Introduction
Cardio is one of the greatest ways to get in shape. As part of your training, cardio promotes good health. Muscles get tones, fat gets burned, and your heart gets healthier. The trouble is there are many cardio machines to use. Knowing which cardio machine burns the most calories is important. There are six main fitness machines you should aim to use.
Treadmill
(183 calories burned when walking at 4 mph with no incline)
Treadmills are the most common machine used for cardio. It is the easiest one to learn and is an effective way of burning calories. You can easily burn more by increasing the speed or incline.
The Best Treadmill will tone muscles in your lower body and benefit the core too. Your things and calves get the best workout and your core gets more tone with increased incline.
Elliptical
(406 calories burned with a moderate resistance setting)
Ellipticals give you intense calorie burns and an all over workout. The best part is there is minimal impact on your lower body. You do not get the same intensity as running full speed uphill on a treadmill. Using the handlebars gives your upper body a workout. More resistance will better tone muscles and burn more calories.
The Best Elliptical is great for losing weight and toning muscles. Your lower body gets complete toning, especially glutes and calves. Your shoulders, chest, and arms get the most benefit in your upper body.
Rowing Machine
(320 calories burned when rowing at moderate speed with low resistance)
To get a higher level of tone for your upper body, rowing machines are best. You also work your leg muscles and your lower and upper back. The core muscles get some tone too through the rowing action. As you increase the resistance and speed, this cardio machine burns the most calories and tones more muscle.
Of your legs, your things get the most workout. All back muscles are toned. Your arms and shoulders get the best workout in your arms. The Best Rowing Machine is a great all-over body workout.
Stair Stepper
(370 calories burned when stepping with moderate effort)
As a stationary machine, stair steppers do not provide good upper body workouts. The benefit is in climbing as this is proven to raise your heart rate. Good cardio exercise should involve an elevated heart rate. The best stair stepper is a great machine for weight loss and heart health. By changing the resistance calibrations on stair steppers, you can increase intensity.
Stair steppers do not provide much benefit for the upper body, except for boosting heart health. Your calves and thighs get the best workout along with your glutes. More resistance means more stress on your legs and more tone.
Stationary Bike
(336 calories burned riding at an average speed of 12 mph)
Another great stationary machine is a bike. They are easy to use and provide a great cardio workout. Unlike the stair stepper, stationary bikes are easier on your joints. You can choose an upright or recumbent version which is almost like a chair. The recumbent version does not burn as many calories as the upright models.
With the Best Stationary Bike, you will burn more calories than walking on a treadmill. More resistance will mean more calories burned. Your upper thighs get the most benefit and your glutes get some workout too.
Spin Bike
(407 calories burned at 85% spinning)
This is the most difficult cardio machine to get used to. The seats are small and to be effective, you need to cycle at intermediate levels and higher. The spin bike is a cardio machine that burns the most calories. They are similar to stationary bikes but with a sustained and higher level of intensity.
The best spin bike will work your muscles and burn calories effectively. Your thighs get an amazing workout and the glutes also get attention. Your core gets more exercise than with stationary bikes due to the need for side-to-side balance as you cycle.
Which Cardio Machine Burns the Most Calories?
Each of these cardio machines are great for cardiovascular health as intended. When calorie burning and weight loss is your goal, they are all effective too. Machines with higher intensity and resistance will burn more calories. The machine you choose will depend on your current health, your fitness goals, and the intensity you want. The six machines here are the answer to which cardio machine burns the most calories.