Top 13 Best Full Body Workout Machines for Your Home

If you are on the hunt for an exercise machine for toning the whole body at home, why not try a rowing machine? The rowing machine is unique in its ability to target 85% of your body’s muscles in order to perform the full movement, providing you a total-body cardio exercise and toning all of the major muscle groups.

Moreover, using a rowing machine can add more varieties to your workout routine, and with this, you can avoid the dreaded fitness plateau.

But I also understand that not all of you want to bring a rower into your home because a rowing machine does take much more space than other fitness equipment. That’s not a problem, and you can still have other options.

In this guide, I picked out the three most popular rowing machines and the other best equipment that also offers a great full-body workout for you.

In a hurry? For those who want to see our top picks of the best full-body workout machine for home, here you go:

• Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine with PM5—Best Seller
• Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 Cardio Rowing Machine—Best Budget
• Stamina 35-1402 ATS Air Rower—Most Compact Rower
• Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE—Most Versatile
• Total Gym XLS—Full-Body All in One Workout Machine
• Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym
• Verticle Climber – Relife Rebuild Your Life Vertical Climber
• Sole E25 Elliptical for Full-Body Muscle
• Horizon T101 Low-Impact Treadmill
• VersaClimbers – Climbing Workout Machine for the Whole Body
• Echelon Smart Exercise Bike EX3
• FreeMotion Dual Cable Cross
• TRX Home Gym System – Best for Small Space

Which Machine Burns the Most Calories?

• Treadmill: Taking an hour-long high-intensity run on a treadmill can burn up to 1200 calories and result in losing 2.5 pounds a week over 6 days of training.
• Elliptical: With an average burning rate of 780 calories per hour, an elliptical trainer can bring you benefits similar to that of a treadmill without having such a high impact on your joints.
• Rowing machine: Training on a stationary rowing machine can burn up to 750 calories per hour while giving your full body a great aerobic and strengthening experience,
• Stairclimber machine: Working out on a stairclimber machine may burn up to 550 calories per hour while also providing an appropriate challenge to your thigh, calf, and gluteal muscles and toning your core.
• Stationary bike: A stationary bike won’t provide you the same advantages as a treadmill or a rowing machine because you’ll only burn around 500 calories each hour, but it’s a wonderful way to start into the habit of exercising without risking injury.

Benefits of Using a Rowing Machine

#1. Offers Whole-Body Cardio Workouts and Fast Calories-Burning Benefits

By recruiting a large number of muscles (around 85% more than other types of cardiovascular exercise), both lower and upper body, such as quadriceps, hamstrings, buttocks, dorsal, mid-abdominal area, triceps, and biceps, and go producing muscular contractions, it is going to be able to generate an excellent work, both muscular and cardiovascular, involving the consumption of a good number of calories.

#2. Minimizes Risk of Injury

The rowing action is effortless to learn, and obviously, it will not take much more than the first session to get the necessary foundations of the rowing technique.

It does not cause that much joint impact like other fitness equipment. And for those who are overweight, the rowing machine is a great choice because of its high calories-burning benefits and low impact on your joint and knees.

#3. Cardiovascular Improvement

Any medium-intensity activity will create a series of benefits for your cardiovascular system, from the heart muscle itself to the blood oxygen transport system.

Moreover, the rowing machines are often used in CrossFit and offer other health benefits, such as improving your endurance level and overall strength by pushing your limits and outdoing yourself every time you use the rower.

Top 13 Best Full-Body Workout Machines for Home and Basement

Given below are our top 13 picks (the first three are rowing machines).

#1. Concept2 Model D Indoor Rowing Machine with PM5

Concept2 Model D rowing machine develops a very reliable performance that makes it one of the best total body workout equipment on the market. It is one of the best value rowing machines that offer outstanding total-body workouts, extreme durability, and high resale value.

It has so much recognition within the rowing world that even Olympic athletes use this machine for training to increase the physical level and tone the body.

This versatile CrossFit rowing machine has always been designed to work efficiently and have lifetime durability. You can train every day without fear that the machine has some wear due to a malfunction.

