The Best Cross Trainers and Ellipticals in Australia

Why buying a cross trainer in Australia is harder than it looks

The short answer: the best full-size cross trainer you can buy on Amazon Australia right now is the ProForm Carbon EL, but most shoppers are better served by a compact elliptical like the MERACH E09 or an under-desk unit that costs a third of the price. The reason this category is confusing is that "cross trainer" and "elliptical machine" describe the same low-impact, striding cardio machine, yet the search results are flooded with two very different things: genuine standing ellipticals, and cheap "5-in-1" bike-elliptical combos that ride nothing like a real cross trainer.

There is a second wrinkle unique to Australia. The full-size stride machines that reviewers love, the Lifespan, Bodyworx and Sole models you see at Rebel or Harvey Norman, cycle in and out of stock on Amazon AU constantly. On the day we pulled current listings, several well-known ellipticals showed no buy box at all. So this guide does something most roundups do not: every machine below was checked for a live Australian price and a real star rating before it earned a place. If a model is a ghost listing, it is in the competition section, not the picks.

The quick answer if you just want a recommendation

If you want a proper walk-on cross trainer with long stride and a tablet, buy the ProForm Carbon EL. If you want authentic elliptical motion without giving up half a room or a grand, the MERACH E09 is the value sweet spot. If you sit at a desk all day and just want your legs moving, the MERACH E32 under-desk elliptical is the cheapest and, across our six picks, the highest-rated. Everyone else falls somewhere between those three, and we have laid out exactly who each one suits below.

How the six machines compare at a glance

Here is the whole lineup in one view. "Type" matters more than price here: a full-size trainer stands you upright with moving handles, a compact elliptical gives you a real striding pedal path in a smaller frame, and an under-desk unit is a seated pedal exerciser you tuck beneath a table.

How we chose these cross trainers

NestPath does not run a lab, and we will never pretend to. We research and study the market the way a careful buyer would, then filter hard. Every machine here was screened against live Amazon Australia data: it had to be genuinely available with an Australian buy-box price, carry a real customer star rating with at least a few reviews behind it, and sit at a sensible price for its class. Any listing showing a price two or more times above the going rate was treated as a reseller artefact and dropped.

For ratings we lean on aggregated Australian review data rather than a single sample, because a machine with 2,000 ratings tells you far more than one with three. We also read the actual review text to surface the failure patterns owners report, wobble, assembly headaches, resistance ceilings, so the "flaws" notes below reflect what real Australians say after living with these machines, not marketing copy. Specs such as stride length, resistance levels and weight capacity are copied from each product listing, not estimated.

The best full-size cross trainer: ProForm Carbon EL

If you picture a cross trainer as the tall gym machine with long moving handles and a proper striding gait, the ProForm Carbon EL is the only true full-size unit in this lineup, and it is the one to buy if you have the floor space and the budget. It pairs a 48cm stride with 18 levels of magnetic resistance and a 5-inch display, and it is built on a steel frame with a lifetime frame warranty behind it. At $1,744.05 it is comfortably the priciest of our six picks, but it is also the only one that delivers the full-body, heart-rate-lifting workout most people actually mean when they say "elliptical".

The 48cm stride is the headline. Longer strides let taller users open up their gait instead of shuffling, which is where a compact machine starts to feel like a toy. The Carbon EL also carries a device shelf and Bluetooth for iFIT streaming, so you can prop a tablet up and follow a class, and the oversized pedals give you a stable platform for longer sessions. A 125kg user weight limit covers most households, and the magnetic resistance is quiet enough for an apartment or a shared wall.

The honest catch is review depth. This is a newer listing, so it carries a strong 4.6 star rating but only a handful of Australian reviews so far, which is why we lean on ProForm's long track record and the machine's spec sheet rather than a huge review pile. It is also heavy at over 80kg assembled, so plan where it lives before it arrives.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It is big, it is heavy, and assembly is a two-person job that eats an afternoon. The 125kg weight limit is lower than some rivals, and the review count is still thin, so buyers who need reassurance from hundreds of ratings may want to wait. For anyone with the room, though, none of that undoes the fact that it is the only proper walk-on trainer here.

The best value elliptical: MERACH E09

The MERACH E09 is the machine we would point most first-home buyers toward. It is a genuine magnetic elliptical, not a combo bike, with a 39cm stride, 16 resistance levels and a striking 159kg weight capacity, and it lands at just $559.99. It carries a 4.5 star rating across 87 reviews, the deepest review base of any real stride machine we could actually buy in Australia, and it ships about 90 percent pre-assembled so you are riding within half an hour.

