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#1 Nautilus Elliptical Review

Chris L.
January 21, 2021

Nautilus ellipticals are a great value for the advantages they provide. Each machine offers an impressive array of pre-built programs, so you're never bored. Plus, you can exercise smartly with the ergonomic pedals and handlebars to push your entire body to the limit.

Is the Nautilus Elliptical best for you?

There are many reasons why Nautilus ellipticals continue to be popular. They're incredibly sleek machines that look like they belong in a gym rather than a living room. And a lot of people seem to think that these machines are exceptionally quiet, barely making a noise as you work up a sweat.

However, the main attraction rests in the level of customization at your disposal. Multiple people can create user profiles, so you can keep track of your own progress over time. You can even customize the workouts themselves so that they work ideally for whatever your fitness goals might be.

Consider Nautilus Elliptical if...

  • You need your whole body engaged in the workout. These ellipticals feature moving handlebars and rotating pedals. Both of these allow you to engage with different muscle groups, allowing you to work out multiple areas of your body at the same time.
  • You want program variety. Depending on the model, you get between 22 and 29 preset programs in your elliptical. The Nautilus E616 is the most advanced in this regard with 29 programs to choose from.
  • You like multi-tasking. Nautilus ellipticals include dual monitors. These allow you to keep track of your progress while keeping your tablet ahead of you to watch TV or read a book.

Avoid Nautilus Elliptical if...

  • You need clearer assembly instruction. A lot of reviews indicate the company could do a better job of writing the assembly instructions. You may also need assistance from another person when putting it together as it can get fairly heavy.
  • You want a lifetime frame warranty. A lot of ellipticals out there give you lifetime coverage on the frame. Nautilus is one of the few brands that gives you substantially less with only 10 years.
  • You like a heavier flywheel. Nautilus ellipticals come with 17-pound flywheels. That's less than what you can get elsewhere, and it can lead to the machine not feeling as stable as you'd like.

Nautilus Elliptical pros & cons

Pros

  • USB media charging port
  • Commercial-grade frame
  • Motorized incline
  • Personal profiles

Cons

  • Limited warranty
  • Light flywheel

Construction and design

  • Flywheel: The most advanced Nautilus elliptical model, the E616, gives you a 17-pound flywheel.
  • Pedals: All machines come with oversized foot pedals so that you enjoy greater stability as you exercise.
  • Handlebars: The moving handlebars allow you to engage with your arms muscles as much as your legs.
  • Console: Several of the ellipticals from Nautilus include dual screens, making it easier to multi-task.
  • Resistance: These machines include magnetic resistance for smooth, quiet operation. You also get up to 25 levels of resistance to continually challenge yourself.
  • Built-in Programs/Features: You can expect between 20 and 29 programs with your machine that focus on an array of health standards.

Key Nautilus Elliptical Specs

Pedals
Oversized
Stride Length
18"
Heart/Pulse Sensor?
Hand grips
Resistance
Magnetic
Built-in Programs?
Up to 29
Max Weight Capacity
Up to 350 pounds
Size (Dimensions)
27" x 73" x 67"
Foldable?
No
Warranty
10 years on frame, 2 years on parts, 1 year on electronics, and 90 days on labor

Reasons to buy Nautilus Elliptical?

  1. You're on a budget. Nautilus is known for making affordable gym equipment. You can get a great elliptical without spending an arm and a leg.
  2. You prefer peace and quiet. These machines are designed to be as quiet as possible. It's made to be sturdy and silent to help you work out in total tranquility.
  3. You like a customizable experience. You can create a personal profile on a Nautilus elliptical to store your data and develop personalized workouts that work for your goals.

Reasons to avoid Nautilus Elliptical?

  1. You want easier access to your water bottle. While these machines come with water bottle holders, it appears as though they aren't in an ideal spot. You may need to watch where your hands go, or you could end up smacking yourself quite a bit.

What real Nautilus Elliptical reviews say

We spent 18 hours scouring the web (reading over 253 customer reviews). Our conclusion? Nautilus ellipticals receive high praise! Our average consolidated user rating sits around a 4.6 - 4.8 (across several hundred reviews). Nautilus ellipticals scored higher, on average, compared to their closest competitors.

What reviewers like

  1. "No impact on my knees and joints and lots of programs."
  2. "The fan is super nice and keeps you cool."
  3. "It's nice to be able to plug in my ipod to charge while I workout and the speakers on the front are awesome if I don't feel like wearing headphones."
  4. "The elliptical has enough monitoring and tech (e.g. iPhone connectivity) to satisfy me without going crazy with all types of social interactions via exercise programs."
  5. "As far as functionality this thing is extremely solid and smooth while using it."

What reviewers dislike

  1. "The stride is shorter than on our last elliptical, which seems to result in taking a taller step during the stride."
  2. "I spent about 3 hours assembling this unit."
  3. "The cheap tools shipped with the unit will get the job done, but I found using real wrenches and screw drivers got a faster/better result."
  4. "The item seems to shake a bit at high speeds, even though it was properly assembled."
  5. "It does feel a like a stair stepper more than I would like."

Our verdict

You can make out pretty well with a Nautilus elliptical. The brand is known for its affordability, and with that low price tag, you end up with a decent assortment of features. Nautilus offers some of the best variety of preset workout programs, and depending on the model you want, you can even take advantage of Bluetooth.

While you can save money with Nautilus, it's important to look at the warranty carefully. It doesn't cover everything and is drastically shorter compared to the competition. Fortunately, many consumers state how well-built and sturdy thee machines really are, so the shorter warranty may not be that big of an issue.

Where to buy Nautilus Elliptical

Amazon has a number of Nautilus ellipticals for the best prices anywhere. Plus, you get to enjoy Amazon's fast, free shipping.