An elliptical machine is the combination of the stride of a treadmill and the stop motion of a stair-stepper. Some ellipticals also have handles that move and used for exercising arm muscles.
Ellipticals offer a variety of incline and speed adjustments to intensify the workout. Check out the reviews for the best deals of the best ellipticals under 500.
Steppers are used by stepping down with separate pads for each foot. Exercise is done by pushing up legs on steppers and the machine uses hydraulics to push your foot back up.
Different steppers offer different features like speed and resistance adjustments.
Comparison of Stair Stepper Vs. Elliptical Trainer
So both have the same looks but provides different working and workout. Elliptical or stepper, which machine will provide a better cardiovascular workout for you. Here is the comparison between these two.
Muscle Building
For building up or toning of the thigh and gluteal muscle American College of Sports Medicine prefer stair stepper over elliptical. Stepper’s motion is intended to work on the lower body.
As you increase the resistance of the machine, leg muscles will work harder to operate the pedals.
Calorie Burning
If you are intended to lose weight and burn calories, an elliptical machine will be a good choice. According to the Harvard Medical School studies in 2004, 30 minutes of average-paced exercise on an elliptical machine will burn around 335 calories in a 155-lb.
person and if the same person uses a stair-stepper at an average pace for 30 minutes would be expected to burn around 223 calories. That’s mean an elliptical trainer helps you burn more calories.
Considerations
Elliptical machines are best for those who want a full-body workout, while stair-steppers work only on the lower body.
But elliptical machines’ credibility depends upon stride length, if it is too short then it gets difficult to adjust. Adjustable stride length is now the common feature in most of the mid and high range ellipticals.
Expert Insight
In 1996, the Sports Performance and Technology Laboratory carried a study and published it in the Journal of the American Medical Association. They found that running on a treadmill is better than a stair-stepper in terms of energy expenditure.
So when you are equally tired on both machines, you lose more calories on the treadmill. Elliptical machines offer the same style of a workout as a treadmill with less impact on your joints.
Cost
Both elliptical machines and steppers come in the same cost range. Both machines are available in all ranges, from low to high range models. Check our product review of 5 best elliptical under $200 for your home