Best Home Fitness Equipment for Weight Loss

What Home Gym / Fitness Equipment is Best for Losing Weight?

I’m going to be a little controversial for this page. I know that readers will think that they came here looking for which type of equipment burns the most calories per minute / hour.

That’s fine in one way.

The thing is it will not help many people to lose weight for long.

The reason is simple, after that initial burst of enthusiasm has worn off (1 to 2 weeks on average), you won’t be able to face another workout on that fitness machine you never liked in the first place!

There is more!

You need to think about tone as well as finding some equipment that you are happy to use. Losing weight is a longer term goal (again, after the initial enthusiastic spurt). What really helps is that you tone up certain areas (thighs, abs, butt) and see the results.

Here is my simple yet effective formula for making a smart choice of fitness equipment for weight loss.

Long Term Use (a machine you like!) + A Little Tone (for visible fast results) + Easy to Store / Use = A Good Chance of Losing Weight

That last part is important too. Those days when your motivation flags (we all have them). The difference between a workout skipped and calories burned can be how easy it is to get your equipment out of storage and ready to use.

How this page is organised: Firstly below you will find the estimated calorie burn rates of the popular forms of fitness equipment. After that I have gone through the common types, adding pros / cons based on the burn / tone / easy to use criteria above – along with a mention of the ‘boredom factor’ of each one. Finally, some additional bits and pieces of equipment which will help with toning you up (showing yourself some quick results) for a low price are covered.

There is no right or wrong choice here, the key is to be honest with yourself, focus on mid-term goals and find something you enjoy working out on!

Fitness Equipment for Weight Loss – Calorie Burn Rates

Remember that some equipment is very difficult to do longer workouts on. The figures below are for hourly workouts.

Treadmill – Light 500 – Intensive 1100

Cross Trainer (Elliptical) – Light 500 – Intensive 800

Exercise Bike – Light 300 – Intensive 500

Rowing Machine – Light 400 – Intensive 600

Stepper – Light 400 – Intensive 650

Best Weight Loss Home Gym Equipment – Pros and Cons

This part of the page goes through the different types of equipment one by one, notes the main pros and cons when it comes to weight loss.

Treadmills for Weight Loss

With a solid calorie burn rate and the suitability for most people (you can walk to start, and work up from there!), treadmills are the single most popular choice. Some people find them boring, and they are noisier than many alternatives – at least until you get to the mid-range and above with sturdy build and cushioned surfaces as standard. You can listen to music (or a radio show) while running, which can alleviate the boredom.

Price Range:

Budget: £60 to £150

Mid-Range: £151 to £400

Higher-End £401+

Calories / Hour = 500 to 1100

 

Recommended Treadmill Models

• Budget: HomCom Motorised Treadmill (amazon.co.uk product page here)
• Mid Price: Confidence Fitness Power Plus
• Upper Range: JTX Sprint 9 Treadmill 

For more details on the different options available at each price range, plus recommendations tailored to different kinds of users. Check out my main Home Treadmill Reviews page.

Elliptical Cross Trainers for Weight Loss

Known as Ellipticals or simply Cross Trainers, these machines work both the arms and legs in a circular motion. Due to similarities in the setup, you will find many elliptical trainers also include exercise bike capability. I have covered these in a lot of detail in my Elliptical Trainer Reviews main page. The main benefit here is the intensity. Most equipment works out either your legs or upper body, while a cross trainer does both. They burn calories fast, though most people will not sustain exercise for as long as with treadmills or bikes (make sure you keep this in mind for your weight loss calculations, as a full hour on an Elliptical is harder than an hour on a bike or a treadmill).

Price Ranges:

Budget: < £100

Mid-Range: £101 to £250

Higher-End $250+

Calories / Hour = Up to 800

 

 

Recommended Elliptical Trainers – 3 Price Points

Exercise Bikes for Weight Loss

One of the biggest advantages of exercise bikes is that you can lose weight in front of the TV! I’m deadly serious, the workout may not be as intensive as some other types of equipment – but the ability to do it quietly in an evening while enjoying your favourite show is a huge plus. For some people, this makes the difference between sustaining their weight loss exercises and giving up. Bikes are also cheap – you can get a budget model for around £60 and a nicely featured one for just £150.

Price Range:

Budget £100 to £150

Mid-Range: £150 to £400

Higher-End £400 to £995

Commercial / Top Home: £1000 and over

Calories Burned Per Hour = 300 to 500

 

Recommended Models:

• Budget: Body Sculpture BC1700 Review (or see the amazon.co.uk product page here)
• Mid Price: York Perform 210 Review (or see the amazon.co.uk product page here) (removed!)
• Upper End: Reebok ZR8 Exercise Bike Review (or see the amazon.co.uk product page here)

Rowing Machines for Weight Loss

Rowing machines are enjoying a comeback, and you can now buy some very impressive (and stylish) rowers (check out these Water Rowers for example!). This is a great workout, and is lower impact than many formats – at the same time as having a decent calorie burn rate. One thing to keep in mind is that rowing machines do take up quite a lot of space. Unless you get a folding one, then you’ll really need to have some dedicated floor space for this.

Typical Price Ranges

• Budget: Under £200
• Mid-Range: £201 to $500
• Higher-End: £501+

Calorie Burn Rate = 400 to 600

 

 

Stepping Machines for Weight Loss

All of the machines covered so far require storage of some kind – though steppers start from just 30cms high! Sure, a higher end stepping machine will need space, though until you are really committed to this tougher exercise format I suggest starting with something a lot smaller. If you put the work in with a stepping machine, then toned legs and butts come as an extra benefit.

Price Ranges for Steppers:

Budget (Mini-Steppers) – £30+

Mid(Frame Included) – £60+

High (Stairmills) – £1000+

Calorie Burn = 400 to 650

Recommended Models:

• Confidence Fitness Twist Stepper (Budget Best Seller, check the amazon.co.uk reviews here)
• MaxiClimber Vertical Fitness System (Includes Arms! See the gallery on this amazon.co.uk page)

Summing Up – You Now Have The Options – Which is Best?

Most people I speak to have a type of equipment in mind already, and want to confirm that this will work for losing weight. It will. So long as you keep at it, and exercise in conjunction with a healthy diet and lifestyle, all of the types of home fitness equipment above will help you to reach your goals.

If you still need some help narrowing the list, here are my guidelines:

Less Fit Users: If you are just starting out on the road to fitness, or just want to ease yourself into this gently, then exercise bikes and rowing machines are the best option. Bikes let you watch TV while you exercise, while rowers have the advantage of an upper and lower body workout at the same time.

Fitter Users: If you are already active, and want to burn off a few pounds extra then elliptical trainers are my top choice. These are more vigorous, and give you a solid aerobic workout. Steppers are a good alternative, especially for those who are shorter on space.

I recommend you pick the type of equipment that you are more likely to use for the longer term – this will make a bigger difference than the calories per hour alone does.