Treadmill vs Elliptical vs Bike vs Stairmaster

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Written By Samarjit Sinha

Working out for 10 years | Has a home gym | CPD (UK) Certificate holder in Fitness

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.

Treadmill vs Elliptical vs Bike vs Stairmaster

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-vs-Elliptical-vs-Bike-vs-Stairmaster

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

Treadmill vs Elliptical vs Bike vs Stairmaster 1

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

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

Stairmaster

 

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


About The Skinny Author

Author HomeGymindia.in

Working Out for 10 years | Owns a home gym |Certificate course done on Improving Aerobic Fitness, Diet | CPD (UK) Accredited Certification on Fitness

Yo Friends, this is Samarjit! A skinny guy who is building his tiny home gym.

I have successfully gained 10 kgs in 10 months going to commercial gyms. And I have been working out on and off for about 10+ years now.

I have gone swimming, done martial arts, Olympic lifts and body-building-type workouts!

I canceled the gym subscription as I was more into making my home gym for workouts. And getting ready, then getting my cycle and ride to the commercial gym seemed a drag after 10 hours in the office.

Thus, I needed a home that I could access at any moment!
And I started building my home gym!

I had to research a lot to build my home gym and decided to share effective, budget-friendly home gym machines, and nutrition to buy as per your goals here in homegymindia.in

If you have question then contact me here

Ps: The author is highly experienced with making small workout routines, understanding and guiding people to get gym equipment, and setting up the home gym as per their Fitness goals.

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