Best Exercise Equipment for Seniors in 2025

What to Look For in Exercise Equipment for Seniors

When shopping for exercise equipment, look for tools that can support your balance, reduce the risk of falls and alleviate unnecessary strain on your body. Free weights or a rowing machine may be great options if you’d like to strengthen and build muscles, while elliptical machines can be a great exercise tool because they’re gentle on the joints and come with handlebars for people with balance or dexterity issues.

Our Favorite Exercise Equipment for Seniors

Elliptical Machines

Elliptical machines put much less strain on knees than walking, running or even biking, so they’re great for older adults with joint pain or arthritis. With an elliptical, you can get a low-impact cardio workout in the comfort of your home. The machines have handlebars, as well as an emergency stop button in case you lose your balance. Ellipticals can help build muscles and core strength, and they burn calories too.

>> Read More: The Best Fall Detection Devices

Our Favorite Elliptical for Seniors

Designed by physical therapists, the Sole E25 is a state-of-the-art elliptical that’s great for older adults with arthritis, hip pain and joint pain. It has 20 incline levels and a variety of resistance levels to choose from, along with a heavy-duty frame backed by a lifetime warranty.

What’s more, the elliptical is equipped with pulse monitors and a chest strap to monitor your heart rate and other health metrics. You can also stream music, thanks to Bluetooth technology and a USB port to charge your smart devices. The Sole E25 retails for about $1,300 and includes Sole+ workouts — free videos with over 3,000 workouts for all fitness levels to choose from. Workouts range from 10 to 60 minutes, so you can work out for as long (or as short) as you’d like.

If you prefer not to pay the entire amount up front, you can finance the Sole E25 with Shop Pay. With Shop Pay, you can pay $117.33 per month for 12 months with 15 percent APR, which means you’ll pay $107.97 in interest if you choose to finance it. For a $200 fee, the delivery people will bring your bike into a particular room in your home rather than leaving the box on your doorstep or just inside. For $350, they’ll deliver your bike to a specific room and completely assemble it.

To learn more about ellipticals, check out our guide to the best ellipticals for seniors.

Treadmills

A treadmill consists of a durable deck or belt that lets users run or jog in continuous motion. Treadmills typically have handlebars to hold onto for balance and an emergency security key you can pull to stop the machine immediately. A treadmill is great for an aerobic workout or even high-intensity interval training. Many smart treadmills have pulse and heart rate monitors, along with LCD screens and incline and speed settings.

Treadmills are used for cardio exercise, and, because you’re working your lower body, you’re also targeting your glutes, quads and abs. Treadmills can help older adults boost cardiovascular health and burn calories without stepping outside or going to a gym.

Our Favorite Treadmill for Seniors

In our tests, the ProForm Carbon Pro 2000 treadmill stood out as the best treadmill for seniors. Its rollers were designed for smoother movement and less noise than other treadmills in its price range. Plus, the deck is equipped with shock absorbers, so walking or running on it is easier on joints. You can adjust speeds from 0 to 12 miles per hour, and the treadmill’s incline from 0 percent to 12 percent (great for activating glute muscles!). It can be folded in half and stored easily. We also liked its Bluetooth capability, USB phone charger and the little fan that helped keep us cool during workouts.

It retails for $1,799 (currently on sale for $1,499). A $39-a-month Fit membership, although not necessary to use your equipment, allows you to stream workouts from around the world through the screen on your treadmill. ProForm also offers a 10-year warranty on the frame and a two-year warranty on parts, and it covers tablet repair and labor costs for one year.

To learn more about the different types of treadmills, check out our rundown of the best treadmills for seniors.

Resistance Bands

Resistance bands are lightweight, adjustable and great for creating resistance and building muscle and core strength. They can improve balance and challenge your arm, leg and ab muscles. They’re a great physical therapy tool and can help strengthen dormant muscles without putting pressure on your joints. Resistance bands with handles are easier to grip and help prevent slipping or snapping as you pull on them.

Our Favorite Resistance Bands for Seniors

We love the Chair Exercise Program from the company Healthy Seniors, which you can purchase on Amazon for $25.99. It comes with two colorful rubber bands — one light resistance and one medium resistance — attached to a durable pair of soft, thick handles that are perfect for older adults with arthritis or some weakness in their hands. The set also comes with a guide to 60 exercises to strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, boost circulation and improve coordination. The Healthy Seniors Chair Exercise Program can augment physical therapy and rehabilitation, but it’s also a great, affordable program to help you avoid the many ill health effects from a sedentary lifestyle.

Stability Balls

A stability ball, also known as an exercise ball, is an incredibly versatile piece of equipment that can improve balance, strength and flexibility. Just sitting on a stability ball engages core muscles, improving ab strength and balance in a way a chair can’t. A ball can also be used for stretching and leg lifts, and it can help support your lower back when doing gentle crunches.

Our Favorite Stability Ball for Seniors

The TheraBand Pro Series exercise ball is made of thick, professional-grade, “anti-burst” PVC and comes in four sizes and fun colors. Each exercise ball comes with two plugs, an inflation adapter and an exercise guide poster explaining 24 exercises that can be done with the ball. TheraBand is a venerable maker of exercise equipment, and this ball is used by physical therapists in professional settings. Depending on the size you want, the Pro Series exercise ball ranges in price from around $16 to $32.

Pull-Down Machines

A pull-down machine is a type of exercise equipment that uses a pulley system to work out your upper torso, arms, back, shoulders and triceps. It’s a great fitness tool for active older adults who prefer sitting while exercising.

Our Favorite Pull-Down Machine for Seniors

At $164.99, the GDLF Lat Pull-Down Machine is an affordable at-home pull-down machine for older adults. It weighs about 72 pounds and comes with four seat positions and a variety of adjustable foam rollers to match your height (to make sure you’re not lifted out of the seat when you raise the bar). The equipment enables you to safely build strength in your back, shoulders, abs and arms. It’s currently available for $164.99 on Amazon, and there are financing options available.

Yoga Mats

Yoga is a calming, low-impact exercise that can help older adults of all fitness levels improve strength, balance and flexibility without jarring movements that put pressure on joints. A slip-free yoga mat is great for comfort and safety during yoga. Yoga exercises target every muscle in the body, and if done at a brisk enough pace, they can have cardiovascular benefits as well. Just stretching on a yoga mat can be relaxing; I love doing it before I go to sleep, especially if I’ve had a stressful or tense day.

Our Favorite Yoga Mat for Seniors

The Brybelly Crown Sporting Goods extra-thick yoga mat offers durability and protection during floor workouts and yoga sessions. At 15 millimeters, the mat is much thicker and softer than traditional yoga mats, which are usually around 4 to 6 millimeters thick. With a moisture-resistant surface, you can enjoy deep stretches and get the right support for your joints with its thick, nonslip foam material. Walmart offers the Brybelly yoga mat for around $30 (prices vary slightly by color).

Wrist Weights

Wrist weights are strapped around your wrists or ankles and typically weigh less than 3 pounds. They are especially helpful for seniors who could benefit from strength training but have difficulty gripping dumbbells. The goal of wrist weights is to enhance resistance and elevate your heart rate through simple aerobic exercises. You can use them for strength training or wear them during yoga or while walking for extra resistance.

Our Favorite Wrist Weights for Seniors

Bala Bangles are a great lightweight option for older adults who want to add resistance to their existing workouts. At 1, 2 or 3 pounds, the weights can be used as either ankle or wrist weights and come in a variety of colors, including light pink, charcoal and sage. Amazon currently sells 1-pound Bala weights for $58, 2-pound weights for $65 and 3-pound weights for $79.