This commercial-grade rowing machine offers a high weight capacity of up to 500 lbs and is available to accommodate tall users up to 6.6 feet.

If you are busy with your daily routine but still want to get a solid, full-body workout, spending 15 minutes daily on this rower helps you achieve your goals and stay in good shape. With this full-body fitness equipment, you can train at the highest intensity with the lowest impact on your joints.

Also, you can store it comfortably and quickly since it can be separated into two parts without having to use any extra type of tool. It is portable, and you can transport it easily with its wheels located on the front.

The footrests are adjustable to various positions, and with them, you can adjust the feet quickly and comfortably regardless of the size of your feet.

The handle is made with a 10-degree curvature that will allow you to have your arm and hand placed naturally. Its assembly is straightforward, and it will not take you more than half an hour to do it.

The elaborate and easy-to-use PM5 (the monitor of Concept 2 rower, namely Performance Monitor 5) can record a wide range of your workout data, including distance, speed, time, strokes per minute, calories, watts, etc.

With 20 built-in programs, you can get whole-body workouts at your home’s comfort. And the wireless connectivity makes transferring your workout data easier.

You can also enjoy five years warranty on the frame and a 2-year warranty on the PM5 and other moving parts. You get what you pay for. Although Concept 2 rower is more pricey than other full-body cardio machines, it offers excellent quality and durability.

#2. Sunny Health & Fitness SF-RW5515 Magnetic Rowing Machine—Best Budget

SF-RW5515 is one of the best-budget magnetic rowing machines for total body workouts at home. Compared with the hydraulic rowing machine, a magnetic rower provides you with a smoother and quieter workout.

It has eight adjustable resistance levels, which are ideal for changing the intensity of your exercise, also through the LCD monitor that includes records of time and calories burnt so that you can monitor your progress.

It is made of durable steel to last a long time. It was designed with a comfortable total-body workout without making a high impact on your joints; for that reason, it has a quite padded seat, and both the handlebars and the pedals are non-slip and of the right size.

Besides, it includes some wheels to make it easier for you to transport it. The maximum weight it supports is 250 pounds.

It comes with a 3-year warranty for its frame and a 90-day warranty for the rest of its parts.

#3. Stamina 35-1402 ATS Air Rower

This Stamina air rower is an excellent entry-level rowing machine to choose from. It comes with a sturdy frame and is a compact rower that is suitable for those who live in limited spaces. Stamina air rower is made of corrosion-resistant, heavy-duty steel, and it can accommodate users from 4’9″ to 6’4″ tall and weight under 250 lbs.

Also, its metal chain is durable enough to deliver air resistance to its users to challenge themselves. During your training, you can monitor your heart rate thanks to its LCD screen, where you can also track other essential workout data.

On the other hand, its seat is wide enough to sit comfortably and carry out your responsible movements without impacting your joints and hurting your back.

It provides a 3-year warranty period in case of damage to its frame and a 90-day warranty for the machine’s remaining parts.

You will be able to get a whole-body cardio exercise on this very affordable but feature-rich rowing machine.

Despite the fact that these three rowing machines are some of the most popular full-body rowers on the market due to their high performance and quality, there are also other home machines that offer you low-impact cardio workouts we would like to share with you.

#4. Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE

Bowflex Xtreme 2 SE home gym is ideal for performing full-body workouts. It offers 210 pounds of resistance, but you can get it up to 410 pounds if you wish. If you don’t have much experience, start with just 5 pounds and add weight slowly, so you don’t get hurt.

You can perform more than 70 exercises with this versatile full-body home gym machine. It comes with numerous accessories such as a tower that can be adjustable to two different positions, a four-position lower pulley for squats, and no-change cable pulley system, etc., to work your full body muscles, including but not limited to your abs, chest, back, shoulders, glutes, and your legs.

This total-body workout home gym requires a workout area of 4′ 10” (L) x 4′ 1” (W) x 6′ 11” (H). Although it is quite compact compared to other traditional weight stack home gyms, it is smart to make sure this machine can be put in your home before making the final decision.

