10 Best Home Gym Cardio Equipments of 2021

When you can’t go to the gym, why not bring the gym home to you?

While the pandemic did increase sales for home gyms, these equipment already were best sellers. Busy individuals who needed to work out without worrying about transport costs and added efforts used home gyms to stay fit.

If you’re thinking of following in their footsteps, here is a short buying guide to get you started on the right track and to get the best home gym cardio equipment!

Things to Consider When Buying Home Gym Cardio Equipment

There are two options you can choose from when buying home gym equipment.

You can either opt for a multi-gym that allows you to conduct multiple exercises. Multi-gyms come equipped with adjustable weight stacks and are a one-for-all machine. Unlike your standard equipment, multi-gyms have a larger footprint and are larger in height too. Not to mention that they’re more expensive.

If you have money and room to spare and are serious about your workout regime, multi-gyms make a perfect choice.

However, if you have less space, a smaller budget, and not as ambitious workout goals, you can purchase compact workout equipment to meet your goal.

But how do you choose the right equipment? Harvard Health Publishing offers straightforward tips for that. Your choices should create a balance between cardio and strength training exercises.

What is the Best Home Gym Cardio Equipment?

You want to purchase equipment that helps burn calories and fat and keeps your heart pumping. The best equipment that will probably get you the right results includes:

Elliptical trainers
- Schwinn 430 Elliptical Machine
- NICEDAY Elliptical Machine
Rowing machines
- Sunny Health & Fitness
- SNODE Water Rowing Machine
Stair-steppers
- Sportsroyals Stair Stepper
- Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper
Treadmill
- YOSUDA Indoor Stationary Cycling Bike
- Schwinn Fitness 230 Recumbent Bike
Stationary bicycle/recumbent bikes
- XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill
- SereneLife Smart Electric Folding Treadmill

Here is our recommendation for each piece of equipment.

1. Schwinn 430 Elliptical Machine

The Schwinn 430 elliptical machine is perhaps one of the most popular ellipticals because of its function and price.

The Schwinn 430 offers all functions necessary to have a full-body workout. Complete with 22 preset programs, a high inertia drive system, and 20 resistance levels, this machine helps you achieve your exercise goals without overwhelming the muscles.

The 22 preset programs include eight heart rate control programs, fitness tests, quick start—everything you need to keep that heart pumping hard.

The Schwinn 430 has a slighter larger footprint in terms of hardware, but it’s not so big that it would intrude on your path. The machine also offers as little sound as possible. With its quiet engine and cushioned footplates, you won’t ever have to worry about your neighbors banging the walls to keep the noise down!

It is our top recommendation as the best home gym cardio equipment, which is trustworthy and durable.

Pros

Cons

2. NICEDAY Elliptical Machine

For anyone who wants a larger machine that can hold 400 pounds, the NICEDAY elliptical machine works perfectly.

Easy-to-build and equipped with multiple useful features such as larger pedals, physical handlebars, a longer stride, a magnetic drive system, and 16 resistance levels, the NICEDAY elliptical machine is well worth the investment.

The machine is extra quiet, thanks to the magnetic system. And with its wider stride and overall larger body, this makes the NICEDAY machine very useful if you want to listen to music or watch TV as you work out for an hour-long session.

The machine also features a small display that shows distance, pulse, calories, time, and speed, the usual details needed to make your training more effective.

Remember that unlike the machines we use at the gym, this machine will not have the same smoothness as your stride changes; neither can you upload any workout plans. But, for an at-home machine, the NICEDAY elliptical machine does everything it says on the tin.

Pros

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3. Sunny Health & Fitness Rowing Machine

For a full-body workout, rowing machines are one of the best options.

Especially with the Sunny Health & Fitness rowing machine, you get a stable, affordable, easy-to-use rowing machine that offers a bunch of features to give you the most from your workout.

The machine has eight magnetic resistance levels, which you can try by using the non-slip foot pedals and extra-long slide rail.

This rowing machine’s footprint is more extended than wider, but it’s slim enough to fit in the corner of your house without getting in the way. It also features an LCD that displays total count, calories, time, and more so you can keep track of your progress.

This rowing machine is also very quiet, so even if you’re well into a serious workout, no one outside your door will even know you’re working out.

If you want a complete abs-glutes-biceps workout, the Sunny Health & Fitness machine is the right choice, but be warned. If you’ve never used a rowing machine before, acclimating to the machine’s movement will take some getting used to.

Pros

Cons

4. SNODE Water Rowing Machine

The SNODE water rowing machine is a well-reviewed machine on Amazon, so you know you’ll be making the right choice.

This sturdy, low-impact rowing machine makes the activity fun and impactful since its movement imitates actual strokes, not something you often get in a primary rowing machine. The resistance levels are also based on different rowing speeds and the water capacity, so you feel the force moving against you as you row, thus giving you better workout results.

The machine comes equipped with an LCD monitor as well as an app control. The display provides info on all the necessary measurements, including strokes, SPM, distance, time, and calories.

There’s also extra space for a tablet or phone holder. You can either use it for interactive personal training or watch your favorite shows while working out.

Although the machine does look big on arrival, the design is actually compact and comes with built-in wheels, allowing you to move it wherever you need.

Pros

Cons

5. Sportsroyals Stair Stepper

At first glance, a stair stepper may not seem like the best piece of equipment for losing weight or maintaining body mass. Don’t be fooled!

