The 10 Best Cardio Machines + How To Use Them, From Personal Trainers

A good treadmill can be surprisingly versatile, and the Commercial 2450 has all the bells and whistles to make it worth the investment. The 22-inch touchscreen pivots, the running belt is nicely cushioned to accommodate all-out sprints, and you can tackle hills with a 12% incline and a 3% decline. Your purchase also gets you a 30-day trial of iFIT, an interactive personal training platform that automatically adjusts your speed and incline as you train. After your trial is up, iFit costs $39/month.

Who should try it: Beginner to advanced runners, fans of hills

Who should skip it: Shoppers on a budget

Sample cardio workout for this machine: The 12-3-30 workout

“Spin bikes are a fun way to get in an effective low-impact cardio workout while strengthening all the major muscle groups of your legs,” says Tom Holland, MS, CSCS, CISSN, and Bowflex fitness advisor.

And the IC4 from Schwinn has everything you’d want in an indoor cycling bike. The ride is smooth and quiet, with 100 levels of magnetic resistance, dual-sided pedals, four-way adjustable handlebars, and a set of three-pound dumbbells with cradles front and center. “The weights allow you to incorporate upper-body strengthening while you ride at a lower resistance,” says Holland.

The LCD metric console, which has a USB port, tracks stats like time, distance, resistance, speed, pulse, and calories burned. A Bluetooth armband is included to track your heart rate. Plus, the bike has a media/device holder if you want to jump into a digital spin class. Your purchase comes with a one-year subscription to JRNY, an accompanying expert-led workout app. After that first year, the JRNY costs $149 annually.

Who should try it: Anyone new to indoor cycling, people with joint issues (i.e. osteoarthritis), those who aren’t interested in spinning apps

Who should skip it: Those who want an integrated screen

Sample cardio workout for this machine (from Holland):

∙ 5-minute easy warm up (3-4 intensity)

∙ 1-minute seated hill (6-7 intensity) 

∙ 1-minute easy spin (3-4 intensity)

Repeat 5 times

∙ 2 minutes easy spin (3-4 intensity)

∙ 1-minute standing hill (6-7 intensity) 

∙ 1-minute easy spin seated (3-4 intensity)

Repeat 5 times

∙ 3-minute easy cool down (3-4 intensity)

A rowing machine is a great addition to any home gym. “The rower uses a large number of muscles in the body (quads, glutes, hamstrings, back muscles, deltoids, core, etc.), and it also incorporates a strong pulling motion, which can be hard to find in the cardio room,” says Tatyana Johnston, CPT and sports performance lead at OMORPHO.

But the Impact rower from Aviron doesn’t stop there. The lightweight machine has a patented design that makes it easy to fold up and roll away, unlimited profiles with a monthly membership ($25/month), and dual air and magnetic resistance to mimic the feel of open-water rowing with the benefit of strong, smooth torque. It’s also quieter than other rowers, with a high frame height that makes it easy to get on and off.

But the best part may be the game-inspired content on the 22” monitor, which is designed to keep you feeling challenged and motivated. If you don’t want to keep your membership, the rower is still functional with a good range of features.

Who should try it: People with joint issues, those looking for engaging content

Who should skip it: Those with limited space, those who prefer instructor-led workouts

If you’re searching for an alternative to the standard treadmill/elliptical/rower options, a vertical climber is worth a closer look. These machines engage all the major muscle groups by simulating fast-paced rock climbing. Plus, the push/pull action in the upper and lower body makes for a killer full-body workout that burns calories faster than other cardio machines.

This pick from VersaClimber has adjustable pedals and grips, with a sturdy steel frame that means it can double as a stair stepper to target the glutes, quads, and hamstrings. The bare-bones console has four modes and tracks time, feet, and distance per minute, step height and stroke length, and calories burned, but that’s really all you need.

Who should try it: People looking to combine strength and cardio, those with joint issues

Who should skip it: Shoppers on a budget, those with lower ceiling heights

With its cherry wood frame, sleek touchscreen, and water flywheel, the Ergatta gets top marks for aesthetics. It’s the kind of exercise equipment that you don’t mind parking in your living room. When it’s stored in its upright position–which gives it a footprint of just 23 inches by 22.5 inches (about the size of a barstool)—it has an almost mid-century—modern art installation vibe.

As for function, this is a well-built machine with the smooth drag of water resistance, which makes it feel (and sound!) like you’re really out on the water.

Ergatta content is game-based, with thousands of live and on-demand virtual races available with membership ($29/month), plus options for open rowing, which make it an excellent pick for anyone who thrives on competition. Another bonus–every workout is calibrated to your fitness level, so you’re always being challenged.

After trying the machine out for myself, I can confidently say that this thing is gorgeous—whether it’s fully extended or upright. And the workout is next level. I’m no gamer, but I am competitive, so I find myself working harder than I otherwise might—alone, at home—just because I want to win! Rowing is a killer head-to-toe workout, so this is a great option if you’re short on space and you’re all about workout efficiency.

Who should try it: People with joint issues, those with small spaces, those who thrive on competition

Who should skip it: Anyone who prefers trainer-led workouts

The elliptical is a popular cardio option–low impact and easy on the joints, but guaranteed to work up a sweat. With 20 resistance levels and a year-long JRNY membership that gives you access to a library of workouts with your purchase, the Bowflex Max Trainer M9 is all about efficiency.

