The cross trainer is a great alternative to the treadmill. The two machines are very similar but have some key differences that may make one more beneficial than the other, depending on your fitness goals and personal preferences.
Cross trainers work muscles in different ways, leading to greater calorie burn and muscle development with less risk of injury. Treadmills can also lead to faster weight loss due to all-day use, whereas cross-trainers require a shorter workout time for comparable results.
Cross trainers are also more compact, making them ideal for smaller homes or apartments where space is limited.
In this article, we will discuss how both machines compare (cross trainer vs treadmill) and what benefits they offer so you can decide which best suits your needs!
Cross Trainers and their Benefits
The cross trainer, sometimes called an elliptical or Exercycle, is great aerobic equipment for indoor use. A cross trainer works out both the lower and upper body through a simultaneously moving mechanism. The movement of the exercise involves your legs while using handles to move your arms back and forth.
Cross trainers will work out both the lower and upper body and burn more calories than a treadmill of comparable intensity. This is because you are exercising two limbs/muscles at once, which requires more energy output.
Because you use your arms to move back and forth, the cross trainer will also help develop muscular definition in your arms.
Benefits of Cross Trainers
- Cross trainers burn more calories than treadmills of comparable intensity
- Cross trainers develop muscular definition in the arms
- Cross trainers are more compact and take up less room than a treadmill
- Cross trainers can be moved easily if needed
- Treadmills offer greater weight loss potential
- Cross-trainers require a shorter workout time than treadmills for comparable results
- Cross trainers provide a less aggressive workout than treadmills
- Treadmill running can be uncomfortable on the back, while cross trainer cardio is neutral to the spine.
The movement of cross trainers exercise involves your legs while using handles to move your arms back and forth. Cross trainers will work out both the lower and upper body and burn more calories than a treadmill of comparable intensity.
This is because you are exercising two limbs/muscles at once, which requires more energy output. In addition, because you use your arms to move back and forth, the cross trainer will also help develop muscular definition in your arms.
This is especially effective for women who want to tone their arms and lose weight. In addition, the multi-muscle use on the cross trainer works out more muscles at once, leading to better fat loss, muscle gain, and overall results than a treadmill of comparable intensity.
The elliptical also has great versatility as a secondary piece of exercise equipment in your home gym.
Since it can be used for a longer period of time, you can achieve a cardio workout and tone up your arms simultaneously. This is not possible with treadmills that require frequent breaks to avoid over-exertion.
Downsides of Cross Trainers
- Most cross trainers are expensive and cost around $1000+ depending on quality.
- It tends to be more difficult to use than a treadmill for beginners.
- The arm movement of the cross trainer can lead to muscle strain if not used properly
- Lots of moving parts can make it easier for you to injure yourself on a cross-trainer than
The Treadmill, Its Pros, and Cons
The treadmill is a great piece of equipment for your home gym. It can be used for both cardio and strength training exercises making it a great all-around investment.
It is ideal for running outside, but many homeowners cannot due to safety issues or lack of space in their homes, apartments, etc. The treadmill eliminates this issue by offering a similar feeling to running outside with the convenience of having it in your home.
It is also very important when considering purchasing a treadmill to consider what type of workout you plan on using it for. For example, if you are planning on primarily using it for walking, jogging, or other low-impact activities, this should be a non-issue.
However, if you are a runner, you need to consider that treadmills help create an “impact”. This is when one foot hits the ground in front of the other, which creates a violent impact on your joints.
The downsides
Treadmill running can also cause back pain and injury, as well as aches and pains in other areas of your body. In addition, the impact can cause you to over-pronate or under-pronate, which can lead to injury and strain your muscles and joints.
This is why you must have a treadmill with a “shock absorption” system. A good shock absorption system will reduce the impact of each footfall and greatly decrease the chance of injury.
Unfortunately, not all treadmills have a shock absorption system. The ideal treadmill for running has the least amount of impact and will help prevent injury while still giving you an effective workout.
You should be able to purchase a good quality shock-absorbing treadmill in your price range (usually about $300-$1000.)
Cross Trainer vs Treadmill the weight loss story
There is a lot of debate about whether the cross trainer or treadmill is better. Some say that one piece of equipment will help you burn more calories than the other, while others will argue for another option. But how do we really know which piece of exercise equipment offers a more effective weight loss experience?
