Okay, you’re in the market for some fitness equipment. If you’re like many people, once you’ve decided to buy an exercise machine, you’re faced with the issue: treadmill vs elliptical? How do you resolve the treadmill vs elliptical question?

To help your treadmill vs elliptical dilemma, check out the following 7 considerations.

1. Joint impact: Although many treadmills offer cushioning and low impact features, an elliptical offers low to no impact workouts.

2. Is running your primary workout regimen? If your focus is running and you live in a cold climate and would love to run inside, then a treadmill is your best option. However, if you can run outside all the time and would like some workout variety, mix it up with an elliptical trainer.

3. Cost: Treadmills and ellipticals cost about the same for the same level of quality. You can spend $400 to thousands of dollars.

4. Are you looking to add variety to your workouts? If you already run or walk and wish to vary your routine, an elliptical workout is an excellent addition to your workout regimen. That said, you can do more types of workouts on a treadmill – walking, running, sprinting, lunges, side-stepping, and workouts with handheld weights.

5. Full body workout: You can get a full body workout on a treadmill with hand weights, but if you do a hand weight routine (other than a running motion), you’ll have to walk. Ellipticals with moveable handles (most have moveable handles) automatically offer a full body workout.

6. Entertainment: I find it more convenient to read magazines on an elliptical than running on a treadmill. If you like reading on fitness equipment, an elliptical is a better option.

I do find reading easy enough when walking on a treadmill. You can get an excellent treadmill walking workout with a decent incline.

7. Is the level of noise an issue where you’ll use your fitness equipment? Treadmills produce more noise than ellipticals for two reasons: (1) the motor, and (2) the pounding feet. If you need to be quiet while exercising, go for an elliptical.

At the end of the day there is no objectively best answer to the treadmill vs elliptical question. The decision is one only you can make.

If you want to learn what makes a great elliptical review, then check out these elliptical reviews