Which would you choose for staying in shape: treadmill or elliptical machine?

[Anonymous]

Can't decide between the two. Which one would you choose?

[Anonymous]

How are your knees? I find that it is easier to get up a sweat, get the heart pumping, etc. on a treadmill but that my joint pain is enough that I'm stuck on the elliptical.

[Anonymous]

Treadmill gives you a better workout for the time invested.

[Anonymous]

neither

[Anonymous]

Treadmill

[Anonymous]

I would get the elliptical and run outside

[Anonymous]

Which do you enjoy more? Buy the one you'll use more.

[Anonymous]

The one that doesn't hurt your knees.

I had a bad time the last time I used an elliptical.

[Anonymous]

I second 15:12. Buy the one you're more inclined to use.

I love my elliptical and I use it a lot.

I never enjoyed treadmills at gyms. I just always felt really awkward on treadmills. It's not that I don't like walking and running; I just don't like doing it on a treadmill.

But I love how smooth the elliptical is. I don't get any joint pain. I like the arm motion.

The key is, if you get an elliptical, spend the money to get one with a long stride. That really makes a difference. If it is too short, it will feel choppy.

Test a whole bunch of them out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one that doesn't hurt your knees.

I had a bad time the last time I used an elliptical.

16:56 here. I actually use an elliptical because I felt like the treadmill was hard on my knees and lower back (the impact).

With ellipticals, it's important to get one with a long stride. That could be what gave you knee issues.