I have both but would have trouble picking one. Sweating buckets is older and only give gears. Lean & Mean is newer. It has the tension control (if that is important to you - I have no trouble using the conversion chart on my Revmaster), Brenda is in it, it has the music off option and it has some squats in it as well. But, sweating buckets can usually be found for less $ - especially when Nashbar has a sale. I find SB a little more fun for some reason, but Lean & Mean is my ds' absolute favorite. So, there you are - I didn't help at all :+ Marnie