If you have decided to improve your health by regularly practicing aerobic exercises in your home, you should know that you have made a very good decision for yourself. Your fitness and health should be your priority and most people forget that nowadays. Now that you have come to this point, it is important that you choose the right equipment to buy. The most popular two options of gym machinery for home are Treadmills and Stationary bikes. The real question, however, is “what’s better?”
A Complete Comparison; Treadmills Vs. Stationary Bikes.
- Size and weight.
In terms of size and weight, stationary bikes win. Commercial treadmills for gyms require a large amount of space to be installed and to incline. They are tricky to fit in restricted spaces. However, a stationary bike fits easily as it is smaller in size and weight. You can even handle and move their locations single-handedly
- Adjustability.
In terms of adjustability, stationary bikes win. Stationary bikes have several options to set handles, handle height, seat height, resistance level, intensity, peddle height, incline, etc. A treadmill however just gives speed and pace control options. Most treadmills do not even offer incline function.
- Cost.
In terms of costs, a stationary bike is a winner again. Usually, treadmills are much more costly than a stationary bikes with starting range of $1,500 to $15,000. While you can buy stationary bikes at a starting price of $300. Although, of course, prices vary depending on features and models, treadmills are still much more expensive than stationary bikes.
- Calorie Burn.
In terms of calorie burn, Treadmills win. If the goal of your aerobic exercises includes calorie burn, then you should opt for a treadmill. On average use and a moderate to slightly difficult intensity/pace, you can burn up to 600 to 700 calories per hour. On a stationary cycle, you can only burn 200 calories at a higher intensity.
- Health Benefits.
In terms of health benefits, both the equipment offer the same benefit. This means that both the equipment are used for aerobic exercises so they offer the same health benefits. Additionally, both excerises also serve as a good leg and thigh work out. However, for targetted thigh toning, a stationary bike is more suitable.
- What Is More Suitable For Weight Loss?
In terms of weight loss, the treadmill wins. Treadmill burns more calories in less time and effort than a stationary bike. The energy and time you spend in 30 minutes on a stationary bike burn 200 calories per hour while the same intensity and time spent on a treadmill will burn 600 calories on a treadmill.
- Injury Risk.
In terms of injury risk, the treadmill leaves you more vulnerable to injury risks. This is not necessarily because of faulty equipment. Most treadmill injuries in 2016 were a result of not taking adequate safety measures before using the treadmill. Moreover, treadmills do not have cushioning feature that stationery bikes do. Hence, stationary bikes are safer than treadmills.
