By Not every workout needs to be high-intensity to deliver results. In fact, low impact exercise machines are some of the best tools to improve your fitness, protect your joints, and still burn plenty of calories. Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing plantar fasciitis, or simply looking for a more sustainable workout, these machines provide strength, cardio, and endurance without the punishing effects of high-impact training.
This guide explores the 12 best low-impact exercise machines, organized by budget:
- Low-cost equipment – portable, affordable, and beginner-friendly.
- Mid-range equipment – versatile, durable, and designed for home fitness.
- Higher-cost equipment – premium, full-body options with serious calorie-burning potential.
To help you use them consistently, you’ll also get a 14-Day Low-Impact Kickstart Plan to build fitness safely and effectively.
Low-Cost Exercise Equipment (Budget-Friendly)
If you’re starting or want to keep your home workouts simple and affordable, these are the best options.
1) Resistance Bands
Lightweight, portable, and versatile, resistance bands allow full-body strength training without weights.
- Calories burned in 10 minutes: ~40–55 calories (depending on resistance level and exercise variety)
- Best for: beginners, travel workouts, toning
- Why it works: provides smooth resistance across a full range of motion, minimizing joint stress
- Pro tip: try banded squats, rows, and Pallof presses for low-impact strength.
2) Belly Trimmer
Also called an ab exerciser, this tool supports your spine while engaging your core muscles more safely than crunches.
- Calories burned in 10 minutes: ~35–50 calories
- Best for: safe core training, beginners, people with back/neck issues
- Why it works: promotes spinal alignment and efficient breathing during core work
- Pro tip: combine with resistance band moves for a quick ab finisher.
3) Twister Board
A simple rotating platform that engages the waist, hips, and core while improving balance and stability.
- Calories burned in 10 minutes: ~45–60 calories
- Best for: core stability, balance, coordination
- Why it works: rotational training challenges stabilizers without impact
- Pro tip: Hold light dumbbells while twisting slowly for extra upper-body activation.
Mid-Range Exercise Equipment
These machines are durable, versatile, and ideal for building a consistent home routine.
4) Adjustable Dumbbells
Adjustable dumbbells replace an entire weight rack with one compact set, offering flexibility for progressive overload.
- Calories burned in 10 minutes: ~60–80 calories (light-to-moderate circuit training)
- Best for: small spaces, strength progression
- Why it works: allows controlled, joint-friendly strength training
- Pro tip: build a circuit: goblet squats, Romanian deadlifts, and floor presses.
5) Stationary Bike
The classic cardio machine for joint-friendly pedaling.
- Calories burned in 10 minutes (moderate pace): ~70–100 calories
- Calories burned in 10 minutes (vigorous pace): ~110–140 calories
- Best for: endurance, weight management, conditioning
- Why it works: smooth, cyclical motion reduces knee and hip strain
- Pro tip: add short cadence surges (30–45 seconds) to boost calorie burn.
If you’re a runner looking to complement this with strength work, check out our guide to building running-specific power.
6) Recumbent Bike
A reclined version of the stationary bike with added back support, perfect for seniors or anyone with lower back discomfort.
- Calories burned in 10 minutes (moderate pace): ~55–75 calories
- Best for: seniors, back care, long, steady sessions
- Why it works: reclined design supports posture while still engaging the legs and cardiovascular system
- Pro tip: perform light dumbbell curls or presses while pedaling.
7) Under-Desk Elliptical
Compact and quiet, an under-desk elliptical keeps your legs moving while you work.
- Calories burned in 10 minutes: ~45–60 calories (light resistance) | ~65–85 calories (moderate resistance)
- Best for: multitasking, work-from-home consistency
- Why it works: promotes continuous activity without interrupting daily tasks
- Pro tip: alternate resistance levels in 10-minute blocks throughout the day.
According to Harvard Health’s calorie burn estimates, elliptical training can help you burn between 270–400 calories in just 30 minutes, depending on your body weight and intensity. That means even short 10-minute sessions can make a real impact, especially when combined with strength training or running workouts.
8) Whole-Body Vibration Plate
This platform creates rapid, low-amplitude muscle contractions, enhancing basic movements like squats or planks.
- Calories burned in 10 minutes: ~55–75 calories (depending on exercises performed)
- Best for: circulation, recovery, core activation
- Why it works: increases muscle engagement without added impact
- Pro tip: Use it as a warm-up before strength training for better activation.
Higher-Cost Exercise Equipment
These premium machines provide immersive, full-body workouts with higher calorie-burning potential.
9) Vertical Climber
A vertical climber simulates climbing motions, engaging the entire body.
- Calories burned in 10 minutes: ~100–120 calories
- Best for: high-output, full-body cardio in short sessions
- Why it works: combines the upper and lower body in one rhythmic movement
- Pro tip: alternate 2 minutes of climbing with 1 minute rest for efficient intervals.
