Proform HIIT vs Elliptical – Which is Right For You?

October 18, 2018October 4, 2018 Proform Elliptical Blog cardio hiit trainer, this vs that

Wondering about the difference between the Proform HIIT vs elliptical trainer?

Trying to decide which is right for you?

The Proform HIIT trainer is a new type of elliptical trainer that gives you some impressive benefits over a regular elliptical trainer.

However it may not be right for everyone.

A regular elliptical trainer (especially if you choose the right one) can also give you several benefits over the HIIT trainer.

So which is right for you?

This post will explore the main differences between the Proform HIIT trainer vs elliptical so you can make a more informed decision and choose the best option for you.

So let’s dive in:

Proform HIIT vs Elliptical – Price

This really comes down to which elliptical you’re comparing to the HIIT trainer. There are 2 different HIIT trainer models – the original Cardio HIIT trainer and the Cardio HIIT trainer PRO.

The original Proform HIIT trainer starts around $999 with Free Shipping here.

The Cardio HIIT trainer PRO has a few more upgrades including a full-color, HD console and heavier flywheel. It starts around $1599 with Free Shipping here.

So in terms of affordability, the HIIT trainer runs around the same price as a mid-range elliptical.

You can get cheaper elliptical trainers in the $600- $700 range of course – but these are starter models that may not be as well built or solid as a mid-range elliptical or the HIIT trainer.

Proform HIIT vs Elliptical – Motion

This is where you see the biggest difference between the Proform HIIT trainer and a regular elliptical – in the lower body motion.

The Proform HIIT Trainer gives you more of a climbing motion. It has a 10 inch vertical and a 5 in horizontal motion.

Some people have said it’s a stair-stepping, up-and-down motion. But that’s not entirely accurate.

You’re not just going up and down – you’re also going forward. I’d say it’s more of a climbing or hiking motion as you can see here:

A regular elliptical trainer on the other hand, will give you more of a flat running path. This leads to the next difference:

Proform HIIT vs Elliptical – Calories Burned

While Proform has not done any official studies to prove that you can burn more calories with a HIIT trainer vs elliptical, in theory the HIIT trainer is more effective at burning calories.

Why?

Because a climbing motion uses more muscles than running on a flat plane. It’s kind of like how walking on an incline will burn more calories than walking on a flat surface.

More muscles used means more calories burned.

So in that sense the Proform HIIT trainer has the edge over a standard elliptical – you can use it to burn more calories and get a more effective workout.

Proform HIIT vs Elliptical – Space

The Proform HIIT trainer also gives you an edge in terms of space considerations. Because it doesn’t have the typical wheel-and-track design stretching out behind it like an elliptical trainer, it is more compact and takes up less space.

The footprint on the HIIT trainer is about 29.25″ W x 66.7″ L – which is about half the size of a standard elliptical trainer.

So if you have a smaller workout area or you’re worried about space, the HIIT trainer has the advantage here.

Benefits of an Elliptical over the Proform HIIT Trainer

So what about an elliptical trainer – does it have any benefits over the HIIT Trainer?

Well there are a few.

First of all, if you’re a runner, you’ll probably prefer the running-type motion of an elliptical trainer.

Also, you can also get elliptical trainers that do things like fold up (like the Proform 895 elliptical below for example). So if you’re looking for a machine you can actually fold up and move out of the room, then a folding elliptical would be better than the HIIT Trainer.

proform folding elliptical trainer benefits — Proform 895 Folding Elliptical

Lastly, you can go backwards on an elliptical – and you can’t do that on the HIIT trainer. So if you want that extra crosstraining option, then an elliptical would be the better bet here.

Bottom Line?

So which machine should you choose?

They both have benefits. With an elliptical you can go backwards and get a more running-style motion.

However with the HIIT trainer you’ll get a more effective (and higher-calorie-burning) climbing motion. Plus it takes up less space – which is great for smaller workout areas.

So at the end of the day it really comes down to what you prefer.

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