Cardio workouts typically make you fall into any of the two camps: love or hate. While some can’t even think of starting their day without those typical sweat drippings and heart pumping while riding a rower or a stationary exercise bike, others may find cardio just the bane of their existence. Despite these blended opinions, cardio offers some fantastic health benefits.
It’s not about keeping the heart, or the cardiovascular components fit; it’s also about strengthening the muscular and respiratory systems. Therefore, it’s crucial to include cardio in your fitness routine to connect the dots between the systems, facilitating better blood flow and oxygen across the body.
Cardio can help you cut off those extra pounds. We have something for you if you are unhappy with its pattern or style! To make your cardio sessions interesting, diverse and enjoyable, we have come up with the three best cardio machines.
Our Top 3 Picks For The Best Cardio Machine On The Market:
- Aviron Impact Series Rower – Overall Best Cardio Machine, Editor’s Pick
- New Life Carbon E7 Carbon Elliptical – Most Recommended & Affordable Exercise Equipment
- Costway Magnetic Elliptical Machine Cross Trainer – Most Popular Brand For Cardio Machines
#1. Aviron Impact Series Rower – Overall Best Cardio Machine, Editor’s Pick
Finally, the phenomenon that’s content streaming has hit the world of fitness, and that too with a huge bang. Aviron Interactive Rower is high-tech and lets you access a pretty entertaining way to train and exercise. It boasts an eye-catching 22-inch HD touch screen attached to the flywheel. When it comes to stimulating the real outdoor rowing experience, this efficient rower lets you enjoy that from the comfort of your home gym.
Unlike most row machines, the Aviron Impact series rower boasts an exceptional folding design that you can tuck out of the way easily when the unit is not in use. A sturdy folding steel frame and a dual air and magnetic resistance system make this rower stand out in the crowd – you will simply feel like walking on water.
When it comes to the gamification of fitness, Aviron leans heavily. This allows the machine to keep you engaged throughout your rowing session as you will be driven by gaming psychology. The manufacturer has chosen to replace monotonous, on-demand, and live classes of trainers or professional rowers with a content library that features 14 video games and numerous other gamified workout programs and arcade-inspired games.
Additionally, it packs several up-to-date features like a guided program, virtual rowing experiences, and much more. You can get into a race against yourself by turning on the competition mode. You can choose any of the 16 levels of the resistance settings, which maxes out at 100 pounds. This lets the machine push you automatically towards the end of the race, increasing the challenge slowly.
You can even choose from various competition choices, including head-to-head, lightning lap, grand picks, etc. The best part is that you don’t need to pay for a membership program to leverage these extraordinary features.
Highlights
The Ultimate Innovations: When you start using Aviron rower, you will realize that it boasts several features you may not have seen on many rowing machines before. This smart home gym equipment has taken the industry by storm because of its outstanding innovations, and its videogame-like programming is indeed one of them. In addition, it features magnetic resistance options and dual air, which turns your indoor rowing experience into real fun.
Multiple Ways to Work Out: Aviron Impact lets you turn your sweat sessions pretty versatile by offering eight categories: powerplay, Pros vs. Joes, arcade, virtual rowing, performance, coach programs, power play, etc.
Frequent Updates: Currently, the Aviron Impact rower has more than 300 workout options, and its content is updated frequently. Aviron releases feature updates every month, and they keep on updating their content bi-monthly or tri-monthly.
Exclusive Personal Membership: While you can always track your performance and access a few library games in the free membership, upgrading to Aviron’s personal membership program allows you to get into the game more intensely. You can access unlimited user profiles. Besides, you will have flawless access to different games, programs, virtual rows, challenges, etc.
Beautiful Aesthetics and Build: This sleek and trendy cardio equipment comes with a single visible wire, making it look clutter-free and attractive. Besides, the rower is ergonomically designed, ensuring the highest level of comfort, from the high seats to the non-traditional foot spacing.
The rower has a 22-inch HD touch screen, which you can pivot up and down (not side to side, though). You can also find a sleep button on the top, volume regulators on the right, a presumable ethernet jack in the back (for scenarios when wifi doesn’t work), and a headphone jack underneath the sleep button. You can also find touch controls for regulating the resistance on the fly.
