Cardio is and will always be my favorite. It’s what I started with, what I go back to, it’s what I train for and basically, cardio is life. I can’t say the same for everyone else, but it’s something that I truly enjoy.
Cardio workouts can improve your performance when you incorporate them into your strength training. You can opt for high-level cardio machines if you want to push the pace and the fact that cardio promotes overall health makes it all the more appealing.
Investing in a cardio machine will allow you to enjoy another form of cardio— one that is inside your home or garage. Without further ado, here are the best cardio machines for home use:
Best Cardio Machines For Home Use Compared and Reviewed
| Image | Name | Brand | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top | Assault Fitness Air Runner | Assault Fitness | Check Price on Amazon |
| Nordictrack RW500 Rower | Nordictrack | Check Price on Amazon | |
| StairMaster SM3 StepMill | StairMaster | Check Price on Amazon | |
| Schwinn 470 Review | Schwinn | Check Price on Amazon | |
| Keiser M3i Indoor Bike | Keiser | Check Price on Amazon |
#1 - Assault Fitness Air Runner
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First on my list is an offering by Assault Fitness: the Air Runner.
The brand has been around for 20 years now and it’s first gold mine was their invention of the Airbike— one of the sturdiest stationary fan bikes known to man. You would think that with 20 years under their belt they’d have a hefty line of equipment on the market. Think again.
Assault Fitness only came up with 3 items: a rowing machine, the Airbike and the Air Runner.
The Air Runner comes with really great features for a cardio machine at home, as it entirely redefines the manual treadmill, has dependable stability, offers a superior steel construction, and no-limits of functionality when it comes to streamlined, energy-efficient design.
Expect a different experience with this motorless treadmill. The only thing powering the belt on this is you and your effort alone. Now, that may sound appealing or appalling.
This machine will be well-loved by those who are looking to reduce their carbon footprints as you don’t need to plug this in. That also comes with downsides such as not being able to adjust the speed and incline.
It comes with a reliable LCD monitor powered by batteries that has heart rate monitoring, and workout programs. You won’t worry about this taking too much space as it is quite compact.
PROS
- Great for the environment
CONS
- Some say plastic shell prone to cracking
- Expensive for a manual treadmill
#2 - Nordictrack RW500 Rower
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The NordicTrack RW900 comes with a high price as it has unique offerings that you will not usually find in your ordinary rowing machine.
First, it comes with live resistance controls that can easily help to keep you from plateauing during your exercise routine. This for me is what sets it apart from other machines with the same concept.
It is also tuned in to thousands of classes on-demand from iFit. The subscription is free for the first year, but there’s a monthly subscription fee thereafter. Throughout the entire class, the rowing machine can automatically increase the resistance, so no need for you to manually operate it.
It has a nice built-in touchscreen display, an ergonomic molded seat, a steel seat rail, a row bar, foot straps, and adjustable pivoting pedals. It also comes with front-mounted wheels, making it simpler and easier to move around your home.
PROS
- Sleek, modern design
- Live resistance controls
- Extensive library of on-demand classes
CONS
- Assembly is quite challenging
- Monthly subscription fee
- Expensive
#3 - StairMaster SM3 StepMill
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The StairMaster SM3 StepMill is designed not for beginners. It is an excellent cardio machine that can help you to build your stamina and provides a high-impact workout. It can pose as a real challenge on the legs, more than any cross trainer or treadmill.
At first, you’ll notice that it looks like a small staircase that’s only about 4-6 inches, and I have to say it looks very underwhelming. However, as soon as you get on it, it truly becomes a monstrous contraption. It has a reaching speed of around 26 – 162 steps/ minute, which will be fast even to a professional athlete.
It comes with 10 workout programs intended for different target areas, a backlit LCD display that shows your progress throughout the entire workout, and a polar-compatible heart rate monitoring which shows data and lets you inform. It can carry users of up to 275lb in weight.
PROS
- Simple and effective
- Wide range of speeds
CONS
- It's expensive
#4 - Schwinn 470
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The Schwinn 470 is another great cardio home machine designed for low-impact exercise. Schwinn has been manufacturing bikes since 1898, and has since then ventured on other fitness equipment including this elliptical.
The first 470 was released last 2013 and the only major improvement that was done on its second release was to add Bluetooth for data sharing.
Initially, this one seems like a great bargain. It comes with 26 resistance levels that have digital controls, a 20″ stride length, and a motorized incline with a maximum setting of 10°.
When it comes to programming, the console of the machine is able to support four user-profiles and can even keep 29 preset workout programs. Plus, the exercise data of the users are indicated on a large backlit LCD.
However, it’s the after-sales that’s the main issue for me. Reviews rave that serious problems occur in the first six months after purchase. And that fact that Schwinn will only cover labor costs for the first 90 days is, well, a big turnoff.
PROS
- Smooth striding
- User-friendly LCD
- Four user profiles
CONS
- Other parts prone to breaking
- Aftersales could be improved
#5 - Keiser M3i Indoor Bike
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The Keiser M3i Indoor Bike is the best indoor bike and that’s not exaggerating anything.
This machine is designed to work with different-sized users. Height is adjustable from 4-foot-10 to 7-foot and has a weight capacity of up to 350 pounds.
The best feature for me? It feels like a real bike when you ride it without the noise. It’s built with magnetic resistance. You can be in the same room with someone watching the TV and no one will get annoyed. That’s a plus.
One of the unique things about this cardio machine is that the flywheel is located at the back of the bike. This may look odd but it’s been placed there to keep sweat from ruining the flywheel. You’ll notice that all of the important parts of the bike are placed behind its rider, making it safe from the sweat area, including the drivetrain.
Assembly is a breeze and guaranteed you’ll get a spin class experience at the comfort of your home.
PROS
- Quiet to use
- Easy to assemble
- High-quality materials
CONS
- Quite pricey
- Reports of an uncomfortable seat
