Only two major companies manufacture TreadClimbers, which resemble a combination stair stepper and treadmill--Nautilus and its subsidiary Bowflex. You’re unlikely to find TreadClimbers in gyms. Elliptical trainers, on the other hand, are commonly found in gyms and are available in a wide range of models from a variety of manufacturers.
Calories Burned
According to Harvard Health Publications, you’ll burn between 270 and 400 calories, depending on body weight, in 1/2 hour of pedaling an elliptical trainer. A 2005 study conducted at New York’s Adelphi University calculated that the TreadClimber burns twice as many calories as walking on a treadmill at the same speed, with an estimated 321 calories in 1/2 hour of effort at 3 mph.
Muscles Worked
Both elliptical trainers and TreadClimbers work your entire lower body--glutes, hip flexors, hamstrings, quads and calves. Like regular treadmills, TreadClimbers don’t provide any tools for an upper-body workout. Most elliptical trainers, however, do. Moving arm handles, which are usually slaved to the resistance on the foot pedals, let you work your chest, arms and back while you pedal.
Cost
As of May 2010, Nautilus and Bowflex TreadClimbers retail for a minimum of about $1,500, not including shipping costs. While you can expect to pay more than $1,000 for most elliptical trainers, two of the Consumer Search best elliptical trainer models cost under $1,000: The NordicTrack AudioStrider 990, which retails for approximately $850, and the Schwinn 430, which costs about $600.
Speed vs. Resistance
When using an elliptical trainer, you provide the speed by pedaling and customize your workout intensity by adjusting the elliptical’s resistance against your movement. With TreadClimbers you can adjust each treadle’s resistance to your steps, much as you would do with a stepper. You can also adjust the belt speed as you would with a treadmill.
Purpose
With a maximum speed of 4 mph--less, on some models--the TreadClimber isn’t designed for a high-speed workout. Instead, it’s a hill-climbing simulator meant to burn calories more effectively than walking on a treadmill. If you’re interested in running, you will probably prefer an elliptical trainer over a TreadClimber.
Impact
The elliptical trainer is a no-impact exercise because your feet never leave the pedals. This is popular for people with low bone density or joint problems who cannot handle the jarring that comes from impact exercise like running on a treadmill. While your feet do leave the TreadClimber treadles, then contact them again, producing some impact, the TreadClimber still provides a low-impact workout, if only because the slow treadle belt speed limits you to a brisk walk.
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