What you are trading away versus the ProForm is stride length and stature. At 39cm the stride is shorter, so very tall users will notice a more compact gait, and the frame sits lower and closer than a full gym unit. In return you get a machine that fits a spare bedroom or a corner of the lounge, moves on transport wheels, and runs on a hyper-quiet magnetic drive that owners repeatedly describe as silent enough to use while someone else sleeps. The 159kg capacity is the highest in our lineup and makes it one of the more reassuring choices for heavier users.

The onboard monitor tracks time, speed, distance, calories and pulse, and the MERACH app adds guided programs, with Kinomap compatibility if you want scenic rides. For the money, the combination of a real elliptical stride, a serious weight rating and a proven review score is hard to beat, which is why it is our value pick.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The shorter stride is the main compromise, and a couple of reviewers found assembly fiddly despite the pre-build. The pulse grips are indicative rather than medical-grade, as they are on almost every machine at this price. None of that changes the core value story: real elliptical motion, quietly, for a bit over $300.

The cheapest way in: MERACH E32 under-desk elliptical

Not everyone wants a machine in the middle of the room. The MERACH E32 is a seated, under-desk elliptical that costs just $139.99, making it the cheapest pick here, and at 4.5 to 4.7 stars it is also the highest-rated of our six machines. It is motorised with 12 speed levels, a remote control and both automatic and manual modes, so you can nudge your legs along while you work, watch TV or recover from an injury without ever standing up.

This is a different tool from a standing cross trainer, and it is important to be clear about that. You will not get your heart rate soaring or build serious fitness on it. What you get is gentle, joint-friendly movement that is genuinely easy to keep up because the machine is right there under the desk. Australian reviewers repeatedly praise it for rehab, for stiff knees and hips, and for elderly parents, and the remote is a small but real win because you adjust speed without bending down. It stands under 19cm tall, tucks away easily, and includes upper-body resistance bands for arms and shoulders.

Think of it as the "movement snacking" option: the machine you use for two hours of low-effort pedalling across a workday rather than a 30-minute sweat session. For a lot of desk-bound Australians, that is exactly the habit that sticks.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The resistance tops out gently, so fit users chasing a workout will find it too easy, and one reviewer flagged that the manual reads like a rough translation. It is a leg-mover, not a cardio machine, and judged on those terms it is excellent value.

The most-trusted under-desk pick: DeskCycle Ellipse

If you like the under-desk idea but want the most proven option, the DeskCycle Ellipse is the one. At $319.00 it costs more than the MERACH E32, but it backs that up with a 4.6 star rating across more than 2,000 reviews, by far the deepest track record of any machine in this guide. It uses smooth magnetic resistance across 8 levels, a heavy precision flywheel and a sturdy steel-and-plastic base that owners say stays put instead of sliding around under the desk.

The Ellipse leans into being a serious sit-and-pedal tool rather than a gadget. It is deliberately heavy at around 14kg, which is the point: it does not scoot away when you push. The extra-long pedals let you shape your own motion, more up-and-down or more horizontal depending on foot placement, and the removable 6-function display lifts out to sit on your desktop where you can actually read it. Reviewers who cannot walk far, or who spend all day in video meetings, describe it as whisper quiet and almost impossible not to use once it is parked under the desk.

It is manual rather than motorised, so unlike the MERACH E32 you power it yourself, which some people prefer because it feels more like exercise and less like a massage. If you want the safest, most reviewed under-desk buy and do not mind paying a little extra for a name with a long history, this is it.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It is heavy to shift once positioned, which a few owners note when they want it out of the way, and there is no motor or remote. Those are the trade-offs for a unit built to last, and at this review depth the reliability story is about as reassuring as it gets.

The connected desk option: Cubii JR2

The Cubii JR2 is the under-desk elliptical for people who are motivated by data. At $349.00 it is the most expensive seated unit here, and its 4.3 star rating across 423 reviews sits a touch below the DeskCycle, but it is the one that connects to an app, syncs with Fitbit and turns your quiet desk pedalling into tracked, gamified progress you can compete on with friends.

