Echelon Ellipse EL-5 Review: An Elliptical for a Low-Impact Yet Challenging Workout

These days, more and more people are outfitting their home gyms with large cardio equipment previously only seen in big box gyms. Stationary bikes, treadmills, and rowing machines have arrived in droves, and alongside them sits the humble elliptical. The elliptical is an incredibly versatile, accessible and low-impact option when it comes to cardio, albeit not one I’ve often used. So when the opportunity came to try out the Echelon Ellipse EL-5 (I’ve owned an Echelon Row-S rowing machine for a few years now), I jumped on it. Here are my thoughts on one of Echelon’s newest pieces of cardio equipment.

Echelon Ellipse EL-5

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Echelon Ellipse EL-5 unboxing and first impressions

While I was ultimately happy with the Echelon Ellipse EL-5, my first impressions were admittedly not great and unboxing was quite intimidating. Elliptical machines, by design, have a lot of moving parts (literally) and this machine arrived requiring complete assembly. I consider myself pretty good at putting things together, having assembled everything from dressers and bookcases to rowing machines and fire pits, but this was a challenge. I felt like the pieces could have been better labeled and the instructions could have been clearer. I was not entirely confident I was doing things correctly until I finished and actually used the machine.

All that said, this video from Echelon was quite helpful when I wasn’t sure if I was doing things right. I got in touch with someone from Echelon support who was helpful, as well.

Echelon Ellipse EL-5 pros and cons

Echelon Ellipse EL-5 price

Full price for the Ellipse EL-5 is $1,599.99, but Echelon does frequently have sales that will reduce the price by a couple hundred dollars at a time.

Echelon Ellipse EL-5

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Echelon Ellipse EL-5 specifications

• Power: Must be plugged into standard outlet
• Display: 5.5-inch backlit LCD display
• Resistance: Controlled on the console, levels 1 to 32
• Incline: Controlled on the console, levels 1 to 15
• Speakers: 2-watt speakers with Bluetooth connectivity
• Fan: 2-speed fan
• Heart rate sensors: Pulse sensors on stationary handlebars
• Dimensions: 81 inches x 27 inches x 67 inches
• Product weight: 228 pounds
• Max user weight: 325 pounds
• Stride length: 20 inches

Echelon Ellipse EL-5: Is it for you?

It’s been over ten years since an elliptical machine was a consistent part of my workout routine. That said, having the Ellipse EL-5 as an option over these last couple weeks has been really enjoyable and I can see it fitting into almost anybody’s home gym and workout routine. One of the elliptical benefits is it’s low-impact, meaning it is gentle on the joints, so it’s accessible to all ages and fitness levels.

What’s more, the elliptical can be anything you want it to be. Some of the most challenging cardio workouts I’ve done in a long time took place on the Ellipse EL-5 over the past few weeks, thanks to the classes available through the Echelon App (more on those below). And on days I wasn’t looking to jack up my heart rate, it was there for some sweat-inducing endurance work. Not to mention that using an elliptical engages the abdominal muscles much more than I remembered. It’s an excellent full-body workout.

Is the Echelon Ellipse EL-5 worth it?

If you look at some of the best ellipticals available, you’ll notice a wide variety of price points, with the Ellipse EL-5 falling in the upper half. The prices of these machines—and ultimately why I do think the Ellipse EL-5 is worth purchasing—seems to be connected to two key specs: stride length and resistance levels. More specifically, the longer the stride length and the more resistance levels available, the higher the price. Coincidentally, a longer stride length and more resistance levels also (in my opinion) mean a more efficient, more challenging workout. Considering that the Ellipse EL-5 has one of the longest stride lengths and the most resistance levels on the market, I believe it’s worth a shot.

Echelon Ellipse EL-5 performance

Once I began using the Ellipse EL-5, I really enjoyed it. The pedals and handlebars are responsive and the machine itself feels smooth at all resistance levels. It was easy to get into a consistent, sustainable rhythm and the machine felt stable even at higher speeds. It takes virtually no time to power on after you flip the switch, so there’s no waiting around when you’re short on time and want to squeeze a workout in.

Dimensions and storability

If you’re looking for a small elliptical you can tuck into the corner of your bedroom or a living area when you’re not using it, I wouldn’t choose this machine. It does have wheels on the front and a handle on the back to make it easy to move, but at 81 inches long it’s quite large. Plus, you’ll need a ceiling height of at least 8 feet (or your height plus 18 inches). Finally, there are quite a few spots onto which an animal or a small child could climb, so I think this is one you need to keep in a separate gym area.

Ease of use

Once it’s assembled, the Echelon Ellipse EL-5 is easy to use. I found it to be easy to turn on and start a workout and quite comfortable once you get going.

Programs

You can adjust both the resistance level and the incline on this elliptical. The resistance goes from 1 to 32, which is the same as the Echelon bikes and rowing machines. Incline, which essentially changes the height of your knees, is not a super common adjustment to make on an elliptical, but you can adjust it from 1 to 15 on this machine. The incline controls were a little fickle on the elliptical I tested, but I also used it much less (and found it less important to the quality of my workout) than the resistance.

Like most elliptical machines, the Ellipse EL-5 comes with six built-in programs. These are basic workouts like Hill Climb and Sprint, which you select and then go for the amount of time you want (as opposed to setting the duration of your workout ahead of time). I tried a couple of these and, while simple, they are as advertised and do the job.

