Which cardio/aerobic machine is the most efficient?

[JEDI]

Which?

 

[Kipper]

If I had my choice, I'd say the rowing machine...

 

[SociallyChallenged]

If you're talking about efficient in the calories burned per hour sense, then running is hands down the best, if you challenge yourself. If you're running up stairs, as in stadiums, then you will have the highest calorie burn per hour. However, stair climbers aren't as intense as actual stadiums.

List of exercises and their calories burned per hour.

 

[brikis98]

Efficient in terms of what? If it's calories burned, it's probably running. If it's muscles worked, then it's probably rowing.

 

[gar655]

For calories burned per hour, running at an incline is the most efficient. Rowing is not quite as efficient as running on a flat surface. It's close. Even though it works many more muscles it's a not weight bearing exercise. The two tend to equal out. If I convert my rowing pace to mins/mile I find that I have to row faster than I would if I were to run to burn calories at the same rate. An because rowing uses more muscles it is more tiring (IMO) and harder to maintain a high pace than running.

Gene

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: Kipper
If I had my choice, I'd say the rowing machine...

You're right...but the problem with rowing machines and my workout is that I lift weights the every day. It makes it hard for me to row because I do my cardio after my weight training.

I chose the Elliptical as the most efficient from the list. It's because it gets both the arms and the legs moving, while remaining relatively low impact.

Personally, I'm a bigger guy (6'4", 230), so I've been mixing hard running (1-2 miles) with 30 minutes on a recumbent bike. I'd run more, but I'm trying to save my knees. The bike allows me to lean back or move forward depending on the resistance.

Speaking of resistance....What makes the ellipticals and the bikes so good is when they have varied resistance and a heart rate monitor to see when you get to your target heart rate. I've been doing a hill workout and a sports training workout and can tell it's really helped my breathing.

 

[LongTimePCUser]

Tread mill is most efficient in getting an aerobic exercise in the least time spent.

Unless you count rehabilitation time because it beats the crap out of your ankles, knees and hips leading to lots of injury time.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: LongTimePCUser
Tread mill is most efficient in getting an aerobic exercise in the least time spent.

Unless you count rehabilitation time because it beats the crap out of your ankles, knees and hips leading to lots of injury time.

If you're doing it wrong, yes. If you are running with front-foot foot strike, much impact is absorbed in the muscles in the foot. It makes most injuries unlikely and makes running a valid cardio exercise without risk. Check out POSE form. What you say is only true in the case of heel-strike running.