Treadmill or cross trainer – same family, different breed

1. Basic principles of treadmills and cross trainers

A treadmill simulates walking, jogging, or sprinting. It primarily challenges the leg muscles—especially the thighs, calves, and glutes—while simultaneously training the heart and lungs. The movement is very natural and similar to running outdoors, with the advantage that you can adjust the speed and incline at any time.

A cross trainer, on the other hand, offers a joint-friendly full-body workout. The elliptical motion works your legs, glutes, arms, back, and core simultaneously. What's special about it is that you work with a smooth, flowing movement pattern that puts significantly less strain on your joints than running.

2. Which burns more fat – treadmill or cross trainer?

This question is one of the most common, and the answer depends on several factors: intensity, training duration, body weight and fitness level.

Treadmill: At the same intensity, running on a treadmill can burn more calories per minute, especially if you incorporate intervals or inclines.

Cross trainer: This engages more muscle groups simultaneously, resulting in a very high overall energy burn—especially when you train with resistance and actively engage both your legs and arms.

For pure fat burning, the key is how long you train at a moderate but steady heart rate. In practice, this means: If you train for 30–60 minutes at a time, the cross trainer can often be more effective due to the full-body workout, while short, intense sessions on the treadmill burn more calories in a shorter time.

3. Lose belly fat – treadmill or cross trainer?

Belly fat is stubborn, and whether you're using a treadmill or an elliptical, there's no "fat-burning switch" just for your belly. Fat is always burned throughout the body.

The decisive factor is the calorie deficit. Both machines are ideal for this: On the treadmill, you can significantly boost your metabolism through interval running (e.g., 1 minute sprint, 2 minutes walk, repeat), which also reduces belly fat in the long run. On the cross trainer, you also train your upper body. This ensures even greater muscle activation, which in turn increases your basal metabolic rate. Those with joint problems or who want to train in a way that's as gentle on their joints as possible should opt for the cross trainer. On the other hand, those who love the feeling of running and enjoy incorporating sprints will be able to push themselves to their limits more quickly on the treadmill.

4. What are the benefits of 30 minutes of cross trainer training every day?

Thirty minutes of daily cross-trainer training is an excellent foundation for increasing endurance and fitness, burning fat, and toning your body. Depending on the intensity, you can burn between 250 and 450 calories in half an hour.

Long-term benefits:

• Strengthening the cardiovascular system
• Improvement of leg, arm and core muscles
• Joint-friendly training even if you are overweight or need rehabilitation
• Stress reduction through consistent, rhythmic movement
• Increase your basal metabolic rate through more muscle mass

Those who exercise regularly will notice that their fitness, body awareness and energy levels improve significantly.

5. Is a treadmill good for belly fat?

Yes – running, whether on a treadmill or outdoors, is a very effective way to reduce belly fat. Running activates large muscle groups, which increases calorie burn. By adding interval training or incline training, you can increase the afterburn effect, which ensures your body continues to burn calories even after your workout.

However, the same applies here: Without a balanced, protein-rich diet and a slight calorie deficit, success will be limited. The treadmill is therefore a very effective tool for reducing belly fat – but it must be embedded in a holistic approach.

6. Advantages of the treadmill

The treadmill offers some unique advantages:

• Natural movement: Ideal for anyone who loves running.
• High calorie consumption: Especially during interval and uphill runs.
• Variable training stimulus: Speed ​​and incline can be precisely adjusted.
• Year-round training: regardless of weather or time of day.
• Improving running technique: Controlled environment to optimize movement.

7. Advantages of the cross trainer

The cross trainer scores with:

• Full-body workout: Legs, arms, torso, and back are exercised simultaneously.
• Protects your joints: No shock load like when running.
• High calorie consumption over long sessions: Ideal for endurance-oriented fat burning.
• Variable resistance: From light warm-up to intensive strength endurance training.
• Suitable for every fitness level: from beginner to professional.

8. Application tips for maximum success

No matter which device you choose, you can get the most out of it with the right strategies:

Incorporate interval training: Alternate short, intense phases with recovery phases. Vary your training duration: Sometimes short, intense sessions, sometimes longer endurance sessions. Control your heart rate: Train in your fat-burning zone (approximately 60–75% of your maximum heart rate). Regularity: 3–5 sessions per week will produce lasting results. Combine: Using both machines ensures variety and a holistic workout.

9. Which device is right for you?

Treadmill: Ideal if you enjoy running, want to improve your fitness, and burn calories quickly. Perfect for interval training enthusiasts and ambitious runners. The Horizon Fitness Paragon X treadmill, for example , and many other treadmills in our range , offer just that.

Cross trainers: Ideal if you want to train in a way that's gentle on your joints, strengthen your entire body, and complete long sessions with high fat burning. Discover our selection of high-quality cross trainers, including the Horizon Fitness Andes 7.1 cross trainer .

10. Conclusion – Your path to the goal

Both the treadmill and the cross trainer are excellent machines for effective cardiovascular training and sustainable fat burning – same family, but different breed. Which machine is "better" for you depends on your personal goals, preferences, and physical condition. Those who want to burn maximum calories in a short amount of time often turn to a treadmill. Those who prefer a joint-friendly full-body workout are best served by the cross trainer. It's not just the machine that matters, but how you use it. With a clear training plan, consistent implementation, and a balanced diet, you will achieve excellent results with both machines – whether for losing weight, building muscle, or simply for a fitter life.

Note: This blog post is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional training advice. Consult a professional if you have any health concerns.