Elliptical Trainers Vs Treadmills: Which One Is The Better Buy?

So which exercise machine is better: the treadmill or the elliptical trainer?

While treadmills are still the #1 piece of home exercise equipment, elliptical trainers are quickly catching up. This leaves many people wondering 'Should I buy an elliptical trainer or a treadmill?'

While there are definite differences between the two, it really boils down to you - the buyer. This article will lay out the benefits of both the treadmill and the elliptical so you can make an informed decision and choose the best machine for you.

Treadmill Benefits:

Great for runners, walkers and joggers:

The treadmill is still the machine of choice for those who prefer running, jogging or even walking.

It's obviously a smarter choice for the dedicated runner/jogger than an elliptical trainer. Plus it can help you train even in the winter months when you don't want to run outside.

Anyone can use it:

Walking is a simple form of exercise that anyone can do - from beginner to seasoned athlete. It doesn't take much coordination.

You don't have to be supercoordinated to figure out how to use a treadmill whereas elliptical trainers can sometimes be a little tricky to use especially for beginners.

Provides workout variety:

A treadmill also provides workout variety of a different kind than the elliptical trainer. A treadmill allows you to walk, run, jog, walk uphill, do intervals and programs. You can even build in upper body handweights to work your arms, back and shoulders.

Elliptical Trainer Benefits:

Lower impact on your joints than a treadmill:

What is interesting is that this lack of impact on the joints allows the user to burn roughly the same amount of calories as treadmills with the impression of putting out considerably less effort.

So you burn the same amount of calories while feeling like you did less work. (This is called the 'Rate of Perceived Exertion')

This lower impact also makes the elliptical trainer a great choice for those with knee or hip problems, the elderly or even rehabilitation patients.

Provides an overall body workout:

With the dual-action upper body arms as well as the foot pedals, you are getting an overall total body workout. Whereas the treadmill mostly focuses on the lower body, the elliptical works your entire system for an overall cardiovasculer workout.

Provides workout variety:

One feature that is often overlooked on an elliptical is the opportunity to move in both a forward and backward direction.

When you go backward you are targeting a different set of muscles than when you go forward (hamstrings vs. quadriceps). This helps add variety to your workout and keeps you motivated.

So those are some advantages of both elliptical trainers and treadmills. Is one machine better than the other? It really depends on who you are and what YOU enjoy doing.

Here's the bottom line:

If you enjoy using a specific exercise machine more than others, you will exercise more often - which means more calories burned, more weight lost and a better body achieved. That is the best exercise machine for you.

One final note: Remember that whichever machine you choose with exercise equipment you basically get what you pay for. Many people buy cheap equipment and then pay for it later in the form of equipment repairs, joint problems and painful injuries. Make sure you buy a high quality brand name machine with a solid warranty that was built to last.

Kathryn O'Neill is chief editor for Elliptical Trainer Review
For more elliptical buying tips, brand reviews, and best buys visit http://www.EllipticalTrainerReview.com
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Touch Screen Displays

A touch screen display is a touch sensitive input device that performs both the functions of the video display unit and the input devices (keyboard and mouse). Touch screens have been very popular in the past few years and we can see them all over malls, airports, fast food restaurants, and ATMs.

Touch screen technology has been around since the 1970s and there are several companies that manufacture touch screen equipments. A touch screen saves a lot of space and maintenance and this has made them popular for information kiosks. These touch screen displays come either in the form of touch screen monitors or add-on panels that are fixed over a regular display monitor.

A touch screen display has three primary components that allow it to function: the touch sensor, the controller, and the software driver. The software driver is the application program that transcribes touch sensations into commands and communicates with the operating system installed on the computer. The controller is a PC card that connects the touch sensor to the PC. It is a small gadget that translates information from the touch sensor into information that is comprehensible to the PC.

There are several touch sensitive technologies applied in manufacturing touch-screen displays. The display can be based from resistive, capacitive, or surface wave sensory technology. A resistive touch screen display is one where a thin metallic resistive layer acts as the main sensory layer. The layer poses resistance to touch and transmits it as an electrical pulse. In contrast to this, the capacitive touch screen display uses the capacitive tendency of the human body to cause interference in its own capacitive layer and sense touch. The other alternative, the surface wave touch screen, uses ultrasonic waves. These waves pass over the touch panel. Some waves are absorbed when a user touches the screen. This wave alteration registers the touch event and the location.

Touch screen technology uses advanced principles of physics but the touch screen simplifies communication tremendously. With user-friendly operation and an attractive interface, touch screen displays are highly preferred for games, training, and at information desks.

Touch Screens provides detailed information on Touch Screens, Touch Screen Monitors, Touch Screen Displays, Touch Screen LCD and more. Touch Screens is affiliated with Internet Kiosks.

