What cardio machine does my Home Gym need?
Without a doubt, it’s a Rower…case solved!
This is actually a highly debatable question and will have a different answer for everyone. You have to take into account your budget, your room size, and your fitness goals.
It’s easy for me to answer “rower” because it’s the only cardio exercise I sort of look forward to. Ever since I purchased one, I haven’t touched the treadmill. I enjoy the full-body workout aspect and can crank the resistance, crank the tunes, and pretend I’m on the Charles River.
Below, I’ll lay out the price range, maintenance, space requirements, and rough estimate of the number of calories you can expect to burn for each type of machine. This will help you decide what to add to your home gym.
Treadmill
Elliptical
Exercise Bike
Air Bike
Rower
Air Skier
Treadmill
How much will I be spending?
The sky’s the limit when deciding how much you want to spend on a treadmill.
Budget treadmills range from around $300 to $1000 and, in a lot of cases, you get what you pay for. Budget treadmills generally have a shorter running surface, typically 55”, which isn’t ideal if you have a long stride. They also usually have a 10-degree max incline, 10 mph max speed, and relatively weak motors. This may not be an issue if you plan to use it for walking or are a smaller person, but anyone close to my size (220 lbs) will find the belt slipping with every stride when jogging.
Mid-grade treadmills can range from $1000 – $2500. The running surface will usually be a little longer, 55” to 58”, and they’re outfitted with higher quality parts and a few more options like built-in speakers, fans, and workout programs. The powerful motors, deck cushioning, and motorized incline options are really what start to add value to this range of treadmills.
Luxury treadmills start around $2500 and can climb over $10,000 depending on the options you’re after. These treadmills will have a running surface from 60” to 68” long. They are rated for user weights up to 400lbs while running, and 800lbs while walking. The high prices include top-end electronics, such as touch screens with web browsers, built-in programming with data storage, and the ability to pair with external fitness monitors.
What maintenance do I need to do?
To maximize the life and performance of your investment, all manufacturers have recommended maintenance instructions. Thankfully, most of the instructions don’t require any actual mechanical ability to get the most life out of your machine.
The basic items most manufacturers recommend are:
- Wipe down with water after every use
- Vacuum under the running deck weekly
- Plug the treadmill into a surge-protected outlet or power bar
- Lubricate the belt 1-4 times yearly and adjust as necessary
Belt lubrication and adjustment can be a daunting task if you’re not a mechanically inclined person. It’s explained here, but a technician should be called to adjust and or repair if you’re unsure of the task.
How much space will I need?
The average treadmill footprint is 77” long X 35” wide and can fold up to half the length if it has a foldable option. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) recommends 19.7” of space on the sides of the treadmill and 39” at the rear. This means you would need a space roughly 10’ long, 6’ wide, and 8’ high depending on your height, and the deck height of the treadmill you want to buy.
How many calories will I burn?
Just for reference: I am 220lbs. I burn approx 425 calories jogging at 6 miles per hour, for 30 mins at 0% incline. If I would put the incline at 5%, the calorie burn would jump up to approx 750. This is hypothetical of course as there is no way I’m staying on that long!
Elliptical
How much will I be spending?
Like treadmills, ellipticals have an extremely broad price range from $200 to upwards of $10,000 for some high-end commercial models. The average price range for a good quality home use elliptical is $1,000 – $2,000.
You’ll want to aim for the price range that offers a well-built, sturdy unit that will feel smooth with each stride. The high-end models have nice features like speakers, built-in workouts, and a longer warranty, but in this price range, you will start to see a diminishing return. Mid-range ellipticals are well built and offer a range of display options that will satisfy most home gym requirements.
What maintenance do I need to do?
Basic elliptical maintenance suggested by manufacturers:
- Wipe down after every use
- Monthly thorough cleaning of stride rails and rollers
- Twice a year remove covers, vacuum, and inspect components
- Yearly lubrication of moving parts
How much space will I need?
