Best Cardio Equipment for Home: That Actually Get Results! [Plus Videos]

You remember the old infomercials selling you the gazelle?

It was the one with the big buff dude striding away on a thin piece of equipment that was “proven” to get you in shape. If you bought it then it probably ended up being a clothing rack instead of a piece of cardio equipment for home use.

So, what are the best cardio equipment you can buy in 2021 that will get you in shape “lose weight, tone your muscle and improve your cardiovascular health” – or be a really sexy coat rack?

Best Home Cardio Equipment For Small Spaces: Top 5 Reviewed

1. Echelon Smart Connect Bike

2. Concept 2 Indoor Rower

3. Assault AirBike

4. Peloton Tread

5. Peloton Bike

Best Cardio Equipment For Home Gym Comparison

#1 Echelon Smart Connect Bike

Echelon is a more cost-effective bike and great for beginners entering into the spin bike world.

It does have an older ergonomic set-up and requires you to use an existing tablet or smartphone to access training programs. But you are going to get out what you put in.

The Echelon bike is sleek and much lighter and easier to maneuver than Peloton bikes.

It comes with both a clip-in and cage option meaning you don’t have to purchase cycling shoes to use the bike.

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A great feature if you don’t know if you’re ready to commit to cycling just yet! If your goal is to sweat and get a great workout either bike will suffice!

Features and Benefits of Echelon Smart Connect Bike

1. Mount with a fast-charging USB port fits most tablet sizes
2. The extra-large cushioned seat offers a comfortable riding
3. Powder-coat frame for resistance to scratches
4. 2 water bottle holders on the front
5. Servo motor
6. Padded handlebars are slip-resistant
7. Rear dumbbell holders for easy access
8. Fully adjustable toe cages on the pedals for a secure fit
9. Live classes and more than 500 on-demand videos are available daily through the Echelonfit app
10. You can also purchase the Echelon Fitpass for live and on-demand classes 24/7 through Echelon’s subscription for your television.

Pros

• Live classes
• Sturdy ad solid
• Adjustable seats
• 32 levels of resistance
• Owner’s manual included
• speed range: 4 – 28(mph)
• Fully adjustable toe cages
• Product height: 58.26 inches
• Product weight: 105.82 pounds
• More than 500 on-demand classes
• Maximum weight capacity: 300 pounds
• Rear dumbbell holders for easy access

Cons

• The app cannot match the Peloton app
• Small display monitor

#2 Concept2 model D indoor rowing machine

If you’re looking for something different than your average treadmill or

something that has less of an impact on your knees a Concept2 indoor rower would be a great fit for you!

Perfect for pure cardio workouts or a mix of cardio with bodyweight exercises, dumbbells, and/or kettlebells.

The ultimate HIIT machine for a serious high-intensity workout session.

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The Concept2 rower gives you the option of rowing for meters or calories and has some great benchmarks to measure your endurance!

They are becoming more common in gyms around the world. If your local gym has one, I recommend you give one a try and see how you like it!

This is a great investment in your overall health or expanding your home gym. The Concept2 rower can be stored standing up which takes up as much space (maybe even less) than your traditional elliptical or treadmill. It is easily stored in a home office or garage.

Here are some burners you can do from the comfort of your own home if you decide a rower is right for you!

Every Minute on the Minute (EMOM) x 12 Minutes

Beginner – 10 calories

Intermediate – 12 Calories

Advanced – 15 Calories

**Every minute row until you reach your calorie goal. Your rest is the time remaining in the minute.

Rowing Intervals

• 6 Rounds
• Row 500m
• Rest 1 Minute
• Row 2K
• Rest 1 Minute
• Row 1500m
• Rest 1 Minute
• Row 1K

Workout

• 3 Rounds
• 21 Calorie Row
• 15 Kettlebell Swings 53lbs
• Burpees (Advanced Burpees over the rower)

Pros

• Affordable
• Fairly quiet
• Easy to fold up
• Easy to Assemble
• Sturdy and solid
• Easy to Move and Store
• Join an Online Challenge
• Connects with popular fitness apps
• Limited 2-year and 5-year warranty

Cons

• A little pricey

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#3 Assault AirBike

A staple in CrossFit boxes across the world, the assault air bike (commonly called the assault bike) is a great piece of equipment to give you consistent lung-burning workouts.

It takes up more space than a rower to store, but no more space than a traditional treadmill and is more functional. While a traditional stationary bike just requires you to pedal, that assault bike allows
you to propel the bike faster by using your arms.

You can just use your legs, or you can even just use your arms!

Check Price on Rogue

It’s a different feel than a bike you use in spin class or one you perch yourself on with a book or an iPad at the gym. It’s a great break from the norm and your lungs will be on fire when you’re done.

Priced at $699 (not including shipping or tax) it’s a very cost-effective piece of cardio equipment. It might not look fancy, but it’s got plenty of functions that will get you fit.

Yes, it will give you a workout as you expect. The harder you paddle or row, the harder it gets.

Bike Sprints

Take full advantage of the bike’s interval setting and give yourself 20 minutes of work at 30 seconds on of all-out work and: 30 seconds of rest.