Console

The console has a number of features that I like and one that I would change. It has a fan, which feels amazing mid-workout. There are also buttons to jump up to a certain resistance level (8, 16, or 32) or a certain incline (3, 6, or 9) as opposed to repeatedly pressing the up arrow to reach these levels, which I appreciate. There’s a shelf at the top of the console on which you can prop up a phone or tablet if you are using the Echelon App, which worked well.

During your workout, the console shows time, speed, distance, watts, and calories burned. The speed number alternates between miles per hour and RPMs, which is the one thing I would have changed. When I was taking classes through the Echelon App, the primary instruction the instructors gave (apart from resistance and incline) was an RPM range to aim for, so I wish I would have been able to see it the entire time.

Accessories

The Ellipse EL-5 doesn’t come with any accessories, nor do you really need any. Echelon sells an equipment mat you might want to put your machine on depending on your exercise room’s floor, but it’s not a must. An old yoga mat would do the job just as well.

App

I’ve owned an Echelon rowing machine for a few years, so I was quite familiar with the Echelon App itself as well as the potential of the classes. The Echelon Premier membership, which you’re required to buy when purchasing the Ellipse EL-5 from Echelon, offers a number of classes for the elliptical, with more to come, according to Echelon. The classes I tried didn’t disappoint. There were different formats, such as endurance, fusion, and speed, and varied class length of 20, 30, and 45 minutes. The classes were engaging and challenging in ways that I frankly forgot the elliptical could be.

The membership also gives you access to the classes for all the other equipment Echelon sells, which includes bikes, treadmills, and rowing machines, as well as FitPass, which encompasses strength, mobility, yoga, kickboxing, and more.

How to use the Echelon Ellipse EL-5

Elliptical machines are one of the easiest cardio machines to use, in my opinion. There’s no learning curve, like with a rowing machine, and there are no real limitations, like those that exist for treadmills. Once you turn on the Ellipse EL-5, it’s as easy as climbing on, pressing Quick Start, and beginning to move. If you’re taking a class through the Echelon App, you have the option to connect the machine to the app via Bluetooth, or you can just play the class on your phone or tablet and view your metrics on the machine console—I usually did the latter, and it worked great.

Echelon Ellipse EL-5 quality

I would say the Ellipse EL-5 is a high-quality elliptical. The design is striking and it feels good to use; the strides are smooth and the machine is responsive.

Frame

The Ellipse EL-5 is pretty attractive, as far as ellipticals go. I like the black and silver with blue logos and accents. It also feels sturdy during use, even going at high speeds. The machine is a little squeaky, so I wouldn’t use it in the same room as someone trying to do something else, but it’s not squeaky enough to be annoying during exercise.

Foot platforms

I like the foot plates. They’re wide and sturdy and my feet never slid forward. There’s also a step-up plate on the back of the machine, which is helpful for getting on and off.

Handlebars

One of the first things I noticed about this elliptical was that the handlebars are just vertical bars, as opposed to having any sort of curve at the top. I actually ended up liking this feature because I found that it forced me to keep my arms engaged in pulling during the workout.

Stationary handlebars

The stationary handlebars are small and centered around the water bottle holder. They have heart rate sensors, though when checking the readings against my heart rate on my Apple Watch they were not always accurate.

Echelon Ellipse EL-5 warranty

The Ellipse EL-5 comes with a one year comprehensive warranty. But if you decide to keep your Echelon Premier membership after purchase, you get full warranty coverage for five years as long as you keep the membership active.

Echelon Ellipse EL-5 returns

All Echelon products can be returned within a 30-day window, assuming they’re purchased from Echelonfit.com. If the product is returned in brand new, resellable condition and in its original packaging with all parts included, the return is free, with Echelon covering the shipping costs.

Echelon Ellipse EL-5 customer service

As I had some trouble assembling my machine, I worked directly with a customer service representative who was very helpful. They requested photos of the part I was having trouble with, then offered advice in a timely manner that ultimately solved my problem.

Alternatives to Echelon Ellipse EL-5

Echelon Ellipse EL-5 frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Can you use Ellipse EL-5 without a subscription?

You can technically use the machine without a subscription. You can work out on your own or use the preset programs. However, if you purchase the Ellipse EL-5 from Echelonfit.com, you are required to purchase an Echelon Premier membership with the equipment. That said, if you don’t want to use or don’t want to pay for the app, you can purchase a monthly membership when you buy the elliptical and then cancel it and continue to use the machine without it.

Which is better, the Ellipse EL-5 or Ellipse EL-8S?

The Ellipse EL-8S is the other elliptical machine that Echelon makes. It comes with a few higher-end features, most notably a 22-inch HD touchscreen in place of the standard console on the Ellipse EL-5. Other features include wireless charging for your phone or tablet and 15 color-changing LED lights on the sides of the flywheel.

Is the Ellipse EL-5 quiet?

The Ellipse EL-5 is not the quietest exercise machine I’ve used. Mine is a bit squeaky, though I can’t say that would be the case for every machine. It’s not loud by any means, but I’ve also used many rowing machines and find that those, on average, are quieter.

How long does the Ellipse EL-5 last?

I’d say a minimum of five years, longer if you take good care of it. I’ve had my Echelon rowing machine for nearly three years and it still works like brand new.

Final verdict

I’ve enjoyed the Echelon Ellipse EL-5 and see myself continuing to use it. I believe an elliptical machine is a worthy addition to any home gym as it offers an accessible, low-impact, full body workout. The Ellipse EL-5 is a high-quality machine and the availability of instructor-led classes through the Echelon App really made it worthwhile for me. I would just make sure you set aside an entire afternoon to assemble it.

Echelon Ellipse EL-5

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