The Good Guys
Seen it Cheaper?1300 942 765
Preferred Store:
loading...

Treadmill Vs Elliptical: Which Is Best For Cardio?

June 2, 2023-5 min read

Whether you’re looking to lose weight or improve your overall health and fitness, the right home gym equipment can help make it happen. With a treadmill or elliptical machine at the ready, you can incorporate more cardio into your routine to improve your aerobic and anaerobic fitness. But which is best? It pays to do your homework to ensure you buy the right one for your needs.

A woman performs a workout on an elliptical trainer at home

What Is A Treadmill?

A treadmill is a machine that lets you walk or run on a moving conveyor belt, a real bonus when it’s too hot outside or raining. Treadmill settings can also be adjusted to include an incline ‒ simulating a hill ‒ to make your workout more challenging.

How Does A Treadmill Work?

Treadmills are powered by a motor or flywheel. Flywheels move the conveyor belt at a speed you set by walking or running, while motorised treadmills can be set at a particular speed using a control panel. The beauty of a treadmill? Its versatility - you get to tailor the program to what you prefer, whether that’s a gentle walk or a 4km run, as well as your preferred speed and incline.

“The beauty of a motorised treadmill is its versatility. You get to tailor the program to what you prefer, whether that’s a gentle walk or a 4km run, as well as your preferred speed and incline.”

Treadmill Pros

  • Can be set up inside or outside under cover to keep you out of wet or hot weather conditions

  • Adjustable speeds to suit your fitness needs and goals

  • All aspects of your workout can be controlled with settings, including speed and incline

  • The smooth, cushioned belt means there is less risk of tripping or falling compared to uneven conditions outside

  • The difficulty level is always the same

  • Some feature heart-rate sensors so you can monitor your health, while others have TV screens to keep you entertained

What Are The Best Treadmills?

Treadmills come with a range of features and settings so you always get the best out of your workout. Settings to look out for include speed, so you can go as fast or slow as you like, and incline - you’ll want to crank that up to really feel the burn. Other features such as heart rate, distance, calories burned and RPM (revolutions per minute), also displayed on LED screens,  will help you track how your workout’s going. Get the lot with the BH Fitness RunLab Treadmill .

If you’re looking for even more bells and whistles? The BH Fitness BH NYDO Treadmill lets you listen to music or watch TV while you work out, and even has a fan to keep you cool.

What Is An Elliptical Machine?

An elliptical machine works both your upper and lower body, providing you with a full body workout. It's a stationary machine that can be used to walk, run or climb without putting pressure on your knee, hip and ankle joints, decreasing your risk of injury or aggravating an old one.

What’s The Difference Between An Elliptical Machine And A Cross Trainer?

They’re actually the same thing. A cross trainer is simply one of three types of elliptical, the others being the elliptical glider and trainer. The cross trainer stands apart from the others because of its moving handlebars, which add upper-body training to the workout.

How Does An Elliptical Machine Work?

Exercising on an elliptical trainer is a bit like combining stair climbing with skiing. So no wonder it gets results! You use the pedals to move your legs back and forth, and the movable handles to move your arms at the same time. The great thing about cross trainers is you can swap to holding the fixed handles and only work your legs.

A man bends to tie his shoelaces before hitting the treadmill in his home gym

Elliptical Pros

  • Burns a lot of calories

  • Easy on your joints

  • Features a variety of workout options, such as hill climbing and interval training for increased endurance

  • Use upper and lower body muscles for a full body workout

  • Great way to maintain fitness while recovering from injury

  • Can be used inside, out of the elements, to get your workout in even if it’s hot or raining

What Are The Best Ellipticals?

The best models have adjustable pedals, so you can customise the stride length, and pre-set programs for your choice of workouts, as well as monitors for heart rate, calories burned, distance and RPM. You can tick all those boxes with the BH Fitness Crystal 2.0 Program Elliptical or BH Fitness NLS 12 Program Elliptical .

Treadmill Or Elliptical: Which Is Best For You?

If you’re looking for gym equipment that will burn a lot of calories while improving your aerobic fitness, then the elliptical is probably your best bet.

If your goal is to improve your pace and stamina for sport, then the treadmill is best for conditioning the body. It will allow you to work the same muscles and become accustomed to the same level of impact as the playing field or the running track.

The other consideration is your joints. If you’re recovering from injury or easing into exercise, then the elliptical will be your best friend. An elliptical is considered impact-free because of its smooth, continuous, gliding motion, which takes stress off the hips, ankles and knees.

What Other Fitness Equipment Should I Consider?