There are different styles of ellipticals with different stride types and lengths. You can expect any elliptical to be between 4’ and 7’ in length, and it is recommended to leave about 1’ behind the machine for clearance. A simple rule of thumb is to allow a 4’ x 8’ space for your elliptical in a room with at least an 8’ ceiling.
How many calories will I burn?
An elliptical workout will burn between 300 and 400 calories when on for 30 mins of mid-high intensity.
Exercise Bike
How much will I be spending?
Most exercise bikes cost between $250 and $3500, with the average bike being around $800. The price will differ depending on the type of bike, the features, and the brand.
What maintenance do I need to do?
Basic maintenance recommended by the manufacturer:
- Wipe down with water after every ride
- Torque pedals and wipe flywheel weekly
- Lubricate the moving parts monthly
How much space will I need?
The average exercise bike has a 23” x 48” footprint and would require a space of approximately 4’ x 6’ after accounting for recommended clearances.
How many calories will I burn?
A 30-minute spin session can burn between 300 and 500 calories at a mid-high intensity.
Air Bike
How much will I be spending?
There are fewer options when shopping for an air bike, and the price range is roughly $250 – $1200. The cheapest options are built with lightweight components and minimal options when it comes to the display and resistance settings. The more expensive air bikes will be built sturdier with more user-friendly components. There are fewer extremely high-end options in the air bike market and spending around $800 will get you a really high-quality machine.
What maintenance do I need to do?
Basic recommended steps:
- Wipe bike down after use keeping console free of moisture
- Inspect pedals, crank arms, seat, and console to ensure they’re secure
- Inspect the drive belt for excess wear
- Verify seat adjusts smoothly, lubricate as needed
How much space do I need?
Similar to exercise bikes, air bikes have an average footprint of 53” x 24” and require a space of roughly 4’ x 6’ to exercise safely.
How many calories will I burn?
The average air bike session burns 20 to 30 calories a minute and is a full-body workout.
Rower
How much will I be spending?
The price range of rowing machines is from $200 to $2500. The average cost of a rower with water resistance is $1300 and with air resistance $750. Like all other types of cardio equipment, the higher-priced machines are built sturdier with higher-end consoles and more options.
What maintenance do I need to do?
Manufacturers recommend:
- Wipe down after every use
- Ensure the seat is secured to the rail and slides smoothly
- Oil chain every 50 hours of use
How much space do I need?
Rowing machines will require a larger space in your home than most other cardio equipment. The average footprint of a rower is 8’ x 2’ and requires a space of roughly 9’ x 4’ to work out safely.
How many calories will I burn?
A 30-minute rowing session can burn 350 to 500 calories depending on resistance and intensity. Rowing is a full-body exercise that requires proper technique, as shown here, to perform safely.
Air Skier
How much will I be spending?
This is the smallest market of all cardio equipment, with a price range of $700 – $2400. The higher-priced option uses water resistance instead of air.
What maintenance do I need to do?
Manufacturers recommend:
- Weekly – untwist the cords
- Every 50 hours – remove the cover, inspect cords, fasteners, and pulleys
- Clean dust and lint from fan and flywheel as needed
How much space do I need?
Air skiers can be mounted to a wall, or sit on the ground with an optional stand. If using a stand, the footprint is roughly 24” x 50” by 85”. When mounted to the wall the floor space requirements go down to 24” x 19”, with 85” of height still required. When using the machine, as shown here, you will need approx 4’ x 4’ of space to avoid hitting anything.
How many calories will I burn?
A 30-minute air skiing session will burn anywhere from 250 to 400 calories depending on intensity and resistance.
What next?
There is a lot to consider when making this type of investment, so take your time. Try a few machines out at a fitness supply store or drop in for the day at a gym to see what you like. Buy something that will be more than a clothes rack, like the first elliptical I bought!
Combine a solid cardio routine with a nutrition plan and a few healthy recipes and you’ll be kicking your fitness into high gear.
