Incline Treadmill vs Incline Trainer

Working out on an incline has many health benefits. It’s a more efficient way to torch calories, burn fat and build lean muscle mass (which also adds to the fat burning benefits in the long term!). A standard treadmill can be great way to workout on an incline, but you have another option to also consider. Most standard treadmills will offer some sort of incline capability up to about 15 percent; however, incline trainers can offer incline capabilities of up to 40 percent. Incline trainers are a specific type of treadmill that offer steeper incline grades that can burn up to five times more calories when you crank it all the way up to its steepest incline. For this reason, the incline trainer is very attractive to many people, but there are benefits to both types of machines and it really depends on your individual needs and fitness goals.

See Our Video Explanation for the Incline Treadmill vs Incline Trainer

Incline trainers and standard treadmills with incline capabilities vary in their features and offerings. Take for example the BowFlex TC20 Treadclimber, a Best Buy award-winning trainer. This unique machine is equipped with a 3-in-1 design that mimics an elliptical trainer, stairclimber and treadmill. This is unlike a standard treadmill in its design but also in its speed capabilities as it only reaches speeds of up to 4.5 mph. The average treadmill will offer speeds up to 12 mph, so if you are a runner a standard treadmill with an incline may be a better fit for you. However, not all incline trainers will offer such low speeds. The benefits of an incline trainer that standard treadmills lack are a more powerful motor and bigger tracks. These two features make for a more comfortable experience.

Despite these differences, there are also a number of similarities between the two machines. Depending on the brand, incline trainers and standard trainers with steeper inclines are going to be a bit pricier. Of course in most cases you will get what you pay for, which means a more advanced console, more entertainment options and additional comfort and performance features. One feature you may not find on every single incline trainer or standard treadmill is a decline option. This feature is really specific to the brand, but if you can find a machine with an incline and decline feature, it’s a great advantage to add an additional element of challenge to your workout.

The bottom line is that to figure out which option is best for you, consider a number of factors and not just how steep of an incline is offered. The brand makes a huge difference, as does the warranty and motor as all of these factors affect the longevity of the machine as well as the performance. If you are looking for a machine to run, walk and jog on, a standard treadmill with a steeper incline offering may be a better fit since not all incline trainers are designed to allow for both running and walking. However; incline trainers are high-performance machines that allow for fast, efficient calorie burning, so really there are benefits to both machines. Check out some of the best buy award-winning incline trainers as well as the overall best buy winners.