Complementing your treadmill or elliptical with a rowing machine will ensure you get even more out of your home gym workouts. Rowing machines like the BH Fitness S 1 RW Program Rower offer a total body workout, are low impact if you need to stay off your legs and will help you build endurance. And, bonus, they are great for people of all fitness levels.

Are you ready to recharge your health and fitness regime? Then jump online to check out our big range of gym equipment, including treadmills , cross trainers , rowing machines and exercise bikes , and start levelling up today.

Cleaning tips & hacks

Play Video

card media link to /whats-new/spot-the-hoover-difference-with-this-genius-cleaner

Want stain-free rugs and carpets? A sofa that looks new again? Spotless car interiors? You’ve got them with Hoover’s clever ONEPWR CleanSlate Pet Cordless Spot Cleaner

Designed for expert cleaning and everyday messes, this powerful cleaner makes short work of even the toughest stains. From smelly pet messes to pesky pasta sauce stains – and everything in between – this spot cleaner’s new compact and cordless design is made to remove messes as they happen, and be on-hand to clean up after life’s biggest oops moments. 

Where there’s a stain, there’s a Hoover floorcare solution! Here’s why your hectic household needs the latest Hoover ONEPWR CleanSlate Spot Cleaner.

Read more.

Mother and Daughter happily complete washing in family laundry

card media link to /whats-new/best-washing-machine-australia

One of the best things in the whole world has to be fresh laundry. Clean sheets can make your whole bedroom feel like a fancy hotel, and fresh clothes can give you the confidence to crush that to-do list in style! But if your current washing machine isn’t bringing you joy and you’ve decided it’s time for an upgrade, we’ve got all the info you’ll need to find the best washing machine. From knowing what to look for, to the biggest trends and new technology – including the latest auto dosing washing machines – we’ve got your back!

Need a new dryer to go with your washing machine? Check out our Dryer Buying Guide for all the tips and our best picks

Read more.

A smiling young woman removes freshly dried clothes from the heat pump dryer in her laundry

card media link to /whats-new/best-heat-pump-dryers-for-big-families

Are you a large household? Life on the laundry treadmill can feel like Groundhog Day. The sports kits, the school uniforms, the work shirts… don’t even get us started on those endless towels (and the whopping energy bills that come with them!). Step up heat pump dryers, the new whiz kid in the laundry. A boon for bigger broods, these star appliances use super-efficient heat exchanger technology to deliver big savings for the planet, your bank balance, and the lifespan of your clothes. Best of all, with no need for ventilation, heat pump dryers can be installed anywhere (even under the staircase!).

Let’s find the best family-friendly heat pump dryers for your needs:

Read more.

Woman vacuuming her couch with her Pet LG Stick Vacuum with dog watching on an arm chair

card media link to /whats-new/best-vacuum-cleaner-australia

Time to buy a new vacuum cleaner? You might be wondering … how do I choose? Updating an appliance in your home, especially one as important as your vacuum cleaner, can be a difficult task. There are so many different types, models, tech, and brands to choose from – you might be wondering: where do I even start?

Choosing the best vacuum for you means thinking about much more than its weight, suction, functionality, and features. What really makes the difference when choosing between the best of the best is considering your environment. Start by thinking about what surfaces you’ll be vacuuming and the layout of your home. You will also need to consider if you’d prefer bagged or bagless, corded or cordless, and so on.

We know, there is a lot to consider, but do not despair – The Good Guys are here to help! Read on to find the best vacuum cleaner for you and your home.

Read more.

A woman holds a handheld garment steamer up to her striped shirt on a hanger to remove the creases

card media link to /whats-new/garment-steamer-vs-iron

Getting your clothes spick and span (and crease-free!) has never been easier thanks to the latest wrinkle-busting irons and garment steamers. With their heat-wielding powers, these are the appliances no dedicated fashion follower – or neat and tidy type – can live without. But how do irons and garment steamers differ? And do you need both in your clothing-care regimen? Read on to discover which of these laundry legends is right for your needs.

Read more.

¤Discounts apply to previous ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. As we negotiate, products will likely have been sold below ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer.

.

Store Cash Wallet

>Qualifying conditions, including signing up to 90 Day StoreCash, activating a Digital Wallet before being eligible to earn/win and where a qualifying purchase is required, collecting the product within 60 days. 90 Day StoreCash expires 90 days after issue. Personal purchases only. Exclusions and purchase limits apply. Each 90 Day StoreCash reward must be used in one transaction and no change/credit for any unused balance. Refer to 90 Day StoreCash T&Cs for details, including how to receive 90 Day StoreCash deposit notifications, how to earn & timing for issue of 90 Day StoreCash. Annie testing the modal inside.