budget,' adds Zweck.
    The console: How tech savvy are you? 'You may want to see power, speed, calories and distance as well as having Bluetooth connectivity to your favourite fitness wearables,' suggests Zweck.


    19 best cross trainers for runners to buy now

    From self-powered models to the latest in cutting-edge tech, keep scrolling for our pick of the best cross trainers on the market in 2024.

    1
    BEST CROSS TRAINER WITH BUILT-IN WORKOUTS

    NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical

    On Sale
    Commercial 9.9 Elliptical
    1
    BEST CROSS TRAINER WITH BUILT-IN WORKOUTS

    NordicTrack Commercial 9.9 Elliptical

    Now 33% Off
    £999 at Amazon£999 at Amazon

    This is so much more than a cross trainer — it's also a personal trainer and your own mini gym right in your own home. It includes access to trainer-led workouts courtesy of iFIT, with automatically adjusting resistance and incline — clever stuff.

    Complete with speakers, fan, touchscreen and wheels so you can easily move it around your home, plus the cushioned pedals are a nice touch.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel11kg
    Size173 x 74 x 174cm
    Max user weight159kg
    Stride length45-48cm adjustable
    2
    BEST CROSS TRAINER ON A BUDGET

    Dripex Magnetic Elliptical Cross Trainer

    On Sale
    Magnetic Elliptical Cross Trainer
    2
    BEST CROSS TRAINER ON A BUDGET

    Dripex Magnetic Elliptical Cross Trainer

    Now 13% Off

    This top-rated cross trainer is incredibly quiet, has eight different resistance levels and has wheels so you can easily roll it away once you've finished your workout.

    There's even a tablet holder so you can sesh Netflix while you sweat. Check the voucher box to save £30 today.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel6kg
    Size49 x 99 x 150cm
    Max user weight120kg
    Stride length35cm adjustable
    3
    BEST SPACE-SAVING CROSS TRAINER

    Schwinn Fitness Elliptical Series 510E

    On Sale
    Elliptical Series 510E
    3
    BEST SPACE-SAVING CROSS TRAINER

    Schwinn Fitness Elliptical Series 510E

    Now 19% Off

    We're big fans of this space-saving design. With a 46cm stride length and compact console, it's ideal for those who don't have a room dedicated to fitness (just us?) and want to tuck their cross trainer away in a corner.

    It has 16 levels of resistance, and, if you sync up with the Explore the World app, you can race 27 routes through 19 different locations alongside workout buddies. Competitive, us?

    Key specs

    Size1‎61 x 135 x 159cm
    Max user weight136kg
    Stride length46cm
    4
    BEST FOLDING CROSS TRAINER

    NordicTrack SpaceSaver SE7i

    On Sale
    SpaceSaver SE7i
    4
    BEST FOLDING CROSS TRAINER

    NordicTrack SpaceSaver SE7i

    Now 27% Off

    This is the perfect cross trainer for those who are short on space but still want a top-of-the-range piece of kit. Simply fold the handles and console down on this machine and you can then store it upright out of the way or tucked into a cupboard. Genius!

    And don't worry, you're not sacrificing any features – this elliptical has an impressive 22 levels of resistance, adjustable incline up to eight degrees and 24 built-in workouts.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel8kg rear drive
    Size203 x 81 x 180cm
    Max user weight135kg
    Stride length46cm
    5
    BEST 2-IN-1 CROSS TRAINER

    Neezee 2 in 1 Cross Trainer

    On Sale
    2 in 1 Cross Trainer
    5
    BEST 2-IN-1 CROSS TRAINER

    Neezee 2 in 1 Cross Trainer

    Now 16% Off

    Is it a cross trainer? It is an exercise bike? It's both! This clever piece of kit offers spinning and elliptical training in one neat package. The comfortable seat is fully adjustable, it has reassuringly grippy pedals and you can ramp up the magnetic resistance a la your favourite spin class with the tension adjustment dial.

    Psst — check the 'Apply £30 voucher' box to save!

    Key specs

    Fly wheel2.3kg front-mounted fly wheel
    Size100 x 48 x 150cm
    Max user weight120kg
    6
    BEST CROSS TRAINER FOR FUNCTIONALITY

    Viavito Sina Elliptical Cross Trainer

    On Sale
    Sina Elliptical Cross Trainer
    6
    BEST CROSS TRAINER FOR FUNCTIONALITY

    Viavito Sina Elliptical Cross Trainer

    Now 26% Off

    Tech-savvy runners will appreciate this clever machine that stacks up fairly small compared to some cross trainers on the market, but still comes with plenty of metrics to monitor your fitness goals.

    With 20 workout programmes and 32 levels to experiment with, it will definitely keep you busy. We particularly like the dual-colour backlit LCD display with hand-pulse sensors that provides accurate real-time heart rate info.

