If you’re starting to plan out your New Year’s Resolution of working out and are wondering if you should start by using an elliptical or a treadmill, take a moment to stop and be proud of yourself. You’re doing it! You’re following through on your goal of being healthier and getting fit. Well done! And now back to the big debate of ellipticals vs treadmills. We’ve listed the pros and cons of each machine below so you can make the decision for yourself. 

Elliptical vs Treadmill

ELLIPTICAL

Pros

• If you have joint or muscle pain, or have been recently injured, the elliptical is very low impact.  
• Settings on the elliptical allow you to vary the resistance for a personally designed workout.
• By using your arms to push and pull the handles, while at the same time engaging your core, you will be able to complete a full-body workout.
• Most ellipticals let you stride in reverse, which will work a whole other set of muscles and can add variety to your workout routines.

Cons

• It can be easy to let the momentum of the elliptical power the machine rather than exerting effort yourself. This makes it easy to end up with a subpar workout.  
• Initially it may feel a little bit awkward to use an elliptical before you master the movements.  

TREADMILL

Pros

• No matter the weather, you’ll be able to get a jog or run done.
• Settings on your treadmill will allow you to set a variety of inclines and speeds, which allows you to personalize your workout.
• It’s pretty easy to get started on a treadmill - if you can run, jog, or walk you can use one!

Cons

• Running on the treadmill has a high impact on your joints and muscles. This is not necessarily a bad thing but if you have joint pains or injuries you may want to avoid using the treadmill.
• The focus on a treadmill is the lower body so you won’t get a full body workout by using one.

At the end of the day, the decision of whether a treadmill or an elliptical is better comes down to the individual person using it. If you’ve never used either machine before, experiment on both to see which one is the most comfortable for you to use.

Do you prefer an elliptical or a treadmill?