Top 3 Most Effective Cardio Equipment for your Home Gym
The Rowing Machine
The Rowing Machine
What’s Great About It: Great most effective cardio that can be used as a warm up to a lifting session or great for a cardio session on its own. A rowing machine is a full body workout that targets all major muscle groups. This makes it one of the most effective cardio types you can do. The Concept 2 is my favourite and recommended rowing machine used in gym’s across the world the Concept 2 rower is the best in its class. It is relatively light to move and easily divided into two parts for quick storage. A favourite for any gym user and perfect to have in your home gym.
Lets face it if its good enough for olympic rowers to train on you know
it will be good for you. Look after if it and it will last an incredibly
long time I have seen Concept 2 rowers in gyms with 25+ million miles
on them.
Budget Friendliness: Well priced for commerical quality gym equipment that will last. Also most effective cardio for being a complete full body workout and able to be used for strength conditioning it is good value for money.
What to Consider: Noise – It can make a little bit of a whoosh noise when under intense load. Length – coming in at 2.44 metres / 8 feet long make sure you have an area to comfortably use it in. However it can be easily stored away after use if you only have a small space available (refer to below video 1:01).
Concept 2 RowErg Indoor Rowing Machine
The Spin Bike
The Spin Bike
What’s Great About It: Improves cardiovasular health, great way to burn calories, lose weight and increase endurance. Total body workout, low impact, great for legs and core. They don’t take up much room and can be wheeled away when you are not using it.
Budget Friendliness: Excellent piece of most effective cardio equipment with regards to value for money. Spin bikes are relativley cheap to purchase.
What to Consider: Weight (can be heavy to move). Get one with a good digital computer to measure cadence (rpm)
GCN training offers free spin class sessions which are great to follow along with. This can help train you on how to effectively use your spin bike.
Sunny Health & Fitness Synergy Series Magnetic Indoor cycling Exercise Bike
The Elliptical Cross Trainer
The Elliptical Cross Trainer
What’s Great About It: Great efficient low impact fully body workout also great warming up for weights training. There are also plenty of free elliptical training videos on YouTube that you can follow along with on your own.
Budget Friendliness: On the higher of the budget end of most effective cardio equipment, however varies in price. how many years can you expect to use it for before it breaks, is it good value for the workout you are getting from it
What to Consider: Typically quite heavy and bulky to shift. Quality varies between brands. As there are more moving parts and pivot points they require a little more maintenance than the spin bike or rowing machine
Schwinn Fitness 430 Elliptical
Conclusion for the top 3 most effective cardio equipment for your home gym:
Adding a piece of the most effective cardio equipment to your home gym is a great idea. Not only can you perform fun cardio workouts but you can also use it to warm up for a lifting session or for just everyday well-being and keeping in shape. I would highly recommend finding something you enjoy doing be it rowing, cycling, running, skiing, running etc. Out of these top three pieces I have listed the best value for money and the best that can be easily stored away when not in use.
Best value for money: The Spin Bike
Best portability: The Rowing Machine
So here you have it. If you are looking to keep fit and healthy and perhaps loose weight and enjoy cycling, a spin bike can be a great low cost, low maintenance piece of equipment for your home gym. If needing to be smart with space a rowing machine is also a great option as it can be easily stored away and is a fantastic full body workout.
I hoped you enjoyed these top 3 choices of most effective cardio equipment and wish you all the best with your cardio purchase decision and enjoy working out!