Cardio Machine Buying Guide

I am a firm believer that you can get a great workout without any fitness equipment whatsoever. With that said, if you don’t have the knowledge of different exercises that you can do, your workouts may be a bit ‘samey’ and boring. On top of that you may end up standing around thinking ‘what should I do next.’ So a piece of cardio fitness kit is still a useful thing to get for a lot of people. Here is my Cardio Machine Buying Guide.

1/ It is just one motion, so you don’t have to master a variety of different techniques for different exercises.

2/ You can use them whilst watching TV so the time passes faster.

3/ It breaks up your circuit training. For example you may do a circuit where you do 15 squats, 15 press ups, 15 sit ups, then 2 minutes on the bike and keep repeating that.

So which machine should you buy and how much should you expect to pay? I will cover the 4 most popular machines; treadmill, bike, cross trainer, rower.

1/ Treadmill

If you love running but perhaps don’t want to get outside in the cold or you just prefer the treadmill where you can control the speed and incline to your desired levels, the treadmill is for you. If you have any lower body injury concerns this may not be the best choice however, as it does put a fair bit of strain through the knees, ankles, etc. Expect to pay around £1000 for a good one.

2/ Bike

Much lower impact than the treadmill, and great for working the lungs and the legs. And a lot safer and easier than riding a bike on the roads. Expect to pay around £500 for a good one.

3/ Cross Trainer

Probably the lowest impact of all 4 bits of kit. Also works the upper body as well as the lower which the treadmill and bike do not. On the negative side it is a bit of an unnatural movement so won’t necessarily strengthen your muscles in a functional way that will benefit you in everyday life. Expect to pay closer to £1500 for a good one.

4/ Rower

This is my personal favourite. Mostly because you work the upper body, core and lower body altogether in a functional movement. If you get lower back pain you need to perfect your technique on this to avoid causing injury. £700 – £900 should get you a top range rower.

Conclusion – Cardio Machine Buying Guide

It is probably a good idea to go into a fitness store and try them all out to decide what machine is best for you. Whatever you buy, make sure you avoid the most common pitfall; NOT USING IT. So many cardio machines end up as clothes racks or stuck in the garage. Make sure you are committed to using it whatever you buy.

Visit the main page of my website here; Personal Trainer Tunbridge Wells – Rob Bowman.