The key to choosing the best exercise equipment for seniors over 70 is to aim for low-impact workouts. Seniors over 70 with mobility issues and others who are able to stand for long periods will all benefit from this guide. In this guide, we share our five favorite pieces of home gym equipment for seniors with tips on how to get the most out of them.

Additionally, we share reviews of each of our picks with the related pros & cons to give you a better idea of what to expect from each machine. We think you’re going to like our first couple of picks because people of all ages can enjoy the workout these machines deliver without worry.

Before we share a helpful table of our top five picks, we want to share a brief list of exercise machines we like the most for seniors:

• Elliptical Trainers
• Recumbent Exercise Bikes
• Rowing Machines
• Arm Exercisers

Now that you have an idea of what we prefer for seniors, let’s check out an overview of the machines before moving along to the reviews.

The Best Exercise Equipment for Seniors

Reviews of the Best Exercise Equipment for Seniors

As promised, these machines are suitable for all seniors over 70. The most important first step is to consider mobility to decide which machine(s) suits you or your loved one the best. The easiest exercise machines for seniors to use are seated ellipticals or mini exercise bikes.

For spry seniors, the next rung up the ladder is a full-size elliptical or folding elliptical. Another great piece of exercise equipment that’s low-impact and gets the blood flowing is a recumbent bike or recumbent bike with arm exercisers.

The most challenging machine in our guide is the rowing machine. For this reason, it’s best to stick with a premium-quality rowing machine to avoid discomfort during your workout. That’s why we skipped over the budget rowing machines when we added our favorite rowing machine as a bonus pick above.

Below, we share reviews of the machines from the chart above to give you a better idea of how these machines work and what each machine offers.

#1) Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Mini Exercise Bike

The Sunny Health & Fitness mini exercise bike is perfect for seniors who have trouble standing for long periods or suffer from mobility issues. With this machine, you simply place it where you or your loved one plans to use it for easy access. A good spot to put it is near a TV or where you usually read to work out your legs while you relax.

Another advantage of this machine is that it also functions as a tabletop arm exerciser. The shape of the pedals allows for use with both hands & feet, and the adjustable strap helps to keep the user’s feet or hands in place during use. A second feature we like is the large tension control knob that’s placed on the front of the machine for easy access, especially when doing arm exercises.

While some seniors will have trouble picking up the machine at 21 lbs, it does feature a carry handle to make it easier to slide around the floor. For arm workouts, seniors over 70 or 80 will most likely need assistance to lift the machine onto a table. Lastly, the integrated LCD monitor is easy to read and gives the user a good ballpark figure for calories burned.

Pros

Cons

#2) Cubii Pro Compact Seated Elliptical

Another great seated exercise machine for seniors is the compact elliptical by Cubii. For seniors who are more tech-savvy, one of the greatest advantages of the Cubii machine is the fun phone app that helps keep people motivated. A second advantage is that the motion of the Cubii is more compact than the Sunny pedal exerciser above.

For seniors who work on the computer or prefer a piece of gym equipment to use while online rather than while watching TV, the Cubii fits the bill. Even owners of low desks will find that there’s enough clearance for the knees to move freely. Additionally, the compact design makes the Cubii easy to slide below a desk for most folks.

As far as operation, the Cubii is one of the quietest compact ellipticals on the market, if not the quietest. Whether you’re browsing online, watching TV, or reading, it’s highly unlikely that the Cubii will disturb you. In total, there are eight resistance levels, and the Cubii app allows the user to track strides, miles, and calories as well as interact with other Cubii users to compare stats. Finally, it’s compatible with FitBit and AppleHealthKit.

Pros

Cons

#3) Gazelle Edge Folding Elliptical

Now, let’s get off the couch and back on our feet with the Gazelle Edge by Tony Little. This folding elliptical is a perfect machine for seniors. It requires no electricity, no battery power, and it’s very low-impact. Additionally, the design of the machine makes it easy to mount and dismount.

Next, let’s talk about the versatile stride length. With the Gazelle, the user chooses between a short walking stride or a full-length running stride simply by moving their feet further. With electric elliptical machines, this isn’t possible since the pedals are on a track and/or require adjustments to alter the stride length.

A couple of final highlights of this machine are the wide non-skid pedals and padded high-density foam handlebars that are easy for seniors to grip. For seniors who desire a full-body, low-impact workout that requires no electricity, this is our favorite machine on the market.

Pros

Cons

#4) Sunny Health & Fitness Magnetic Recumbent Exercise Bike w/ Arm Exercisers

Another great piece of exercise equipment for seniors made by Sunny Health & Fitness is the company’s recumbent bike with arm movement. For seniors who have trouble standing and can’t use the Gazelle Edge or Schwinn ellipticals, this bike delivers a full-body workout without standing.

The first feature we like is the comfortable seat with a supportive padded backrest for extra comfort. Second, the step-through frame makes the bike easy to mount without the need to step up or over anything. Third, the machine features pulse sensors on the handlebars to track calories burned and to ensure you stay safely within the target heart rate zone for seniors.

Several final highlights are the easy-to-read LCD screen, adjustable seat with a lever for adjustments while seated, transport wheels for easier moving, eight resistance levels, and a high max user weight of 350 lbs. All in all, of the machines in this guide, this one gives you the most bang for your buck.

Pros

Cons

#5) Schwinn Compact Elliptical Machine

Schwinn manufactures a good elliptical for seniors in several versions. Of the models available, we prefer the 470 and A40 models for seniors. Comparatively, the 470 is Schwinn’s premium model, while the A40 is the most basic model of the bunch. At the time of this writing, the 470 costs about double the price of the A40, so it’s important to consider how much use the machine will get before choosing between the two models.

Having said that, the 470 is a beautiful exercise machine that delivers both easy and hard workouts with its 25 resistance levels. For families with seniors who desire a machine the whole family can use, this is definitely the best choice in our guide.

The onboard computer allows for the widest range of workouts along with Bluetooth connectivity to connect to the RunSocial app. We’re big fans of the RunSocial app because it allows the user to virtually travel the world while exercising. Additionally, this machine offers the most accurate fitness stat tracking, most programmable user profiles, and most pre-programmed workouts (29) of the machines in our guide.

Pros

Cons

Bottom Line

Now that you’ve reviewed our best exercise equipment for seniors, we feel you have a clear understanding of what’s available. These machines are excellent for senior bones because they’re low-impact, easy to mount/dismount, and the seated machines even accommodate seniors with mobility issues.

One final consideration is that if you prefer a better upper-body workout, a rowing machine is a good choice. Just keep in mind, that it is harder to use than the other machines in our guide. However, if you do opt for a rowing machine, it’s best to stick with Concept2 rowers for the most comfortable rowing experience. You’ll find that Concept2 rowers offer the widest range of resistance and smoothest operation of all rowers on the market.

Return to Our Top 5 Chart