Treadmills and elliptical trainers are two of the most popular types of cardio equipment in the gym. They're both viable ways of meeting almost any exercise goals, so choosing which one is best for you is a matter of making a head-to-head comparison of specific aspects, then choosing which of those aspects are most important to you.
Muscles Worked
An elliptical trainer works the same lower-body muscles a treadmill works. But almost every elliptical on the market also features moving handlebars that let you work your upper body against resistance, too. This is a feature you'll almost never find on a treadmill.
Impact
Elliptical trainers offer a very low-impact workout. Your feet never leave the pedals, so there's no pounding on your joints, even when you pedal very fast against high resistance.
Walking on a treadmill is a low-impact workout, too. But if you want a high-intensity treadmill workout you have to run. No matter how well cushioned the treadmill deck is, you'll still have to endure a lot of impact on your joints. So the elliptical trainer's low-impact workout even at high intensity is an advantage over treadmills.
Weight Bearing
Both elliptical trainers and treadmills offer a weight-bearing workout, since your feet and bones are supporting your body weight. According to the Mayo Clinic, this sort of exercise may help slow mineral loss in the bones of your legs, hips and spine.
Features
Both elliptical trainers and treadmills offer a range of similar features, including multimedia centers to keep you entertained, handgrip or wireless heart rate monitors, preprogrammed workouts and in-console cooling fans. The only notable feature you'll find on almost all treadmills, but only some elliptical trainers, is adjustable incline.
Considerations
Treadmills allow you to run with a fairly natural stride. Elliptical trainers are meant to mimic a natural stride, but some elliptical trainer users complain of numb feet and ankle discomfort, caused by subtle differences between how the elliptical positions you and your natural stride. Elliptical trainers with articulating pedals or a slight inward tilt to the pedals are less likely to cause this problem.
Another point of concern: Most elliptical trainers limit you to a set stride length, whereas with a treadmill you're free to define your own stride. So a necessary part of shopping for an elliptical trainer is trying it out to see if the stride length feels comfortable to you and anyone else that's going to use the elliptical regularly.
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