22 Minute Hard Corps VS T25, A Comparison

Last Updated February 5, 2018 By Elizabeth Ibarra

One of the best things about Beachbody workouts is their effectiveness with short workouts.

After their success with P90X, they came out with Insanity, and also P90X 2, and although effective (and totally challenging), they found that the home fitness enthusiasts like us, were looking for something not quite so time demanding. The average time for the workouts in those programs is 50 minutes!

So Beachbody listened and delivered many quality, SHORT, workouts for the next several years. The most popular is Shaun T’s T25 and Tony Horton’s 22 Minute Hard Corps.

This article will focus on the similarities and differences of the two programs. If you’re looking for a thorough review of either, click here for 22 MHC, and here for T25.

I’ll break down the similarities and differences in more detail further down, but here are the basics…

22 Minute Hard Corps is shorter, at 22 minutes vs 25
T25 is more cardio intensive
22 Minute Hard Corps uses multiple compound movements to tone and strengthen. T25 uses more traditional dumbbell movements to tone and strengthen
T25 is non-stop, there are no breaks during the workouts. In 22 MHC, there are brief, 22 second breaks between each exercise
22 MHC uses a sandbag (or dumbbells) for resistance, T25 uses dumbbells
Results are very similar, with slightly more calorie burn for T25
T25 was created by Shaun T and is 10 weeks long, 22 MHC is a Tony Horton program and is 9 weeks long

How Each Trainer May Effect Your Results

To really grasp the difference between these 2 programs, you have to understand the difference between Shaun T and Tony Horton.

I’ve completed several Beachbody programs, including many of both Shaun T and Tony Horton and the number one difference between these guys is the intensity of the cardio and how they structure their workouts.

If you’re looking for high intensity cardio to burn calories, Shaun T is your guy. Although Tony’s workouts contain high intensity cardio, there is just no comparison. Shaun will work you and your heart like never before. He has a way of choosing certain movements and structuring the workouts that leave you gasping for air and your legs burning. His high intensity workouts really remind me of running (only without the boredom). If you are a runner, you will enjoy Shaun T’s programs.

Whether its T25, Insanity, Insanity Max 30, or Cize, his workouts always seem to incorporate some combination of squat, jumps, burpees, and high knee runs that give you a great cardio workout.

Tony Horton, and 22 MHC, on the other hand, is perfect if you prefer less intense cardio, and periodic breaks during each workout. Now, that’s not to say his workouts are easier, they’re just different.

Over time, Tony has transitioned his movements from traditional dumbbell exercises that focus on one or two muscle groups at the same time, to compound movements that target multiple muscle groups at the same time. He probably did this due to the time restrictions for shorter programs, but it seems to be his norm now.

A classic example is an exercise he has in the resistance 3 workout where you hold dumbbells at your shoulders, then lower into a lunge position. As you rep the dumbbells overhead repeatedly, you are doing alternating lunges. A complex movement that works your shoulders, core, and legs all at the same time.

In contrast to the T25 resistance phase of the program, Shaun T sticks to pretty traditional dumbbell movements like dumbbell curls or dumbbell squats to get your tone on.

But…here’s the bottom line…

…if you love cardio, you’ll prefer T25. If you love your cardio a little easier, with occasional breaks, you’ll prefer 22 MHC.
Also…

If you want that classic lower ab “V” shape, you’re better off with T25. Shaun T, LOVES sculpting that area. With unique ab workouts that blast that area, combined with a ton of high knee movements that burn that area, you’ll have “V”-shaped abs in no-time.

Other Differences That May Affect Your Decision

Obviously Shaun T’s program is slightly longer than 22 MHC, but, well, not really.

Every other day, Tony Horton prefers you do the ab workout. This coincides with the cardio workouts, so you’ll do cardio 1,2, or 3, then do an entire ab workout which is about 10 minutes long.

One difference that I really noticed was how Shaun T’s program is non-stop, whereas, Tony Horton’s has occasional breaks. The breaks give you a mental break as well as physical break, a quick opportunity to reset and hit the next set of exercises hard.

The 22 MHC program is set to a military, boot-camp style theme and in keeping with that theme Tony prefers you use a sandbag for your resistance equipment, rather than dumbbells. Although I chose to use dumbbells, I’m certain you can get a effective workout with either the sandbag or dumbbells. One major downside to the sandbag is that you have to fill it yourself. When you purchase the bag, its literally, just the bag. You have to add the sand. Not a big deal, but since most of us already have dumbbells, its easier to just use those.

Final Decision

The results you’ll achieve with either program will be very similar so it’s a matter of what your preference is with the style of each trainer and workouts.

If you’re looking for a solid calorie burn with lots of cardio, then you’ll prefer T25 vs 22 Minute Hard Corps.
If you’re looking for a solid cardio workout, with occasional breaks, and compound movements that throw some variety into a workout, then 22 MHC is for you.

One final difference is that the 22 MHC is 9 weeks long, while T25 is 10 weeks, with an optional additional 5 week add-on. With the add-on phase of the workout you’ll get 15 weeks and more challenging workouts, but better results.

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