Should I Buy A Treadmill Or Elliptical
Treadmills allow you to walk or run on a moving belt. You can control the speed as well as the incline. With an elliptical, you place your feet on a platform and move in an ellipses, or elongated circle.
should i buy a treadmill or elliptical
Low-impact exercise typically puts less stress on your joints than high-impact exercise. This makes the elliptical a safer option if you have a musculoskeletal condition such as low-back pain, knee or hip pain, or other health conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis.
A 2010 study found that calories burned, oxygen consumption, and heart rate were nearly identical on the elliptical and treadmill. The researchers concluded that the elliptical is an acceptable alternative to the treadmill as a form of cardio exercise.
Some elliptical machines have arm handles. You can push these back and forth at the same time as you move your legs. The resistance of the handles helps to work the muscles in your shoulders, chest, and back.
One of the main benefits of exercising on a treadmill is the versatility you have. Whether you want to do a brisk walk or an uphill run, you have the option to dial in the exact speed and incline of your workout.
Because you can easily control the speed and incline, treadmills are well-suited to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts. Studies show that HIIT workouts are effective for burning calories, reducing body fat, and improving cardiovascular fitness in a short period of time.
Running or jogging on a treadmill can put more stress on your bones and joints compared to working out on an elliptical trainer. Ultimately, this can lead to injuries. Common running injuries include shin splints, knee injuries, and stress fractures.
With an elliptical, you can work the muscles in your arms, shoulders, back, and chest, as well as the muscles in your lower body. By reversing direction, an elliptical also helps you to isolate specific muscles, which is harder to do with a treadmill.
Trying to decide between a treadmill or an elliptical depends on your physical health and fitness goals. Both machines can be equally beneficial for burning calories and getting a good cardiovascular workout.
If you are new to the elliptical, you may want to try using it without the arm handles at first. This can help you get comfortable with the movement. Once you have the movement down, you can add the arm handles.
Because exercising on a treadmill can put stress on your bones and joints, be sure to warm up and cool down properly before starting your workout. This can help get your muscles and joints ready to work, and lower your risk of injuries. Also stretch after your workout.
If you have a musculoskeletal condition or are injury-prone, you may want to stick with the elliptical. If you want to burn a lot of calories and build up leg strength and speed, the treadmill may be a better choice.
Brown GA, Cook CM, Krueger RD, Heelan KA. Comparison of energy expenditure on a treadmill vs. an elliptical device at a self-selected exercise intensity. J Strength Cond Res. 2010;24(6):1643-9. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181cb2854
Note: A treadmill is a platform covered by a flat belt that rotates around it, allowing you to walk or run in place while the belt moves beneath you. You can adjust the belt's speed to walk, jog, or sprint and some treadmills have adjustable incline or decline to simulate hills.
A small 2021 study found that people using a treadmill burned more fat than those using an elliptical. The study suggested that exercising on a treadmill is a good way to improve cardio-metabolic health.
Important: Some impact can be good: As your feet hit a treadmill, the impact stimulates bone growth and builds bone density. Walking causes a lower impact than running, too, so if you don't have severe joint problems, a treadmill might be a better option.
Using both a treadmill and an elliptical can be beneficial to most people's workout routine. But if you're looking to invest in just one for your home gym, it's important to consider your preferred cardio, what your fitness goals are, and whether you have any injuries or physical limitations.
Running on a treadmill is a more challenging workout but an elliptical offers a low-impact routine that's easier on your joints while delivering a full-body workout. The one that's better for you depends on your unique needs.
Treadmill machines use a motor that controls a belt that you run or walk on. You can adjust the speed of the belt to pick up the pace or slow your roll. You can also change the angle of the platform to simulate walking, jogging, navigating trails or all-out sprinting uphill for a more intense session. There are even self-propelling treadmills, and ones that are curved that claim to allow for a more natural and proper running gait.
A treadmill offers a moderately cushioned flat surface to run or walk on. But on an elliptical machine, your feet are positioned on pedals, about shoulder-width apart. You move your feet in a circular or oblong shape, more similar to riding a bike, but while standing.
