Whether you love cardio or are just trying to incorporate it into your routine to be a bit healthier, finding the right cardio equipment can make all the difference.
Walk into any gym, and you’re bound to see tons of cardio machines, from exercise bikes to rowers and, of course, the treadmill and StairMaster.
Both the StairMaster and treadmill have advantages and some drawbacks, making it tricky to decide which one is the best choice for you.
However, that’s exactly what we’re here to help with, to provide you with all of the info you need to choose between the two.
Treadmill vs StairMaster: Similarities
Although there are of course some differences in design and use, the treadmill and StairMaster both provide you with a cardio workout that benefits the heart, burns calories, and improves endurance.
Here’s a closer look at what these two cardio machines have in common:
Calorie Burning Potential
Both the StairMaster and treadmill are calorie-burning machines, which is a big plus if your goal is weight management or fat loss.
The calorie burn depends largely on workout intensity and weight but both are reliable options for getting your heart pumping.
A treadmill can burn anywhere from 450 - 750 calories an hour and can be even more with an incline.
Whereas a StairMaster can burn 600 to over 1000 calories per hour. Just don't make the mistake of hanging onto the handlebars as you use them as that will reduce the number of calories burned.
Cardio Health Benefits
Both machines provide you with effective aerobic workouts that strengthen your heart and cardiovascular system. By increasing heart rate and circulation, they help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, strokes, and other related conditions.
Endurance Building
Regular workouts on StairMasters and Treadmills can improve stamina and endurance, making everything else in your daily life feel much easier too.
Treadmills and StairMasters are equally great for improving endurance, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned athlete.
Suitable for Various Fitness Levels
Furthermore, adjustable intensity levels make both machines easy for everyone to use. You can increase the difficulty level on either machine to suit your fitness goals and steadily progress.
StairMaster vs Treadmill: Differences
Although both the treadmill and StairMaster provide you with great cardiovascular workouts, there are some notable differences between them.
Movement Style
One of the more obvious differences between the two is their movement style. The StairMaster mimics climbing stairs, a vertical movement. It’s a steady, slow burn that constantly challenges the legs and glutes.
On the other hand, a treadmill simulates walking or running on a flat or inclined surface, a more horizontal type of exercise.
Both have benefits, but the choice between these two movement styles can impact muscle engagement and workout experience, as you’ll see below in the section about muscles targeted.
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Muscles Targeted
Both machines are great at engaging the lower body, but the StairMaster is more targeted to the glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps, building a lot of lower body strength along with cardio endurance.
The treadmill, on the other hand, works the lower body muscles differently, with more emphasis on forward movement, especially when used for running or incline walking. The treadmill is more of a pure cardio workout in this sense.
Intensity Level
The StairMaster combines cardio with a form of resistance training, making it a more intense workout by nature.
In case you are wondering, the resistance is your own body weight pushing against you as you try to climb upwards.
The treadmill, while it can be pretty intense, doesn’t provide the same level of resistance unless used with an incline.
That said, if you crank up the treadmill and run at full pelt, it will certainly give you the workout of a lifetime.
Impact on Joints
The impact that these machines have on your joints is perhaps one of the biggest differences of all.
The StairMaster has a lower impact on the knees, hips, and ankles compared to a treadmill, particularly when the treadmill is used for running.
Treadmill running, while easier on the joints than outdoor running, still creates more impact than climbing stairs.
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StairMaster: Pros and Cons
Now that we have covered the basics, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cos that the StairMaster brings to the table.
Pros
- High-Calorie Burn: Each step on the StairMaster forces you to lift your body weight, working against gravity with every step. This requires more energy, which translates to a high-calorie burn.
- Strengthens Legs and Glutes: The StairMaster is a lower body exercise machine and it does a great job at training the legs. The resistance provided works the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves, contributing to better muscle tone and lower body strength.
- Bone Health: Weight-bearing exercises like stair climbing help improve bone density, an important consideration for long-term health, especially as we age.
- Core Engagement: If you avoid the handles on the StairMaster, you can add a core workout to the equation.
- Low Impact: With much lower impact than running, the StairMaster is better for the joints.
Cons
- Minimal Upper Body Engagement: With a StairMaster, the focus is squarely on the lower body, which can make it less appealing for those looking for a full-body workout.
- Limited Variety: Unlike the treadmill, which you can use to simulate different terrains, the StairMaster can feel repetitive and boring.
Treadmill: Pros and Cons
Now that we know what the pros and cons of StairMasters are, let's figure out the same for treadmills.
Pros
- Versatile Workouts: treadmills are very flexible because you can adjust their speed, incline, and more.
- Effective Calorie Burner: walking or running comma especially at an incline comma is fantastic for burning calories, and therefore effective for weight management.
- Ease of Use: The treadmill is easy to use, making it a great option for users of all fitness levels. Walking and running are natural motions too, so it doesn’t take much in the way of instruction.
- Supports Bone Health: Like the StairMaster, the treadmill is a weight-bearing exercise, which is beneficial for improving bone density.
Cons
- Higher Impact on Joints: Running on a treadmill creates more impact than walking or stair climbing, which could lead to joint strain and paion over time.
- Limited Strength Building: While effective for cardio, the treadmill won’t build real muscle strength, particularly compared to the StairMaster and the way in which it trains the legs.
Which Is Better for Weight Loss?
If weight loss is the goal, the StairMaster generally performs better than the treadmill due to its intense calorie-burning potential.
Since it forces you to lift your body weight with each step, the StairMaster has a much high energy demand, which is ideal for calorie burn.
While running or high-intensity intervals on the treadmill can also provide a lot of calorie burning potential, it takes much more effort to reach the same intensity as with the StairMaster.
However, consistency is the most important factor for weight loss. If you enjoy the treadmill more and are more likely to use it regularly, then it may be the better option for you.
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Is the StairMaster Better for Strength?
For building lower body strength, the StairMaster is better than the treadmill because it targets the glutes, hamstrings, and quads. It doesn’t replace strength training, but it certainly makes for a good complement to it.
Final Thoughts: Treadmill vs. StairMaster
When all is said and done, the choice between the StairMaster and treadmill really comes down to your goals, preferences, and fitness level. The StairMaster is challenging for lower body, plus it’s low-impact and great for calorie burn, making it ideal for those focused on building lower body strength and endurance. The treadmill is great for cardio too, but it just won’t provide you with some same leg-building benefits.
