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So You Want To Buy An Elliptical Trainer

Running has benefits that bicycling doesn’t. The number one benefit of running vs bicycling is that the impact of running can actually strengthen your bones and tone more muscle groups. Unfortunately for many, that grisly grey matter between bones — cartilage — may be preventing them from running without pain. Although treadmills have come a long way in providing great cushioning, there is no way to completely eliminate the impact pressure and the effects it has on your joints. This is where elliptical machines pull ahead of treadmills. The motion of elliptical machines is completely impact free. Not only that, but keeping those joints moving in a steady, rhythmic motion helps to tone and loosen them and can in some cases make your joints less painful. If joint pain keeps you from running, an elliptical machine may be your best option for achieving your work out goals.

Trying to decide whether to buy an elliptical vs treadmill is like trying to decide between french vanilla and regular vanilla ice cream. Home exercise equipment doesn’t come cheap. So when you’re looking to buy something to help you burn calories and lose weight  you want to know which piece of machinery will be most effective.Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each, so you can make an informed decision.

All things considered, there are really only two things that determine who wins in the battle of elliptical vs treadmill: your preference to running vs bicycling, and your joint health.

Cost is a very difficult factor to pin down. Features and quality of components are really what factor into any elliptical machine’s or treadmill’s cost. Based on the fact that elliptical machines and treadmills are vastly different machines, it’s really not possible to to make an accurate comparison of an elliptical vs treadmill based solely on cost.

People are often surprised to learn that home elliptical machines are about equivalent in cost to treadmills. There is a wide range of models in terms of quality and price, starting at $300-400 for a low-end model and rising to $4000 or more for a gym-quality model. Price should not be a factor in making this choice.

Work Out Routines

Treadmills and elliptical machines — though both serving essentially the same end goals, which are to burn calories, increase cardiovascular health, and/or lose weight — are vastly different in their method of use. Obviously, treadmills are built for walking, jogging and running, whereas elliptical machines produce a motion that is closer to riding a bicycle. Both running and bike riding are great exercises to include in your work out routine, but there are a plethora of reasons why you might not be doing so on a regular basis. The main reason is that these two forms of exercise are usually performed outdoors, and mother nature doesn’t really care what you think. That’s one of the main reasons treadmills and elliptical machines were invented — to bring these exercises indoors. If you would like to include running and/or bicycling into your work out routine, but live in an area where it rains more than it shines, or an area where it’s not safe to jog alone, a treadmill or elliptical may be just the ticket.

Although the end goal of running or bicycling is to burn calories, strengthen cardiovascular system, and lose weight, each method has different strengths and weaknesses that you might consider before making your buying decision. The question is often asked, “Which machine burns the most calories?” or, “Which will help lose weight faster?” The simple answer is, “it depends 100% on you!” The problem with answering that question is that you are the only input the machine has. A treadmill can’t force you to run on an incline at 10 mph any more than an elliptical machine can force you to peddle faster on a simulated 6% incline.

What that boils down to, then, is that you need to chose the machine that will provide you with the type of exercise that you most enjoy doing, and choose features that will keep you motivated. If health factors prevent you from doing the type of exercise that you most enjoy, your choices may be limited.

Save yourself the trouble of deciding on whether to buy an elliptical vs treadmill by buying a Bowflex Treadclimber which works like three machines in one.

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