So, you want to improve your cardio. You begin researching the different equipment out there to help you attain your goals, and you come across both the skillmill and the treadmill. What are the differences? What one should you use? What are the benefits of each machine?

Today compare the Skillmill VS the Treadmill to give you a comprehensive overview of both cardio machines.

Let’s begin!

What is a Skillmill?

A skillmill is a type of cardiovascular training machine that aims to help you improve your cardio fitness, stamina, and endurance. It is designed for more experienced fitness fanatics as a way to progress onto more intense, full-body workouts that replicate running in the real world (but from the safety and comfort of the gym).

What is a Treadmill?

A treadmill is another type of cardiovascular training device that also aims to help you improve your overall stamina and endurance. However, unlike the skillmill, the treadmill has a wider range of applications. While both are versatile, the treadmill is more beginner friendly and can be tailored for less intense workout sessions.

Differences between a Treadmill and Skillmill

Both cardio training machines are spectacular at burning through calories and for improving your overall cardiovascular health, but they do have key differences:

Skillmills:

• Do not have a motor. They rely fully on your effort to ‘push’ them forward or motorise them.

• Versatile for challenging workouts. They can be used for walking, running, strength training and sprint training among other applications.

• They have a curved surface. This will help you engage more muscle groups with their use and helps the machines mimic running outdoors.

Benefits of the Skillmill

The skillmill excels at providing a whole host of opportunities for challenging workouts, even for the most experienced fitness experts out there. The skillmill is brilliant at providing its user with a full-body workout that puts you in the driver’s seat - it is only as difficult as you make it. This makes the skillmill exceedingly popular for amateur and professional athletes alike due to its capacity to provide high-intensity workouts.

The skillmill is good for:

• Muscle engagement. All the power the skillmill receives comes from you and your muscles. Due to this fact, it keeps more of your muscles engaged for longer.

• Speed and power development. The high-intensity nature of skillmill workouts and the resistance they offer to your legs help you to develop explosive power in your lower body muscle groups.

• Running form. As the skillmill is designed to replicate real-world running with its curved surface, it can help you improve your posture while running (minimising the risk of injury).

Treadmills:

• Have a motor. They are powered independent of the user and can have set speeds.

• Have a flat surface. This makes them easier to use for beginners.

• Have pre-set programs. The pre-set programs act as a pseudo training session in that they can train you for your goal. This helps to provide beginners with a structured workout.

• Can be inclined or declined. This allows for a variety of workout options.

Benefits of the Treadmill

The treadmill is fantastic at providing a range of workout options for all; from beginners to seasoned fitness professionals. It excels at providing a more steady-state cardio workout that’s ideal for building up stamina, bodily resilience, and mental endurance. Treadmills are also great for those recovering from an injury, due to their versatile options that can ease its user back into fitness.

The treadmill is good for:

• Lessening joint impact. The flat surface and controlled running environment will have less of an impact on your joints than outdoor running will. This is vital for those that are recovering from joint pain or a joint injury.

• Convenience. The beginner friendly nature of the treadmill and its training programs make it a very convenient choice for those not very clued up on training routines.

• Versatility. The treadmill will have more options for a wider pool of people, making it a great choice for training. It has incline and decline capability to make the workout easier or harder with ease.

Train Your Way At Village Gym

At Village Gym our gyms are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including both treadmills and skillmills, to provide you with both options depending on your workout goals. Reach those PBs and crush your cardio workout with Village Gym.

Browse our membership options today and begin blasting those calories in boxercise!

Treadmill Vs Skillmill FAQs

Why is the skillmill so hard?

The skillmill’s difficulty is in the fact that it doesn’t have a motor. The machine is powered by the user and the effort they put into the machine. The skillmill also applies more strain on the glutes and hamstrings; something a treadmill doesn’t do as much.

Can you run on a skillmill?

Yes, however, it will not be as easy as running on a treadmill. Unlike the treadmill, the speed you go is determined by how much power you transfer to the belt to make it move. There’s no motor to move a skillmill belt like in a treadmill belt.

Is a skillmill better than a treadmill?

It depends on your goals. For those who want to improve lung capacity and train for long distance running, a treadmill would be better. For those who want to improve their functional muscle fitness and improve lower body power, the skillmill would be better.

Do professional runners use a treadmill?

Yes. Just because the treadmill is beginner friendly, doesn’t mean it’s not a useful tool that professional runners will exploit in their training routines.