If you’re new to working out, a 10-minute stair stepper workout will feel like never-ending torture. Climbing upstairs is the best exercise that strengthens your muscles and makes your bones healthier because it works your hamstrings, calves, glutes, and core strength as you pump your legs. But with gravity working against you, you’ll feel that lactic acid burns with every step you take.

Nevertheless, once you get used to the movement, working out on your stair stepper becomes exciting because you see your hard work pay off.

Your muscles receive better blood flow, and you burn calories as well. Stair-climbing machines do not provide an intense workout, but even a moderate workout does plenty to strengthen your body overall.

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Cons

6. Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper

This 2-in-1 machine is the perfect piece of equipment if you want to make your biceps strong while you work out your glutes.

The Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper is a small, durable workout gear that gives you a total body workout in 20 minutes. The machine is equipped with training bands that stimulate over 20 core muscles. These bands are removable, so if you want to use your stepper, all you have to do is snap them off.

When you have spare time in your office or want to get the maximum benefit of a break, you can use this best home gym cardio equipment and enjoy 2 low-impact exercises on this machine.

The machine functions via a hydraulic drive system that gives you a smooth working motion. Complete with non-slip pedals that are wide enough to fit all feet, the Sunny mini stepper is a nifty piece of equipment to have if you don’t have time to exercise and want to work out different muscle groups at once.

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7. YOSUDA Indoor Stationary Cycling Bike

Even if you’ve had no training in handling moderate or high-intensity workouts, you’ll still be able to complete a heavy workout on your trusty stationary bike.

Stationary bikes are perfect for beginners because it allows you to build up to a more intense workout. Biking workouts can last for 15 minutes to 45 minutes or even an hour, depending on your overall strength. Once you become used to the movement, you are the one who gets to customize your workout correctly.

You can involve upper body workouts, create longer high-intensity intervals and design your sessions.

Stationary bike workouts are low-impact, but you will feel the burn once you’re done, so be prepared for some muscle soreness afterward. Also, during your initial workouts, try to determine your levels as a beginner. You don’t need to start at zero resistance.

Give yourself a challenge so that you can work up toward a stronger level.

Pros

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8. Schwinn Fitness 230 Recumbent Bike

Schwinn is a massive brand in the fitness industry, so you know we can trust any machine the brand releases.

With the Schwinn Fitness recumbent bike, you get a machine that does what’s needed, and then some. Thanks to the seat and horizontal biking function, the recumbent bike’s structure benefits those with back pain, knee pain, and joint pain.

But, this doesn’t mean the machine has a larger footprint. It’s compact enough to fit in the corner of your home with ease.

The Schwinn recumbent bike also comes with a surplus of valuable features. One thousand structured workouts, 80 plus virtual routes you can access through the Zwift app, 16 magnetic resistance levels, enhances Bluetooth connectivity, tracking, and monitoring, 13 workout programs—and that’s just the beginning.

With its telemetry heart rate, thick padded seat vented back, and relaxed riding motion, the recumbent bike is the best purchase you can make if you experience joint pain while working out.

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9. XTERRA Fitness TR150 Folding Treadmill

Folding treadmills truly are the superstar of the cardio equipment world. The XTERRA fitness folding treadmill, in particular, has a fan following because of its easy function and storage capacity.

This treadmill features about 12 preset programs, including settings and a speed range that goes up to 10 MPH, making it an ideal choice if you feel like running at full speed. The machine also features a large 5 inch LCD that displays all the necessary information, including distance, time, calories, pulse, speed, and distance.

Thanks to the machine’s more significant running path, the XTERRA treadmill is an excellent option if you require a machine for medical purposes, for rehabilitation, or require a bigger path because you’re over 300 pounds. In any case, this treadmill will prove to be durable and effective in keeping you comfortable and active while walking or running.

With its adjustable incline, powerful and quiet motor, fold-up design, and large running surface, the XTERRA Fitness TR150 is the only cardio machine you’ll need.

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10. SereneLife Smart Electric Folding Treadmill

Do not be fooled by the SereneLife treadmill’s compact size!

While it weighs only 60 pounds, this treadmill does not give up, no matter how long you run.

In terms of function, this treadmill has similar features to that of others. But it’s the Smart function that puts it apart from the rest. The SereneLife Smart function includes a motorized plug for incline, Bluetooth connectivity with a ‘FitShow’ app that allows you to record and track your data and share it on social media.

The machine comes with a compact LCD and touch buttons. The screen displays time, speed, distance, calories, heart rate, and a read-out of statistics. Alongside, it also features handgrip sensors that allow BPM pulse monitoring.

For the user’s ease, the machine also provides manual incline adjusters, a safety key, built-in trays for your phone, books, or magazines, and a cup holder for your water bottle. We consider it as the best home gym cardio equipment, its price and solid build convinced us to do it.

Paired with its foldable structure, compact size, and multiple functions, the SereneLife Smart folding treadmill makes a great addition to any person’s home gym.

Ready to Start?

Cardio equipment offers a full-body workout and gives you the strength to move upward in your health journey. With all the information above, you should be well on your way to becoming your best self.

Start now, and upgrade your home with the best equipment money can buy that’ll help you accomplish your fitness goals. Your body will thank you for it.