Cardio Equipment

1)    ProForm Perspective ES Treadmill

What can you say about a treadmill that includes a flat screen TV and a high quality sound system?  It’s a wonderful idea, wonderfully executed by ProForm.   The ProForm Perspective ES boasts a 7” flat screen that doubles as a display, a DVD player, and an MP3 compatible sound system.  Combine that with the extra long 60” deck, powerful McMillan motor (complete with a 20-year warranty!), and 28 different workout programs.  Given all these features, you’d expect a mighty price tag, but the ProForm ES Perspective is surprisingly affordable, a great value at for around $1,250.  This machine is fantastic for anyone who struggles with the monotony of exercise and it’s powerful enough for a fairly serious athlete.  Definitely worth a second look. 

2)    New Balance 6100 Recumbent Bike

This wonderful bike combines a litany of features into one great package.  Because it’s a recumbent exercise bike (the kind that has a chair-like seat instead of a conventional bike seat), the New Balance 6100 provides solid lower back support, encouraging good posture.  The magnetic resistance means your workout will be nearly silent and friction free.  The foot pedals and handlebars are designed with New Balance’s unique ComForm technology, which means they conform to your hands and feet for extra comfort.  The bike features nine smart interval programs with great names like “Over the Hill” and “Shape up Valley,” a manual program and two heart rate programs.  The display is easy to read and features adjustable contrast.  Throw in a water bottle/magazine rack, and you’ve got one hell of a package.  Whatever you’re looking for in an exercise bike workout you’ll likely find with the New Balance 6100.

3)    Stamina 1205 Precision Rower

For a price around $230 you won’t find a better, easier-to-use, more portable workout option than the Stamina 1205 Precision Rower.  The strong, lightweight aluminum frame means the Stamina 1205 is sturdy as it is easy to store.  The rower is also shockingly quiet, making it a great option for apartment dwellers.  Work out at any time of day without disturbing your neighbors.  The 1205 is also great for anyone without a lot of free time to work out.   Rowing combines strength training with aerobic exercise, burns a lot of calories quickly and utilizes all major muscle groups including the back, legs, arms, abdominals and buttocks, so it’s an excellent way to get a good workout in minimal time the 1205 features smooth hydraulic cylinder action, top-quality ball bearings and a comfortable, well-padded seat, making for a low-impact workout that won’t wear out your joints.  The one button, multi-function display is simple to use, and the tension is adjustable.  All told, this machine is great for anyone as an addition to a training regimen or a complete workout on its own.

4)    Bowflex Treadclimber

 Walk forward.  Step up.  That’s exactly what you’ll do with the Bowflex Treadclimber, a descendant of the stair stepper, the elliptical machine and the treadmill that significantly outperforms all three.  The Treadclimber has two parallel platforms, each with a treadmill-like belt.  The platforms pivot upward with each individual step you take, simulating an incline.  The beauty of the Treadclimber is that it delivers a much more intense, calorie-burning workout than a traditional treadmill without the strain on your body you’ll get from a stair stepper.  The Treadclimber strengthens multiple core muscle groups is an amazingly low impact, delivering a strenuous workout without wearing out your knees.  Your feet are free, not bound into a footpad like they would be on an elliptical trainer.  This allows for greater comfort and range of motion.   The Treadclimber is built with excellent components, high-grade carbon steel, and comes with an excellent warranty.  If you want one machine that delivers an intense cardio workout in a short period of time, this could be it.

5)    NordicTrack Space Saver Plus Elliptical

This excellent elliptical trainer is one of the best of its kind.  Typically available for less that $1000, it’s a real bargain too.  The Space Saver Plus boasts many interesting features, most notably StrideSelect Technology, which allows you to set the machine to different stride lengths, exercising different parts of the lower body and accommodating users of various heights.  True to its name, the SpaceSaver Plus folds, reducing itself by 24” for simple storage.  Additional features include a powerful oversized fan, a selection of 8 programmable exercise options and a handgrip pulse monitor that lets you know when you’re in your targeted heart rate range.  Considering the not-too-big price, that’s a lot of useful features.  All told, this machine is great way for people without much wiggle room in their home or their budget to have a fantastic, well-made, hard-working cardio machine.