Elliptical Trainers vs Treadmills

Treadmills and Elliptical trainers are the two most popular fitness based equipment available. While treadmills have been on the market for quite a while, it may come as a surprise to many that the elliptical is actually a new front runner in the home based fitness category. The number one difference is that the elliptical, as opposed to the treadmill, has no ground impact. It doesn't put stress (pain or aching afterward) on the joints from being held against any type of hard surfacing.

Elliptical machines provide a great workout without requiring a pre-existing level of physical fitness. They are not run by a motor which makes them much quieter, therefore enabling you to use it for example, to burn off some of that post baby belly, while your new one is sleeping in the other room, without as much worry of waking them. Opposed to a treadmill, elliptical trainers do not fold up and store for convenient space saving. Depending on the size of your home or area you plan to use this may or may not present a problem. Neither the treadmill nor elliptical are small machines and you must always remember to take that fact into consideration before your decision to purchase one or the other. Is the convenience of space saving important enough to change your decision? Quality of any product should include its accessibility and not be more of an inconvenience than it is helpful.

You should examine the pros and cons of each and assess which apply to you. Some may be of greater personal importance than others; such as the easy fold and store option of a treadmill. Pros and cons are based on specifics that may not even pertain to your decision to purchase one or the other. Finding the differences is pretty easy research, after you make the decision of which to buy. a treadmill or an elliptical, that is where your research is key. Provided here are simply some comparisons on why one is better than the other in different ways. You can decide which is applicable to your specific needs.

The most common reason elliptical trainers are better than treadmills is that they do not require the amount of maintenance or servicing. This is due to the lesser amount of moving parts and the reduced impact they have. It is also the reduced impact that creates a much lower chance of injury resulting from use of the trainer. Treadmills are much more complex machines and have a lot of complicated features. Ellipticals are the choice if building all over body muscle; as they workout the body, not just the legs as a treadmill does.

A top reason people choose to buy exercise equipment is weight loss, and feel uncomfortable being around others in a gym setting. Most treadmills provide built in exercise programs and you can adjust pretty much everything to be exactly what you want. The main con of an elliptical, which unfortunately many do not realize until they have already purchased one, is that it can be awkward and uncomfortable to use. The ease of simply walking or jogging is what is most comfortable to most and usually people don't find the need to have a full body workout. by Dave Ashton