The steppers (step machines) and elliptical trainer are one of the most popular fitness gym machines. They have similar construction – both of them have pedals and optionally handlebars. The only one difference is that the stepper could simulate climbing upstairs and the elliptical trainer could simulate walking or running.

Let’s try to compare their efficiency in calories and fats burning, safe for joints, easy to begin and how suitable they are for an aerobic fitness:

Calories and Fats Burning

A woman with 139 pounds (63 kg) weight could burn 575 calories in 1 hour working out on a step machine. Using the handlers won’t make your workout on the stepper much more effective, but it could make you feel more comfortable while you’re training.

Working out on an elliptical trainer allow you to train both lower and upper body, it could help you to burn more calories and fats than the workout on a step machine. Even more, the elliptical trainer is more effective for calories and fats burning than many other gym machines such as gym bike and treadmill.

Safe for Joints

The step machine could put pressure on knees, but the good news is some researches show that steppers don’t have harmful effect and they can’t injure the people who train on them.

Elliptical trainer doesn’t have any harmful effect over the joints. Even more, it’s recommended to work out on elliptical trainer against the aging of joints.

Easy to Begin

Working out on a step machine requires lest coordination – your upper body is fixed and you move only your legs, that’s why it’s easier to begin training on a stepper than on an elliptical trainer. The elliptical trainer simulates walking and running, but the newbie could find it harder when they train on it for a first time.

Suitable for Aerobic Fitness

The aerobic fitness is performed by many people worldwide and both steppers and elliptical trainers are great choice for this sport: Working out on a stepper could increase your performance much more than just running. 12 weeks working out on an elliptical trainer (3 days weekly) could improve oxygen uptake by 2.7 ml/kg.