Elliptical vs. treadmill

Which One Is Better?

Sometimes during the year, usually on the onset of a new one, people make resolutions. Many times, these resolutions involve getting more fit or losing several pounds. Such decisions demand action. Therefore, in numerous cases, people will decide to buy certain devices which will make exercising easier and more productive for them. Moreover, in such cases, they would opt for the most productive machines of this type. Lately, the category of “best choice” involves elliptical and treadmill workout machines. However, since the former came after the latter, since its first appearance, there have been many comparisons of the two, many people claiming one to be better than the other. Thus, in order to find out more about this important topic and help you pick your own exercising machine, we will describe both the elliptical and treadmill machine and present their positive and negative sides.

The Comparison

As for the characteristics of each individual machine, many would agree that these two are quite similar. Therefore, finding any crucial diversities will not be an easy task.

Firstly, the quality and the number of calories burnt greatly depend upon the length of the belt of the treadmill and the stride of the elliptical. Therefore, the more space any machine provides, the more calories you will burn since your steps will be more demanding. Of course, these devices are programmable, meaning that you can make exercising harder by increasing the resistance of the machine and, thereby, increase the loss of calories as well. Again, both devices have this very option and therefore, all weight loss depends upon the intensity of the workout and the person who indulges into the exercising.

One aspect where elliptical wins over the treadmill machine is joint support. As most of us know, running on a hard flat surface makes us suffer all of the shock of this action. Thus, with treadmills, we can get our joints hurt much easier than on an elliptical exercise device. Even though newer treadmills offer better joint protection, the elliptical still provides the best, when the two are compared.

The score will become a draw once we consider the room these two machines take. Namely, you can fold up your treadmill when you are not using it, freeing your space significantly. On the other hand, elliptical machine stays large and needs plenty of space. Regardless, treadmills produce more noise than elliptical machines.

As far as cost is concerned, there are numerous types of both devices, each having a different price. However, elliptical is still cheaper. Nevertheless, you should buy those which are more costly but offer better long-time service. The cheaper ones will surely prove to cost you more in the long run.

Finally, it is a draw. Thus, the final judgment is up to you, take your pick, each of them is an excellent choice, with some flaws and many positive sides.