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12 best cross trainers for low-impact home workouts in 2023
Snap one of these up, stat
The best cross-trainers are a serious cut above your bog-standard models. They can be adapted to suit every ability, from beginners to gym aficionados, they're genuinely good value, and they're a guaranteed feel-good fix.
It's not easy to sort the best from the bog-standard though, which is why we curated this WH edit just for you.
Before you part with your pennies, here's everything you need to know about the best cross trainers.
The best cross trainers for 2023
Is a cross trainer good for weight loss?
Whether you're smashing out HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts or LISS (low-intensity steady state) exercise, the best cross-trainers can be a fantastic way to get sweaty and burn calories.
However, and this is an important caveat, losing weight comes down to consistent exercise, a healthy diet that's tailored to your goals and managing both your stress and sleep. It's also key to think about why you want to lose weight: favour the way you feel over aesthetics, always.
If you're hoping to shed weight for health reasons, going HAM on the cross trainer is probably going to do more harm than good. A balanced mix of cardio and strength workouts, as well as prioritising rest days and active recovery is the fastest way to safe, sustainable weight loss.
Can a cross trainer burn belly fat?
14,800 of you search for the best ways to lose belly fat each and every month, and if you've read our guide, you'll know that no, you cannot spot reduce body fat. Fact.
So, using a cross-trainer with the intention of losing belly fat won't work, nor would it with any other piece of equipment. What you can do is reduce your overall body fat percentage, which will help get rid of belly fat. That, and getting to grips with your macros – e.g. learning about the best macros for fat loss – will help you smash your goals that much more sustainably.
Is a cross trainer better than a treadmill?
The best exercise is the one you're actually going to do. If a treadmill is your thing (and you consistently jump on the ol' moving belt), then that's probably going to be the best option for you.
A cross trainer can be slightly easier on your joints if you're looking for a low-impact option but they'll both give you a good sweat. So let's get moving!
Women’s Health Lab approved
Our WH Lab expert testers set to work trialling the top cross trainers on the market before judging them on the following criteria:
Instructions: How simple the machines were to set up and whether included diagrams and instructions were clear and helpful.
Ease of use: How easy the machines were to mount and dismount, whether adjustments were foolproof and how simple it was to get started.
Design: How aesthetically pleasing they looked, whether they took up significant floor space and how comfortable they felt, even during long sessions.
Performance: Whether they felt smooth and stable at different speeds, if adjusting the resistance was a faff-free process and how loud the motor was.
Only the cross trainers that met our sky-high standards were awarded the esteemed Women’s Health Lab Approved logo below. Every other product has been hand-picked by our editors, who have put their considerable fitness knowledge to good use by bringing you their personal faves – just look for the Editor’s Choice logo.
So, let’s spice up that home workout, shall we?
Priyankaa is our senior health and wellness writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges.
She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more.
Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Bridie is Fitness Director at Women's Health UK. She spends her days sweating over new workouts, fitness launches and the best home gym kit so you have all that you need to get fit done. Her work has been published in Stylist, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and more. She’s also a part-time yoga teacher with a habit of nodding off mid savasana (not when she’s teaching, promise).
Yanar has spent 15 years as a health and wellness editor and writer for national titles such as Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Runner’s World. Yanar is a 580-hour yoga therapist, 200-hour yoga teacher and level 3 personal trainer at Yanar Mind & Movement. After years of running races and marathons, she discovered CrossFit and Olympic lifting in her mid-30s and fell in love with training and competing. She now advocates strength training for women to build a stronger body for life and the benefits of nervous system regulation for better physical and mental health. When not training, teaching or writing, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen.
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