10) Ski Machine
Smooth stepping motion builds leg strength and cardiovascular endurance.
- Calories burned in 10 minutes: ~80–100 calories
- Best for: lower-body conditioning and aerobic power
- Why it works: provides controlled vertical loading without joint jarring
- Pro tip: carry light dumbbells for added core and grip engagement.
11) Treadmill (Walking Pad or Compact)
Walking is one of the safest and most sustainable forms of cardio.
- Calories burned in 10 minutes (brisk walk at 3.5 mph): ~40–60 calories
- Calories burned in 10 minutes (slight incline): ~50–70 calories
- Best for: daily step goals, cardiovascular health
- Why it works: consistent, adaptable, easy to integrate into daily life
- Pro tip: if you have plantar fasciitis, keep it flat with shorter strides.
12) Rowing Machine (Spotlight Cardio Pick)
Rowing combines cardio and strength in one powerful workout. It engages the legs, core, back, and arms with each stroke.
- Calories burned in 10 minutes (moderate pace): ~80–100 calories
- Calories burned in 10 minutes (vigorous pace): ~110–140 calories
- Best for: total-body conditioning and calorie burning
- Why it works: provides rhythmic, low-impact training across multiple muscle groups
- Pro tip: Try 1-minute moderate + 1-minute easy intervals for 12 minutes to maximize results.
Fit Your Body in 14 Days: Quick, Low-Impact Workouts (15–25 Minutes Daily)
Buying equipment is just the beginning—the real results come from consistent use. This plan helps you build a habit of low-impact exercise and fit your body in just 14 days. Each workout takes 15–25 minutes and can be done with either home or gym equipment
Week 1 – Building the Foundation
- Day 1 – Bike (Stationary or Recumbent): 5-min warm-up → 10-min steady pace → 5-min cool-down.
- Day 2 – Resistance Band Circuit: 3 rounds (12 squats, 12 rows, 30-sec ab curls).
- Day 3 – Walking Pad/Treadmill: 20-minute brisk walk.
- Day 4 – Elliptical: 3 × 8-min bouts or 20-min steady.
- Day 5 – Rower/Climber: 6 × (40s moderate + 20s easy).
- Day 6 – Core & Stability: Plank, Pallof press, squat holds.
- Day 7 – Recovery: 10–15-minute gentle walk + stretching.
Week 2 – Gentle Progression
- Day 8 – Bike Intervals: 6 × (1-min fast pedal + 1-min easy).
- Day 9 – Strength (Dumbbells or Machines): 3 rounds: squats, RDLs, presses.
- Day 10 – Walking Pad/Treadmill: 20-min brisk pace; add incline if tolerated.
- Day 11 – Elliptical: 40-min steady, or 4 × 10-min blocks.
- Day 12 – Rower/Climber Intervals: 10 × (30s moderate + 30s easy).
- Day 13 – Resistance Band & Core: Band walks, glute bridges, face pulls.
- Day 14 – Recovery: yoga, foam rolling, or 15-minute leisure walk.
Tips for Lasting Results
- Anchor habits: tie workouts to existing routines (after breakfast, during lunch).
- Track progress: tick off sessions in a calendar or app.
- Focus on consistency: short daily workouts beat long, irregular ones.
- Progress slowly: increase time or resistance by 5–10% each week.
Where to Buy Low-Impact Exercise Machines
If you’re ready to add one of these low-impact exercise machines to your fitness routine, many of the options we’ve covered are available on Amazon and other major retailers. Before placing an order, take a few minutes to read customer reviews and check the ratings for durability, comfort, and ease of use. It’s also smart to compare different sellers on the same product page, since pricing, shipping times, and return policies can vary. Avoid rushing into the lowest-cost option just to save a few dollars — investing in a trusted brand and reliable seller will ensure you get a machine that lasts, rather than a cheap product that needs replacing.
FAQs
Q1: What is the best low impact exercise machines?
The rowing machine is the most effective all-around pick. For seniors, recumbent bikes are excellent. For apartments, a walking pad is ideal.
Q2: Which low-impact exercise equipment is best for seniors?
Recumbent bikes, resistance bands, and under-desk ellipticals are safe and easy to use.
Q3: What’s the best low impact exercise equipment for weight loss?
Rowers, vertical climbers, and stair climbers burn the most calories in the least time.
Q4: What’s the best apartment workout equipment?
Walking pads, resistance bands, and compact ellipticals are quiet, space-efficient, and practical.
Conclusion
Low impact exercise machines give you the best of both worlds: calorie-burning workouts that strengthen your body while protecting your joints. From affordable bands to premium rowers and climbers, there’s a solution for every budget and lifestyle. Pair your equipment with the 14-day kickstart plan, and you’ll transform low-impact workouts into a consistent fitness routine that lasts for years to come.