Start slowly with 10 minutes on either a treadmill or elliptical. Incremental wins help you build endurance, as well as your confidence. Gently push yourself by increasing the speed and resistance of your machine.
Both treadmills and ellipticals offer many of the same exercise benefits. Your fitness goals and your physical condition can help guide you when choosing which is more appropriate for you. Check out these pros and cons.
Our team here at Treadmill Review Guru specializes in testing fitness equipment, including ellipticals. We take a look at how their stride feels, the flywheel, overall construction and stability, as well how much space they take up and their content.
All of these components are big factors to consider when buying an elliptical for your home. We want you to feel empowered in your purchasing decision and to know what to look out for in a home elliptical.
On top of all of these high-quality features, iFit really enhances this machine. Take elliptical, hiking, walking, and even running classes on your NordicTrack FS14i Freestride Trainer, and never get bored with your workouts again. iFit adds on-demand classes regularly, and has plenty of content off the machine as well.
This elliptical weighs 236 pounds but will support a whopping 400 pounds! Power-adjustable incline with 20 levels and 20 levels of resistance combine to give you one heck of a challenging workout! Currently the E95 only has 10 preloaded programs and no additional content via a subscription option. But we love the feel and design of this quality machine!
iFit definitely adds even more value to this functional elliptical. The automatic trainer control adjusts the resistance as you go, too. Burn calories and work your muscles with the ProForm Pro HIIT H14 in the comfort of your own home.
For a more classic elliptical experience, the Horizon 7.0 AE is a nice option. It offers 2 sets of handles, so you can do full body training or just focus on your lower body. It also has 20 levels of quiet magnetic resistance that can be easily changed with quick touch buttons. The same goes for the 20 levels of incline.
The NordicTrack Freestride FS10i Trainer is a multi-functional hybrid elliptical trainer with high quality components and enhanced functionality. It checks all the boxes for a great at home elliptical trainer.
The FreeStride pedal motion is unique, as you move your feet with the pedals, it really feels like you are gliding. As opposed to traditional treadmills that hold your foot in a horizontal plane, the Freestrider allows you to pull the pedal up or down as well as forward and aft. You have control of the movement.
The FreeStride also offers 32-inches of stride length so you have extra range as you glide on the pedals. This is nearly double the length of a standard elliptical! Power incline helps stimulate posterior chain muscles for a well-rounded (no pun intended) workout! The moving handlebars make it easy to engage upper body muscles as well.
The ProForm Carbon E10 Elliptical is a great choice if you want an elliptical with some thoughtful features. You can also get this elliptical for free when you purchase a 3-year membership to iFit from ProForm. Talk about a sweet deal!
Some ellipticals will fold in half when not in use, which really clears up floor space. Most folding ellipticals have a slightly lighter frame. Other ellipticals may not fold, but many feature wheels under the front uprights so you can gently roll the machine out of the way when needed. Take a look at the options when considering folding and storage designs.
Ellipticals have either a front, center or rear drive design depending on wheel and motor placement. Rear drive ellipticals are generally more durable, while center and front drives tend to be more economical and sometimes fold up.
Some ellipticals offer incline in addition to resistance which compounds your conditioning by activating different muscle groups as you pedal. Working at an incline also stimulates higher calorie burn because it is more challenging.
Most ellipticals come with a handful of standard, preloaded programs you can run on the machine, such as: Fat Burn, Hills, Intervals, etc. A range and variety of programs will provide more well-rounded fitness and keep you from getting bored.
Some newer machines also offer subscription programs that will load on your elliptical. These often include a trainer-led workout filmed in a studio class. Subscription options are often more fun and more engaging than the pre-loaded programs, but there is usually a monthly cost.
Look for features that matter to you. Some ellipticals have fans, which is really nice when you are working hard. Speakers will play programming music and Bluetooth connectivity often allows users to sync their music to play through the elliptical speakers. Some ellipticals include a tablet holder for your phone or device so you can watch it while you workout.
When using an elliptical, you move in an elongated circle while your feet are placed on two individual platforms or pedals with the ability to go forwards or backward. These machines also provide the opportunity to work out your upper body by engaging with the mobile arm handles. 041b061a72