On display, you will see a discrete Aviron symbol, which works as the home button. On the top of the screen, there’s a webcam – use it freely to take all those victory snaps. Right there, you can also find a mic. The webcam and mic can provide voice commands or live instructions. The seat is 20 inches off the ground – higher than its peers, making it perfect for the extra lanky rowing connoisseurs of up to 6 foot 7 inches.
Pros
- Boasts powerful resistance system
- Innovative and updated workout programmings
- No lags while workouts or gameplay
- Easy to move around
- Perfect for beginners
- Creates a competitive rowing environment
- Accommodates tall and heavier people easily
- Access to YouTube on the display
- Great learning curves
Cons
- A little expensive
- A bit bulky for small spaces
- Doesn’t feature a metrics explanation
=> click here to visit the official website of Aviron Impact Series Rower
#2. New Life ProForm Carbon E7 Elliptical – Most Recommended & Affordable Exercise Equipment
With 19 inches adjustable stride, 7 inches smart touch screen, and 20 degrees of inline, the E7 is the newest launch from ProForm. This new top-level elliptical is proudly marching ahead as one of the best entry-level hybris series cardio machines. When it comes to getting a professional-level workout without a hefty investment, the Carbon E7 may be the right choice.
Just like the other recent lineups from ProForm, E7 boasts i-Fit – a membership-oriented interactive program that provides you with access to unlimited outdoor trails through Google Maps, sharing, trainer-led workouts, tracking, etc. Be it adjusting your resistance and inclining settings yourself, the Carbon E7 has that all, making it amazingly flexible and personalized.
Besides giving you a more practical and interactive experience, the Carbon E7 pushes you to target individual muscle groups and achieve particular fitness goals. The machine boasts a staggering 24 resistance level and an incline adjustment of up to 20 degrees targeting a full body workout. Naturally, this helps you match almost every terrain to take your workout to the next level.
Not only can you seamlessly alter the resistance levels, but with Carbon E7, you can have one of the iFit trainers do that all for you automatically, letting you enjoy uninterrupted workout sessions. The outstanding iFit program is accessible through ProForm or any of the sister companies’ equipment (Nordic Track).
This powerful cardio machine comes with a 24 lb flywheel, which gives the setup a smoother approach compared to many other cardio gizmos on the market. This extra weight helps you bypass the choppiness common in a low-end cardio machine.
In a one-liner, if you are searching for a great cardio workout that boasts the feature of gym-level equipment, you can never go wrong with Carbon E7.
Highlights
Durable: The ProForm Carbon E7 is durable and sturdy, making it the right fit for vigorous and intense training. The machine is engineered from steel, weighs around 200 lbs, and can hold up to a maximum capacity of 325 lbs. In addition, the device comes with a decent 10-year guarantee on the frame, 1 year on labor, and 2 years on parts.
Easy on the joints: This unique elliptical features adjustable pedals, which lets you find your footing easily. In addition, the front wheels make it a breeze to push this thing into storage. Therefore, you won’t have to worry much about post-session joint pains while exercising.
Heart Rate Tracking: The handlebars of Carbon E7 feature built-in EKG grip pulse heart rate sensors, which makes it easy to monitor heart rate while exercising, allowing you to stay in your ideal zone. You can easily measure the effectiveness of your workout by tracking your heart rate and keeping an eye on your progress over time. This supplies you with the motivation to move forward. Besides, you get a transparent idea about exactly where you stand.
Power Adjustable Strides 19 Inches: While ramping up your incline, you can alter your foot position to ensure the highest comfort level. The 19 inches powerful adjustable strides help users of all sizes make the most of their workout session. It efficiently targets and tones dedicated muscle groups. Besides, you can enjoy the full stride length.
Exclusive iFit Membership: IFit requires a subscription, but its extensive offerings outweigh the cost. Unlike many other contemporary integrated membership programs, you don’t need your tablet or smartphone to access the iFit program. With E7, you can directly use it through the smart HD touchscreen.
Accessing the iFit library is a matter of just a few swipes. Once you enter the library, you can pick up different fitness level workouts, ranging from in-studio sessions to real-world trails. You can even find programs that push you to go off-machine and bring more completion to your workout sessions.
