finder.com.au
NEW! Download App

Best cardio equipment in Australia

From treadmills to ellipticals, these are the 7 best cardio machines for your home gym.

Avatar
Tim Falk
Updated . What changed?
Fact checked

We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!

The best cardio equipment in Australia

How did we pick this list?

Our editorial team selected the products on this list based on actual customer reviews on sites like rebel, Gym and Fitness, Amazon and more. For each category, we carefully selected parameters based on our research and identified the cardio machines with the highest review score within those parameters.

Read more detail on our methodology below.

Best treadmill: Endurance SPT Treadmill

Pros

  • Easy to fold away and set up
  • Several reviewers mention sturdy build

Cons

  • No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Some runners may want a longer platform

Price (RRP): $1,299
Amazon pricing: Check site for current pricing

Buy at Amazon
Buy at Endurance

Why we chose it

If you're looking to buy a treadmill for your home gym our top pick is the SPT from Endurance Treadmills. The SPT offers everything you need for a cardio workout at home, including everything from 16 incline levels to built-in speakers.

It's also picked up plenty of positive customer reviews, including an average score of 4.6/5 from over 100 Amazon customer ratings and 4.9/5 from over 230 votes on the Endurance website. As a result, it takes the win here as the best treadmill.

Featuring a 2.5 continuous HP motor, the SPT lets you walk and run at speeds ranging from 1 to 20km/h. Eight suspension points and a rubber cushioning shock absorption system help minimise impacts, while the running surface measures 125cm x 46cm.

When you want to take it up a notch, there are 16 incline levels to choose from. The LCD display keeps track of your speed, incline, time, distance, calories and pulse, while there are programs for weight loss, fat burning, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and more.

The Endurance SPT Treadmill also comes with a host of features designed to make it more user-friendly. These include 3.5mm auxiliary cable and USB plug-in, dual built-in speakers, and a spot to place your tablet while you work up a sweat.

The SPT can also be folded away when not in use, and comes with wheels for easy movement around the house. Finally, it's also backed by a lifetime motor warranty and a 12-month parts replacement warranty.

For more treadmills to consider, see our guide to the best treadmills in Australia.

Best exercise bike: Assault Fitness AirBike

Pros

  • Built with durability in mind
  • Resistance increases the harder you push

Cons

  • Not cheap
  • Some complaints that display is a little difficult to read

Price (RRP): $1,408
Amazon pricing: From $1,699.00

Buy at Amazon

Why we chose it

If you'd rather pedal to give yourself a challenging cardio workout, the Assault AirBike is our pick as the best exercise bike. This highly-rated piece of equipment is solidly built, offers plenty of customisation options so you can tailor a workout to suit your needs, and offers something for everyone from beginners to fitness fanatics.

The AirBike has also picked up plenty of positive customer reviews along the way. These include an average score of 4.9/5 from over 250 reviews at Gym and Fitness, and an average of 4.8/5 from over 1,600 global reviews on Amazon US.

A reinvention of the classic fan bike, the AirBike is built from high-tensile steel sealed with industrial powder-coating paint. Sealed cartridge bearings are used in all moving parts to help enhance durability, while cranks and pedals are reinforced to ensure they can stand up to plenty of punishment.

Designed in the USA, the AirBike automatically increases resistance as you pedal, pull and push. In other words, the more effort you put in, the harder it gets. There are seven on-board workout programs to choose from, including everything from endurance to HIIT training. You can also customise a workout to suit your desired calories burned, distance covered, time in the saddle and more.

It's certainly not the cheapest exercise bike on the market, so buyers on a budget may want to consider other options. But if you're looking for an exercise bike designed with heavy-duty workouts in mind, the Assault AirBike is definitely worth a closer look.

