An elliptical and treadmill are two of the most common cardio machines that are going to be found in gyms today.
The good thing is that both of these machines are able to provide effective cardio exercise and workouts.
They can both help one to achieve a good calorie burn and improve aerobic performance.
However, each machine comes with its own unique strengths and disadvantages.
In this article, we will be going over some of the different strengths and disadvantages of each indoor exercise machine.
Compare The Difference Between Treadmill And Elliptical
>Treadmill
First, we will talk about the treadmill machine.
– Advantage
One of the biggest benefits of a treadmill is the fact that it allows a diverse range of options from which to exercise.
From being able to casually walk to sprint uphill, you should find the exact pacing that works for you.
Another benefit that comes from a treadmill is the fact that it is a high output workout.
Because running requires such a large amount of energy, you will be able to burn a significant amount of calories in a short period of time.
– Disadvantages
Posture Problems is the best disadvantage of treadmills.
Treadmills can not only add pressure on your knees, but they can also force you to run in unnatural ways because of the size of the belt.
The overall size and quality of the treadmill will severely affect the effectiveness of the treadmill of your workout.
>Benefits Of Elliptical Machines
– Advantages
Non-Impact conditioning and Cross-training abilities are important for people to take elliptical workouts.
One of the main benefits of this machine over treadmills is the fact that the machine offers a non-impact motion that will help preserve your knee and joint health.
A lot of elliptical machines are now equipped with moving handles which effectively allow you to exercise both your upper body and lower body at the same time.
– Disadvantages
One of the disadvantages of elliptical machines is momentum.
Unfortunately, this machine allows you to utilize the natural momentum created by the movement which can decrease the impact and success of the workout.
More benefits from the elliptical exercise machines, you can see at:
- Finding The Best Fitness Elliptical For Effective Workouts
- How To Use The Elliptical Machine For Weight Loss
- Benefits From Using An Elliptical For Runners
Different Types Of Elliptical Machines Available
When it comes to getting your cardio in, ellipticals are one of the most commonly used machines.
They can help you to burn a ton of fat and improve your cardiovascular health. However, there are many different types of elliptical machines available.
So, in this article, we will be taking a closer look at each type of elliptical, while also discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each machine.
1. The Elliptical Trainer Machine With Affordable Price
The first machine we will look at is the elliptical trainer.
This machine only focuses on working your lower body and it comes equipped with moving steps and a stationary handlebar.
So, in order to use this machine, you need to place your feet on the foot pedals and start pushing on the steps in a circular motion.
You can hold onto the stationary handlebars for support as you use the elliptical.
This type of elliptical focuses on working your hamstrings, quads, and glutes. It also requires significant knee and hip extension.
The benefits of using this type of elliptical are that it is quite easy on your feet since you are not constantly pounding them against a flat surface.
Your feet will maintain their contact with the steps throughout your exercise, which is great for people who suffer from knee and joint pain.
Also, another advantage is that you can control the pace of your workout since you can either speed up or slow down how you move on the steps.
In the event that using the machine becomes too easy, you can simply increase the resistance of the machine so that it becomes harder to push against the pedals.
By doing so, you will get a more intense workout and increase your calorie burn.
The disadvantage of using this machine is that since the handlebars are stationary, you will not get a full-body workout. Also, these machines are a one-size-fits-all, so if you are a bit on the shorter side, you may end up overextending your knees which can lead to injury.
Here you see the Bestseller elliptical Exerpeutic Folding Elliptical with a stationary handlebar, check the details up will help you to know what features most people care about:
Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Elliptical Trainer
If you want to see more elliptical trainers,
you can go >> Choose Different Elliptical Trainers For Cardio Needs <<
2. The Elliptical Cross Trainer For Full Body Workout
The next type of elliptical machine that we will look at is the elliptical cross-trainer.
This machine is a variation of the previously discussed elliptical. The main difference is that in addition to the circular moving pedals, the handlebars are not stationary.
You will have to push and pull on the handlebars to move them as you use the elliptical steps.
This provides a full-body workout since you will be engaging your entire body with this cardio machine. In addition to working your knee and hip joints, you will also be engaging your shoulders and elbows.
As you extend and contract the handlebars, you will work your arms, chest and upper back.
The main advantage of using the elliptical cross trainer is that it allows you to burn more calories than the elliptical trainer.
This occurs because you are training your entire body and not just your legs, which would result in a higher calorie burn at the same time.
The disadvantages of using this machine are otherwise the same and are not recommended for people with joint problems.
Now, most elliptical machines on the market are movable handlebars, you can get more calories to burn when exercising.
Precor Brand and Life Fitness both have excellent ellipticals with highly reviewed, but their price is expensive.
If you want to buy high quality and designed cross trainers, you can try these two brands.
But there are also have hot sales cross-trainers very affordable, you can choose one fit your budget. Check the TOP picks model below:
ProForm Hybrid Trainer Elliptical Machine – Under $500
- 15 inch elliptical Stride, target pacer, oversized adjustable pedals, Inertia-Enhanced flywheel, water bottle holder
- The ProForm Hybrid Trainer is protected with a 5-Year Frame Warranty and 90-Day Parts and Labor Warranty
3. Low Impact Elliptical Glider For Capacity
Lastly, we will look at the elliptical glider.
The glider is similar to the elliptical trainer since it has stationary arms with moving foot pedals.
However, the foot pedals are quite different since they don’t create a circular motion like other elliptical machines.
Instead, the pedals are placed at a backward angle and they move up and down as you use the machine.
The main disadvantage of using it is that it only provides work when you push down on the pedals and it only allows you to work the lower body.
