Best recumbent exercise bikes 2022: Lean into your workouts with these top choices
(Pocket-lint) - If you're looking for a way to get some exercise without putting unnecessary strain on your body, investing in a recumbent bike can be an excellent solution.
While traditional stationary options often leave you hunched over with no back support, recumbent bikes are more relaxed. The rider can sit back and provide adequate lumbar and posterior chain support while taking the pressure of your hands and feet, which are normally locked to support your body weight.
While most recumbent bikes offer a similar design, they're still like any other piece of exercise equipment, and that means there's a wide range to choose from, both in terms of features and price.
We tested a range of models to determine which offered the most complete workout options and customization - because fitness equipment isn't built for your specific body. Comfort is really important, as is build quality, as a recumbent bike will take a fair amount of wear and tear during use.
To help you find what's right for you, we've rounded up some of the best options below.
What are the best recumbent bikes? The Marcy ME-709 is currently our top recommendation. Other great options include the Schwinn 270, Exerpeutic 900XL, Nautilus R616, and JLL RE100.
Our top pick: Best recumbent
Marcy ME-709
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- Beautiful and affordable
- Solid properties
- Well done
Against
- Could be more convenient
Marcy's recumbent sits on the more affordable end of the scale, but that doesn't mean you don't get a healthy array of features.
Eight levels of resistance are present on the stationary bike, with tension knobs that can reproduce the feel of riding on different terrain. Statistics such as time, speed, distance and calories burned are also displayed on the LCD screen.
In terms of design, the lumbar-friendly seat is aided by contoured handles and armrests, and balanced pedals to aid footrest.
Other recumbents to try
Here are four other excellent options that you might also want to consider:
Schwinn recumbent bike series
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- Great build
- Comfortable and adjustable
- Correct ad
Against
Schwinn's offering is the ideal choice for home gyms and those serious about their recumbent workouts, rather than beginners.
You get all the basics, of course, but with lots of extra bells and whistles. There are a total of 29 programs with 25 resistance levels, allowing you to adjust the intensity to your fitness level.
Workouts can also be synced to the Schwinn Trainer app, while the dock itself features dual LCD displays, a shelf for placing tablets or phones, and an adjustable fan.
Experimental 900XL
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- Solid feature options
- Decent ad
Against
Exerpeutic's 900XL is another great choice for those looking to get started with recumbents, as it offers a decent array of features that cover the basics.
There are a total of eight tension modes to choose from during your workout, with the LCD display showing you information on distance, calories burned, speed and heart rate (which the grip's sensors can detect).
If you want to move the bike between different areas of your home, the design also features wheels to help you with that.
Nautilus recumbent series
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- Lots of programs
- Customizable and app-connected
- heart rate options
Against
Nautilus offers another high-end recumbent bike with lots of features that make it perfect for home gyms.
There are 29 workouts to choose from, 25 resistance levels, and the ability to sync progress within the World app. Within the companion app, you can also connect and ride through more virtual courses and trails while viewing your progress on the LCD screen.
Contact heart rate readings are also provided for those who want additional insight.
JLL RE100
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- Wallet friendly
- Masters the basics well
Against
The JLL RE100 is a top option for those looking for a budget-friendly recumbent that offers eight levels of magnetic resistance.
There's no fancy Bluetooth pairing or workout syncing here, but it's more than enough for those who just want a basic workout. The monitor gives you a quick overview of elapsed time, speed, distance, calories and heart rate (provided by the sensors on the handle).
As with other bikes, it also has numerous adjustment options for both the foot straps and seat so you can find the right fit for your size.
Other products we considered
Pocket-lint's editorial team spends hours testing and researching hundreds of products before recommending our top picks to you. We consider a number of factors when it comes to compiling our best guides, including physical tests of the products themselves, consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. Many of the devices we're considering don't make our last best guides.
These are the products we considered that ultimately didn't make our top 5:
How to choose a recumbent bike
When looking for the right bike, consider the following areas before committing.
How important is comfort?
One of the big differences between the models on our list, and indeed between others that didn't make it, is how comfortable they are to use - how much cushioning they offer and therefore how user-friendly they feel. We think this is really important, but everyone is different. So if you've ridden a bike with little damping before and either liked it or hated it, keep that in mind when you shop.
Need lots of options?
When planning your workouts, do you hope to be able to hack and change a lot between different workout programs and options? If so, be sure to read how many programs your favorite bike offers and what resistance levels it is suitable for. On the more affordable bikes, these options are more limited, but that may not be an issue for many people.
Is connectivity vital?
Some recumbents offer the ability to connect to your smartphone to give you feedback on your performance, and may even be able to sync with services like Strava or Apple Health to make it easier to track your progress over time. However, this is fairly rare and often limited to the most expensive models. So if you're really committed to a connected bike, you might have to spend a chunk more.
Do you want to move the bike?
Another small but telling difference between some of the bikes we tested is both their weight and ease of moving them - some have wheels to make this easier, while others are much more of a hassle to move. If you change your training place often, you should consider this.
More about this story
Every product in this list has been tested in real situations, just as you would use them in your daily life.
In the case of recumbents, that means getting on (or sitting down) to see how they feel to ride, checking out their cushioning and comfort, but also being sure to find out which ones are built to last. When using it, the number of features and workouts is also hugely important – having only a few options to choose from can be limiting.
We're not interested in pointless number-crunching or irrelevant details - we just want to provide an easy-to-understand overview that gives you an idea of how it will be used. And don't think for a second that the products haven't been fully tested because the reviews are succinct.
We have been involved with technology since 2003 and in many cases have not only reviewed the product in question, but also the previous generations - right down to the first model on the market. There are also many models that we considered that didn't make it into every one of our buying guides.
Writing from Conor Allison.
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