“The 14-minute interval workout is a great place to start HIIT, as you’re taken through a series of high-effort intervals and recovery periods,” says Holland. Plus, with the addition of upright handles, there’s an upper-body component too, so you have options for a full-body workout.

Your purchase comes with a one-year subscription to JRNY, an accompanying expert-led workout app. After that first year, the JRNY costs $149 annually.

Who should try it: Fans of HIIT training

Who should skip it: Anyone who doesn’t want to pay for a monthly subscription

Sample cardio workout for this machine (from Holland):

∙ 5-minute easy warm-up (3-4 on an intensity scale of 1-10)

∙ 30 second sprint (8-9 intensity) followed by 30 seconds recovery (3-4 intensity)

Repeat 10 times

∙ 5-minute easy cool-down (3-4 intensity)

All of the trainers we consulted for this round-up recommended the treadmill as the best cardio machine for beginners. This one from FEIER covers the basics nicely, with a few impressive upgrades thrown in. Not only does it fold down to an ultra-slim profile that can fit under most beds, it has a 12% incline if you feel like tackling those hills and will accommodate sprints up to 11.2 miles per hour.

The expansive digital console tracks your time, distance, and calories burned, with an integrated heart rate monitor and wireless charger, plus Bluetooth connectivity. Beginners will love the 36 pre-set programs if they need help getting started.

Who should try it: Those with limited space, those who are new to treadmill workouts

Who should skip it: People with balance issues, those looking to incorporate resistance training with cardio

Yes, this is technically a workout mirror, not a cardio machine, but hear us out. The platform offers members over 700 classes, with more being added weekly, in over 40 modalities including cardio classes like dance, boxing, and HIIT. And as founding trainer Nina Moore puts it, “We love cardio workouts at Forme!”

The wide range of workouts is well-suited to anyone who tends to get bored on the treadmill or spin bike. Plus, you get all the benefits of a top-notch workout mirror–immersive sound and a 4K screen, elegant design, and the feel of an in-person fitness class from the comfort of your own home.

Who should try it: Those who like to change it up with different modalities, anyone who hates traditional steady-state cardio

Who should skip it: Shoppers on a tight budget

Sample HIIT cardio workout for this machine (from Moore):

2 sets @ 40 seconds each movement:

∙ Dumbbell Squat to Press

∙ Dumbbell Alternating Reverse Lunge

∙ Dumbbell Bent Over Rows

∙ Alternating Side Plank

2 sets -@30 seconds each movement:

∙ Dumbbell Goblet Alternating Lateral Lunge

∙ Dumbbell Split Stance Chop

∙ Tall Plank Dumbbell Transfer

FightCamp isn’t a traditional cardio machine, it’s true, but it brings all the benefits of a boxing or kickboxing workout to you. Just ask FightCamp trainer Jessica Evans.

“Many people think they need an expensive machine for cardio, but there’s nothing better than your own body,” Evans says. “You’ll burn more calories and get a good amount of resistance by hitting the bag, so you’re killing two birds with one stone.” 

With the bag, a pair of gloves, and the punch trackers (pictured)—which count your pouches, track your progress, and put you in an optional compete mode with the entire FightCamp community—you have everything you need for a cardio and strength training workout in one.

Your monthly membership gives you access to unlimited workouts, including bag classes, strength, recovery, and core, making it a really well-rounded way to stay strong. And since striking a heavy bag is a form of resistance training, it’s a great way to build muscles from top to bottom. Plus, you’re burning more calories by moving around the bag instead of staying in a single plane, and you’re learning a solid skill set, points out Evans.

I personally tend to get bored really quickly on standard cardio equipment, and FightCamp is a brilliant workaround if you’re in the same boat. I’ve done bag classes several times a week for over a year now and while I quickly found my favorite class format and instructors (six rounds of kickboxing with Aaron!), I have yet to repeat a workout. I love the pace, intensity, instruction, and double whammy of the cardio burn and resistance—you definitely feel your muscles working, from head to toe.

Who should try it: Those looking for fast-paced, high-energy cardio and strength workouts in one

Who should skip it: Those with limited joint mobility

Sample cardio workout for this machine (from Evans): 

3-minute round with 30-second intervals

∙ Coast 1-2 (jabs and crosses)

∙ Power coast 3-4 (slow, hard hooks on the bag)

∙ Coast 5-6 (uppercuts)

∙ Coast 1-2

∙ Power coast 3-4

∙ Coast 5-6

Air bikes use a fan instead of a standard front wheel to produce air resistance that increases the faster you pedal. Add in the arm handles, and you get a full-body workout that’s ideal for HIIT and building those biceps and triceps.

The AssaultBike Classic is a standout–a commercial-grade option that you’ll love to hate. It comes with a range of pre-programmed or manual workouts, and you can track your time, distance, calories, watts, RPMs, and speed on the smart console. Turn it into an upper-body-only workout by putting your feet up on the pegs and pushing and pulling as hard and fast as you can.

Who should try it: Anyone looking for a challenging strength/cardio workout, HIIT fans

Who should skip it: Those who prefer longer, steady-state cardio

Sample cardio workout for this machine:

∙ 10 sets of 30 seconds on at full speed and 30 seconds off