Save Money on Treadmills by Avoiding Marketing Traps

There are lots of great marketing people in the treadmill industry today. Their job is to make you think that you need the features theyre offering when the truth is, you really dont. So what happens is youll spend more money than what youre supposed to.

This guide aims to educate you on what these marketing traps are and why you should avoid them. And as a result, youll be able to save money on treadmills youll be buying.

Extended Warranties

Some treadmill sellers will offer extended warranties on their treadmills. If this is the case, I suggest you decline. Most quality treadmill companies cover their product long enough that theres really no need for any extensions. Besides, this option would just cause you more headaches due to some dishonest warranty companies.

Program Choices

Another way to save money on treadmills is by choosing a machine with only a few built-in workout programs. Most people dont really use these programs and if they do, they more often than not stick to just 1 or 2 programs. So buying a treadmill with tons of programmed workouts would be a total waste of money.

Heart Rate Straps

Since working out in your target heart rate offers numerous benefits, treadmill companies nowadays offer heart rate straps for an extra fee. If this was offered to you, always say no. Heart rate straps are very uncomfortable when running. So youll probably just try it once and never use it again.

A better way to workout in your target heart rate zone is through the use of heart rate/pulse handgrips. It is more comfortable to use and is already included in most treadmills, no need to pay extra.

Folding Feature

Although I do admit it does save space at home, but after a long grueling workout, some people may no longer want to fold and move the treadmill, only to unfold and move it back again the next day. So just save your money and buy a non-folding treadmill.

Running Belt

Treadmill companies would try to impress you with large running spaces and overly thick belts. Truth is... the larger the belt, the harder the motor has to work to keep the belt moving. And thick belts tend to hold additional heat which decreases the belt life. So dont be lured by impressive belt sizes. Just choose a belt that you can comfortably run on and nothing more. The standard 18x 52 belt is enough for most runners.

Those are the ways you can save money on treadmills. Hopefully, you found it enlightening and would use it to avoid some, if not all, of these marketing traps.

Aaron Co is an avid treadmill user for more than 6 years now. He is also the founder of TreadmillTips.com. A website that provides unbiased treadmill reviews so shoppers can choose the fitness equipment that suits them best. For more treadmill and treadmill related articles, visit http://www.treadmilltips.com
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Home Sweet Treadmill

For those of you trying to stay in shape or shed a few pounds (who isn't?) there are tons of resources. Perhaps you think there's nothing better than outdoor sports to burn up the calories as you feel those wonderful endorphins kicking in.

But what if it's winter and you're snowbound? What if you live, as I do, in the Southeast, where it seems that it's either too hot and humid for outdoor exertion, or it's pouring rain.

Your next best alternative may be an indoor regimen. Gyms, however, are expensive, and crowded - and, annoyingly for those of us who are well past our prime, full of 18 year olds in Spandex that make us feel like the Pillsbury Doughboy in sweats.

So, it's home gym time. Yes, stationary bikes are the cheapest, but have you ever sat on one of those seats for any length of time? Ouch!

My favorite indoor equipment is a home treadmill. It burns up more calories than a stationary bike, is more comfortable, and doesn't tear up my arthritic old knees like a stair stepper. Best of all, I can turn it on, climb aboard and watch TV all at the same time. My exercise time just flies by. Then I fold it up, stuff it under the couch. Try doing that with a Bow Flex!

Your home treadmill can be manual or electric, and come in a variety of different styles and options for workout speed, regulation and incline. You can walk on a flat surface at an easy three miles per hour or race rapidly up a hill. It's all up to you. Treadmills are easy to operate and offer a workout that quickly adapts to your desired pace and exertion level.

Those that fall in the $1000+ category usually offer two to three hp motors, and several incline options. They can rev up your own motor to running speeds of up to eight to ten miles per hour. Many are easily portable, folding away for under-bed or closet storage.

A higher end treadmill might offer an LCD display that lets you see your calories burned, your speed and time elapsed. What's really nifty about these $1200-$2000 models is that if you get really bored you can choose from one of their myriad computerized programs, which give you workout variety and a little spontaneity as well. A few even offer a chest sensor, a great option to prevent you from overdoing.

Top-end workout wizard models typically come with a warranty for motor, parts and labor. Handy features often included are 12 mph top speeds, many more workout programs, calorie counter and heart rate monitor, two cooling fans, personal profile centers, impact absorption and even carbohydrate counters.

For the budget conscious there are plenty of good manual treadmills out there at bargain basement prices. For a few hundred dollars you can still get a fast-paced workout. You can spend as little as $200 for three incline choices and a top speed of five miles per hour. Of course, there are also plenty of folks who made the purchase and are now just letting their home treadmill gather dust.

Jeff London is a personal fitness trainer and owner and editor of Best Treadmill Reviews - a Treadmill Buyers Guide web resource dedicated to providing reviews of all the leading treadmill brands.