The weight capacity of this compact home gym is up to 300 lbs, and it ensures users of all sizes an effective and comfortable full-body workout.

If you want to get versatile and challenging total-body workouts to tone and sculpt your body without going to the gym, Bowflex 2 SE is one of the great choices. You will get the newest features without extra cost.

#5. Total Gym XLS

Total Gym XLS is a complete home gym machine that has been designed to tone and sculpt your muscle in just 20 minutes, offering its users a complete full-body workout without impacting your joints and adapting to any level of physical condition and all sizes of users.

Total Gym XLS can accommodate users under 6′2″ tall ( See other total gym options for taller people) and who are under 400 lbs for performing slow pilates-like workouts, high-energy workouts, and competitive exercises to tone and sculpt all muscle groups by using your body weight as resistance.

You will get a colorful wall chart that shows 35 exercises you can perform with this compact exercise equipment. And it arrives with a workout DVD that allows you to choose among 12 six-to-eight minute workouts and helps you familiarize yourself with the features that this device provides.

You will get a lifetime warranty on the frame and a six-month warranty on the parts. Moreover, you can also get a free 30-day trial and get reimbursed for the product if it doesn’t satisfy you.

#6. Gorilla Bow Portable Home Gym

Gorilla Bow is considered one of the best portable full-body workout equipment. This training tool has gained popularity among those who choose to exercise at home.

Its bow-shaped design combined with resistance bands provides a complete full-body workout and helps reach your desired fitness result.

The bow itself is made of high-quality scratch-resistant aluminum, sturdy and durable enough, and also provides a great grip. The bands are responsive and will keep the tension through each movement, on both concentric and eccentric lift phases;

This portable home gym is lightweight yet can withstand 300 pounds of force, making it durable and robust. Also, it can be transported to do outdoor exercises thanks to its compact and lightweight design.

It should be noted that its elastic band can be interchangeable. You will receive different bands that provide different resistances so that you exercise according to your fitness level. These bands are hypoallergenic latex ranging from 10 lbs to 60 lbs (yellow band – 10 lbs, red band – 20 lbs, the blue band – 60lbs, and the black band – 50 lbs).

#7. Verticle Climber – Relife Rebuild Your Life Vertical Climber

Whether you want to lose weight, keep fit, or build strength, the vertical climber is a perfect piece of full-body workout equipment for those who don’t want to travel to the gym and have a limited budget.

This vertical climber is made of resistant and heavy-duty steel and accommodates users of all body types who weigh below 300 pounds.

It is a simple machine, but it can provide you with a rigorous, completed cardio workout and guarantees you great calorie-burning benefits within 30 minutes.

You can adjust the climbing arms in 5 different heights (from 3.9 to 19.7 inches), according to your fitness level. Also, you can track calories, time, and other workout data, thanks to its included LCD screen.

#8. Sole E25 Elliptical for Full-Body Muscle

Sole E25 elliptical is one of the most affordable full-body cross trainers, which come at a budget-friendly price.

This entry-level machine has an elliptical stride of 20”, 20 pounds flywheel, 20 settings for incline, and resistance based on the Eddy Current Braking.

The integrated tablet holder keeps your machine at proper eye level, and the Bluetooth-enabled machine offers convenient data accumulation.

It comes with a USB port useful for charging so that you do not run out of battery, as well as keep them charged while you are using your machines.

The large-sized pedals are comfortable to place your foot while you are exercising. It is well-designed with high-quality materials. It is durable and comfortable to work on.

This is a low-impact elliptical machine with less burden on your joints. You get 8 pre-set programs and two customizable ones to start working right away.

Apart from this, you can do several other exercises on this elliptical. You can control the incline using the controls built into the handlebar, which is useful in targeting a specific muscle group.

It comes with a display of 6.5” LCD, a cooling fan, speakers, and a maximum weight capacity of 350 lbs., which are even more reasons to purchase this elliptical.

