If you’re looking to invest in home cardio equipment, make some space and pick one of the best exercise machines…
A set of dumbbells or resistance bands are all well and good when it comes to easy ways to get your fitness fix at home. But sooner or later it’s likely you’ll want to take your workouts up a gear. Weights and bands are ideal for strength training and enhancing HIIT or CrossFit sessions. But if you’re looking to up your cardio game you need to consider one of the best exercise machines.
Of course regular running and cycling sessions are the easiest way to work your cardiovascular system. But they’re not such attractive options when nights close in, the temperature drops or the rain comes in sideways.
Also, you may want a little more engagement in your workouts than just pounding the pavements or crunching the pedals. Some people find it easier to work out if they can gamify their sessions. Others prefer to join in virtual exercise classes. Most of these cardio machines will give you at least one of those options.
So if you’ve got the space and cash to spare, a dedicated exercise machine is well worth considering. If so, think about the kind of home workout you’ll be doing. Are you happy just replicating your outdoor running and cycling sessions? If so, a treadmill or exercise bike will be the way to go. Even then you’ll have options for joining virtual sessions or games.
However, if you’re looking at a full-body workout then an air bike, rowing machine or ski machine are the better bet, as these will work your upper torso too.
These are the best exercise machines
(Keep reading for the full reviews…)
- Best treadmill – Peloton Tread ($3,495 / £3,345 plus membership)
- Best ski machine – Concept2 SkiErg ($850 / £815)
- Best exercise bike – WattBike Atom ($3,399 / £2,399)
- Best air bike – AssaultBike Classic ($699 / £749)
- Best rowing machine – Aviron Strong ($2,100 plus membership – international shipping available)
BEST TREADMILL
Peloton Tread
BUY IT NOW:
From $3,495 (for the treadmill) plus $44/mo all-access membership, onepeloton.com
From £3,345 (for the treadmill) plus £39/mo all-access membership, onepeloton.co.uk
The price may be steep (and you need to factor in membership fees) but for the sheer quality and quantity of workout options you can’t go wrong with the Peloton Tread. The hardware is top-notch but it’s the 23.8in / 60cm screen that holds the Tread’s real potential.
There’s Bootcamp Runs, Guided Runs, Pop Workouts, Interval Runs and Scenic Sessions, as well as speed and incline control. Even after months of using the Tread you’ll feel like you’ve only scratched the surface of what this machine’s capable of.
Read our full Peloton Tread review
BEST SKI MACHINE
Concept2 SkiErg
BUY IT NOW:
$850 / £815, concept2.com
The SkiErg is the OG ski machine and mimics Nordic skiing for a cardiovascular, upper body-focused workout. It may be getting a bit long in the tooth now, but Concept2 believes if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. And we’d have to agree.
Whether it’s wall-mounted or secured with the additional floor stand, the SkiErg doesn’t take up much real estate (though check your ceiling height). It’s a relatively inexpensive way to get in regular cardio and upper body sessions, even if you don’t intend to hit the slopes this winter.
Read our full Concept2 SkiErg review
BEST EXERCISE BIKE
Wattbike Atom
BUT IT NOW:
$3,399 / £2,399, wattbike.com
An ideal investment for the Zwift generation, the Wattbike Atom is all the exercise bike you need – and more (though you’ll need your own screen). Coming pre-built and ready to ride, all you need to do is pair it with the Wattbike Hub app (for £79.99 a year) and you’ll be smashing cycling workouts in no time.
Beyond the app, Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity means you can connect to a wide range of fitness accessories and third party software so you can monitor heart rate or gamify your sessions. A smart resistance mode means you can let the bike change gear for you too.
Read our full WattBike Atom review
BEST AIR BIKE
AssaultBike Classic
BUY IT NOW:
$699 / £749, assault-fitness.co.uk
There’s a reason why Assault Fitness’s Classic air bike has become industry standard in enthusiast and elite fitness spaces. This no-nonsense machine provides great value for money as well as a calorie-torching workout each time you swing a leg over it.
It doesn’t have the connectivity options of its more expensive siblings, but that’s part of its immediate appeal. Just punch in a target time, distance, calorie count or heart rate and get pedalling. It’s a solid and stable ride, even when your workout has you out of the saddle and on the threshold.
Read our full AssaultBike Classic review
BEST ROWING MACHINE
Aviron Strong
BUY IT NOW:
$2,100 plus membership from $24 per month, avironactive.com (international shipping available)
Ideal for those who like to gamify their sweat sessions, the Aviron Strong has a 22in touchscreen that gives you access to workouts that the whole family can enjoy. So far there are 15 different titles to choose from, such as Row Breaker, Bug Blaster and Zombie Apocalypse.
Aviron’s Metrics Monitor keeps track of all the stats you need, including wattage, output, distance, pace, calories, strokes, SPM, heart rate and elapsed time. Membership will give you streaming access to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube videos while you row too.
Read our full Aviron Strong review
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