Mechanically it is a compact, manual, 8-level magnetic elliptical designed to slip under a desk with an ergonomic angle that avoids banging your knees on the desk edge. The LCD shows strides, distance, calories and time, and the Bluetooth app is the real differentiator: for the kind of person who only sticks with a habit when they can see the numbers climb, that feedback loop is worth the premium. Australian owners with lymphoedema, back issues and other low-impact needs single it out for gentle, drainage-friendly movement.

The same reviews are honest about its limits. The resistance, even maxed out, is light, so this is squarely a keep-moving machine rather than a fitness builder, and one owner reported a clicking noise developing after a week of heavy office use. If tracking and connectivity are what will keep you consistent, though, the Cubii earns its spot.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It is dearer than better-reviewed rivals, the top resistance is easy, and build quality reports are a little more mixed than the DeskCycle's. For the data-driven desk worker, the app makes up a lot of ground.

The combo everyone cross-shops: Everfit 5-in-1

You cannot research cross trainers in Australia without tripping over Everfit's "5-in-1" and "4-in-1" elliptical bikes, so it is worth addressing them head on. The Everfit 5-in-1 is available at $199.95 with a 3.9 star rating across 78 reviews, and it is genuinely cheap. But it is a bike-elliptical hybrid with dumbbells and bands bolted on, not a dedicated stride trainer, and that is why it sits at the bottom of our list rather than in the value slot.

The catch with these combos is concentration and compromise. One budget brand dominates the entire cheap end of this category on Australian marketplaces, which means the "best budget cross trainer" lists you see are often just the same handful of Everfit combos reshuffled. And because each combo tries to be a spin bike, an elliptical and a strength setup at once, it does none of them as well as a purpose-built machine. The elliptical motion on a seated combo is short and bike-like, not the long open stride you get from the MERACH E09 or the ProForm.

Buy it if your priority is spending under $300 on a do-everything cardio starter and you are relaxed about the ride quality. If you specifically want the striding, low-impact feel of a real cross trainer, spend a little more on the MERACH E09 or step down to a focused under-desk unit instead.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The 3.9 rating is the lowest here, the elliptical stride is short and seated rather than true walk-on, and the "5-in-1" framing spreads the budget thin across features you may never use. As a cheap all-rounder it is fine; as a cross trainer it is a compromise.

What to look for in a cross trainer

The single most important number is stride length. It is the distance your feet travel on each pass, and it decides whether the machine feels like walking or shuffling. Around 33 to 40cm suits most people, 40cm and up is more comfortable for taller users, and anything under 30cm, common on cheap combos and under-desk units, gives a cramped, bike-like motion. If you are over about 180cm, prioritise stride above almost everything else.

Resistance type is next. Magnetic resistance is smooth, quiet and near maintenance-free, and every machine we recommend uses it. Older or very cheap units sometimes use manual tension pads that wear and squeak. More resistance levels give you more room to progress, but the quality of the magnetic system matters more than the raw number of steps.

Flywheel weight and drive position shape the feel. A heavier flywheel gives a smoother, less jerky glide. Front-drive and rear-drive full-size trainers ride slightly differently, but for home use either is fine; consistency and a stable frame matter more than the layout. Check the user weight capacity too, as it is a good proxy for overall build strength, and confirm the footprint and whether it folds, because a cross trainer is a large object that has to live somewhere permanently.

Finally, be realistic about console and apps. Heart-rate grips are indicative, not medical, on almost every home machine. App connectivity and streaming classes are genuinely useful for motivation, but they are the cherry on top, not the reason to choose a machine. Stride, resistance quality and frame stability come first.

Care and maintenance

Cross trainers are low-maintenance, but a few habits keep them quiet and safe. Every couple of weeks, wipe down the frame and pedals to clear sweat and dust, and check that the pedal bolts and handle fasteners are still tight, because the most common cause of a new creak or wobble is a fastener that has worked loose during the first month of use. Owners of the ProForm and MERACH machines both note that squeaks almost always trace back to assembly rather than a fault.

Put the machine on a protective mat. It stops the unit sliding on floorboards, dampens noise for anyone below you, and protects the floor from foot-load and the odd drop of sweat. Keep magnetic machines away from damp areas, give the moving joints an occasional check for play, and if your model has a corded motor or console, run the cable where it will not be stepped on. For under-desk units, the non-slip mat and foot straps do most of the safety work, so use them. Treated gently, a good magnetic elliptical will outlast several phones.