#9. Horizon T101 Low-Impact Treadmill

Horizon T101 comes at a very budget-friendly price, and that being said, you should also know that you get what you pay for.

Though it is not suitable for avid exercisers, this treadmill is wise for light use. The brand reputation, variable response cushioning, and overall quality are decent compared with the similarly priced treadmills.

You get the one-touch keys and quick dial, feather-light folding, rapid-charge USB port in its counterparts even though it is an entry-level machine.

Its 20 inches wide belt is another mention-worthy feature that comes with cushioning to make your walking comfortable.

The varying shock absorption system means you get high absorption in the front, a little less in the middle, and much lower at the back.

This makes sure that you land on a soft place comfortably and push off on a firmer area giving your foot a good grip, making this treadmill a low-impact running machine for most people.

It has enough weight capacity of 300 lbs. to accommodate most tall and heavy people. You get 10 different incline levels that will increase the intensity of the workout and 5 various speed levels.

Also, there are 5 programs included with this treadmill that will help you perform variable workout sessions.

#10. VersaClimbers – Climbing Workout Machine for the Whole Body

The VersaClimber gives you a full-body high-intensity workout and is excellently sturdy. It might seem expensive at first look, but once you check out the quality build and features it offers, you will agree that they are priced aptly.

VersaClimber H / HL Model

This is the starting model and does not have many bells and whistles. It comes with an LCD unit that shows your workout metrics such as calorie-burn rate, distance, showing time, and so on.

You do not have a facility to adjust resistance in this model, which is important to consider before purchasing it.

It is more suitable for people who love climbing exercises and choose to workout once in a while and need to up their challenge.

==> View on Rogue Fitness<==

VersaClimber LX Models

You get ALX and LXP varieties in this line which have additional features. The ALX version weighs 145 lbs. whereas the previous model weighs 63 lbs. It is steady and can also be wall-mounted for added safety.

You can plug it in for power, unlike the battery model of H. However, you still get a fixed resistance even in this model, but the LXP model has varying resistance. Also, cross-crawl training and heart rate monitoring are possible in this model.

==> View on Rogue Fitness<==

VersaClimber SM/SRM Models

The Sport Model (SM) and Sports Recovery Model (SRM) are heavy-duty equipment. They have BT connectivity to connect with the top-end application VersaBlue to log your workout progress metrics.

You can also compete with others using this app. SRM model is more suitable for physiotherapy as it allows isolation of limb for exercise, modification of resistance, and range are also possible.

==> View on Rogue Fitness<==

VersaClimber TS Models

The main difference between the TS (TouchScreen) VersaClimber and the SM and SRM variants is the addition of a touchscreen display. The variable resistance model receives a $600 improvement, while the fixed resistance model receives merely a $400 update.

It’s a little strange that this equipment is restricted to such a high price point, especially because even more basic treadmills, ellipticals, and exercise cycles now feature touchscreen controls.

If you consider bringing a Versa Climber home to give a deep stimulation to both your upper and lower body muscle, I would recommend the SM/SRM model.

==> View on Rogue Fitness<==

#11. Echelon Smart Exercise Bike EX3

The heavy 33 pounds flywheel that comes with Echelon Smart Exercise Bike EX3 gives you a smooth riding experience.

This electronic bike is quiet and has a sturdy steel frame that can withstand even vigorous exercises. You get 32 resistance levels which help your transition to challenge levels easier as you precisely understand your progress.

It comes with a larger seat with adjustability and excellent handlebars that keep you comfortable throughout the workout.

Aluminum pedals can accommodate clip-in cycling shoes or your regular shoes, depending on your choice.

Though this spin bike does not come with a screen, it facilitates placing your tablet on a mounting bracket and features a USB port to charge your machine.

The water bottle holder and the Bluetooth speaker are the other amenities available with this electrical bike.

The Echelon Fit App works as your personal trainer as you can choose your workouts from the on-demand videos or live classes for support and motivation.

You can also use this app to check your metrics. It has a weight load capacity of 300 lbs. However, this machine has no limitation on height and can be used by users of any height.

