Treadmills and Elliptical Machines are two of the most confused product duos in the fitness machine market. If you are someone who wants to get started with an effective mode of workout, you’re likely to be in same confusion. We too had been there, and, apparently, we made the right decision as we went for one elliptical machine instead of a treadmill. Also, in the span of time, we had reassured the notion that elliptical machine is quite a lot better than treadmills — and many other fitness equipment, for that matter. We are not talking just in light of our experience. We are clear why elliptical machines offer many advantages over treadmills.
Suppose you are confused about choosing one between a treadmill and an elliptical machine, and you have an inclination towards going with elliptical trainer. In that case, this article will surely help you. In this article, we have created a list of the major reasons why an elliptical machine is better than a treadmill. Indeed, we have considered different aspects like effectiveness, comfort and health of the user. So, if you already have an inclination, we have some factual reasons to lead you to elliptical machines — which is, in fact, considered one of the best fitness equipment in the current state of play.
#1 Elliptical Machines Are Easy to Find, Set Up and Use
When compared to most of the fitness equipment out there, Treadmill needs time for getting used to. That having said, an elliptical machine is the exact opposite. You don’t need any kind of previous experience or a type of technical knowledge for getting familiar with an elliptical trainer, cross-trainer or glider. Even if you’re completely new to machine-based fitness, you’ll get along fine. Despite coming with a digital control panel, elliptical machines doesn’t require much of a set-up. In just a few minutes, you’ll get the idea and you can even start working out right way. Last but not least, you can easily find the best elliptical trainer for you.
#2 You Have Plenty of Choices
As we had talked in our article about the different types of elliptical machines and their advantages, you do have a lot of options to choose from. The choice is not just in terms of the variety of the machines, but also in terms of the budget variants. For instance, suppose you have two budget ranges — $500 and $1000. You will still be able to get some of the most effective elliptical machines according to the budget. Additional set of features may vary, but that’s something common, you know. The compromise in additional features does not mean that you will lose performance. So, it’s a great scene as far as selection is concerned.
#3 Elliptical Work-Outs Are Low-Impact Cardiovascular
Maintaining your health is an important factor when it comes to engaging in fitness-oriented exercise modes. Despite giving an awesome cardiovascular work-out, an elliptical machine would have the least impact upon your body. The main benefit is given to the areas like hips, knees and joints. This is not the case when you’re engaging in serious exercises like jogging, running or even the treadmill. As you know, you’ll be following a gliding motion when you are using elliptical trainers, and that doesn’t put much force on your body. If you still don’t know, cardiovascular exercises are just awesome for your health.
#4 Despite Lower Impact, You Get Full-Body Workouts
This is something interesting when it comes to the actual efficiency of elliptical machine workouts. Instead of focusing on a particular part of the body, elliptical machines give you upper-body and lower-body impact. It’s a good thing for your health too. It actually depends upon the type of elliptical machine that you go for — a normal elliptical trainer or a cross-trainer. In case of cross-trainer machines, you will be moving your legs as well as hands, right? It’s actually the reason why experts recommend elliptical training for those who are rehabilitating from injuries.
#5 It’s a Lot Safer than Treadmills
Safety is often about what you feel when you are using the fitness machine. And, in this aspect, you will be surely recommending elliptical trainers over treadmills. The reasons are simple. When you are working out with an elliptical machine, your legs are fixed on a position, and then goes on an elliptical motion. You would also have an option to keep your hands sturdy, thanks to the in-built bars. It’s up to you to have upper-body workouts, but safety is there. Because you’re not leaving the machine during the workouts, elliptical trainer is recommended for many, especially if you’re not really good with leg muscles.
#6 Room for Multi-tasking
You don’t have to be ultra-conscious when you’re using an elliptical trainer. It’s more of a passive activity — and the aforementioned benefit of safety is useful here. So, if you have a busy schedule, you can easily get into multi-tasking. In case of some machines, the console will have entertainment-oriented options too. For example, you can connect your Android/iOS device and listen to music. There may also be a headphone jack for that matter. Even if there are no in-built options, you can simply place a tablet on the dash and do some activity. You can be more free because the action doesn’t require much consciousness.
#7 It Can Be Intense If You Want
There is a minimum amount of intensity you should have while using a treadmill and many other equipment from the modern fitness equipment. In case of elliptical trainer, intensity of the workout is completely in the amount of pressure you apply. If you want to have an intense workout, you can simply increase the force. If you, on the other hand, want to improve some other muscles, you can even try the reverse position. Some machines also come with in-built work-out programs that have different goals and movement modes. To cut the story short, elliptical machine workouts give value for your comfort and requirements.
Concluding
Don’t you still think elliptical machines are, at least in some way, better than treadmills? This doesn’t mean that you must stop using treadmills. It has its own advantages and is useful at certain times. However, if you need the aforementioned perks, it makes sense to make the shift to elliptical.