From yoga and stretching to cross training – the enriched library of iFit packs uncountable live and on-demand workouts. While with the in-studio sessions, you can live content similar to Peloton, with Google Maps, you can choose a scenic location from anywhere in the globe and retain a realistic outdoor experience. With Carbon E7’s iFit membership, you unlock endless possibilities in a one-liner.
Pros
- Easy storing
- Quick and convenient button controls
- Silent magnetic resistance for a smooth and quiet workout
- Features terrain matching technology
- Three-year iFit membership inclusion
- Budget-friendly
- Features Bluetooth connectivity
- Comes with a satisfactory warranty
Cons
- The spring could be a little larger
- Assembling the trainer may look a little difficult
=> click here to visit the official website of New Life ProForm Carbon E7 Elliptical
#3. Costway Magnetic Elliptical Machine Cross Trainer – Most Popular Brand For Cardio Machines
This efficient cross trainer lets you retain a comfortable lower and upper body workout experience by featuring a quiet-driven magnetic flywheel system. This upright stationary bike boasts an efficient pulse sensor on the handlebars, which monitors your heart rate and reflects it on the LCD screen. Thus, you can be aware of your physical conditions, and depending on the data, you can set your fitness goals.
Apart from the heart rate, the LCD monitor also shows distance, total miles, and calories burned. This cardio machine facilitates lower and upper body exercise, making it an all-rounder solution. CostWay Magnetic Cross Trainer has a large adjustable seat that you can customize according to your preferred riding position.
Furthermore, it has an ergonomic handle, making gripping convenient and comfortable. To move the bicycle easily, you can slightly lift the rear and use the transport wheels on the front. Weighing around 44 lbs, this bicycle can hold up to 243 lbs. The heavy-duty steel construction ensures stability on varied surfaces. In addition, it guarantees the durability of the product.
A one-year warranty covers the entire setup. The magnetic flywheel system offers eight levels of resistance. This unique feature can closely mimic the moving patterns of off-road adventure riding, climbing, flat road, and stand-up riding. There are many options available for all-stage users; to alter the intensity of exercising, you just need to turn the tension knob, which makes the entire thing accessible.
If you are looking for a pocket-friendly exercise machine that can help you tone your entire body, the CostWay Magnetic Cross Trainer may be your ideal pick.
Highlights
Smooth and quiet workout: Gyming at home is no more disturbing; this innovative cardio bike from Costway evidences the fact. It’s equipped with a 6.5 lbs flywheel which lets you carry out your workout sessions smoothly and quietly, ensuring you won’t cause any disturbance to your family or roommates who may be reading, working, or sleeping. Moreover, the alternative handlebars never let you keep your upper body relaxed. Naturally, it renders the best benefits of exercising to your whole body.
Deformation resistant: CostWay Magnetic Cross Trainer is made of high-quality iron and HIPS, which makes the device highly resistant to deformation resulting in long-lasting service life. The best part is that the flywheel is all-inclusive; hence, your pets or little ones have no risk. Moreover, the anti-slip foot pads on the bottom let the device work with high stability, reflecting a safe and convenient design engineering.
Ergonomic Seat: The soft padded seat of this stationary cycle features ergonomic curves. Naturally, this ensures comfort while riding the device for a long time. Besides, you can adjust the seat height from 25-35.5 inches, facilitating the perfect riding position for everyone in your family.
Easy to assemble: The package includes an instruction manual and all necessary hardware kits. The instruction manual is fairly easy to understand. Besides, with the handy hardware kits, you can assemble the setup without much effort. The wheels on the bottom make the machine easy to transport and store. In addition, the mobility lets you carry the setup anywhere with you.
Fair policies: Costway is pretty transparent and genuine with its customer policies, and this Magnetic Cross Trainer is a live example of this fact. The company offers free shipping on all orders. Besides, the device comes with a 30-day no-hassle return policy. If you don’t like the product, you can simply request a return by visiting Costway’s official website. You may, however, need to bear the shipping cost for return.
Pros
- Extremely durable
- 2-in-1 multi-functional built facilitates full-body exercising
- Features convenient transport wheels
- Equipped with antislip technology
- Features adjustable padded seat
- Offers a personalized cycling experience and training intensity
Cons
- Lacks many of the updated convene features
- May not be ideal for pro users
=> click here to visit the official website of Costway Magnetic Elliptical Machine Cross Trainer
How We Made The List Of The Best Cardio Machines?
With growing awareness, fitness gadgets are becoming more mainstream. Leveraging this demand, many manufacturers have started coming up with new pieces of equipment almost every day. While this boom is multiplying the alternatives, the equipment market, like cardio machines, is becoming oversaturated. When you look through the market, countless choices can leave you overwhelmed and confused.
Moreover, when it comes to enjoying a smooth fitness journey, the right fitness equipment plays a crucial role. The challenge is that not every alternative performs well, and not every brand is trustworthy. With limited domain knowledge, picking up only the best may look outrageously inconvenient. Thus, to help you with the right choice, we have narrowed down your search by updating three viable and vetted recommendations.
While picking up the recommended cardio devices, we assessed several crucial factors. We started by making a list of the most popular devices and verified their eligibility and performance. The ones that failed our eligibility criteria were eliminated from the list immediately.
Before producing the final list, we cross-verified our recommendations against the opinions of expert cardio trainers, reviewers, and journalists. This way, we managed to bring you the best buys in 2022.
What We Looked For?
While preparing this list, we considered several vital factors determining the devices’ quality, usability, and performance.
- Quality: Quality matters and we agree with this fact. Thus, we prioritized the most quality parameter while setting up our selection criteria. Whether electrical, a bike, or a rower, the quality determines its performance and longevity. To ensure you get what you are paying for, we haven’t included low-quality equipment, which may look cheaper but cost you a lot in the long run. All of them pass through vigorous quality checks before hitting the market. This ensures that when you count on them, they will leave no room for regretting the decision. From sturdy built to consistent performance – they have it all.
- Ease of Use: Granted, we are living in the digital era. However, that never means that all of us are equally tech-savvy. We have kept the requirements of fitness freaks who are not very much comfortable with the complex operations of modern-day equipment. Therefore, our list contains products that are utterly convenient to use. Just with a few easy control, you can access their efficient features. This ensures your investment won’t go in vain, and you can retain the best benefits of your cardio device.
- Cost: We have already mentioned the quality factor, which brought the cost parameter along with it. A hard fact is that no quality equipment can feature a price tag that looks like a fairy tale. We couldn’t let you settle for something that looks cheap but involves many overhead costs, for example, repair costs for repeated breakdowns, hefty replacement costs, or permanent damages. So, we picked up the machines, which are not unjustifiably expensive. That doesn’t mean we have overlooked affordability. We tried to enrich our list with choices that can cater to everyone. Our picks are not overpriced; they are not underpriced either. To ensure that you buy cardio machines that adhere to the industry gold standards, we have assessed their performance against their price.
- Brand Reputation: The world would look different if everyone could believe that honesty is the best policy. Unfortunately, there are a lot of brands in the market who have stepped into the fitness verse just for the sake of making some quick profit. We carefully checked the brand reputation before recommending the right products. We have picked up brands with enough goodwill, and their huge base of satisfied customers evidences the fact. They have never been a subject of foul grievances and adhere to the standard manufacturing regulations. This ensures that their machines are safe and reliable.
- Materials: While you can find different machines with different materials, including cast iron, aluminum, etc., we have considered only the ones that use stainless steel or CR-plated carbon steel. These two materials score the highest in sturdiness; therefore, you can count on their durability without hesitation. In our well-researched list, you can find equipment with a 10-20 years service life.
- Brand Policies: Every genuine brand maintains clarity regarding customer policy. Given this, we have picked up machines from manufacturers who are pretty transparent with their warranty, return, and shipping terms. When you walk with them, you can expect a decent warranty. Besides, you can also find viable return/replacement opportunities, making things more convenient for you.
Buying Guide For Beginners: Factors That You Need To Check While Buying The Best Cardio Machine
Though we have updated our expert recommendation, while buying a cardio machine, you may need to look for some things to ensure you can make the most of your investment. However, be it a beginner or a seasoned fitness aficionado, anyone can find the job of picking up the right machine daunting. It’s not only about meeting the personalized needs of the users, but cardio machines go a long way when it comes to bringing the right touch of completion to your fitness journey. Therefore, we decided to help you with this, so we have identified the factors you shouldn’t miss to check while buying reliable cardio equipment.