    It also allows you to store up to four different user profiles, making it a great cross trainer for the whole family to use.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel9kg rear drive
    Size132 x 55 x 170cm
    Max user weight120kg
    Stride length38cm
    7
    BEST HYBRID BIKE CROSS TRAINER

    ProForm Hybrid Trainer Elliptical

    Hybrid Trainer Elliptical
    7
    BEST HYBRID BIKE CROSS TRAINER

    ProForm Hybrid Trainer Elliptical

    If you can't decide between an exercise bike or a cross trainer, you'll be pleased to hear that you can now buy both with this clever hybrid machine.

    And if you've ever fancied traversing the Swiss Alps from the comfort of your own home while you're at it, you can do that too! This futuristic set up comes with an extensive workout library powered by Google Maps Street View, enabling you to sweat all over the world.

    What's more, it comes with eight elliptical and eight bike workouts to keep you occupied. Every home needs one of these.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel6kg rear drive
    Size180 x 64 x 154 cm
    Max user weight149kg
    Stride length38cm
    8
    BEST SELF-POWERED CROSS TRAINER

    DOMYOS Self-Powered Smart Cross Trainer EL540

    Self-Powered Smart Cross Trainer EL540
    8
    BEST SELF-POWERED CROSS TRAINER

    DOMYOS Self-Powered Smart Cross Trainer EL540

    Keen to replicate the great outdoors and train in your conservatory, garage or even in your back yard on a sunny day? This cross trainer is self-powered so you won't need a plug socket nearby to get to work.

    We found it to be a smooth, quiet ride that's surprisingly easy to move about the house (and yes, maybe we've dragged it in front of the TV more times than we'd care to mention).

    And with nine training programmes to keep us occupied we didn't miss the mains power. The smart console can still connect to fitness apps, and the 39cm stride length was perfect for our medium-height tester.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel9kg rear drive
    Size146 x 63 x 159cm
    Max user weight130kg
    Stride length39cm
    9
    BEST PORTABLE CROSS TRAINER

    JLL Fitness CT500 Elliptical Cross Trainer

    CT500 Elliptical Cross Trainer
    9
    BEST PORTABLE CROSS TRAINER

    JLL Fitness CT500 Elliptical Cross Trainer

    Wheels on this quality cross trainer make it easy to move around, from garden to garage and home gym to spare room.

    It has a tablet holder so you can Netflix binge while you burn calories, plus all the features you'd expect: 12 magnetic resistance levels, handle-mounted heart-rate sensors, a bottle holder, non-slip pedals and manual settings for time, distance and calorie targets.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel18kg
    Size152.4 x 57.8 x 16cm
    Max user weight110kg
    Stride length40cm
    10
    BEST WALKER-STYLE CROSS TRAINER

    Sunny Health and Fitness Air Walk Elliptical Trainer

    Air Walk Elliptical Trainer
    10
    BEST WALKER-STYLE CROSS TRAINER

    Sunny Health and Fitness Air Walk Elliptical Trainer

    This clever elliptical machine uses a swing motion, rather than a flywheel, to mimic a wide stride that will get your heart rate up in no time.

    It has a cushioned ab pad to encourage you to stand up straight (and stop you flying forwards!), while the dinky display lets you keep an half an eye on your stats while you devour the new season of Bake Off. Plus it folds up to half its size, so it's ideal for smaller spaces.

    Key specs

    Size156 x 48 x 138cm
    Max user weight95kg
    Stride length76cm
    11
    BEST CROSS TRAINER FOR MULTIPLE USERS

    JTX Fitness JTX Tri-Fit

    JTX Tri-Fit
    11
    BEST CROSS TRAINER FOR MULTIPLE USERS

    JTX Fitness JTX Tri-Fit

    With a 17kg flywheel this cross trainer is a serious piece of kit, so it's better suited to homes with floor space to spare. But thanks to ample stride length it's also a great all-rounder for the whole family to use.

    It comes with 16 levels of resistance and 12 workout programmes, including some cracking hill workouts to keep you sweating.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel17kg rear drive
    Size153 x 75 x 173cm
    Max user weight135kg
    Stride length40-51cm
    12
    BEST CROSS TRAINER WITH PERSONAL TRAINING

    NordicTrack Elliptical Cross Trainer C 5.5

    On Sale
    Elliptical Cross Trainer C 5.5
    12
    BEST CROSS TRAINER WITH PERSONAL TRAINING

    NordicTrack Elliptical Cross Trainer C 5.5

    This clever cross trainer from NordicTrack comes with a host of cool features, including Bluetooth speakers, adjustable strides and the option to add iFIT membership, for interactive personal training at home.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel7kg
    Size169 x 63 x 169cm
    Max user weight125kg
    Stride length46-51cm adjustable
    13
    BEST CROSS TRAINER FOR SMALL SPACES

