This is the ultimate mega comparison between Treadmill, Elliptical Trainer, Exercise Bike and Stairmaster. Know their pros, cons, and how these are different from each other before making your decision of buying one for your ultimate home gym in India.
Elliptical vs Treadmill
Calories burned treadmill vs elliptical – Elliptical due to its full body workout nature burns little more calories than the treadmill. But elliptical improves your body balance which treadmill does not. And treadmill workouts are little monotonous.
Elliptical | Treadmill |
Best for | Full body low impact workout | Lower body workout |
Improve balance | Want to lose weight | |
General Fitness | Preparing for a race | |
Upper body workout | Only lower body | |
Calories Burned | 200-300 in 30 minutes | 200-300 in 20 minutes |
When to Use | Active Recovery | Preparing for a Race |
Non impact conditioning for Runners | Warm ups before workout | |
Easy Quick Full body workouts | Relieve Stress | |
Cons | Locked Pattern | Stride area is shorter |
Less weight bearing effect | Can be hard on joints | |
Does not strengthen bones | Excessive running can lead to muscle loss | |
When not to Use | N/A | Knee injury |
Elliptical vs Stair climber
Stairmaster vs elliptical for weight loss?
Both home gym weight loss equipments burns similar amount of calories. But if you are severely overweight then elliptical will provide you with low impact workout whereas straimaster is not so low impact. Also there is a tendency of leaning on stairmaster mostly due to it requires more strength and it is a monotonous pattern.
Elliptical | Stair climber |
Best for | Full body low impact workout | Increasing lower body strength |
Improve balance | Lose weight | |
General Fitness | Toned lower body | |
Upper body workout | Lower body workout | |
Calories Burned | 200-300 in 30 minutes | 200-300 in 30 minutes |
When to Use | Active Recovery | Addition to lower body workouts |
Non impact conditioning for Runners | ||
Easy Quick Full body workouts | ||
Cons | Locked Pattern | Monotonous movement may cause round back, forward leaning |
Less weight bearing effect | Bad posture can lead knee pain | |
Does not strengthen bones | No upper body movement | |
When not to Use | N/A | Knee Injury |
Stairmaster vs Treadmill for fat loss
Is stairmaster better than treadmill? Depending on your use, if your goal is to increase strength in your lower body then straimaster is for you. Or just casual running or training for mararthon with fat loss is your goal then treadmill is for you.
As far as calories burned concerned, both are similar.
Stairmaster | Treadmill |
Best for | Increasing lower body strength | Lower body workout |
Lose weight | Lose weight | |
Toned lower body | Preparing for a race | |
Lower body workout | Only lower body | |
Calories Burned | 200-300 in 30 minutes | 200-300 in 20 minutes |
When to Use | Addition to lower body workouts | Preparing for a Race |
Warm ups before workout | ||
Relieve Stress | ||
Cons | Monotonous movement may cause round back, forward leaning | Stride area is shorter |
Bad posture can lead knee pain | Can be hard on joints | |
No upper body movement | Excessive running can lead to muscle loss | |
When not to Use | Knee Injury | Knee injury |
Bike vs Walking
Bike | Walking |
Best for | Cycle Race Preparation | General Fitness |
Low impact Cardio Workout | Stronger bones | |
Lower body workout | Improve Balance | |
Calories Burned | 100-150 in 30 minutes | 200-350 in 1 hour |
When to Use | Physical Therapy | Cardio |
Active Recovery | ||
Cycle Race Preparation | ||
Cons | Low calorie burn compared to other activities | Could stress more on leg joints |
Less Challenging than outdoor cycling | Treadmill speed control can make it challenging | |
No Versatility | Versatile depending on terrain, treadmill speed and form | |
When not to Use | If you are Ill | If you are Ill |
Stationary Bike vs Elliptical for knees
With an exercise bike your foot does not leave the paddle but when using elliptical trainers you have to take your feet up for the stride.
Thus Stationary bikes are less harsh on your knees than elliptical trainers. Consult your doctors before choosing one.
Is walking on Treadmill is bad?
Stationary bike vs elliptical for weight loss
Elliptical burns little more calories than exercise bikes since it is a full body workout. Combined with proper diet if only losing fat or weight is your goal then you should go for a Elliptical trainer.
Elliptical vs Bike vs Treadmill
Elliptical | Bike | Treadmill |
Best for | Full body low impact workout | Cycle Race Preparation | Lower body workout |
Improve balance | Low impact Cardio Workout | Want to lose weight | |
General Fitness | Lower body workout | Preparing for a race | |
Upper body workout | Only lower body | ||
Calories Burned | 200-300 in 30 minutes | 100-150 in 30 minutes | 200-300 in 20 minutes |
When to Use | Active Recovery | Physical Therapy | Preparing for a Race |
Non impact conditioning for Runners | Active Recovery | Warm ups before workout | |
Easy Quick Full body workouts | Cycle Race Preparation | Relieve Stress | |
Cons | Locked Pattern | Low calorie burn compared to other activities | Stride area is shorter |
Less weight bearing effect | Less Challenging than outdoor cycling | Can be hard on joints | |
Does not strengthen bones | No Versatility | Excessive running can lead to muscle loss | |
When not to Use | N/A | If you are Ill | Knee injury |
Stair Stepper vs Treadmill vs Elliptical
Stair Stepper | Treadmill | Elliptical |
Best for | Increasing lower body strength | Lower body workout | Full body low impact workout |
Lose weight | Want to lose weight | Improve balance | |
Toned lower body | Preparing for a race | General Fitness | |
Lower body workout | Only lower body | Upper body workout | |
Calories Burned | 200-300 in 30 minutes | 200-300 in 20 minutes | 200-300 in 30 minutes |
When to Use | Addition to lower body workouts | Preparing for a Race | Active Recovery |
Strength training Legs | Warm ups before workout | Non impact conditioning for Runners | |
Relieve Stress | Easy Quick Full body workouts | ||
Cons | Monotonous movement may cause round back, forward leaning | Stride area is shorter | Locked Pattern |
Bad posture can lead knee pain | Can be hard on joints | Less weight bearing effect | |
No upper body movement | Excessive running can lead to muscle loss | Does not strengthen bones | |
When not to Use | Knee Injury | Knee injury | If you are not Ill |
Treadmill vs Elliptical vs Bike vs Stairmaster
Treadmill | Elliptical | Bike |
Best for | Lower body workout | Full body low impact workout | Cycle Race Preparation | Increasing lower body strength |
Want to lose weight | Improve balance | Low impact Cardio Workout | Lose weight | |
Preparing for a race | General Fitness | Lower body workout | Toned lower body | |
Only lower body | Upper body workout | Lower body workout | ||
Calories Burned | 200-300 in 20 minutes | 200-300 in 30 minutes | 100-150 in 30 minutes | 200-300 in 30 minutes |
When to Use | Preparing for a Race | Active Recovery | Physical Therapy | Addition to lower body workouts |
Warm ups before workout | Non impact conditioning for Runners | Active Recovery | ||
Relieve Stress | Easy Quick Full body workouts | Cycle Race Preparation | ||
Cons | Stride area is shorter | Locked Pattern | Low calorie burn compared to other activities | Monotonous movement may cause round back, forward leaning |
Can be hard on joints | Less weight bearing effect | Less Challenging than outdoor cycling | Bad posture can lead knee pain | |
Excessive running can lead to muscle loss | Does not strengthen bones | No Versatility | No upper body movement | |
When not to Use | Knee injury | N/A | If you are Ill | Knee Injury |
