Elliptical vs. Treadmill: Pros and Cons of Each Cardio Machine
How to Choose Between a Treadmill vs. Elliptical
There are several key factors to consider when shopping for a cardio machine. If you're going to invest hundreds or even thousands of dollars in a piece of equipment, it needs to check the boxes that are most important to you. Your budget, fitness goals, workout variety and the size of your home gym are important considerations. Let's break down the pros and cons of ellipticals and treadmills, then explore more in-depth about each machine.
Elliptical Pros and Cons
Pros:
- low-impact cardio
- offers a full-body workout
- activates more upper body muscles than a treadmill
- ideal for those recovering from injury
- adjustable resistance and incline to burn more calories
Cons:
- steeper learning curve
- repetitive movement
- requires a lot of space in your home gym
Treadmill Pros and Cons
Pros:
- shallow learning curve
- specifically targets quads, calves, glutes and hamstrings
- adjustable speed and incline to burn more calories
- workout variety (hikes, 5K training, HIIT sprints, etc.)
- collapsible options are available for smaller home gyms
Cons:
- tends to be more expensive
- can be hard on joints
Different Cardio Machines, Different Fitness Goals
What are your fitness goals? Those training for a 5K and someone wanting to build muscle require different training styles. If your current goal is to add muscle mass, using an elliptical at high resistance will help support your weight training. If you have a marathon coming up, a treadmill will help you train no matter what the weather looks like outside. Both machines are great for improving your cardiovascular health and endurance, so if your focus is more about generally improving your health, you can't go wrong with either. In that case, there are other considerations to help sway your decision.
Injury, Recovery and Joint Health
Do you have a persistent knee injury, tendonitis or other joint pain to manage? If so, an elliptical is a better choice for you. The smooth motion minimizes stress on knees and hips, and the ability to customize resistance levels is ideal if you're feeling your best or woke up with some discomfort. For the same reason, an elliptical is a great choice for someone re-introducing a workout routine post-injury. Additionally, their low-impact design can also help prevent injury. However, while the elliptical might be a better choice for those with joint health concerns, it doesn't mean walking on a treadmill is inherently bad for your joints; just be sure to watch your speed.
Workout Variability
Are you the kind of person who gets bored with a set workout routine? If so, a treadmill is better for you. You can walk, jog and run, or even do internal training. While you can adjust the incline and resistance on an elliptical, the movement itself is the same.
Guided Workouts
Depending on the elliptical or treadmill you buy, they may have running trails you can virtually explore on the display or workouts you can follow from an app. If you're just starting your fitness journey, a treadmill or elliptical with guided workouts or virtual classes is a bonus, though it's definitely not a necessity. Treadmills tend to have this feature more than ellipticals.
Space Limitations
Do you live in a small apartment, or are you building a high-end home gym? Or maybe your space is somewhere in between the two. Either way, you need to think about how much room you have for a cardio machine. If you don't have a lot of space, an elliptical will be difficult to fit, as you need both space for the machine itself and additional room in front and back when you're pedaling. While treadmills can definitely still be large, you don't have the pedaling to contend with. Additionally, for particular small spaces, you can always invest in a walking pad that works the same way as a traditional treadmill, but is smaller and can even be folded up and stored away in between uses. That way, you don't have to sacrifice space or aesthetics if you don't have a dedicated home gym space.
Budget Considerations
Treadmills tend to be more expensive than ellipticals, and if you're building an entire home gym, you need to allocate your budget wisely. If you're set on buying a treadmill, there are still options for you: those with simpler displays or even a foldable treadmill are cheaper options.
Find Your Perfect Elliptical or Treadmill at Abt
If you're deciding between an elliptical vs. a treadmill, how do you choose? If you're looking for low-impact exercise that's still effective, go with an elliptical. If variability or space are more important to you, you'll probably be happier with a treadmill. When you're ready to upgrade your home gym, shop our selection online or visit our store in Glenview to see select treadmills and ellipticals on display. Want to do further research? We have both an elliptical buying guide as well as a treadmill buying guide so you can learn even more about each machine. You can also call Abt's fitness equipment experts if you're looking for personalized advice or have questions about a particular product.