    Pro Fitness XTS2000 2 in 1 Cross Trainer

    XTS2000 2 in 1 Cross Trainer
    13
    BEST CROSS TRAINER FOR SMALL SPACES

    Pro Fitness XTS2000 2 in 1 Cross Trainer

    If you live in a small apartment, this cross trainer is compact enough to squeeze into the corner without taking up too much space when not in use. But despite its diminutive size, it still comes with an impressive range of metrics to monitor your workouts, plus 16 different speeds and 12 user programmes to get your sweat on.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel6kg rear drive
    Size162 x 68 x 125cm
    Max user weight120kg
    Stride length33cm
    14
    BEST PREMIUM CROSS TRAINER

    Technogym Elliptical

    Elliptical
    14
    BEST PREMIUM CROSS TRAINER

    Technogym Elliptical

    Technogym stocks top-qual gyms around the world, and right now you can bring home a slice of the action for a discounted price. Yes, it’s still an investment, but you can pay monthly (currently £86.25).

    Thie foldable machine performs as it looks — sleek as hell. It's basically silent and super smooth, with 25 resistance levels and a max wattage of 600. Plus there's a secure tablet stand so you can enjoy the routines and guided workouts in the Technogym Live app.

    Key specs

    Size162 x 65 x 160cm (when in use), 75 x 65 x 160cm (when folded)
    Max user weight130kg
    Stride lengthVariable
    15
    BEST BUDGET CROSS TRAINER

    JLL Fitness CT300 Home Luxury Elliptical Cross Trainer

    CT300 Home Luxury Elliptical Cross Trainer
    15
    BEST BUDGET CROSS TRAINER

    JLL Fitness CT300 Home Luxury Elliptical Cross Trainer

    This is one of the best cross trainers you'll find for under £250, but that doesn't mean it's a lightweight piece of kit. It's well built, with eight levels of magnetic resistance and a 5.5kg flywheel, so expect to work hard.

    It comes with a handy tablet stand (so you can stream as you sweat), plus a console display and heart rate sensors. The 32cm stride length mean it might not to be suited to those on the taller side, but for everyone else it's a solid bet.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel5.5kg rear drive
    Size120 x 61 x 167cm
    Max user weight100kg
    Stride length32cm
    16
    BEST CROSS TRAINER FOR BEGINNERS

    JLL Fitness CT200 Home Elliptical Cross Trainer

    CT200 Home Elliptical Cross Trainer
    16
    BEST CROSS TRAINER FOR BEGINNERS

    JLL Fitness CT200 Home Elliptical Cross Trainer

    If you're new to the world of cross training and looking to work on your overall fitness, this machine still has an impressive set of features for the price tag. The 5kg bi-directional flywheel provides enough weight for a low-impact workout, while eight resistance settings will get your heart rate pumping.

    We particularly like the tablet holder so you can catch up on your favourite boxset while getting your sweat on. With 32cm stride length this is better suited to shorter runners, but if you're looking for a simple but effective option it's a great model for beginners.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel5kg bi-directional drive
    Size115 x 75 x 158cm
    Max user weight100kg
    Stride length32cm
    17
    BEST CROSS TRAINER FOR OCCASIONAL USE

    Opti 2-in-1 Air Cross Trainer and Exercise Bike

    On Sale
    2-in-1 Air Cross Trainer and Exercise Bike
    17
    BEST CROSS TRAINER FOR OCCASIONAL USE

    Opti 2-in-1 Air Cross Trainer and Exercise Bike

    Now 34% Off

    If price is a sticking point and you're only an occasional user, this 2-in-1 cross trainer and exercise bike is a great starting point.

    It's not the quietest model on our list, but if you're hoping to simply mix up your running and record your key stats in the process, this is a great compromise.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel1.9kg rear drive
    Size151 x 63 x 92cm
    Max user weight100kg
    Stride length27cm
    18
    BEST CHEAP CROSS TRAINER

    Sunny Health and Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Bike Cross Trainer

    Magnetic Elliptical Bike Cross Trainer
    18
    BEST CHEAP CROSS TRAINER

    Sunny Health and Fitness Magnetic Elliptical Bike Cross Trainer

    This cheap and cheerful cross trainer is simple to set up, with stabilisers to keep your workout steady and smooth, and a digital display showing time, speed, distance, calories and your pulse. With a short stride length, it's also great if you're tight on space.

    Key specs

    Size144 x 43 x 71cm
    Max user weight100kg
    Stride length28cm
    19
    BEST BASIC CROSS TRAINER

    DOMYOS Cross Trainer Essential 120

    Cross Trainer Essential 120
    19
    BEST BASIC CROSS TRAINER

    DOMYOS Cross Trainer Essential 120

    This cross trainer is aimed at beginners so it's fairly basic in design and functionality. But despite its simplicity it can still measure your calories, distance, time, speed and heart rate while you work out, and the 6kg fly wheel is weighty enough to provide a smooth ride.

    It's better suited to occasional use, but will still make a positive addition to your training routine.

    Key specs

    Fly wheel6kg rear drive
    Size115 x 75 x 158cm
    Max user weight100kg
    Stride length32cm
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