Why Buying A Treadmill Is Better Than Buying An Elliptical

This Article Is No Longer Updated For Accuracy.

Please Read Our 2011-2012 Treadmill Buyer’s Guide and Elliptical Buyer’s Guides Instead.

When people think of cardio, treadmills come to mind. That's to be expected since treadmills have been around for more than half a century ago. This truly makes them the king of cardio machines. But lately, ellipticals are giving treadmills a run for its money as the best cardio machine. So just how does the treadmill stack up? Is the treadmill still the king of cardio? Let's take a look.

1. Natural movement - Running is natural. We've learned how to run at a young age so for most, it's a natural motion. The motion is simple, intuitive and natural compared to the elliptical.

2. Effective - People have probably lost millions of pounds by using the treadmill through the ages. This is more than enough proof that a treadmill works.

3. Training - Have you always wanted to run that marathon? While you can get slim and toned on an elliptical trainer, a treadmill is the ideal piece of equipment to train for that half or full marathon. Marathon training is done on a treadmill, not on an elliptical.

4. Resale - Everybody knows what a treadmill is but when people are asked what an elliptical trainer is, the response is mixed. In economic terms, the market is bigger for treadmills simply because more people know about it. If you decide to sell the treadmill (hopefully not because you're giving up ;) ) there's a greater chance someone would take you on your offer.

5. Feels like a workout - As mentioned in the article on why ellipticals are better than treadmills, ellipticals allow you to burn more calories while giving you the perception that you're actually not working that hard. For those whose goals include burning the most calories without feeling tired, an elliptical is a fine choice. But for those who enjoy the feeling you get from a tough cardio workout, nothing beats a treadmill. A treadmill workout feels like a real workout.

If you haven't already, I urge you to also take a look at the article on Why Buying An Elliptical Is Better Than Buying A Treadmill.