Elliptical vs bike vs tread

jessieandcharlotte78

Any thoughts on the benefits/drawbacks of each one? Brands ratings?

vorgas

Elliptical covers a wide range. Some have arm motion bars, others don't. Some allow elevation control, others don't. Some have straight line foot paths (less bouncing), others are circular (more natural). Personally I prefer the Precor models that have both the arm motions and elevation controls.

Stationary bikes also vary. There are recumbent versions and spinning versions. Go with the spinning version if possible. The downside is generally you need a HRM to accurately determine calorie burns, but spinning allows standing, jumps, etc for different muscle burns.

Treadmill is a treadmill. Great to set a pace and an elevation. With elevation control you can really drive your calves more than either the elliptical or cycle.