#12. FreeMotion Dual Cable Cross

The Dual Cable Cross by FreeMotion is highly versatile free motion equipment. It comes with free weights that are adjustable using each arm that rotates 90 degrees in the traverse plane and 180 degrees in the sagittal and the frontal plane.

It allows you to perform almost all exercises that you can do with dumbbells and barbells, along with many other exercises.

You can work out alone or along with a partner using this equipment using its dual weight stacks.

You can never grow old for it, nor this machine snaps anytime soon, meaning you will have it for a lifetime and enjoy excellent workouts no matter what your age is.

Its solid steel base with durable cables, smooth gliding pulleys, and accurate weight rack are all maintenance-free.

Or require a very minimal of it. With all the varieties of positions it provides, you will never get bored or repeat the same exercise for many days.

Moreover, it is safer than actually working with dumbbells and barbels as you will not drop anything accidentally on yourself while working with this machine.

Your creativity is the limit for working out using this machine as it offers you several possibilities making it an unlimited library of exercises as you build them with your experience.

#13. TRX Home Gym System – Best for Small Space

The TRX suspension training system occupies less space and hence is ideal for small spaces where no other equipment fits.

It is affordable and suitable even for beginners to start their fitness journey thanks to its small space requirement.

As it uses your body weight for resistance, you will always be within the safe limits of what your body can be exposed to.

It is also advantageous since it gives you excellent burn even in 15 minutes of workout and can target major muscle groups in your body.

This compact home gym system was initially developed by a Navy Seal commander using what was available to him on hand, but later it became a highly useful workout mechanism.

It is used by Pro athletes and military people to keep up their carbs in check. You can either fix it permanently to the ceiling or simply anchor it over the door.

While anchoring it to the door, you need to make sure that you do so on a door that opens away from you and closes it tightly or locks the door.

Once you ensure that everything is secure by giving a few tugs before you work out, you are all set to go.

After you finish working out, open the door slowly and carefully, ensuring that the weighted anchor does not fall on your head.

Since the anchor is easy on your doors, it does not leave any permanent marks making it useful even for renters without causing any property damage.

Is the elliptical more effective than the treadmill?

The main advantage of the elliptical is that it provides a low-impact cardio workout. According to Watts, the elliptical has a lesser chance of damage to the ankles, knees, and hips than jogging since it puts less stress on your joints. This does not make the elliptical necessarily safer than a treadmill, but it does reduce the risk of strain.

Is a rowing machine a good full-body workout machine?

Short workouts on a rowing machine are effective because rowing is a full-body workout from the start. Rowing activates nearly twice as much muscle mass as running and cycling. The rowing machine worked out the quads, hamstrings, glutes, core, arms, and back muscles with a single stroke.

What is the hardest cardio machine?

The fan bike (air bike) is one of the best and hardest equipment you can use for cardio/interval work.

Final Thoughts

Due to our daily chores and work routine, especially if you have young children. If you do not have much free time in the week to exercise but intend to do it, then the solution is to get a total-body cardio workout machine.

And the rowing machine is the best among them as they offer the lowest impact on your body and bring the highest intensity to your workouts. Rowing provides you with an epic full-body workout and benefits your heart, lungs, and overall cardio system. You can tone your whole body in a rowing machine within 15 minutes.

You only need a few square meters to acquire a healthy life. And with a foldable rowing machine, you can even save more space.

We hope this informative guide and review will help you if you are looking for a low-impact full-body exercise machine suitable for both beginners and pros. These whole-body workout machines listed here are more affordable than paying the annual subscription to the gym.

Take care of your joints and exercise all the muscles of your body safely and comfortably. Along with a healthy diet, you can lose weight and see results in no time. Choose the home exercise machine that suits you best and start training your body today.

Read Also:

• Top 8 Best Ellipticals for Full Body Workout
• Top 17 Best Vibration Platform Machines for Whole Body Workout
• Best Passive Leg Exercise Machines for Seniors
• Top 11 Best Exercise Machines for Lower Back Problem
• Best Cardio Exercise Machines for Bad Knees