Treadmills and elliptical walkers -- better known as elliptical trainers -- both work toward the same basic purpose: Improving your cardiovascular health. They also both aim to simulate the natural motion of running or walking. But despite their similarities, there are a few fundamental differences between the two machines. Depending on your circumstances, one might be distinctly better-suited to your lifestyle than the other.
Stride
Most treadmills offer a running belt that's at least 20 inches wide by 55 inches long. Beware of smaller belts, which don't allow you enough room to run comfortably, on budget models. If you have a very long stride, look for a 60-inch long belt.
Most elliptical trainers have a set stride length. This is potentially more limiting than a treadmill; if the stride length is too short, you'll be trapped in a choppy, up-and-down motion with each step. Just to make things even more complicated, the actual feel of a stride of any given length varies enormously between brands, same-brand models, and whether the elliptical has a front-, rear- or middle-drive resistance mechanisms. The only way to be sure an elliptical stride length will fit you is to try it out.
Power/Resistance
The other limiting factor on a treadmill is its motor power. The Dick's Sporting Goods treadmill buyer's guide recommends that you purchase a treadmill motor of at least 1.0 to 1.5 continuous horsepower for walking and light jogging, and 1.5 to 2.0 continuous horsepower for running. If you plan to use the treadmill continuously for long periods, or if you're heavy, you need an even larger motor.
Some low-end elliptical trainers come with as few as eight resistance levels to choose from. Even if the highest resistance level feels challenging at first, it probably won't feel so challenging after a few weeks or months of regular workouts. Look for a bare minimum of 10 to 12 resistance levels to ensure a challenging workout as you get stronger with regular workouts.
Features
There's so much competition in the treadmill and elliptical trainer markets, with major players like Precor, Horizon, Sole, Life Fitness and Smooth Fitness participating, that you can expect a fairly standard range of features on either type of machine. These include built-in handgrip heart rate monitors, in-console speakers and cooling fans, an MP3 player connector and preprogrammed workouts. Higher-end models might also include wireless heart rate monitoring, heart rate control programs and built-in entertainment systems.
Weight-Bearing and Impact
Both treadmills and elliptical trainers provide a weight-bearing workout. If you have decreased bone density, this type of workout can help build bone strength. But the repeated pounding of a hard run on the treadmill can also put you at increased risk of injury, especially if you have weak bones or injured joints. There's very little impact with an elliptical trainer, because your feet never leave the pedals. If you want to work out at a hard run, the elliptical is gentler on your joints.
Price
The Exercise Equipment Expert elliptical trainer buying guide warns that you should expect to pay at least $800 for a decent elliptical trainer. Treadmills are available in the same general price range. You normally get what you pay for with exercise equipment; cheap treadmills and ellipticals share many of the same problems, including flimsy construction and sub-standard parts. Consumer Reports indicates that a serious runner might have to spend well over $2,000 for a suitable treadmill or elliptical trainer.
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