Best recumbent exercise bike: NordicTrack VR19 Recumbent Exercise Bike

Pros

  • Comfortable seat
  • 24 in-built apps and 22 levels of resistance

Cons

  • There are cheaper options available
  • Some complaints that assembly is a little difficult

Price (RRP): $999

Buy at rebel

Why we chose it

If you suffer from back problems or you're just looking for a more comfortable way to cycle for cardio, the NordicTrack VR19 is our pick as the best recumbent exercise bike. With an average score of 4.5/5 from over 40 rebel customer reviews, it has found plenty of fans among Aussie buyers. And with a host of in-built programs plus useful features to ensure an easy and convenient workout, there are plenty of good reasons to consider the NordicTrack VR19 Recumbent Exercise Bike for your home gym.

The VR19 features a 7kg inertia enhanced flywheel and a 5-inch multi-colour display screen. A total of 24 in-built workout apps allow you to tailor your workout to suit your needs or just your mood, and 22 levels of magnetic resistance to suit a wide variety of fitness levels.

In terms of comfort, the oversized seat is designed to provide plenty of padding and is also easily adjustable. The ergonomic foot pedals also increase user-friendliness, and the machine has a 125kg user weight limit.

The VR19 also comes with a number of features to help make working out as simple and convenient as possible. The Autobreeze fan helps keep you cool during those sweaty workouts, while there's also iPod-compatible audio and two built-in speakers. And if you have a target heart rate at which you want to exercise, the dual-grip EKG monitor is a handy inclusion.

The NordicTrack VR19 may not be the cheapest option on the market, so anyone on a tight budget might want to look for something a little more affordable. But with so many workout options available and plenty of positive reviews, it's our pick as the best recumbent bike.

Best elliptical: NordicTrack C5.5 NT18 Crosstrainer

Pros

  • 20 pre-set workouts
  • Solid steel construction

Cons

  • Some complaints that machine moves a little during intense workouts
  • Not the easiest to assemble

Price (RRP): $1,699

Buy at rebel

Why we chose it

If you're searching for the best elliptical trainer for your home gym, the NordicTrack C5.5 NT18 is our number-one pick. With an average rating of 4.7/5 from over 65 rebel customer reviews, it's certainly been well received by Aussie buyers. Throw a host of pre-set workouts and adjustable features into the mix and it's easy to see why this machine is well worth a look if you're in the market for a cross-trainer.

Featuring a 9kg inertia enhanced flywheel, the C5.5 comes with 20 pre-set workouts that automatically adjust the machine's incline and resistance based on your fitness goals or workout preferences. Alternatively, you can customise the workout to suit your needs, with the ability to choose from 20 levels of digital resistance simply by pressing a button, plus the option of shifting between 5 different ramp positions between 0 and 20 degrees.

You can keep track of your workout via the 5-inch multi-colour display, while dual built-in speakers ensure that you can get some motivational music pumping. The soft-touch grips also come with an EKG grip pulse heart rate monitor so you can track your performance. For added convenience, a mounted water bottle holder and an integrated tablet holder let you stay hydrated and entertained while you work up a sweat.

Other features include adjustable levelling feet for stability, front-mounted transport wheels for increased manoeuvrability, and a maximum user weight of 125kg. So if you're in the market for an elliptical trainer, there's certainly a whole lot to like about the NordicTrack C5.5 NT18.

Best recumbent elliptical: Teeter FreeStep LT-1 Recumbent Cross Trainer

Pros

  • Low impact
  • Highly adjustable

Cons

  • Some complaints about uncomfortable seat
  • Some buyers report that it's difficult to get on and off the machine

Price (RRP): $1,599

Buy at rebel

Why we chose it

If you're searching for the best recumbent elliptical trainer, our top pick is the Teeter FreeStep LT-1. Designed to provide a low-impact full body workout, the Teeter offers everything you need to tailor exercise to suit your needs. It has also picked up plenty of glowing reviews from Aussie buyers, including positive feedback from customers at rebel and on the Teeter website.

Built with the aim of reducing strain on your back and joints, the FreeStep LT-1 uses a streamlined striding motion that stops your knees from travelling over your toes. This is designed to reduce stress on your knees, cutting down the risk of knee shear.

An eight-setting dial allows you to choose your desired level of resistance and tailor your workout to your needs. You can also reposition the handles to focus on certain areas of your body, such as your biceps or back muscles. The handles can be adjusted through eight positions, while the reclining seat back has three different positions and variable height settings.

