The Pros & Cons Between Stair Steppers & Ellipticals

With a constantly rotating belt, a stair stepper provides an endless flight of stairs for you to climb. An elliptical trainer, on the other hand, combines the movements of a treadmill and a stair stepper. The elliptical trainer features two separate footrests that can rotate forward or backward. Depending on your fitness goals, you will need to carefully consider the pros and cons between stair steppers and ellipticals.

Weight Loss

Although both the elliptical machine and the stair stepper provide a cardiovascular workout, the elliptical machine tends to burn more calories. In fact, the Health Status Calories Burned Estimator shows that a 130-pound person will burn approximately 330 calories per 30-minute session on an elliptical trainer, but only around 200 calories on a stair stepper. A 180-pound person can plan to burn around 460 calories after using the elliptical for 30 minutes, but only around 280 calories on the stair machine. For a person weighing 215 pounds, a 30-minute workout should burn around 550 calories on the elliptical and 340 calories on the stair stepper. If you are trying to lose weight, the elliptical machine tends to provide better results than a stair stepper.

Leg Toning

The motion of the elliptical allows for effective toning of the muscles in the entire leg and buttocks. The machine's incline, resistance and direction of motion can also be adjusted to help you target specific areas of the body. A stair stepper, on the other hand, will build muscle mass in the legs and buttocks. One huge drawback of the stair climber is that it only allows you to climb up stairs; the machine does not allow for walking down stairs. In fact, Body Results claims that "you can get an even better workout than a stair climber if you go outside and walk up and down hills or stairs."

Arm Workout

Unlike the stair stepper, an elliptical machine features moveable handlebars. Grasping onto these handlebars throughout your workout allows for an upper body workout that tones your arms, shoulders and back. To achieve similar arm toning results on a stair stepper, you will need to hold light weights while climbing on the machine.

Impact

On the stair stepper, the feet are constantly lifting up and pushing off against the stairs. This motion tends to be difficult and painful for people with ankle, knee or hip problems. On an elliptical trainer, your feet never leave the pedals as they move through the smooth motions. For this reason, it is considered a low-impact workout. The elliptical machine is recommended for people with arthritis, osteoporosis and joint problems.

Other Considerations

Elliptical trainers tend to be the best choice for a home gym, according to Bodybuilding. According to the site, elliptical machines "rarely break down or need extensive servicing." Both machines require a decent amount of floor space, although an elliptical tends to be slightly wider and longer than a stair stepper.