Walking on a Treadmill vs. Outside: Which Is Best for Your Fitness Goals?

Have you ever heard of the goal of walking 10,000 steps per day? Do you want to achieve your daily step goals at home easily? Investing in a treadmill can be a great option—but how does it compare to outdoor walking?

In this article, we will walk you through the benefits of both and introduce the Tousains Walker MS-6s, a compact treadmill for small spaces. Read the article and decide which one you will choose!

Advantages of Treadmill Walking

Treadmill walking offers a range of benefits, especially for people living in cities or places with extreme weather. Here are some key advantages of treadmill walking:

Controlled Environment

You don’t have to worry about rain, heat, cold, or unsafe streets. Walking on a treadmill provides a safe and convenient environment.

Customizable Settings

Many treadmills are designed with adjustable speed and incline to vary your workouts. The Tousains Walker MS-6s can be used on both sides. One side for regular walking and the other for massage, which stimulates your feet with bumps under the running belt.

Reduced Joint Impact

Most treadmills have cushioned surfaces that are gentler on knees and joints compared to concrete or pavement. A study on the National Library of Medicine reports that lower body positive pressure treadmill exercise training could be considered an effective approach for alleviating pain symptoms and improving lower extremity locomotion in mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis patients.

Multitasking and Entertainment

The device holder of the treadmill allows you to watch TV while walking. You can meet your daily step goals while watching a movie!

Progress Tracking

The screen tracks your steps, calories, speed, and heart rate in real time. Some models connect to certain apps to record your progress over time. 

Convenient and Easy to Stay Consistent

With a compact treadmill for small spaces like the Tousains Walker MS-6s, you will be able to walk anytime you want.

Disadvantages of Treadmill Walking

While treadmill walking has many perks, it’s not without downsides:

Monotony

Some users find home walking boring and monotonous due to a lack of scenery or variation.

Limited options

Though many treadmills are equipped with incline features, they still lack variation compared with the various terrains of outdoor walking. The downhill option, particularly, is not available for treadmill walking. 

Space & Cost

Treadmills with rich features used to be bulky and expensive. Compact models are more affordable but may lack advanced features like incline variety or interactive training programs. 

Electricity Use

Unlike outdoor walking, treadmill workouts rely on power.

Benefits of Outdoor Walking

There are some physical and mental benefits of outdoor walking, which are hard to replicate by indoor walking: 

Mental Boost

Outdoor walking enables you to get close to nature. A study reveals that green space exposure is associated with numerous health benefits. 

Varied Terrain

You can walk along the roadside, on an uphill, or anything that is available to you. Different terrain primarily engages different muscle groups.

Vitamin D

According to Yale Medicine, when exposed to the sun, your skin can manufacture its own vitamin D, which is essential to help the body absorb calcium from the intestines. 

Social Engagement

Walking outside often means more interaction with neighbors or friends. 

Limitations of Outdoor Walking

Despite its advantages, outdoor walking has some potential limitations:

Weather Dependency

Rain, snow, or extreme heat can interrupt your routine. This is an important factor to consider for people living in extreme weather.

Safety Concerns

Crowded traffic and poor lighting at night pose risks. For females, in particular,  it can be dangerous to walk at night in some areas.

Accessibility

Not everyone has access to safe or scenic routes for daily walks.

Various surfaces

Outdoor surfaces vary greatly—some are too hard, others too uneven or muddy—making the impact on your joints less predictable than the cushioned surface of a treadmill.

Walking on a Treadmill vs Outside: Which Should You Choose?

So, in the battle of walking on a treadmill vs outside, which is better?

The answer depends on your personal goals and environment:

• Choose treadmill walking if you value consistency, want to walk regardless of the weather, or need low-impact options.
• Choose outdoor walking if you crave fresh air, scenic variety, and additional mental health benefits.

Better yet? Combine both! Use a treadmill during the week and go for outdoor walks on weekends to refresh your mind!

Best Small Treadmill for Small Spaces: Tousains Walker MS-6s

Don’t have enough space or budget for a bulky machine? The Tousains Walker MS-6s will be the solution. What makes this machine stand out is its massage function. The bumps under the belt stimulate the foot acupoint. Walk on the massage side for 5 minutes a day, and you will get yourself refreshed. Here are some other features of this machine:

• Space-saving dimensions: 43.5” x 21.5” – perfect for small apartments
• Adjustable settings: 5 pre-set programs
• LED display and remote control for convenient use
• Suitable for many users with a maximum weight capacity of 330 lbs

FAQ

What incline should I walk on a treadmill?

For beginners, start with a 0% incline and gradually increase the incline as you get familiar with it. Avoid steep inclines for long durations, especially if you have knee or joint issues.

How long to walk on a treadmill?

Aim for at least 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week. If your goal is weight loss or improved endurance, increase to 45–60 minutes or incorporate interval training.

What does a treadmill help with?

Walking on a treadmill helps with:

• Burning calories and promoting fat loss
• Strengthening leg and core muscles
• Improving cardiovascular health
• Enhancing mood and reducing stress

Related: Advantages of Treadmill Walking: Way to Better Health