When you need to track your workout, the battery-powered console shows key stats such as time, distance, speed and calories burned. The FreeStep LT-1 also has a tablet stand and water bottle holder for added convenience, and with dimensions of 133.4 x 137.2 x 96.5cm when in use, it's not going to take up too much floor space in your home.

So if you're looking for a low-impact way to get a cardio workout at home, the Teeter FreeStep LT-1 Recumbent Cross Trainer is well worth a closer look.

Best rowing machine: WaterRower A1 S4 Select Rower

Pros

  • Emulates real rowing
  • S4 performance monitor

Cons

  • There are cheaper rowers available
  • Depending on where you buy, this rower may come with the much more basic A1 monitor

Price (RRP): $1,249

Buy at rebel

Why we chose it

If you're looking for a piece of cardio equipment that provides a full body workout, a rowing machine is an excellent choice. And if you're shopping around for the best rowing machine in Australia, we recommend checking out the WaterRower A1 S4 Select Rower.

This machine is user-friendly, offers an efficient workout, and makes it easy to keep track of your key exercise stats. It's also proven to be a hit with Australian consumers, with an average rating of 4.8/5 from over 90 rebel customer reviews.

It's worth mentioning that the WaterRower did face stiff competition in this category from the Concept2 Model D Rower, which is also highly rated by Gym and Fitness customers as well as consumers on productreview.com.au. But with its slightly cheaper price tag and range of user-friendly features, we eventually chose the WaterRower A1 S4 Select Rower as our top pick.

The WaterRower uses a water flywheel designed to make it feel like you're rowing through water. It features an aluminium monorail and an American Ash wood frame, with a maximum user weight limit of 175kg.

When you need to track your workout, the S4 performance monitor allows you to check up on your distance, time, interval and optional heart rate workout programs. It also supports PC connectivity, which makes it easy to keep track of everything from your power output to your calories burned.

There are some cheaper options on the market, but the wealth of positive reviews for the WaterRower mean that it's well worth checking out if you want to buy a rowing machine for your home gym.

Best stair climber: Fortis Mini Stepper Exercise Machine

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Lightweight and compact

Cons

  • Maximum weight capacity of 100kg
  • Some complaints about disappointing instruction manual

Price (RRP): $56
Amazon pricing: From $64.95

Buy at Amazon
Buy at Kogan

Why we chose it

Searching for a good old-fashioned stair climber to get your heart rate pumping? Check out the Fortis Mini Stepper Exercise Machine, which allows you to work out just about anywhere.

The Mini Stepper is compact, easy to use, and boasts an affordable price tag. It's also picked up a decent number of positive reviews from buyers, with an average rating of 4.2/5 from over 200 Kogan customer reviews. As a result, it's our top pick as the best stair climber.

The first thing you notice about the Mini Stepper is that it's a whole lot smaller than conventional stair climbing machines. It weighs in at 7.5kg, so it's easy to manoeuvre around your home, and has a relatively small footprint compared to some other cardio machines.

Designed to be used anywhere around your home, the Fortis Mini Stepper uses dual hydraulic cylinders to emulate a real stepping motion. It's made from steel and features slip-resistant footplates, while you can also adjust the stepping height to suit your workout requirements.

You can use this machine to tone your leg muscles, glutes and abdominals, while the inclusion of exercise bands means you can get an upper-body workout at the same time. In terms of tracking your activity, the machine's on-board electronic monitor displays your steps per minute, exercise time and calories burned.

The maximum weight limit of 100kg won't suit all users, and it doesn't offer the same level of customisable workout options as more advanced machines. But if you're searching for a compact stair climbing machine that won't break the bank, there's a lot to like about the Fortis Mini Stepper.

Amazon prices last updated on 23 June, 2021 at 12:01 am

Methodology

15+
Brands considered
50+
Products compared
7
Best products chosen
  • We considered cardio equipment from over 15 leading brands.
  • We based our top picks on key product features and reviews from real customers.
  • The products on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not selected based on commercial relationships.

More guides on Finder

Ask an Expert

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy and Privacy & Cookies Policy.
Go to site