Recumbent Elliptical vs Recumbent Bike - Debate The Weight: Weight Loss Tips for Men & Women

Recumbent Elliptical vs Recumbent Bike – You know you need to work out. But you don’t want to go outside. Maybe it’s too hot. Perhaps it’s too cold, or maybe you’d just rather binge a TV show while you get your heart rate going.

Recumbent ellipticals and recumbent bikes make for a great workout in the comfort of your own home. Recumbent exercise equipment offers many benefits, especially for those with lower back issues, undergoing physical therapy, or otherwise dealing with compromised mobility.

But which one do you need? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at each of the pros and cons and try to tackle some of the decision points to help you make the right choice.

What’s the Same?

Both devices allow you to sit back comfortably while you exercise. By providing back support, a recumbent setting allows for more ergonomically, efficient exercise.

Additionally, by sitting around rather than over your legs, recumbent exercise equipment takes a lot of pressure off the joints.

Both devices come in a few different styles. Some have swinging handlebars, which allows for some upper body exercise, while others have stationary handles focusing on legs and cardio.

Outside of the basic structure, both ellipticals and exercise bikes offer users the opportunity to spend big for feature-rich units or keep it simple for more cost-effective devices.

Teeter FreeStep Recumbent Cross Trainer and Elliptical - LT1 — Teeter FreeStep Recumbent Cross Trainer and Elliptical – LT1 – Editor’s Choice

In either case, recumbent ellipticals or bikes work wonders for improving or maintaining fitness. Providing a safe, low-impact means to get the blood moving, recumbent machines work well for fitness buffs seeking a little more recovery, or people who need to take it easy on their joints.

What’s Different?

Recumbent ellipticals and recumbent bikes engage slightly different mechanics. An elliptical seeks to recreate a running motion, with a full swing of the arms and legs, and a little roll of the foot with each “step.”

A recumbent bike has a motion more like… well, riding a bike, and designs with toe straps allow you to pull.

Recumbent ellipticals exercise a more comprehensive range of motion than their bicycle counterparts. Accordingly, they burn a few more calories – anywhere from 17% to 20% more. The more “natural” movement opens them up to a broader range of users than recumbent bicycles.

Recumbent bicycles, on the other hand, put more focus on the knees and hips. They can significantly aid recovery for issues with those areas, while still providing a fantastic cardio workout. Some units come with arm exercisers, providing an even more full-body experience.

Benefits of a Recumbent Bike

The stationary recumbent bike suits an incredible range, from beginners to elite athletes. Beginners can quickly get in long workouts without overstraining, and elites can find enough programming variety and resistance to get some severe burn.

With a greater focus on the glutes, knees, and quads, the recumbent bike can tone and strengthen the lower body exquisitely. The ability to pull with the toe straps works the whole range of leg muscles, including the hamstrings.

A recumbent bike also has a little more “field testing,” with their elliptical cousins being relative newcomers. That’s given bike designers more time to perfect their equipment’s comfort, performance, and technology.

Stationary recumbent bikes come with a wide variety of features to tailor your workouts and keep you entertained. Those seeking to get their legs back under them without stressing the rest of their body can find a great outlet with a recumbent bike.

Benefits of a Recumbent Elliptical

The recumbent elliptical does the best job of approximating the body’s natural running or walking motion without the impact. These machines have become incredibly popular with physical therapy facilities due to their ease of use and a more comprehensive range of motion than recumbent bikes.

By burning a few more calories per session, recumbent ellipticals also offer a more efficient workout. That means less time to reach your fitness goals, no matter how modest or extreme.

The full-body movement works every system, from the upper body through the feet and ankles. That allows the elliptical to strengthen or tone systems for a wide range of activities.

Recumbent ellipticals take all of the pressure off your back with a comfortable seat and back support. As a result, many users have found that they can work out longer on the recumbent elliptical – even with the increased calorie-burning.

Read our reviews on the best Recumbent Elliptical Trainer

Factors to Consider

While the two machines seem very similar, you should consider a few different variables before picking either one. Is elliptical or recumbent bike better?

First and foremost, what are your goals? Do you need to strengthen a weak knee? Get your full-body strength back after an injury or surgery? Your goals will go a long way in determining which piece of equipment would do the job best.

Secondly, what do you need? Do you need a device that tells you every piece of data it possibly can? Do you need something with moving arms, or do you just want some cardio for a while each day? Sometimes your decisions may be limited by what’s available. You might care more about the experience than the type of workout, which works okay with such similar exercises.

Thirdly, consider your budget. Recumbent ellipticals still have something of a “niche” status, so they tend to carry a higher price tag. Conversely, recumbent bicycles come in a broader range of prices, allowing for a more thrifty workout – or a more glitzy workout, if you’ve got the budget for a more high-tech machine.

Lastly, what would you enjoy? Exercise is all about consistency. Some people just prefer pedaling a bicycle to running. Some people find a particular type of recumbent equipment more comfortable. Some people just have more fun making one motion than another. Whatever will keep you going is the right machine for you.

Final Thoughts

Great workouts abound with both recumbent ellipticals and recumbent bikes. For more general purposes, the recumbent elliptical has a slight edge, thanks to its versatility and efficiency. Not to say, recumbent bikes don’t have their place, and the two are undoubtedly similar, but all things equal, the elliptical offers all the same benefits, with just a little more.

Find other tips on How to Use the Elliptical Machine?

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