Hate Working Out in the Heat? These Cardio Machines Are Your Solution

Whether you’re a rower, runner, biker, or elliptical lover, you deserve the best cardio machine that your home gym (or living room, office, or garage) will allow. After all, a good piece of cardio equipment can help get your heart rate up even when the weather is crappy, you can’t make it to the gym or studio, or you only have a few minutes to spare for exercise.

That’s why we looked back over past years’ SELF Home Fitness Award–winners and previous recommendations from fitness industry pros to find effective cardio machines that are truly worth the investment. Our selections include buzzy models from boutique brands like Peloton and SoulCycle, as well as buy-it-for-life exercise machines from brands like NordicTrack and Concept2. Whichever you choose, you can trust it’ll make your cardio workout routine a little easier (and a lot more enjoyable).

Our top picks

1. Best Rowing Machine: Concept2 Indoor Rower Model D, $1,500
2. Best Treadmill: NordicTrack Commercial 1750, $2,499
3. Best Exercise Bike: Peloton Bike+, $2,495
4. Best Elliptical: NordicTrack FS10i Interactive Elliptical Trainer, $1,999

Best Rowing Machines

For a full-body workout that incorporates both cardio exercise and strength training, a rowing machine is an excellent choice. Most models on the market offer a range of resistance levels, so you can tweak the difficulty to your liking, and then it’s up to you whether you opt for a rower with techy bells and whistles or one with a more streamlined user experience.

For the former, go with the Hydrow, a rower with immersive features and a membership to loads of on-demand classes (which costs $44 per month). For the latter, the Concept2 is widely considered the standard for rowing machines for its ability to engage the entire body, simple interface, and longevity (tons of experts recommended it to SELF and it’s seriously built to last).

We’re also big fans of the Peloton Row—it’s SELF Certified and a SELF Home Fitness Award–winner—for anyone focusing on improving their technique. It provides visual feedback on your form in real time, with tips on what you may need to adjust for a better workout, and provides post-class breakdowns of your performance too.

If you’re a total beginner, Future trainer Laura Carl previously recommended NordicTrack’s rower to SELF. “I love the data-driven points it provides, and it adjusts to your level of fitness—which not all ergs do,” she said.

Learn more about how to shop for a rowing machine and see all our top picks for best rowing machines here.

Best Treadmills

We’ll cut right to the chase: The best treadmill for the majority of runners is the NordicTrack 1750. It won a 2024 Home Fitness Award for its high-tech features built into a user-friendly, folding design. Its pivoting display screen makes it easy to follow along with iFit classes (which you can opt into for $39 per month), while its sturdy, cushioned deck and frame ensure a comfy ride every time. You “get what you pay for,” our Awards tester, a marathon runner, confirmed.

If your ears perked up at “high-tech features,” you should also consider the Peloton Tread+, an expert-approved workhorse with a long running belt, huge touchscreen display, and the expertise of Peloton’s coaches at your fingertips (you will need a $44 per month Peloton membership to take advantage of the platform’s classes). Katherine Wuestenfeld, a NASM-certified personal trainer and RRCA-certified run coach in Chicago previously told SELF that its running deck made her feel comfortable during high-intensity efforts: “On other treadmills I’ve tried, when the speed gets below a 7-minute-mile pace, things get shaky, don’t feel as smooth, and it doesn’t always feel like a safe surface for running fast,” she said. “The Tread+ feels smooth on the slatted belt, even at faster speeds.”

Short on space? Consider ProForm’s Carbon TLX or Sunny Health & Fitness’s Home Fitness Award–winning SF-T4400 model. They both have smaller-than-average footprints and fold up vertically when not in use. The key difference is the ProForm is suitable for higher speeds (up to 12 miles per hour), while the Sunny Health & Fitness is better for walking workouts.

Learn more about how to shop for a treadmill and see all our top picks for best treadmills here.

Best Exercise Bikes

All of these indoor exercise bikes meet you right at your fitness level, with features like adjustable handlebars, seats, and resistance settings. If you want a fully guided experience, Peloton and SoulCycle have what you’re looking for. We tested both models firsthand and were especially impressed by how seamlessly they brought the studio class vibes into our homes.

Cycling newbies, or anyone who just wants to hop on and ride, will love Schwinn’s IC4. One SELF staffer found it easy to assemble and loved that it comes with dumbbell cradles and a tablet holder (because who doesn’t want to stream their favorite show while they pedal?).

And then some models are designed to keep you comfortable while you develop cardiovascular health or rehab an injury, like Merach’s Home Fitness Award–winning recumbent bike. This type of exercise bike works slightly different muscles than standard stationary bikes and it provides an even lower-impact workout.

Learn more about how to shop for an exercise bike and see all our top picks for best exercise bikes here.

Best Ellipticals

Speaking of low-impact workouts, an elliptical machine is another great option. It won’t put stress on your lower body like running will, and it has plenty to offer in terms of versatility: You can focus on the cardiovascular benefits and pedal through your feet only. Or, for a higher-intensity total body workout, you can increase the resistance and engage your upper body by pushing through the handlebars and pedaling with equal effort.

We gave the NordicTrack FS10i a Home Fitness Award last year for its range of resistance settings and immersive iFit classes (“One day I might hike in the Alps, the next day I can ski in Norway, and then the following day I can run on a beach in Hawaii,” our tester said). For a little more money, Bowflex’s splurgy Max Total 16 delivers a luxe, stair stepper-style ride, with grippy handlebars and textured pedals. You can opt into a JRNY membership for $20 per month, which allows you to stream classes as well as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video from its 16-inch display.

For a sub-$1,000 machine that simply prioritizes function, Carla Baccio, an ACE-certified personal trainer, previously recommended Niceday’s elliptical to SELF. “If you’re more self-motivated to work out and don’t need any extra features, all you need is [a] Niceday Elliptical, a good podcast or video, and you can get a great workout while saving some extra money,” she said.

Learn more about how to shop for an elliptical and see all our top picks for best ellipticals here.

Related:

• The Best Workout Shoes for Every Kind of Activity
• The Best Kettlebells to Take Your At-Home Workouts Up a Notch
• The Best Home Gym Equipment for Small Spaces, According to Experts and Editors

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