Keiser M5i Strider
The Keiser M5i Strider elliptical machine is a compact, commercial-grade strider built for Keiser's Indoor Walking Class program, the group-fitness format that started in Europe and uses a shorter, standing walking motion instead of a full elliptical stride. It runs on magnetic resistance and two AA batteries instead of a wall outlet, weighs about 130 lb, roughly half of a full-size elliptical, and ships via freight rather than standard parcel. This page covers the specs Keiser and Amazon actually publish for this exact model, including the parts of the listing that stay thin, before you commit.
- About half the size and weight of a full-size elliptical at roughly 130 lb, so it fits rooms a bulkier commercial machine can't
- Runs on 2 AA batteries instead of a wall outlet, so placement isn't limited by where an outlet happens to be
- Commercial-grade construction from Keiser, a brand best known for the magnetic resistance systems inside gym spin bikes
- Bluetooth-enabled computer pairs with the free Keiser M Series App for tracking your sessions
- 350 lb weight capacity holds its own against larger, heavier ellipticals in this catalog
Where the keiser m5i strider elliptical lands against the other ellipticals in our catalog: Beats the Life Fitness E1 and Body-Solid E5000 on footprint and weight, at roughly half their machine weight, Loses to the 3G Cardio Elite EM X on stride flexibility, since the M5i's 13.5 inch stride is fixed while the EM X adjusts from 18 to 23 inches, Matches the Body-Solid E5000 on resistance level count, both offer 20 magnetic levels, though the E5000's stride is longer and adjustable.
Which rider are you?
From this page to your first ride
Read the tested review
Specs, the fixed-stride tradeoff, and how thin the review data really is, all on one page.
Check today's price
One click to Amazon. We check the listing regularly and note it here if anything changes.
Set it up cordless
No outlet to find, just 2 AA batteries and a spot on the floor for a machine that weighs about half what a full-size elliptical does.
Why the M5i Strider earns its spot in this class
About half the footprint of a full elliptical
At roughly 130 lb (59 kg), the Keiser M5i Strider elliptical machine weighs well under half what the Life Fitness E1 (211 lb) or Body-Solid E5000 (280 lb) in this catalog weigh, without giving up Keiser's commercial-grade build quality.
No outlet, no cord
Two AA batteries run the resistance and console, so the M5i Strider can sit anywhere in a room instead of wherever the nearest wall outlet happens to be.
Bluetooth tracking built in
The onboard computer pairs with the free Keiser M Series App over Bluetooth, so your sessions get logged without an extra sensor or a subscription.
What owners keep saying
This keiser m5i strider elliptical machine review is scoped honestly, because the data behind it is thin. Amazon shows a perfect 5.0 average, but that rests on only 5 total ratings, and just 3 come with text we could read. What survives across those 3: one owner replaced an older unit of the same machine after roughly a year, another found it in a hotel gym in Madrid in 2015 and still called it compact, silent, and sturdy years later, and a third called it expensive for home use but praised the quiet, low-impact ride. None mention the stride length, resistance count, or battery power directly, so treat this as a small, consistent pattern, not a full picture of ownership. We also found several named owner reviews posted directly on Keiser's own store for this exact M5i model, which we're including below with that source flagged, since Keiser controls what appears there.
Setup was straightforward but the video has tips that are simpler than the written instructions (clearly, the video is newer -- watch it & save yourself some time with the assembly). The machine is *solid* and is practically noiseless.
assemblyThe pedals are very narrow for a guy. I have a size 10.5 shoe with normal width, and my foot barely fits the width of the pedal. I'm constantly adjusting my foot to keep it from slipping off.
fitI wish I would have purchased this machine years ago! It is so quiet and I love the small footprint and sleek look.
noiseAbout half the footprint of a full elliptical, with none of the outlet cords.
Shop on Amazon →The honest cons
- The 13.5 inch stride is fixed, noticeably shorter than the 18 to 23 inch adjustable strides on other premium ellipticals in this catalog, so it suits a walking-paced motion more than a long running stride
- 20 magnetic resistance levels is on the low end for a commercial-grade machine; the 3G Cardio Elite EM X in this same catalog offers 32
- The listing doesn't describe handlebars or an upper-body component, so buyers who want arm engagement as part of the workout should confirm that detail with Keiser directly
- Review data is thin: Amazon shows 5 total ratings for this exact listing, but only 3 come with readable text
Keiser M5i Strider vs Life Fitness E1 vs Body-Solid E5000 vs 3G Cardio Elite EM X
If you're weighing the keiser m5i strider elliptical machine against other commercial-grade ellipticals in this catalog, the short answer is footprint and stride: the M5i Strider is by far the lightest and most compact of the four, running cordless on batteries, while the other three trade that compactness for a longer stride and more resistance levels.
