When choosing the best cardio equipment for small spaces the most important thing is to pick something that you will enjoy using. Secondly it is also great to pick something that has a lot of versatility. It’s great to go with something that is going to give you a good efficient workout. Here are my picks for the 5 best pieces of cardio equipment for small spaces. All of these are going to give you a fantastic workout and assist you on your journey of health and well-being.
1. WaterRower Rowing Machine
My first pick when thinking about great cardio equipment for small spaces is the WaterRower rowing machine. The reason for picking this particular rowing machine is that it has a smaller footprint than the Concept2 Rowing machine at 82″ L x 22″ W. A rowing machine is a great piece of cardio equipment to have in your home gym as they don’t take up a tonne of space and once you have finished your workout they can be stood upright to save space. Rowing is an excellent full body workout that targets all major muscle groups, making for a efficient way of toning and strengthening your body and a great way to burn a whole bunch of calories in a short time.
The WaterRower famously stared in the hit TV series ‘House of Cards’ and is a highly enjoyable device for tuning out and enjoying the meditative sound of the water swooshing against the flywheel as you row.
It also comes in many different woods and is probably one of the best looking pieces of cardio equipment we have seen.
If you would like to learn more about the WaterRower, check out my WaterRower buyer’s guide or the WaterRower Natural rowing machine below
 | WaterRower Natural |
| Check it out on Amazon |
2. Sunny Health & Fitness B1002 Spin Bike
A spin bike is also a favorite among many home gym users. They take up a small foot print and require low maintenance. Anyone that has done a spin class knows that it is a great way to get fit and get a great sweat!
Spin bikes are typically much less expensive that other pieces of cardio equipment like your treadmill or stair master. Other great alternatives to the spin bike is the Concept2 BikeErg where instead of having a heavy flywheel keeping you in constant motion and you have to apply the effort as it uses air resistance. Another great option is an air bike which has handles so it also heavily incorporates the arms and upper body.
The Sunny Health & Fitness Spin bike B1002 is a great basic spin bike to get started on with spin classes or for hill climbing sessions. It takes up a total space of 41″ x 22″ and features a decent heavy 49lb chrome flywheel. The Sunny B1002 does not include a monitor but you can easily attach a Wahoo speed or cadence monitor and pair it with your phone via Bluetooth and use an app like Strava or the Wahoo Fitness app to track your workout and get live stats.
This is also great if you are following along with an online training session or using training apps like Zwift etc. Another option is the Sunny Health & Fitness B1877 model spin bike which also includes a digital monitor.
 | Sunny Health & Fitness B1002 Spin Bike |
| Check it out on Amazon |
3. Concept2 SkiErg
The Concept2 SkiErg is a very underrated and often overlooked piece of cardio equipment for small spaces. It requires a minimal foot print of 20.5″ x 16″ and gives you a fantastic full body exercise. Can you get fit using the SkiErg? Nordic skiers are some of the fittest on the planet with amazing strength and endurance! Give it a go and be hooked on this amazing workout.
Concept2 have been around since 1976 making some of the most durable and high quality cardio equipment on the market and are worth looking at when making purchases for your home gym. They are most famous for their Concept2 RowErg Indoor rowing machine and oars. However, their SkiErg and BikeErg have become a popular pick in recent years for many commercial and home gym owners.
 | Concept2 SkiErg |
| Check it out on Amazon |
4. Schwinn Fitness 411 Compact Elliptical
Most gyms have elliptical machines and for a good reason. They provide a great low impact total body workout. The Schwinn 411 elliptical is a great home gym version of the much loved elliptical rather than the typical heavy and bulky elliptical machines that you often see at your average gym. They are also an enjoyable machine to do a lot of low intensity longer duration workouts and are also a great way to keep fit and healthy, especially if it is raining outside and you prefer to exercise indoors. The Schwinn 411 elliptical takes up a minimal footprint of 53.8″ D x 24″ W.
 | Schwinn Fitness 411 Compact Elliptical |
| Check it out on Amazon |
5. Rx drag rope skipping rope
The last pick at number 5 is the humble skipping rope, an often overlooked piece of cardio equipment with its very simple design. However, the skipping rope provides an excellent full body conditioning exercise. Skipping ropes are relatively inexpensive, take up little to no space, last a long time, require no maintenance and help build your coordination and balance. Also being low impact on the joints whilst giving you a killer workout. The Rx drag rope goes beyond your typical jump rope to offer an even harder cardio session. Skipping ropes are also fantastic as on a nice day you can easily take them outside and skip in the sunshine.
 | Rx Smart Gear Drag Jump Rope |
| Check it out on Amazon |
Conclusion: Cardio equipment for small spaces
I hope these 5 great pieces of cardio equipment for small spaces gave you some great ideas for your own home gym and as you can see there is a great range of different pieces of cardio equipment for small spaces that you can include in your home gym.
There is a tonne of workout programs and apps that you can use to help deliver you an even better workout including free content on YouTube. All the best with deciding on the cardio equipment for your home gym!
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