What Is an Arc Trainer? How the Arc Machine Works and What It Does

1. The Arc Trainer in One Sentence

The Arc Trainer is a low-impact cardio machine, originally developed by Cybex, that moves your feet along an arc-shaped path instead of the oval path of a traditional elliptical. That arc keeps the knees from travelling as far forward over the toes, and it lets you shift the emphasis between striding, elliptical-style motion and climbing simply by changing the incline.

In most gyms you'll hear it called the arc machine, the arc trainer or simply "the Arc". It sits in the same cardio row as treadmills, ellipticals and bikes, and it has a loyal following among people who find ellipticals hard on their knees or treadmills hard on their joints.

2. Who Makes the Arc Trainer?

The Arc Trainer is a Cybex product, and Cybex built its commercial cardio reputation on it. Cybex is now part of the Life Fitness family of brands, which is why you'll also see Arc Trainers sold under the Life Fitness name — the home Life Fitness Club Series+ Total Body Arc Trainer is one example. Whether the badge says Cybex or Life Fitness, the defining feature is the same arc-shaped motion.

3. How the Arc Motion Works

On an elliptical, your feet trace an oval and your knees tend to travel forward as you push. On an Arc Trainer, the pedals travel along a flatter, curved arc, and the geometry is designed to keep your knees more in line with your feet. Cybex has long promoted the motion as producing lower knee stress than a typical elliptical.

The result feels like a cross between striding, skiing and stair climbing — smooth and low-impact, but with more of a push through the hips and glutes than many ellipticals.

4. Incline: Three Machines in One

Most commercial Arc Trainers let you adjust the incline (sometimes called the stride or arc position). That single setting changes the character of the workout dramatically.

5. Total Body vs. Lower Body Arc Trainers

Arc Trainers come in two main configurations. A total body Arc Trainer has moving arm handles that you push and pull, bringing the chest, back, shoulders and arms into the workout. A lower body Arc Trainer has fixed handles only, so the work is concentrated in the legs and glutes. Total body models are more common in gyms; lower body models suit users who want to focus on the legs or keep their upper body still.

6. What Does an Arc Trainer Do for You?

The Arc Trainer offers most of the benefits of an elliptical, with a few of its own.

• Low-impact cardio — your feet never leave the pedals, so there's no pounding
• Knee-friendly motion — designed to reduce forward knee travel
• Strong glute and leg work — especially at higher incline settings
• Full-body option — total body models engage the upper body too
• High calorie burn — resistance and incline let you push hard without impact
• Easy for beginners — the motion is natural and simple to learn

7. Arc Trainer vs. Elliptical at a Glance

The two machines are close cousins. An elliptical uses an oval path and usually a fixed incline; an Arc Trainer uses an arc path with adjustable incline. Many people find the Arc Trainer gentler on the knees and more demanding on the glutes, while the elliptical feels more familiar and is far more widely available for home use.