After a while, slogging away on the treadmill or Elliptical can feel like slow torture. But don't count out cardio equipment just yet. The right machine can accelerate your results and make workouts fun again.
Check out this list of the best and most effective equipment on the market today. If you see one these pop up at your gym, give it a go. Your fat cells won't thank you, but your newfound six-pack will.
This is no run-of-the-mill treadmill. The Woodway Curve is a motor-free machine that's powered by you.
"Unlike a motorized treadmill, the Woodway's belt doesn't pull your feet along at a certain pace—so the faster you go, the faster it moves," says Bruce Mack, co-founder of Men's Health Thrive, which has 35 locations worldwide. "Plus, the curved base of the machine makes you feel like you're running uphill the entire time, forcing your lower-body muscles to work harder with each step." In fact, the Woodway requires the runner to expend 30 percent more energy than a traditional treadmill, according to a study from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Sound tough? It is—especially when you do a serious sprinting workout on it. Try Mack's favorite: Perform a 15-second sprint as fast as you can, and then rest for 15 seconds. Keep your chest high and your core braced the entire time you're running. That's 1 round. Do 40.
Woodway.com, $5,950
This isn't your dad's NordicTrack. Professional cross-country skiers use this machine to hone the skill of exploding down onto their poles for more power. While you might not be hitting the slopes any time soon, you can use the Concept2 SkiErg for a grueling cardio and upper-body workout.
"In order to drive the handles down toward your body, you have to use your abs, arms, shoulder, and hips," says Sean De Wispelaere, expert coach for Men's Health Thrive in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. "The power, speed, and strength needed for each rep will jack up your heart rate and make you sweat."
To make it even more difficult, change up the position of your legs, says De Wispelaere. Holding a deep lunge or inline lunge not only blasts your lower body, but it narrows your base of support, he says. This forces your core to work harder to stay braced and upright as your arms move up and down.
Concept2.com, $730
The Assault AirBike might look like it belongs in a dust-filled corner of your high school's weight room, but it deserves respect. "No one climbs off of one of these thinking, 'That was easy,' " says De Wispelaere, who has seen a few clients almost heave after an Assault AirBike workout.
The reason it's so tough: The Assault AirBike is a stationary bike without a motor. It only has a fan in its front wheel that provides wind resistance. The harder you pump your arms and pedal your legs, the higher the resistance becomes. "While it's easy on your joints, it provides an intense aerobic workout that burns a ton of calories in a short amount of time," says De Wispelaere.
If you're looking for a finisher to tack onto your regular workout, De Wispelaere recommends sprinting for 15 seconds, then resting for 15 seconds. That's one round. Do six. If you'd rather test your endurance instead, do three miles as fast as possible.
Assaultfitnessproducts.com, $999
Climbing a ladder isn't so bad. But what if that ladder kept going up and up and up? Suddenly, that ascent becomes a monstrous workout. That's the idea behind Jacobs Ladder, a self-paced machine that requires you to climb endlessly upward.
Unlike the StairMaster, Jacobs Ladder puts you on a 40-degree angle, which engages your core muscles and takes stress off your lower back. "It's fun, because it's totally different than any other exercise you can do at the gym," says De Wispelaere. "The climbing action hits big muscles like your quads, glutes, shoulders, and lats, revving your metabolism and burning a ton of calories in the process."
Jacobsladderexercise.com, $3,995
If you want a heart-hammering workout, look no further than the indoor rower. It requires a coordinated effort from your upper body and lower body, and extreme muscular and aerobic endurance to blast out stroke after stroke. Plus, it's low impact, so you get the same cardiovascular benefits as running, but without the pounding on your joints. However, not every rower is created equal, says Jesse Ewell, a trainer for Men's Health Thrive in Firecrest, Washington. His pick: Concept2's Model D.
"It provides even resistance unlike other models that jerk or jump when you pull too vigorously," says Ewell. "That means you can work as hard as possible, while maintaining a smooth ride." And the harder you work, the more calories you'll burn. A 185-pound guy can burn 377 calories by rowing at a fast clip for only 30 minutes, report researchers at Harvard University. Want to try it for yourself? Check out these four killer rowing workouts.
Concept2.com, $900
Original article and pictures take www.menshealth.com site
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