Cardio equipment is one of those categories where it's easy to spend a lot of money on the wrong thing. A treadmill that collects dust, a bike that's uncomfortable after ten minutes, a rower that nobody uses because nobody knows how to use it properly. Sound familiar?
This guide is about cutting through that. Whether you're setting up a home gym in Brisbane or speccing out a commercial facility, here's what's worth your money, what the research actually supports, and how to build a cardio setup that people will actually use.
First: What Are You Actually Training For?
The best cardio equipment is the kind that matches your training goals and that you'll consistently use. That sounds obvious, but it's where most buying decisions go wrong. Someone buys a treadmill because it's familiar, when a rower or air bike would give them a better return on the same floor space and budget.
Broadly, cardio equipment falls into two categories: steady-state machines (treadmills, bikes, ellipticals) and conditioning tools (rowers, air bikes, sleds, ski ergs, battle ropes). They serve different purposes, and the best setups usually include both.
Treadmills
Motorised Treadmills
The motorised treadmill is still the most recognisable piece of cardio equipment in any gym, and for good reason — it's accessible, low-skill, and works for a wide range of users. For commercial facilities in Brisbane, a quality motorised treadmill is almost non-negotiable if you're catering to a general fitness population.
Our APXMAX Stride Commercial Treadmill is built for exactly this environment — continuous-duty motor, commercial-grade belt, and the kind of frame that handles peak-hour use without issues. If you're running a PT studio or a gym floor, this is the benchmark to buy to.
Non-Motorised Curved Treadmills
This is where it gets interesting. Non-motorised curved treadmills have moved from niche CrossFit boxes into mainstream commercial gyms over the last few years, and the research backs up why.
A study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that running on a curved, non-motorised treadmill produced significantly higher heart rate, oxygen consumption, and caloric expenditure compared to a motorised treadmill at the same perceived effort. (Smoliga et al., 2017)
In plain terms: you work harder without realising it. For conditioning-focused training, HIIT protocols, or facilities that want to differentiate their offering, a curved treadmill earns its floor space.
The Tempest Runner Curved Treadmill is our non-motorised option — no motor means no motor maintenance, no belt speed limits, and a training stimulus that's genuinely different from a standard treadmill.
Motorised vs. Curved — Which One?
For commercial facilities: ideally both, positioned as complementary tools. For home gyms with limited space: the curved treadmill is the higher-performance choice if your training skews toward conditioning. If you're primarily a casual runner or walker, a motorised treadmill is more practical.
Rowing Machines
Why Rowing Deserves More Attention Than It Gets
Rowing is a full-body movement — legs, hips, back, arms — which means the cardiovascular demand is higher than most single-plane cardio machines. It's also low-impact, making it suitable for a wider range of users including those managing knee or hip issues.
Research in the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance has shown that rowing engages approximately 86% of the body's muscle mass, producing a cardiovascular and metabolic response that's difficult to replicate on a bike or treadmill. (Lawton et al., 2011)
The catch is technique. Poor rowing form reduces the training effect and increases injury risk, particularly for the lower back. It's worth investing in a brief technique session for any new user.
Air Resistance vs. Water Resistance Rowers
Air resistance rowers are the commercial standard for a reason — the resistance scales automatically with effort, the feel is consistent, and they're durable. The Concept 2 Model D is the industry benchmark and is used in gyms, rowing clubs, and performance facilities worldwide. If you want one rower that does everything well, this is it.
For a strong alternative, the Tempest Air Rowing Machine delivers the same air resistance principle at a competitive price point — a solid choice for facilities that need multiple units without blowing the budget on each one.
Air Bikes
The Most Underrated Piece of Cardio Equipment in Any Gym
If you haven't used an air bike in a serious conditioning session, you might underestimate it. The resistance on an air bike is generated by a fan — the harder you push, the harder it pushes back. There's no ceiling on the resistance, which makes it uniquely brutal for high-intensity intervals.
A 2018 study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that air bike sprint intervals produced greater excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) compared to treadmill sprints — meaning you continue burning calories at an elevated rate for longer after the session. (Tucker et al., 2018)
The upper body involvement also makes it a genuine full-body conditioning tool — arms, shoulders, and core are all working alongside the legs.
Our NC Fitness Commercial Air Bike is built for exactly this kind of use — heavy-gauge frame, commercial-grade fan, and a seat and handlebar setup that accommodates a wide range of body types.
Sleds
Sled Training: Conditioning Without the Eccentric Load
Sled pushing and pulling is one of the most effective conditioning tools available, and it's particularly valuable for athletes and anyone managing lower body injuries. Because sled work is concentric-only (no eccentric loading), it produces minimal muscle soreness — meaning you can train hard without the recovery cost of traditional conditioning work.
Research published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that sled pushing produced high cardiovascular demand comparable to running, while significantly reducing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). (Calatayud et al., 2014)
For commercial facilities, a sled also adds a visual energy to the gym floor that members respond to. It signals that this is a serious training environment.