| Keiser M5i Strider | Life Fitness E1 | Body-Solid E5000 | 3G Cardio Elite EM X | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stride length | 13.5 in, fixed | 18 in, fixed | 17-21 in, adjustable | 18-23 in, adjustable (3-position) |
| Resistance levels | 20, magnetic | 18, magnetic | 20, magnetic | 32, magnetic |
| Power source | Battery (2 AA), no outlet | Not specified in the product data | Self-generating, no outlet required | Not specified in the product data |
| Weight capacity | 350 lb | 400 lb | 325 lb | 350 lb |
| Machine weight | About 130 lb (59 kg) | 211 lb | 280 lb | 143 lb (unboxed) |
| Warranty | Not specified in the product data | Lifetime frame, 5-yr parts, 3-yr console, 1-yr labor | Limited lifetime; commercial terms include 15-yr frame, 2-yr electronics | 5-yr parts, 1-yr labor |
| Our take | Smallest, lightest, cordless pick | Longer stride and weight capacity, costs more room | Cordless power and adjustable stride, heaviest of the four | Most resistance levels and stride flexibility |
| Spec | Keiser M5i Strider |
|---|---|
| Machine type | Strider elliptical, built for Keiser's Indoor Walking Class program |
| Stride length | 13.5 inches, fixed (not adjustable) |
| Resistance | Magnetic, 20 levels |
| Power source | Battery powered, 2 AA batteries; no wall outlet required |
| Weight capacity | 350 lb |
| Machine weight | 59 kg (about 130 lb) |
| Frame material | Alloy steel and aluminum |
| Color | Black |
| Console | Bluetooth-enabled computer, syncs to the Keiser M Series App |
| Delivery | Freight shipping, delivered as close to your door or garage as the carrier can manage |
| Model number | M5i |
FAQ
What is the keiser m5i strider elliptical machine's stride length?
It's 13.5 inches, and it's fixed rather than adjustable. That's shorter than the 18 to 23 inch adjustable strides on some other premium ellipticals in this catalog, so the M5i Strider suits a shorter, walking-paced motion built around Keiser's Indoor Walking Class format rather than a long, running-style stride. If you need a longer or adjustable stride, check the 3G Cardio Elite EM X instead.
Does the Keiser M5i Strider need to be plugged in?
No, it runs on 2 AA batteries instead of a wall outlet. The magnetic resistance and the Bluetooth-enabled computer both draw from the batteries, so placement in a room isn't limited by where an outlet happens to be.
How many resistance levels does the keiser m5i elliptical have?
There are 20 magnetic resistance levels. That's fewer than some commercial-grade peers in this catalog, the 3G Cardio Elite EM X offers 32, but it matches the Body-Solid E5000's 20 levels.
What is the weight capacity of the Keiser M5i Strider elliptical machine?
Keiser lists a 350 lb maximum weight recommendation for this model, matching the 3G Cardio Elite EM X in this catalog and beating the Body-Solid E5000's 325 lb, though it comes in under the Life Fitness E1's 400 lb.
Does the M5i Strider have handlebars for the arms?
The Amazon listing doesn't describe handlebars or any upper-body component for this machine, so we can't confirm one way or the other from the data available. Buyers who specifically want arm engagement as part of the workout should confirm this detail with Keiser directly before ordering.
Are there many keiser m5i strider elliptical machine reviews to go on?
Not many, and that's worth knowing before you buy. Amazon shows 5 total ratings averaging a perfect 5.0, but only 3 of those reviews come with text, spread across roughly a decade, from 2016 to 2024. It's a small, positive pattern, not a large sample.
The verdict
The short version: the Keiser M5i Strider elliptical machine is a genuinely compact, commercial-grade strider from a brand better known for its spin bikes, built around Keiser's Indoor Walking Class format rather than a traditional long-stride elliptical motion. The 13.5 inch stride is fixed, and the 20-level magnetic resistance sits below what some premium peers offer, but the machine runs cordless on 2 AA batteries, weighs about half what comparable commercial ellipticals weigh, and pairs with the free Keiser M Series App over Bluetooth.
Buy it if you want the smallest, lightest commercial-grade strider in this catalog and you're comfortable with a shorter, walking-paced motion. Skip it if you want an adjustable stride or a fuller review history to lean on: Amazon shows just 5 ratings and only 3 with readable text, so you're buying largely on the Keiser name and the specs on the sheet.
If it’s close but wrong
Keiser M5i Strider