Planning to build your own home gym? If so, you’re most probably thinking of the perfect centerpiece for your dream project, and you’ve most probably considered two fitness equipments: treadmills and elliptical cross trainers.

So which should you choose?

Both elliptical cross trainers and treadmills are excellent exercise machines for cardiovascular workouts. They are staples for every gym in the United States, and most gyms in the entire world. Either one would be an excellent investment. Either one would be a great fitness device. Either one would be a great workout partner.

But not every exercise enthusiast has the budget for both fitness equipments.

So which would be the more appropriate choice?

The Case For Elliptical Cross Trainers

Elliptical cross trainers are the hottest machines in the fitness industry today. Composed of scientifically engineered and carefully positioned gears and using ski-like platforms that guide the user’s feet into doing the motion the cross trainer intends for it to accomplish, these ellipticals allow for a total body workout.

When exercising with an elliptical trainer, the subject’s feet won’t even touch the surface of the floor. As such, there will be less impact, less stress of the legs, and less chances of injury. Such engineering also makes elliptical cross trainers as perfect exercise machines for people with a variety of existing injuries.

Yet, elliptical cross trainers provide the same level of workout as other fitness equipments. An hour on the treadmill will let you burn the same amount of calories as an hour on the elliptical trainer, for example, but the user will exert significantly less effort with the latter.

With adjustable inclines and resistance levels, features present in popular brands of elliptical cross trainers like Precor, Carl Lewis, York Fitness and the likes, cross trainers are perfect for full body exercises.

The Case For Treadmills

Treadmills are the classic fitness equipments. After decades of availability in the market, they remain as efficient and reliable today as they were during their invention in 1817.

Treadmills are the perfect machines for stationary walking, jogging and running. A conveyor belt powered by an electric motor (for motorized treadmills) or a flywheel (for manual treadmills) compels the user’s leg and feet to move and complete a simulated distance. As such, these treadmills provide an excellent lower body workout

So effective are treadmills as cardiovascular exercise machines that clinics use them for stress tests that measure the heart’s capacity for extraneous activities.

With adjustable inclines and resistance, treadmills can replicate the walking, jogging and running environments of the friendliest terrains as well as the harshest slopes.

Elliptical Cross Trainers Vs. Treadmills – The Scorecard

Much like a boxing match of two durable heavyweights of clashing styles, there is no clear cut winner in the battle between elliptical cross trainers and treadmills.

Treadmills are much more affordable than elliptical cross trainers, making them more accessible for most budgets.

Elliptical trainers, however, provide a TOTAL body workout. Treadmills can only provide exercise opportunities for the lower half of the body.

Also, elliptical trainers are easier to use, given the scientific fluidity of the motion they invite from the users. The fact that there is no impact of sole on floor and the fact that elliptical cross trainers are less stressful for the joints make these fitness equipments more suitable for people nursing muscular or skeletal injuries as well as older folks who have more fragile bodies.

But treadmills are classic. They are more challenging to use, and some users will prefer such challenges much like how some carpenters still prefer hammers and nails instead of more convenient power tools. Treadmills are simply timeless.

The choice, ultimately, is up to you.

You’re the judge of this matchup, and it’s your scorecard that counts.