We stock two sled options depending on your setup. The Gym Pull Sled is a straightforward, versatile option for most environments. For facilities that want a more robust competition-spec build, the NC Competition 2 Post Sled and NC Competition 4 Post Sled are built to handle serious loads and repeated use.
Ski Ergs
Upper Body Conditioning Done Properly
The ski erg is still relatively niche outside of CrossFit and performance training environments, but it fills a genuine gap — upper body dominant cardio that's low-impact and highly scalable. It's particularly useful for athletes rehabbing lower body injuries, or as a complementary tool in a facility that already has strong lower-body cardio options covered.
The Tempest Ski Erg and Stand is a wall-mounted or stand-mounted option that takes up minimal floor space — a real advantage in tighter gym layouts.
Battle Ropes
High Intensity, Low Footprint
Battle ropes are one of the most space-efficient conditioning tools available. A 15-metre rope anchored to a wall gives you a full conditioning station that can be used for intervals, circuits, or as a finisher at the end of a strength session.
A study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that 10-minute battle rope sessions produced heart rate responses equivalent to high-intensity interval training, with significant upper body muscular endurance demands. (Fountaine & Schmidt, 2015)
Our Battle Rope 1.5 inch x 15m has a nylon casing that holds up to outdoor and indoor use — worth considering if your facility has an outdoor training area.
What to Pair With Your Cardio Equipment
Gym Flooring
Cardio equipment — particularly treadmills and sleds — puts real stress on flooring. Rubber gym matting protects both your floor and your equipment, reduces noise, and provides grip. Our Premium Rubber Gym Mat tiles are a practical solution for any cardio zone — lay them under treadmills, in sled lanes, or across a full conditioning area.
Kettlebells
Kettlebell circuits pair naturally with cardio equipment in a conditioning setup. Swings, cleans, and carries alongside rower or air bike intervals create a training stimulus that's hard to replicate with machines alone. Our Kettlebell Competition Sets — available in 8–12kg and 24–32kg ranges — are a natural complement to any conditioning zone.
Building a Cardio Zone: Home Gym vs. Commercial
Home Gym in Brisbane
Space is the main constraint. A single well-chosen machine plus a battle rope and a pair of kettlebells covers a lot of ground. If you're choosing one machine, the air bike gives you the most training variety per square metre — it handles steady-state, HIIT, and upper/lower body work. Add the curved treadmill if running is a priority.
Brisbane's climate is also worth factoring in. If your gym is in a garage without air conditioning, equipment with fewer electronics (curved treadmill, air bike, rower) will handle the heat and humidity better than motorised machines with complex electronics.
Commercial Facility
Variety and durability are the priorities. A well-specced commercial cardio zone typically includes a mix of treadmills (motorised and curved), rowers, and at least one air bike. Sleds and battle ropes add a conditioning element that differentiates your facility from a standard commercial gym.
Think about traffic flow — sled lanes need clear run-out space, rowers need room to slide, and treadmills need buffer space at the back. Getting the layout right before you buy saves a lot of headaches.
What the Research Says About Cardio for Fat Loss and Performance
HIIT vs. Steady-State
The debate between high-intensity interval training and steady-state cardio has been well-studied. A meta-analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that HIIT produced comparable or superior improvements in cardiovascular fitness and body composition in significantly less time than moderate-intensity continuous training. (Wewege et al., 2017)
This supports the case for equipment that handles high-intensity work well — air bikes, curved treadmills, and rowers are all better HIIT tools than a standard motorised treadmill.
Cardio and Strength Training Together
If you're combining cardio with a strength program (which most people are), the order and timing matters. Research in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research suggests that performing cardio after strength training, or on separate days, minimises interference with strength adaptations. (Wilson et al., 2012)
For home gym users, this is a practical consideration — if you're doing both in the same session, lift first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best cardio machine for a small home gym?
The air bike gives you the most training variety in the smallest footprint. It handles steady-state, intervals, and upper/lower body work, and there are no electronics to worry about. A rower is a close second if you're comfortable with the technique.
Is a curved treadmill worth the extra cost?
For conditioning-focused training, yes. The higher metabolic demand and the absence of a motor (meaning no maintenance costs and no belt speed limits) make it a better long-term investment for serious users. For casual walking or jogging, a motorised treadmill is more practical.
How much space do I need for a sled?
You need a clear run of at least 10–15 metres for sled pushing to be effective. In a commercial facility, a dedicated sled lane is ideal. In a home gym, this usually means outdoor use or a very large garage.
Can I do effective cardio without any machines?
Yes — battle ropes and kettlebell circuits can produce a strong cardiovascular response with no machines at all. But for consistent, trackable cardio training, a machine gives you better data and more structure.
Ready to Build Your Cardio Setup?
If you're in Brisbane and want to talk through what makes sense for your space and goals, we're here. Browse our full cardio and conditioning range or get in touch — we'll give you a straight answer, not a sales pitch.