Choosing a cardio machine that fits the room and the routine

Measure the space it takes in use

A folding machine still needs its full length while you are on it, plus clearance behind for the deck to rise and above for your head and arms. Measure the room with the machine unfolded, not folded.

The second measurement is the way in: door widths, stair turns and the weight of the box. A machine that cannot reach the room is a machine that goes back.

• Length in use, plus the arc of the folding deck.
• Ceiling height for standing and for raised handles.
• Access: door widths, stair turns and the weight of the box.

Decide what the machine has to do

Running needs a longer, wider belt and a stronger continuous motor than walking. If the plan is walking at an incline, a shorter deck and a smaller motor are enough, and the machine takes noticeably less room.

Steppers and ellipticals keep both feet on the pedals, which suits a fixed motion and a footprint smaller than a treadmill.

• Belt length and width against your stride.
• Continuous motor output for the speeds you will actually use.
• Fixed motion against a belt, which decides how the session feels.

Noise and the floor underneath

Every machine puts some noise into the floor. A dense mat under the frame, and a machine with a belt drive rather than a hard-mounted one, is the difference between a neighbour who notices and one who does not.

Try the machine at the speed you plan to use before buying. The sound at a walking pace is rarely the sound at a run.

• A dense mat under the machine reduces vibration in the floor.
• A belt drive generally runs more quietly than a direct drive.
• Console fans and speakers add noise of their own.