Ski Machine Vs. Treadmill

Getting 30 to 45 minutes of cardiovascular exercise at least five days per week is essential if you are looking to lose weight or manage chronic disease. There are many ways to do aerobic exercise. Walking, running, swimming and biking do not cost much and can be done almost anywhere. However, the weather can interfere with exercising outdoors, and you may find that you do not always push yourself as hard as you need to. This is where equipment can come in handy. It will help you add variety and stay on track. There are many types of exercise machines, including the ski machine and treadmill.

Benefits

Both the ski machine and treadmill will help you lose weight. They can both give you a solid aerobic workout. To benefit from aerobic exercise, you need to get your heart rate up into the appropriate zone and maintain it there for the entire 30 to 45 minutes. Both a ski machine and treadmill can help you do that. Both have models made for home use and come with options such as an incline to simulate going uphill and displays that provide you with data about your workout. They both also can be folded up when the are not in use.

Motion

A treadmill simulates walking or running. You can set the speed on a treadmill to very slow or very fast. Using a treadmill is comparable to walking or running outside. If you are new to using a treadmill, it may take a couple of times to get used to the feel of the belt moving under you, but they are pretty easy to master. A ski machine simulates either cross-country skiing or downhill skiing. Because of the type of movement, ski machines are usually a little harder to master and take a bit more coordination and balance then a treadmill.

Availability

The ski machine is not as popular as it once was, especially with the elliptical trainers hitting the market. This means that if you look in the classifieds, you can often find ski machines at a pretty low price. This also means that they can be a bit harder to find. Nordic track (see link below) is the main manufacturer. Because they are not as popular, there are very few models to choose from. Treadmills are very popular and come in a wide variety of styles and prices. You can find them at discount stores as well as expensive fitness supply companies.

Features

Treadmills can be manual, but most are electric. When you step on the treadmill, you choose a speed and the treadmill maintains that speed. You can also choose a program that will periodically change the speed for you. In contrast to most ski machines, the speed of the machine is self-powered and based on how fast you are moving. Both treadmill and ski machine come in models that allow you to work just the legs as you hold on or to work the arms and legs together for a full body workout. One difference is that with the ski machine you can set different resistance levels for the arms and legs, whereas with a treadmill there is no resistance setting for the arms. With a treadmill your workout is made more intense by increasing the speed and incline. With a ski machine you have the option of making the workout harder by increasing the tension.

Variety

Both the ski machine and treadmill will help you to add variety to your workout routine. If you tend to walk or run regularly, then a ski machine might be a better option. If you tend to ski a lot or do plyometric drills, then the treadmill might be a better fit. The goal is to vary your routine as much as possible. You will get the best results from your workout if you incorporate cross-training. When you cross-train, you challenge your muscles to work in different ways. This way your body must keep adapting to your exercise routine.

Resources

• Nordic Track
• Trackmaster Fitness