Recumbent Bikes

Recumbent bikes have a backrest so they support the lower back while you get a cardio workout. They’re a great piece of equipment for people who may experience pain or balance problems on a regular exercise bike. You can also control settings and resistance levels to increase or decrease cardiovascular effort or give leg muscles more of a challenge.

Our Favorite Recumbent Bike for Seniors

The Schwinn 290 recumbent bike is a great exercise bike for older adults who may not feel comfortable going to a gym. The bike features a comfortable lumbar-support backrest and a contoured seat to help you stay comfortable during longer workouts. What’s more, the bike features a 7-inch LCD display that works with Bluetooth. There’s also the option to sign up for digital subscriptions to the JRNY or Zwift apps if you want on-demand classes or virtual destinations. The bike costs $799 on the Schwinn website or Amazon. You can add in-home assembly for $129.

To learn more about other recumbent bikes we recommend, read our guide to the best recumbent bikes for seniors.

Rowing Machines

A rowing machine is an excellent option for low-impact in-home exercise. Rowing is done in a seated position and provides a cardiovascular workout that also strengthens arms, abs and back muscles. It’s a great tool for active seniors because it can burn a lot of calories, increase heart rate, and build muscle and stamina.

A rowing machine seat should be adjustable, and it should be comfortable to put your feet on the footrests. You can also adjust the resistance, which determines how difficult it is to pull the handlebar. To row, you pull the handlebar toward your chest.

Our Favorite Rowing Machine for Seniors

One reason we love the Concept2 RowErg is because it’s suitable for a variety of fitness levels. The rowing machine is great for improving heart health and working out nearly every muscle group in the body. It includes a device holder, a PM5 monitor to track health metrics, and the option of either standard or tall legs with different seat heights.

The RowErg is $990 on Amazon with standard 14-inch-high legs. If you need a machine for a bigger person, you can buy a rowing machine with a 20-inch seat height directly from Concept2 for $1,155. The height makes it easier to get on and off, which could benefit seniors with mobility issues. If you purchase the rower from Concept2, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a two-year or five-year limited warranty.

Foam Rollers

A foam roller is a large, cylindrical foam tube you can use to increase flexibility and reduce soreness or tightness in the body. It’s an effective exercise tool for older adults with muscle aches or back, hip or shoulder problems. You can also use foam rollers to warm up before your workouts.

Our Favorite Foam Rollers for Seniors

The Gaiam Restore deep-tissue foam roller provides a comfortable and deep stretch while alleviating pressure points and tension in the body. Its firm design and durable hollow center make it a comfortable choice for older adults with back, shoulder or neck pain. The roller comes with a helpful exercise guide and costs less than $20 — just $17.80 from Walmart.com.

Free Weights

With free weights, or hand weights, you can build strength and increase bone density (which helps prevent osteoporosis). There are different types of free weights, such as dumbbells and kettlebells. With free weights, you can do biceps curls, shoulder raises, weighted squats and many more exercises.

Our Favorite Free Weights for Seniors

Muke Nice C Adjustable Dumbbell six-in-one weights are our favorite free weights because they’re made of nonslip neoprene and their ergonomic design makes it easy for older adults to grip. The free weights can be adjusted from 3.6 pounds to 5 pounds per dumbbell by unscrewing the top to insert different counterweight blocks. We love that you can customize them and also increase the weight as you get stronger to keep workouts challenging. They cost $39.99 on Walmart.com. If you want heavier weights, choose the 36-pound option for $99.

Bottom Line

Adults ages 65 or older need at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, such as brisk walking, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, such as running, jogging or hiking. With the right equipment, older adults can meet those fitness guidelines and prevent and manage health conditions and alleviate pain, allowing them to live independently for longer. The fitness equipment we’ve included here can help older adults with pain and mobility challenges maintain a healthy exercise routine.

To learn more about our favorite ways to exercise, check out our other guides:

• Best Bicycles for Seniors
• Exercise for Seniors Proven Important
• Core Exercises for Seniors