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elliptical vs treadmill

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Which fitness machine is right for you?

A recurring conundrum on the lips of most home fitness enthusiasts is: Elliptical vs treadmill, which one is best?

In reality, the question should be "Which fitness machine is best for my needs?" as it boils down to a number of deciding factors such as who will be using the machine, what you hope to achieve from your fitness routine and as always, the size of your budget.

Over the course of this page I hope to make the decision process a little easier for you by pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of each type of sports equipment so that you can make an informed choice.

Typical Treadmill Features

Treadmills have been the most popular choice of home fitness machine for some years now, thanks largely to their widespread use down at the local gym. However, the recent leap in functions and features that are packed in to even an average treadmill make them an obvious choice with both seasoned fitness enthusiasts and the first timer alike.

Here's just some of the features to look out for in a treadmill:

Treadmill Motor
As you can imagine, with treadmill motors, the bigger the rating, the better. This is where some of the cheaper machines will cut corners, so if possible, look for a treadmill with a 2.5hp continuous rated motor or higher. A higher rated motor will give you a smoother workout as well as longer life, so go for as big a motor as your budget will allow.
Deck Incline
Most treadmills produced today have a variable incline deck that tilts up to increase the workout intensity. This is similar to running uphill and a number of high end machines automate this feature to produce realistic running conditions based on actual roads. Check out the iFit Live video below!
Deck Size
A large running deck will let you take long, natural strides for a more comfortable run. A short running deck will cause taller runners to take short 'fairy steps' which can be very uncomfortable over the course of a long workout so buy the largest running deck available for your budget.

Elliptical Trainer Features

While treadmills may have been the darling of the commercial gym, the home elliptical trainer has steadily taken off to become a serious rival for the home fitness crown. And for good reason...the average family have a number of limitations to the sports equipment they can buy.

Budgets usually limit families to a single piece of kit that can provide all the exercise needs for the entire family while being affordable and small enough to store away when not in use. Most modern elliptical trainers tick all these boxes and much, much more.

So here's just some of the features you could find in a typical elliptical trainer:

Upper Body Workouts
Most ellipticals have arms that enable a rigorous upper body workout so that you can tone your upper body as you focus on your cardio routine.
Space Saving Design
Many elliptical trainers can be folded up to create a very small footprint, making them easy to store.
Incline
By adjusting the incline you can target different muscle groups, making the elliptical trainer a versatile piece of fitness equipment.
Adjustable Resistance
The latest magnetic resistance system gives silky smooth resistance without friction, which results in a whisper quiet operation. Many machines allow you to adjust the resistance from the console so that you never have to get off the machine.
Control Console
There has been a quantum leap in the functions offered by todays modern elliptical machine consoles. Full electronic displays show speed, time, calories burned and a host of exercise routines and vital stats to satisfy even the most serious fitness fanatic. With the inclusion of the iFit System your workouts are taken to a whole new level!

iFit Live Training Technology

iFit Live is quite simply a revolution in fitness technology and it's worth checking if it is an option for your particular fitness machine.

OK, enough hype, what exactly IS iFit live?

Well, it's common knowledge that most people give up their fitness regime out of sheer boredom. After all, pounding away on a treadmill can soon lose its appeal if you are staring at the same four walls, running the same distance and at the same pace. iFit changes all that!

See, with the ifit Live Map Library you can access real world custom created routes from around the world complete with high resolution photography of your location on your laptop! Now just how great is that?

Actually, it gets even better. Because you also get to run the actual terrain of your route too. The iFit system controls the incline of your fitness machine so you feel all the hills and climbs just as you would if you ran the actual route. What better way is there to train for that half or full marathon than by pounding the course!

Take a moment to check out the video clip...and prepare to be amazed!

Conclusions

With the treadmill vs elliptical debate now much clearer it's time to get down to business!

First off, decide on your budget. Got a figure in your head right now? Write it down if you prefer, because it's easy to get carried away like a kid in a candy shop when you see just how much fitness machine you actually get for your money!

Now click on each of these two green links just below. They will open in a new tab or window (depending on your web browser), allowing you to compare the features of similar priced machines head to head.

Elliptical Trainers

Treadmills

All you do now is scroll down each page to the machine that has all the features you need and falls within your planned budget.

Just how easy was that? And which machine did you finally pick: elliptical vs treadmill?

Remember, have fun and stay fit!

by SportyDude

SportyDude

Elliptical vs Treadmill - that is the question!

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