You will also want these

A few inexpensive extras make any cross trainer or elliptical far more pleasant to live with:

• An equipment floor mat to protect floorboards, cut noise and stop the machine sliding.
• A heart-rate chest strap for far more accurate readings than the handlebar grips.
• A tablet or phone holder if your machine does not include a shelf, for classes and shows.
• An insulated water bottle so you actually stay hydrated through longer sessions.
• A microfibre gym towel to keep sweat off the console and grips.
• A resistance band set to round out a home routine with upper-body work.

The competition: what we left off and why

Plenty of well-regarded machines are missing here, and the reason is almost always Australian stock. The Lifespan X-41 and Lifespan XT-39, the Bodyworx EFX420 and the premium Sole E35 are the models specialist reviewers rate most highly, and if you can find them in stock at Rebel, Harvey Norman, Myer or a dedicated fitness retailer they are worth a serious look. On Amazon Australia, though, they repeatedly show no buy box, and we will not recommend a machine you cannot actually add to a cart.

We also passed on several standing ellipticals from brands like pooboo, OWLSKY and Tantisy. Some are decent on paper, but on the day we checked they were either out of stock, priced at obvious reseller markups of double the norm, or too thin on reviews to trust. The Powertrain reversible elliptical bike is a real machine at a fair price, but it currently carries no customer ratings at all, so it did not clear our bar.

Finally, do not confuse a cross trainer with its cousins. A treadmill is higher impact, an exercise bike works a narrower range of muscles, and a rowing machine loads your back and arms more. The whole appeal of an elliptical is the low-impact, full-body stride, which is exactly why it suits joints that a treadmill would punish.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best cross trainer for a home in Australia?

For a full-size machine with a long stride and a tablet shelf, the ProForm Carbon EL is the best cross trainer you can currently buy on Amazon Australia. If you want real elliptical motion in a smaller, cheaper package, the MERACH E09 is the value choice, and if you only want gentle movement at a desk, the MERACH E32 under-desk elliptical is the cheapest option.

Are under-desk ellipticals as good as a full-size cross trainer?

No, and they are not meant to be. Under-desk ellipticals like the DeskCycle Ellipse, Cubii JR2 and MERACH E32 are seated leg-movers for gentle, all-day activity, rehab and desk workers. They will not raise your heart rate or build fitness the way a standing cross trainer such as the ProForm Carbon EL will. They win on price, footprint and how easy they are to actually use every day.

What stride length do I need on an elliptical?

Around 33 to 40cm suits most adults. Taller users, roughly over 180cm, are more comfortable at 40cm and above, which is why the ProForm's 48cm stride feels so natural. Anything under 30cm, typical of budget combos and under-desk units, gives a short, cramped, bike-like motion rather than a true walking stride.

Is a cross trainer bad for your knees?

Generally the opposite. A cross trainer keeps your feet on fixed pedals through a smooth elliptical path, so there is no impact shock the way there is when running. That makes it one of the more joint-friendly options for people with knee, hip or back sensitivity. If you have a specific injury, check with a physio, but low impact is the whole reason these machines exist.

Why are so many cross trainers out of stock on Amazon Australia?

Full-size ellipticals are bulky, heavy to ship and stocked in small numbers, so popular models from Lifespan, Bodyworx and Sole sell through and show no buy box for stretches at a time. That is why this guide only recommends machines that were genuinely available with an Australian price when we checked, and lists the out-of-stock favourites in the competition section instead.

Magnetic or manual resistance, which is better?

Magnetic resistance is better for almost everyone. It is smoother, much quieter and effectively maintenance-free, which is why every machine we recommend uses it. Manual tension systems on very cheap units can squeak and wear over time. The quality of the magnetic drive matters more than the number of resistance levels on the box.

Build the rest of your home gym

A cross trainer is one piece of the puzzle. If you are kitting out a first home, these NestPath guides pair naturally with it:

• The best treadmills in Australia for when you want higher-impact running as well.
• The best exercise bikes in Australia, the other classic low-impact cardio option.
• The best rowing machines in Australia for a full-body pull instead of a stride.
• The best walking pads in Australia if a desk treadmill suits your space better.
• The best exercise mats in Australia to protect your floors under any machine.
• The best resistance bands in Australia to round out a strength routine.
• Our full home gym setup guide for planning the whole room.

About the author

Anish Puri founded NestPath in 2026 after going through the Australian first-home-buyer process himself. NestPath focuses on Australian first-home buyers because the existing review sites are American, generic, or both. Anish handles editorial selection across the homeowner hub. Reach out: hello@nestpath.com.au