Cardio equipment for a home with limited space. 27 January 2017 at 10:12AM in Sports & fitness MoneySaving 18 replies 6.4K views

elsmandino

My wife and I are after a bit of exercise equipment but we really don't have much space for it.

Can anyone recommend anything worth buying:

I have, so far, considered the follow:

Step

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TNP-Accessories-Aerobic-Exercise-Adjustable/dp/B01HGLOR7C/ref=lp_365410011_1_1?s=fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1485508828&sr=1-1

Stepper

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultrasport-33030000016-Up-Down-Stepper/dp/B003FSTA2S/ref=sr_1_2?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1485511821&sr=1-2&keywords=stepper

Foldable Running Machine

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BTM-Motorised-Electric-Treadmill-Exercise/dp/B01958Q6OG/ref=sr_1_3?s=fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1485511882&sr=1-3&keywords=running+machine

I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks

davomcdave

I've found cheap cardio gear like this to be terrible although I can't speak for these actual pieces you've discovered.

Can you go for a walk or run instead of a morning or evening? It's cheaper and probably better for your mental and physical health.

elsmandino

Unfortunately not - we have a two year old.

It pretty much has to be housebound exercising.

System

One of the trainers i used at the gym said the best cardio equipment you could buy was a rowing machine. I'd go for a rower but buy the best you can afford cause the cheap ones are naff.

MallyGirl

elsmandino wrote: »

Unfortunately not - we have a two year old.

It pretty much has to be housebound exercising.

time for an all terrain buggy then - there are several that take part in our local park run

culpepper

A skipping rope is fantastic cardio.
You do really need to be in a downstairs room to use one but it doesn't really need that much room and is easily stored between uses.
I've been using mine for years.

asajj

Another one for skipping rope. Just make sure you watch some videos (Sara Solomon is a great one) to ensure your technique is correct.

Gloomendoom

Judi wrote: »

One of the trainers i used at the gym said the best cardio equipment you could buy was a rowing machine. I'd go for a rower but buy the best you can afford cause the cheap ones are naff.

I'd recommend a rowing machine too.

My wife has a skipping rope but it's an outdoors or in a barn only activity.

andygb

I reckon that a good cross trainer provides the best all round cardio workout. A rowing machine is pretty good as well, but it doesn't exercise as many different muscle groups as the cross trainer, and the danger with a rowing machine is developing a bad technique and injuring the back. I watch lots of people in the gym, and very few seem to have been taught the correct way to row - keep the back straight and head up, drive back with the legs, and then pull the handle back in a straight line to the middle of the chest (not the chin or throat as I have witnessed), then release the hands before going forward to the bent legs position. Always remember to never lock out the knees on the way back.

LEGS - ARMS - ARMS - LEGS

Gloomendoom

Cross trainers take up a fair bit of space in the average home.

We had one, a big Vision(?) thing, but got rid of it due to lack of use. My wife sold it to a colleague who lives in a flat. It now takes up half her living room.

culpepper

A skipping rope doesn't need that much space.
I do it in our living room and it can also be done in the bit between the front door and the stairs in our house, the upstairs landing,dining room if I move a couple of chairs aside or just outdoors when not windy.
If you lay the rope out with the handles either side of your feet you can see if it would hit anything.
Obviously check above your head too.

remember if buying a folding machine of any kind, you need the space it folds out into clear the whole time else you just wont be able to use it and it will become an expensive clothes horse.
You can however have it fold out in front of drawers and cupboards without too much problem as it will fold back out of the way afterwards.