Compact ellipticals for people over 1.85 m
Two things fail tall people on a small elliptical: a short stride and a low ceiling. Both checked for a 1.90 m user under a 2.50 m ceiling.
0 great fits and 2 good ones, out of 5 models.
Above 1.85 m, a small elliptical fails in two places at once.
The stride. It is how far the pedal travels front to back. At 35–38 cm, common on cheap ones, a tall user takes baby steps and ends up with sore knees and hips. At 45 cm (18 in) you walk well up to 1.90 m; at 50 cm (20 in) the step is natural beyond that. The catch: 20-inch strides are almost never compact.
The ceiling. Above the pedal at its highest point stands you. A pedal that rises 40–50 cm off the floor plus 1.90 m of person is 2.30–2.40 m before the bounce of walking. Under a 2.50 m ceiling that is tight; in an older flat with a beam, it may not fit. Some makers publish their rule ("your height + 52 cm"); when not, we give the pedal height so you can work it out.
We check both for a 1.90 m user under a 2.50 m ceiling, the usual clear height in Spanish homes.
The ones we recommend for this
Derived from the dataNo model in this guide is a great fit yet; these come closest.
- + Floor mat:BalanceFrom mat 76 × 152 cmcovers it fully
- + Floor mat:Gorilla Mats 183 × 122 cmcovers it fully
- + Floor mat:BalanceFrom mat 76 × 152 cmcovers it fully
The verdict for each model
Derived from the data| Model | Verdict | In uselength × width × height | Floor area | Foldedlength × width × height | Max user weight | Cushioning | Stride | Ceiling needed | Resistance | Machine weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BowFlex Max Trainer M6 | Good | 117 × 66 × 163 cm | 0.77 m² | Does not fold | 136 kg | Not needed: no impact, feet stay on the pedals | Vertical (no stride) | Your height + 52 cm | Air and magnetic · 16 levels | 61.7 kg | $999 |
| Sole E25 | Good | 177.8 × 61 × 177.8 cm | 1.08 m² | Does not fold | 159 kg | Not needed: no impact, feet stay on the pedals | 50.8 cm | Pedal 35.6 cm off the floor | Magnetic · 20 levels | Not published | — |
| Schwinn 411 | Limited | 136.6 × 61 × 158.8 cm | 0.83 m² | Does not fold | 136 kg | Not needed: no impact, feet stay on the pedals | 45.7 cm | Not published | Magnetic · 16 levels | 45.4 kg | — |
| Sportstech CX608 | Not suitable | 122 × 62 × 164 cm | 0.76 m² | Does not fold | 120 kg | Not needed: no impact, feet stay on the pedals | 35 cm | Not published | Magnetic · 8 levels | 39 kg | — |
| Cecotec Elliptical 9000 EIR Pro | Not suitable | 165 × 62 × ? cm | 1.02 m² | Does not fold | 130 kg | Not needed: no impact, feet stay on the pedals | 38 cm | Not published | Motorised magnetic | 50.8 kg | — |
- Vertical stepper: no stride to outgrow, the ceiling is what limits
- A 1.90 m user needs 242 cm of ceiling: fits under 2.50 m
- Sole E25Good
- 50.8 cm stride: natural for users over 1.85 m
- Pedals start 35.6 cm above the floor; check the ceiling (about 240.6 cm at 1.90 m)
- Schwinn 411Limited
- 45.7 cm stride: enough up to about 1.90 m
- Pedal height not published: measure your ceiling against your height + 50 cm
- Sportstech CX608Not suitable
- 35 cm stride: too short above 1.75 m
- Pedal height not published: measure your ceiling against your height + 50 cm
- Cecotec Elliptical 9000 EIR ProNot suitable
- 38 cm stride: too short above 1.75 m
- Pedal height not published: measure your ceiling against your height + 50 cm
Frequently asked questions
What stride do I need if I'm over 1.85 m?
At least 45 cm (18 in); ideally 50 cm (20 in). Under 40 cm you will take short steps.
What ceiling height do I need for an elliptical?
Your height plus how high the pedal rises plus a few centimetres. At 1.90 m with a pedal reaching 50 cm, about 2.45 m.
Does a vertical Max Trainer suit tall users?
It has no stride to outgrow, but the ceiling rules: BowFlex asks for your height + 52 cm for the M6, 2.42 m at 1.90 m.