Some experts claim that the elliptical is a more low-impact form of exercise that can help you burn calories and lose weight while being easier on your joints (which impacts the overall safety of your home gym).
This is especially good news to people who are just beginning their workout regime. In addition, an elliptical will give you a great cardio workout with less chance of injury than other pieces of equipment such as a treadmill.
On the other hand, others believe that because the elliptical uses more muscles in your legs and arms than a regular piece of exercise equipment, it is better for targeting those areas which help increase overall muscle tone.
This makes the elliptical ideal to use as part of your home gym if you are trying to lose weight or tone your muscles. You will also burn more calories in a shorter time when using an elliptical than most other kinds of exercise equipment.
On the contrary, others believe that the treadmill is better than the elliptical for weight loss. This is because treadmills are better for long-distance running or jogging while taking less energy out of your body.
Running or jogging on a treadmill will also help you lose weight without putting much strain on your joints and ligaments, which is great news if you have had problems with previous injuries in these areas of your body.
There are so many different opinions out there; however, there is no denying that the benefits of fitness equipment such as treadmills and elliptical machines far outweigh the cost of purchasing them.
The right treadmill in your home gym will be an excellent way to increase how you work out and burn calories while keeping you healthier throughout the process.
Cross Trainer vs Treadmill, which is best for beginners?
Both the cross trainer and treadmill are good pieces of equipment for beginners, but each has a few distinct advantages over the other one. The treadmill is great if you want to work on your running skills without putting much effort into building up your endurance and stamina.
Additionally, if you’ve never exercised before then, a treadmill can help you get into “running mode” while keeping the stress on your body to a minimum.
The cross trainer is great if you have a lot of energy and build up your stamina. The cross trainer can be very hard on your joints as it works many muscles at once. This makes it ideal for people who are looking for an all-over body workout.
The cross trainer will also help you build up a cardiorespiratory system and improve your overall fitness level over an extended time, which most people are trying to achieve when they exercise.
The treadmill, however, should be used for running or jogging on a more limited basis (usually about 20-30 minutes.)
Both the cross trainer and treadmill are great pieces of equipment, but you should pick one that matches your fitness level best. For instance, if you want to build up endurance, then choose a treadmill.
If you want an all-over body workout, then choose a cross-trainer. The long-term benefits can help keep your weight under control and improve your overall level of fitness.
Which is Easy on Joints?
Both the cross trainer and treadmill are excellent pieces of equipment for improving your overall level of fitness and burning calories.
The treadmill is a bit more gentle on your joints, but it can still cause plenty of damage if you use it incorrectly. For instance, staying in one spot while jogging or running can potentially put too much pressure on your knees and cause damage.
Staying on one spot while walking is also not recommended as it puts too much stress on your back joints, which may lead to back problems in the future. Instead, as we noted earlier, you should use a treadmill for about 20 minutes or less at a time (and never more than three times a week).
After you have completed your workout, you should get up slowly and walk around for a few minutes to let the pressure of the treadmill off your joints.
The cross trainer is great for improving overall cardiovascular health and strengthening muscles throughout the body; however, it puts more stress on your joints, ligaments, and tendons than the treadmill or elliptical machine.
The cross trainer is a very intense exercise that requires you to put a lot of energy into the exercise. Additionally, if your workout plan includes jumping up and down on the cross trainer, this can put even more strain on your joints and make it very hard for you to walk or normally jog when you have completed your workout.
When using a cross-trainer, it is very important to remember that proper form is essential for getting the most benefits from your workout. That means keeping your back straight, bending at the knees and not the waist, and keeping your arms close to your sides while exercising. It would be impossible to jot down every possible way to exercise improperly on a cross-trainer, so make sure to watch instructional videos or read the instructions that come with your piece of equipment.
In many cases, it is best to skip the cross-trainer altogether and opt for an elliptical machine or treadmill instead. However, if you use a cross trainer, it would probably be best if you had a spotter on hand to help you avoid injury.
Wrap Up
The cross-trainer is a great alternative to the traditional treadmill. These machines are very similar but have some important differences that may make one more beneficial than the other depending on your fitness goals and personal preferences.
Cross trainers work muscles in different ways, leading to greater calorie burn and muscle development with less risk of injury.