Quick Answer: Buy a treadmill if running or walking is the actual activity you want to train — it’s the only machine that replicates real gait, and models like the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 ($2,499 list) or budget Horizon 7.0 AT (around $999) deliver it well. Buy an elliptical like the Sole E35 (~$1,400) if you want comparable cardio with far less joint stress: per Cavanagh and Lafortune’s 1980 biomechanics research, running generates peak ground-reaction forces of roughly 3 times body weight at every footstrike, while an elliptical’s continuous foot-pedal contact removes that impact almost entirely — for about 90% of the calorie burn, per Harvard Health Publishing.
Both machines train your cardiovascular system hard, but they load your body in fundamentally different ways. A treadmill asks your joints to absorb your body weight, over and over, every time a foot lands. An elliptical asks your muscles to do more of the work of moving your body through space, without ever letting your joints take that hit. Neither is objectively better — the right pick depends on whether you’re training a specific movement (running) or training your heart and lungs with the least wear and tear.
By the numbers: Per Cavanagh and Lafortune’s foundational running-biomechanics study (Journal of Biomechanics, 1980), the mean peak vertical ground-reaction force during distance running measured about 3 times body weight per footstrike. A 2007 study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (Lu, Chien & Chen) measured loading rates on an elliptical at the equivalent point in the stride and found them lower even than ordinary walking — because the foot never leaves the pedal, there’s no impact event to measure at all. On the calorie side, Harvard Health Publishing’s 30-minute activity chart lists 324 calories burned on an elliptical versus 360 calories running at 6 mph on a treadmill for a 155-lb person — roughly a 10% gap in exchange for eliminating nearly all footstrike impact.
Treadmill vs elliptical at a glance
| Treadmill | Elliptical | |
|---|---|---|
| Joint impact | High — ~3x body weight per footstrike (Cavanagh & Lafortune, 1980) | Minimal — feet stay in continuous pedal contact |
| Calories per 30 min (155-lb person) | ~360 (running 6 mph), per Harvard Health | ~324, per Harvard Health |
| Trains real running gait | Yes — the only machine that does | No — a fixed elliptical path, not a run stride |
| Typical price | ~$999-2,499 for a quality machine | ~$750-2,000 for a quality machine |
| Best for | Runners, race training, treadmill walkers | Joint issues, recovery days, low-impact volume |
Why a treadmill wins for runners
NordicTrack Commercial 1750
- 4.25 CHP motor and generous deck cushioning built to hold up to daily running, not just walking.
- -3% to 12% decline-to-incline range for real hill training, not just a flat belt.
- 16-inch swiveling touchscreen for iFIT-guided runs, though it still works fine in manual mode.
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A treadmill is the only cardio machine that trains the exact gait you’ll use outdoors: the same footstrike, the same push-off, the same stride mechanics a race or an outdoor run demands. That’s why it’s the non-negotiable pick for anyone training for a specific running goal. The NordicTrack Commercial 1750 handles that job well thanks to a strong, quiet motor and enough incline range for genuine hill work, while budget-minded runners get real value from the Horizon 7.0 AT (~$999), which pairs a true 3.0 CHP running motor with no required subscription — see our best treadmill guide for the full lineup, including budget and foldable picks for tighter spaces.
Why an elliptical wins for joint-friendly cardio
Sole E35 Elliptical
- 20-inch power stride and a heavy 25 lb flywheel for a smooth, natural motion at any speed.
- 375 lb weight capacity and a subscription-free console — no monthly fee to unlock the machine.
- Zero footstrike impact, since the feet never leave the pedals through the full stride.
The case for an elliptical comes down to the ground-reaction-force numbers above: running loads each knee, hip, and ankle with roughly 3 times body weight on every single footstrike, while an elliptical’s continuous pedal contact all but removes that loading event. That’s a meaningful trade for anyone managing knee sensitivity, recovering from a lower-body injury, or simply trying to rack up cardio volume without accumulating the wear-and-tear that high-mileage running can cause. The Sole E35 delivers that low-impact motion with real build quality, and value-focused buyers can get most of the way there with the Schwinn 470 (around $750) — see our best elliptical guide for the full rankings, including the premium adjustable-stride NordicTrack FreeStride Trainer FS14i (~$2,000).
How to decide
- Training for a run or race: buy the treadmill. Nothing else replicates running gait, and that specificity matters for performance.
- Managing knee, hip, or lower-back issues: buy the elliptical. The ground-reaction-force gap is the whole reason physical therapists lean this direction.
- Just want general cardio, no strong preference: the elliptical is the safer long-term bet — you get roughly 90% of the calorie burn with a fraction of the joint wear, per the Harvard Health and biomechanics data above.
- Tight on space: a foldable treadmill (see our [best foldable treadmill](/best/best-foldable-treadmill/) guide) usually beats an elliptical, which rarely folds and keeps a fixed footprint.
- Want both eventually: start with whichever matches your primary goal, then add the other — they're complementary machines, not redundant ones.
The bottom line
Buy the treadmill if running or walking is the specific activity you’re training for — a machine like the NordicTrack Commercial 1750 or the budget-friendly Horizon 7.0 AT (around $999) trains the real gait no other machine can replicate. Buy the elliptical if low-impact cardio volume matters more than gait specificity: the Sole E35 (~$1,400) delivers close to the same calorie burn as treadmill running — about 90%, per Harvard Health Publishing — while all but eliminating the roughly 3x-body-weight footstrike force that running puts on your joints, per Cavanagh and Lafortune’s biomechanics research. Still weighing the whole cardio corner? Our best cardio machine roundup compares treadmills, ellipticals, rowers, and bikes side by side, and our home gym equipment guide covers everything else you’ll need to build out the rest of the space.