- Low Impact or High Impact – Know What’s Your Cup of Tea
It’s one of the most crucial factors to check before purchasing. As their name suggests, low-impact machines are dedicated to low-intensity exercises. On the other hand, the high-impact ones are designed to carry out vigorous exercises. Typically, low-impact machines are ideal for people with limited mobility or seniors. Treadmills, an indoor rowing machine with limited capacity, or even a standard indoor bike, can be your best pick as an effective low-impact cardio machine. You can try best treadmills for your home.
On the other hand, for high-impact workouts, you can stick to a rower, stair stepper, exercise bike, etc. Here it’s worth remembering that you should essentially stick to specific low-impact machines for low-impact exercising. However, you can use low-impact machines just by altering their strength for high-impact workouts.
The goals of high-impact exercise include burning more calories and exercising for shorter durations with more vigorousness and stress. Check with which you are comfortable before you place your order.
- Assess the Versatility
You should consider the versatility factor when picking up a good cardio machine. After all, you are making a hefty investment to leverage the incredible benefits of cardio exercises, and to do so, you will have to maintain consistency. However, it’s not bad if you find it monotonous to perform exercises of the same intensity daily. This is why versatility is important.
Rowing machines, eclipses, and stationary cycles are versatile in terms of resistance. You can choose from any level you want and count on them if you play with the resistance and intensity.
- Assembling
In the era of DIY, it’s a predictable fact that you will have to assemble the product you have bought. Thankfully, it’s not a big deal these days because, typically, manufacturers keep assembling as simple as possible. However, if you don’t have any affinity for tools or assembling looks quite clumsy, you should always check how convenient your potential cardio machine is in terms of setting it up. You can even check if your manufacturer offers professional assistance for assembling the machine correctly. Whatever it is, always walk with an option that looks convenient to you.
- Performance Tracker
If you don’t know how effective your workout sessions are, you won’t be able to fix/alter your goals. Therefore, you should always look for a cardio machine with a smart LCD that reflects and stores information about the workouts. Granted, they may lack a little in the accuracy parameter, but they will still help you with some data that are very much close to reality.
By accessing the data of the performance monitor’s data, you can learn about your average speed, weight loss, heart rate, calories you have managed to burn, and much more. Naturally, this information drives the motivation that you need to move forward.
- Capacity
Each fitness equipment comes with a dedicated weight limit; you must not miss checking if you are heavier than that limit. Typically, every good cardio machine comes to 200-300 lbs upholding capacity. However, there are a few which support up to 150 lbs. Therefore, if you don’t want to break your machine on the very first day and throw your hard-earned money into something that’s not worthy, don’t forget to check this factor.
- Space
When you have a dedicated room for storing different pieces of fitness equipment, you may not face any difficulties in storing your cardio machine. However, if you have a small space, things may turn complicated.
Thanks to the advancement in design technology, folding rowers and other cardio machines are available on the market. Moreover, stationary bikes are naturally compact. Turn to them and address this issue tactfully. However, make sure you consider this factor before buying a cardio machine.
- Budget
Let’s face it – cardio machines come in different ranges, and the more high-end they are, the costlier they will be. Though it may look tempting to own the most sophisticated cardio machine so that you can play with its incredible features and showcase it to your guests, you won’t break your bank to get it. Therefore, consider the cost factor while choosing your cardio equipment.
Assess their functions and determine if they justify the machine’s price tag. This will help you to make an informed and well-thought choice. However, remember that quality has its own cost, so don’t settle for incredibly cheap options.
- Customer Support
Electronics can experience unpredictable problems, and you shouldn’t find it difficult to get those issues addressed by the specialized technical team of the manufacturer. Moreover, when it comes to returns or replacements, you may need to contact your manufacturer.
For both of the said concerns, a dedicated customer support team is the bridge between you (user) and the seller (manufacturer). Therefore, before purchasing, ensure you pick up a brand with a resolution and accessible customer support team. This will help you to get the right assistance with your queries, grievances, or requests.
