There are many different exercise machines that people can buy in order to improve their weight loss efforts and enjoy the other benefits of adopting a more rigorous cardiovascular routine. The three most popular types of machines are outlined below, along with some key points that purchases need to consider when investigating buying any of these machines:

1. Treadmills. Arguably one of the most realistic machines in terms of imitating the actual activity of walking, jogging or running, treadmills can come with cushioned decks to minimize the hard physical impact that users experience with outdoor running. Downfalls with treadmills are specific to each user in that motorized units occupy a considerable amount of space, they can be loud and they are expensive. Manual treadmills are most often very compact, but lack the convenience features that many motorized units offer.

2. Cross Trainers. As far as comprehensive and all-inclusive workouts go, cross trainers come to task. With an upper body workout combined with lower body motion, cross trainers also offer good resistance training to help burn more calories as well as good cardio training when resistance levels are lower, meaning users can enjoy both endurance and weight loss programs all with a single machine. Like treadmills, the higher end units take up considerable space and this is one of the biggest downfalls with cross trainers. As well, the cross training motion is not a natural one like running on a treadmill or cycle in on an upright exercise bike. As such, cross trainers are best suited for generalist type of fitness fanatics who are not training for a specific activity.

3. Exercise Bikes. Considered the most popular exercise machine in terms of numbers sold to in-home users, exercise bikes provide a fairly laid back workout. Regardless of how hard one works out on an exercise bike, the calories burned for the same time spent will always be lower than a treadmill and a cross trainer. However, exercise bikes can often be very compact and quiet, meaning you can use your exercise bike while people sleep in the next (maybe even the same) room. As well, exercise bikes make it easy to workout while reading (next to impossible on a treadmill and cross trainer), watching television or even talking on the telephone, giving people little excuses for not spending half an hour working out at home.

There are other “niche” exercise machines (stair climbers come to mind) that have not been discussed here. These niche machines can offer good workout experiences as well and depending on cost can be similarly priced as some of the machines already noted here. But because of their niche approach, they are definitely less popular than those outlined above and their results will vary greatly from one machine to another.