When trying to decide which is the best or most effective equipment for cardiovascular exercise, it is important to remember that the most effective machine is always the one that you will actually use. Beyond that vital consideration there are the issues of whether you want a high-, low- or no-impact machine; how many calories you hope to burn in how much time; and which muscles are going to generate the most effort while you are getting your heart rate up.
Treadmill
The most popular and prevalent machine is the treadmill. Favored by seasoned gym rats and newbies alike, the treadmill allows you to cover a precise goal of distance, speed and incline without any of the guesswork or inclement weather that walkers and runners encounter outdoors. While this can make tracking your progress easier and cut down on workouts missed due to rain or snow, it can also be quite boring. Coming prepared with the right playlist to keep you motivated or entertainment to keep you distracted is an important component of your long-term success. The treadmill is a high impact piece of equipment, which promotes improved bone density but may aggravate preexisting joint injuries or arthritis, so plan accordingly. You can increase the number of calories you burn during your workout by increasing your incline, speed or distance.
Elliptical
Created to provide a great cardiovascular workout without the joint impact of a treadmill, the elliptical is a no-impact machine and is typically much easier for people who have trouble with their hips or knees. Many ellipticals come equipped with moving handles so that you can engage the muscles of your upper body as well as your lower body. When used at its potential, the elliptical can help you burn a lot of calories, but it's important to pay attention and keep your bouncing to a minimum in order to get the best workout possible.
Stationary Bicycle
Another perennial favorite, the bike is also a no-impact machine. There are several variations, including the fan bike, upright bike and recumbent bike. The fan bike is of basic construction with no frills or resistance controls but both the upright and recumbent bikes offer variable resistance to increase the intensity of your workout. You can burn more calories by increasing the resistance, speed or distance of your ride.
Stepping Machine
Most commonly recognized by the brand name StairMaster, a company that produces both stepping machines and stair mills, the stepping machine uses the up and down leg motion of climbing stairs but eliminates the impact of that activity. You can maximize your calorie burn on this machine by increasing your speed, but remember to still do the full range of the up and down motion. Shallow steppers may be fooling themselves about the effectiveness of their workout.
Stair Mill
The stair mill is different that the stepping machine in that it does not eliminate the impact of stair climbing. It is effectively a revolving staircase that allows you to climb as many flights as you'd like without the inconvenience of having to turn around and walk back down. There is no variable resistance on these machines, but increasing speed will dramatically increase the intensity of your workout.
Climber
These intense machines mimic the kind of work you do when climbing a ladder. By using both your arms and your legs to pull your body weight, it is possible to get a very intense workout in a relatively short period of time. Don't be discouraged if you can't do the 30- to 40-minute workout you are used to doing on other machines; start small and work up over time on this beast.
Rowing Machine
The rowing machine imitates the action of sculling. It is unique among the other cardiovascular options in that most of the work is done by your upper body. Since these machines typically have a flywheel operation, there is no resistance adjustment except for the airflow into the flywheel chamber. Instead, the rower responds to the level of effort you put in. The harder you pull on the "oars," the more resistance you feel -- just like rowing on a body of water.
Cross-Country Ski Machine
The cross-country ski machine, popularized by NordicTrack, is primarily designed for use in the home. It is a no-impact machine that allows you to use both your upper and lower body in order to maximize the amount of work you can do in a short amount of time. Some models include options for adjustments to incline in order to increase caloric burn.
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