Your score is the total number of calories on your screen at the end of the workout. Death By…

Accumulate a total of 100 calories on the bike

At the start of every minute complete 4 burpees. In the time remaining complete max calories on the bike. Your workout is over when you have accumulated 100 calories.

100 Calories For Time

This is a great benchmark for your overall fitness and capacity. A very fit male can complete 100 calories in about 6 minutes. Your legs are going to burn once you finish and what seemed like an easy workout is going to feel like 30 minutes of grueling work.

The better you get at the bike the more you can push these calories. Test out your 200 calories time as well as your 300 calories time once you feel comfortable with your pacing and capacity.

Pros

• Sturdy and solid
• Full body workout
• Commercial quality
• Good looking design
• Good weight support
• Unlimited Resistance
• Heavy-gauge steel frame
• Great for all kinds of people
• Great as a HIIT workout equipment
• The seat can be adjusted vertically, horizontally and tilted

Cons

• The fan gets a bit noisy. Like a loud fan.
• The seat begins to wobble over time. Can be replaced

#4 Peloton Tread

Although it has a higher price point than the previous two, Peloton now has a treadmill with the same

live training as its flagship bike.

Packaged as a total-body training system the Peloton Tread’s classes combine running with total body movements with a dumbbell and bodyweight exercises.

This is a great option for the person who doesn’t want to think about what they’re doing.  You pick a class and go! The downside to Peloton is the subscription-based model on top of the higher price point.

Treadmill Accessories on Amazon

The accessories needed for some of the classes will also run you anywhere from $300-$600 more than the base price. Although significantly more expensive than my first two recommendations, it is within range of a standard treadmill with so many benefits!

Pros

• Reputable
• Live Classes
• The best digital app
• On-Demand Classes
• unlimited Streaming
• 32″ touchscreen tablet
• Scenic Rides experience
• World-class instructors
• An interactive community
• Incline and Speed Controls
• Weight Capacity – 300 pounds
• This Amazon bundle has lots of addons

Cons

• Limited 1-year warranty
• High-priced: You get what you pay for
• Ropes you in for a yearly subscription
• Additional $300 for shipping and installation

#5 Peloton Cycle

If spin class is your style then the Peloton bike is a great fit for you. Peloton delivers an elite-level fitness experience providing on-demand classes with a broad range of training styles.

If a live class fits into your schedule then hop in from your own home with one of the Manhattan studios where all of Peloton’s classes are filmed. This is as close to an in-home soul cycle you can get.

Just like the Peloton tread it does require a monthly membership and getting a pair of their clip-in shoes is going to cost you more than the base price.

The best thing about Peloton is your ability to just click and go. No matter what your schedule is you can always hop into a class and push the pace to get a great workout on a comfortable machine.

Of course, there’s a Peloton hack if the price tag scares you a bit. Check out our post on Echelon vs Peloton for a suitable Peloton alternative.

Here are some Peloton alternatives you can explore on Amazon for yourself. Of course, they’re all Amazon bestsellers;

Echelon

Keiser M3i

NordicTrack

The above-mentioned Peloton alternatives can give you a similar experience, especially with the Peloton Digital app installed.

The Peloton indoor bike offers unique live at-home classes and competition with lots of people around the world, but without a subscription and for that matter a year’s payment as a subscriber, it wouldn’t do much for you.

You’re either going to get a really cool piece of workout equipment that will get you a six-pack in no time or you’re going to get a really cool coat rack that you can tell all your friends about. It sounds like a win-win to me!

Peloton Accessories on Amazon

Pro

• Reputable
• Live Classes
• Fully assembled
• Compact and sleek
• The best digital app
• Multigrip handlebar
• On-Demand Classes
• unlimited Streaming
• 22″ touchscreen display
• Scenic Rides experience
• World-class instructors
• An interactive community
• This Amazon bundle has lots of addons

Cons

• High-priced: You get what you pay for
• Ropes you in for a yearly subscription
• Additional $250 for shipping and installation

Best Cardio Exercise Equipment for Home – Recommendation

Try Before You Buy any Cardio Machine for your Home

Like I always advice;

Before you buy any of these cardio equipment, visit a few fitness stores/shops that specialize in indoor equipment.

Do well and try several models available. It will even be better if you could wear your workout gear and use each bike for 10 minutes so you get a feel for it.

While testing things out, pay attention to the look, feel and experience.

• Is it easy to adjust to your preference?
• Make sure the motion is smooth and that nothing impedes your movement.
• Measure it to make sure you have enough space at home.

Cardio Workout Equipment for Home Use – A Word From Cardio Zero

Buying a cardio or exercise machine is not an easy decision to make. And yet, if you think that adding one to your home gym will keep you:

• in shape
• motivated
• and in your budget,

then it can be a great asset that will keep you fit, healthy and happy for a very long time.

Conclusion

If you have not tried any cardio equipment before, get to your local fitness retailer or nearest fitness equipment store and give it a try.

Better yet, pay for a day pass at your local gym or any health club around. You need to gather the courage and put one of these through a strenuous workout. And let’s see if you notice a difference.

• Were you right or wrong after all?
• Did it do what the seller says it will do?
• Did it meet your expectations after you read this review?
• Do you think this new equipment can have a place in your heart and home?

We believe that after this vigorous test and questioning, you can then stop and consider everything you want in a specific model before you buy it.

You better invest in your health!