However, it is an excellent low impact cardio machine that will burn tons of calories and increase your aerobic capacity.
Here is the Top seller elliptical glider for your reference:
Top sale Gazelle Edge Elliptical Glider
- Easy-to-use, 5-function workout computer tracks speed, distance, time, and more
- Extra-wide, non-skid foot platforms; durable 1.5-inch rolled steel frame
- High-density foam handlebars; maximum weight capacity of 250 pounds
Major Features To Consider When Buying the Best Elliptical Machines
An elliptical trainer is one of the most popular workout machines being sold today.
In fact, more elliptical trainers are being sold these days as compared to treadmills. One of the main reasons for the popularity of elliptical is that these are much easier on back and joints but still provide a total body workout.
Thanks to the increased popularity, a number of fitness equipment manufacturers have launched a variety of models in the market.
The availability of so many options has made it difficult for uninformed buyers to choose the right elliptical trainer for them.
If you are currently looking for an elliptical trainer, here is a list of major features to consider when buying elliptical machines.
Design
One of the most important things when it comes to buying an elliptical trainer is the design. There are various aspects of design that you need to consider.
Types
There are two types of elliptical trainers, namely rear-drive and font-drive.
The rear-drive machines are typically found in gyms as these offer a much better feel for the workout due to the driving system in the rear.
Since there is greater inertia while moving the feet forward, these machines offer a much better workout experience without any strain on knees or joints.
Most of the machines available for home use earlier used to be front-drive machines due to their low manufacturing cost.
However, one of the big problems with these machines is that these have roller tracks that require quite a bit of maintenance.
These machines tend to be cheaper but require more maintenance and therefore, it is recommended to buy a rear-drive elliptical machine.
It is true that you will spend a bit more money but you will have a much better experience and these machines do not require that much maintenance.
Schwinn 430 is a front-drive elliptical machine for space-saving, if you like this type of elliptical, see the reviews and price below:
Schwinn 430 Elliptical Machine- Under $800
Brakes
Brakes are another important thing.
There are two types of brakes, namely electromagnetic and mechanical.
The electromagnetic brakes are better as there are no moving parts that require maintenance.
Size
An important factor that may affect your overall experience while working out on an elliptical trainer is the frame size.
While compact elliptical machines tend to be lighter and offer greater mobility to the users, these are not suitable for tall or heavy users.
However, bigger machines take a lot more space in the home and are not easy to move. Therefore, consider the frame size carefully before clicking that buy button.
Weight capacity
Weight capacity is another factor that we need to consider.
While most machines available for home use have huge weight capacity, you should still check out the specified weight capacity to make sure that it is right for you.
The best max weight model is ProForm Hybrid Trainer with 350LB, if you need, click to see more details and reviews.
Ergonomics
Pay attention to the ergonomics of the design.
There are some models where the moving arms angles are awkward and make it difficult for you to get a good hold.
Workout Programs
Most elliptical trainers being sold today come loaded with a variety of workout programs.
Some of the machines offer options on resistance levels and incline among other things.
The big difference between high-end models and cheaper models is that you will be able to make changes electronically in the high-end models but cheaper models usually offer manual adjustment only.
Ideally, you should choose an elliptical that comes with a lot of workout programs to make your workout less boring.
Console and Built-in Accessories
Most models available these days come with a console that shows a variety of things on the screen.
While some of the low-end models only show the calories burned, running speed and heart rate, some of the high-end models also come with various other gadgets such as an iPod dock, LCD screen and a fan among other things.
Noise Level
Nobody wants to let everyone in the house knows that they’re working out on the elliptical trainer.
Therefore, it is important to choose a model that does not make too much noise and operates smoothly and quietly.
The best way to find out about the noise levels is to check the customer reviews.
There is a top reviewed quiet & high-end model you can not miss:
Precor EFX 576i Premium Commercial Series Elliptical Fitness Crosstrainer
- 350-pound maximum user weight
- 7-year warranty on frame, 2 years parts, 1-year labor
- Stride lengths from 21.2 to 24.7 inches and ramp incline from 15 to 40 degrees
- 20 levels of resistance; 14 preset programs including 3 cross-training, 1 fitness test, 1 custom, 1 manual
Warranty
Most manufacturers offer different levels of warranty for different parts on the elliptical. While there is usually a multi-year warranty on the frame, the moving parts often do not have a long warranty.
It is recommended to choose a model that comes with a multi-year warranty on various parts as well as a frame.
Sole E95 has a lifetime warranty and high quality, check it up!
Sole Fitness E95 Elliptical Machine
- Power adjustable stride with 20-to-22-inch maximum stride length; six standard programs, two custom programs, and two heart rate programs
- Includes the following manufacturer’s warranties against defects in materials and workmanship: lifetime on frame; five years on electronics and parts; and two years on labor
Price
It is important that you do not choose an elliptical solely on the basis of price.
Keep in mind that you may be able to save some money by buying a cheaper elliptical but you may have to spend a lot of money on its maintenance and repairs in the long run.
Therefore, choose a machine on the basis of features as well as reviews and reputation of the brand.
We have special pages for price and brand, you can go to see:
Storage
Many models allow you to store the unit easily by folding down. It depends on the space you have in your home and whether you need to fold your machine after use.
Overall, these are some of the major factors you need to look at when buying an elliptical machine.
Of course, there’re still have a special designed elliptical trainer for your reference:
FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical
Our Top 3 Picks:
| #1.Exerpeutic Folding Magnetic Elliptical Trainer |
| #2.ProForm Hybrid Trainer Elliptical Machine |
| #3.FitDesk Under Desk Elliptical |
For easy storage, there are compact ellipticals for your reference:
