Reebok GX50 Cross Trainer Review: Worth Buying in 2026?

The Reebok GX50 is an entry-level cross trainer that sits right in the middle of the price range, making it ideal for anyone after a solid home elliptical that won't break the bank. After living with the GX50 One Series, here's how it performs, and where it asks for your patience.

If you've ever queued for the elliptical at your gym during peak hours, you'll understand why a home cross trainer is so appealing. The GX50 strikes a genuinely good balance between price and performance, packing in a clear blue LCD screen, 32 levels of resistance and a comfortable 15-inch stride. Small touches like padded footplates and pulse sensors in the static handlebars round out the experience. Considering the price and quality on offer, it's an easy machine to like.

Delivery, set-up and assembly

Delivery was fast, less than two days, and the box arrived in great condition with friendly service. The build quality you can feel straight away is genuinely impressive.

The GX50 is not for the faint of heart with assembly, though. This isn't one of those machines that turns up half-built; it needs a full assembly, so set aside a few hours. The screws and hardware are clearly labelled, and there's even a photo of each item for reference, which helps a lot.

For all the grumbling, the clever design and quality of each part shone through, and the more the machine took shape the more satisfying it became. Within about three hours the job went from tedious to rewarding. If you have the patience and a bit of technical know-how, the assembly is very much worth it.

Using the Reebok GX50

Once it's built, it's hard not to step back and admire the GX50's design. The dual handlebars are the highlight in use: pull on the moving handlebars to bring your upper body into the workout, or push through the footplates to focus on your legs for a full lower-body session. The slip-resistant footplates and dual-action handlebars work well for both steady-pace and interval training, with comfortable grip throughout.

Reebok is a world-class brand and its customer service backs that up. For minor issues they'll send the parts so you can fix it yourself; for bigger problems they'll arrange an engineer, and on a couple of occasions they've simply replaced faulty equipment with brand-new units.

What are the features like?

Now we've covered what it's like to use, let's run through the features packed into the machine.

9kg flywheel

Flywheel weight is one of the first things I look at on any elliptical, as it has a big impact on how smooth and quiet the machine feels, and on the price. A heavier flywheel gives a smoother, quieter ride but costs more, while a flywheel that's too light leads to jerky, unsatisfying pedalling.

A 7kg flywheel tends to feel like a low-cost toy, but for low-impact training anything beyond 10kg makes little practical difference. At 9kg, the GX50 hits the sweet spot: smooth movement at a sensible price.

Preset workouts

There are 20 pre-programmed workouts built into the console, each designed by Reebok master trainers. You can pick a specific preset or keep things fresh by going random. They're well thought out, covering both cardiovascular conditioning and muscular development, including endurance, interval and heart-rate routines that calorie-burning warriors will appreciate.

Hand pulse sensors

A second set of fixed handlebars houses the hand pulse sensors, and they make a real difference to how I train. They give useful data on intensity, recovery and overall effort, helping you judge how long and how hard to push. Plenty of machines skimp here, but the GX50's sensors didn't disappoint. They let me train at exactly the intensity my body needs.

15-inch stride length

Stride length is another key factor on any elliptical. It's the distance between the pedals at their furthest point, and it shapes how natural the leg movement feels. The GX50 has a 15-inch stride, a solid average that suits most people and delivers a good workout. To make up for the single fixed stride, there's a generous range of programmes and resistance levels to vary your sessions.

One Series console

The 5.75-inch LCD display is easy on the eyes and ideal for tracking time, distance and heart rate while controlling the machine's setup. The preset programmes are managed through the LCD, making the GX50 very user-friendly, and the large backlit screen is easy to read and suits the frame well.

Some may find the display a touch bulky, but it's about as close to gym-quality as you'll get at this price, which is a real plus. I had no trouble navigating the menus and settings without reaching for the manual; the buttons are largely self-explanatory.

Verdict: should you buy one?

Reebok has produced another excellent piece of training equipment. If you want a change from a treadmill or something gentler on your joints, the GX50 is a terrific machine to consider, and it's often discounted, so grab a deal if you spot one.

The Reebok GX50 Cross Trainer delivers everything you need for a superb cardiovascular workout for both upper and lower body, without straining your joints. It's excellent value, reasonably priced and capable of supporting training plans for every fitness level, with an extensive range of presets and resistance levels and excellent build quality.