- User Reviews
Every penny matters when that is hard-earned, and it’s a sure thing you won’t be very eager to waste your money on low-quality, less productive products. The best way to figure out if your choice is right or not is to check out its reviews. After all, no one can share more honest feedback than someone already using the product.
So, get ready for a little homework and check the website of the manufacturer, different review sites, and social media to know what other users are saying about the product and how they are ranking it. Always walk with the one that holds a significant number of positive reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cardio Machines:
- How many types of cardio machines are there?
There are typically four cardio machines – treadmill, elliptical, rower, stationary cycle, and stair climber. The treadmill is arguably the most straightforward and features a single belt to stand some customization buttons. The treadmill lets you walk, jog, and run. Treadmills help you lose weight, develop endurance, and improve cardiovascular health.
Ellipticals, on the other hand, renders easy-to-understand cardio workout options. Using ellipticals is pretty convenient. All you need to do is to develop a good grip on the handlebars, and gradually, you will find that pedals are not that tough. Ellipticals can help you tone your lower body and improve your cardiovascular health.
A stationary cycle is popular among Victoria’s Secret models and some serious athletes. With cycles, you just need to learn how to adjust the handlebars and seat height. These unique cardio machines help tone your lower body muscles by straining your legs. Besides, it helps to burn calories and handle heart-pumping challenges.
The stair climber is similar to moving stairs, which are great for jogging up and down. Just like the cycle and elliptical, stair climber helps you build muscles and promotes body toning.
- What does cardiovascular exercise refer to?
Cardio is the abbreviation of cardiovascular, which means everything related to blood vessels and the heart. Cardiovascular exercises refer to those activities which help elevate your heart rate and push your blood to flow quickly for a long time. Cardiovascular exercises include dancing, jogging, swimming, walking, running, etc.
- How do cardiovascular exercises help?
Cardiovascular exercises enable you to fight stress and boost your self-esteem. In addition, they are utterly efficient in burning fat, lowering cholesterol levels, and reducing the risk of diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and some heart diseases. Moreover, it strengthens your heart, aids mood elevation, and combats insomnia.
- How long should you practice cardio in a day?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you should typically do 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise weekly. 75-150 minutes a week will do the job for high-intensity ones.
- How long do you need to spend on the elliptical?
For ellipticals and other cardio machines like stationary bikes, rowers, or stair steppers, you can consider spending 15-20 minutes to retain the best results.
- How to use a rowing machine?
Every rowing machine is different, and so is its method of operation. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should focus on using your lower body powerhouse muscles like hamstrings, quads, and glutes to push yourself out while using a rowing machine and then glide back in gently.
You can try techniques like leg and arm isolations and bring them together to enhance core engagement. You can even try one push-outs and two glides back in the same set to make the session more agile. Remember that while using your rowing machine, you should never hunch your back, make a scoop-down motion, let your knees drop to the side, or have a death grip on the oar. This will help you perform the activity safely without compromising on precision.
- Can you do cardio without a machine?
Of course, you can! There are a lot of beginner-friendly freehand exercises like jumping jacks, skipping, marching in place, dancing, arm cycles, etc., that can improve cardiovascular health. However, it’s worth turning to a device if you want a more streamlined and agile result. A device hand lets you customize your strength and intensity, bringing more efficiency to workout sessions.
Thus, if you are not suffering from mobility issues or other health-related limitations, you should consider practicing cardio with the help of a suitable device like a rower, stationary cycle, etc.
Conclusion: Which Is The Best Brand To Buy A Cardio Machine From?
Exercising is becoming integral to life without the changing and agile lifestyle. When it comes to exercising, cardio can easily lead the convoy. Throughout human history, people have been running – whether for sports or survival, running has always been persistent.
However, it’s just a form of cardio, and to make the most of this heart-healthy exercise pattern, you should always maintain precision and consistency. This is where cardiovascular workout devices come into play. With their thoughtful design and scientific build, they facilitate cardio workouts and help users to reap their best benefits.
So, if you are thinking of awarding yourself a well-performing, justifiably priced cardio machine, don’t miss to consider the recommendations in this guide. The experts choose them, and they have managed to pass our stringent eligibility test, which ensures that you won’t end up with a pathetic buying experience.
