Swim Spas vs. Exercise Pools: What’s the Difference?
By aupool | Date:
2025-01-15 | 914
read
Are you looking to add a pool to your home but not able to decide between a swim spa and an exercise pool? It's a big decision - both can transform your fitness routine and create an amazing space for relaxation at home.
The beauty of this comparison is that both choices are very flexible. Both provide you with a vast number of opportunities to exercise, whether you’re just getting into it with basic water exercises or are now ready for core workouts. They both have pros and cons, and there just might be one that might better suit your lifestyle and your specific needs.
The right choice depends on your lifestyle, from versatile pool exercises for beginners to intense exercises for abs in the pool. The question is: which one suits your lifestyle better? To help you make a better choice, let’s find out about their features, differences, and benefits.
What Is a Swim Spa?
A swim spa is a compact, versatile water fitness solution that combines the features of a swimming pool and a hot tub. These units are meant for indefinite swimming through water jets or a system that provides a stream against the swim. Swim spas are in demand for people who want to swim and exercise and do not have a big backyard.
Key Features of Swim Spas
- Compact Size: Unlike conventional swimming pools, swim spas are relatively small and thus suitable in small areas.
- Temperature Control: It comes with a heat-adjustable water temperature that works best for relaxation or rigorous exercise.
- Jet Systems: They create adjustable currents, enabling you to swim without turning around.
- Versatility: Apart from swimming, swim spas can also be used in various pool exercises for beginners or even for intensive exercise.
What Is an Exercise Pool?
An exercise pool, also called a lap pool, is a long, narrow pool best suited for swimming and aqua workouts. Most of them have rectangular designs to afford enough space to perform laps and other workouts, such as exercises for abs in water. While swim spas have some characteristics of an exercise pool, exercise pools do not usually contain jets, but their length is sufficient to maintain continuous movement.
Key Features of Exercise Pools
- Spacious Design: These pools are long, enabling users to swim those laps without interruption.
- Fitness-Focused: They are designed for sportsmen or people who practice set swimming patterns.
- Customizable Depths: Certain exercise pools provide flexibility in water depth to support several swimming pool exercises.
- No Jet Systems: Unlike swim spas, they don’t include propulsion systems, so swimming relies entirely on your effort.
Swim Spas vs. Exercise Pools: A Detailed Comparison
1. Space and Installation Requirements
The most apparent difference between swim spas and exercise pools is space: the exercise pool takes up more space than the swim spa.
- Swim Spas: Perfect for small lawns and gardens, it can also be used indoors. It can be mounted above-ground or in-ground.
- Exercise Pools: Need more space because of their length and width. These are generally good for larger properties.
Pro Tip: A swimming spa is better if you have limited space and desire the benefits of water workouts.
2. Purpose and Usage
- Swim Spas: When it comes to swimming pool exercises in a limited space then built-in jets are most suitable as they imitate swimming against a stream.
- Exercise Pools: Concentrated more on the aspects of fitness and swimming. They create enough space to contain activities such as exercises for abs in the pool.
3. Maintenance and Operating Costs
Maintenance plays a critical role in deciding between the two options.
- Swim Spas: They require less water and fewer chemicals, which results in a low cost of maintenance.
- Exercise Pools: The larger size has more capacity, which means more water, energy, and chemicals to use for cleaning. As a result, they are costly to use.
Did You Know? Current swim spas are fitted with modern filtration systems; they are very demanding when it comes to maintenance.
4. Temperature Control
Both options have the features of managing temperatures, though swim spas are better than other options in this sector.
- Swim Spas: They are all equipped with heating systems that enable them to provide hot water in the cold season.
- Exercise Pools: They usually don’t have the same level of heating options as swim spas, but they can be heated if needed, and usually, it takes longer and costs more.
5. Exercise Versatility
Both options support a lot of different workouts, but how they are designed can affect what you can do.
- Swim Spas: Perfect for resistance-based exercises and pool exercises for beginners. The jets offer customizable resistance, so they make for great aquatic therapy.
- Exercise Pools: Their elongated design provides a little extra pool space for those more advanced routines like laps and exercises for abs in the pool.
Why Is Pool Exercise So Effective?
Low-impact and high-efficiency workouts have always been an important feature of water-based workouts. The water buoyancy reduces the strain on your joints and is good for any fitness level. When you do pool exercises the natural resistance of water helps build strength, endurance, and flexibility.
Benefits of Pool Workouts:
- Low-impact exercise: Gives joint protection and helps prevent injuries.
- Improved flexibility: Water resistance helps stretch and strengthen muscles at once.
- Enhanced calorie burn: Water offers constant resistance that allows you to burn more calories.
- Core strength: Leg lifts and twists are exercises that work the core.
- Stress relief: The water is very buoyant, creating a calming, therapeutic kind of environment.
Popular Pool Exercises for Beginners
No matter if you own a swim spa or an exercise pool, there are tons of beginner-friendly workouts you can take on.
1. Water Walking
- How to do it: Keep both your shoulders under the water and walk from one side of the pool to the other.
- Why it works: It is good as it builds your endurance and comes in handy when strengthening the lower body.
2. Leg Lifts
- How to do it: Hold onto the pool edge and lift your legs straight out in front of you.
- Why it works: It targets your abs and works on balance.
3. Arm Circles
- How to do it: Latch your hands underwater and make circles with them.
- Why it works: Arm and shoulder muscles are strengthened.
Exercises for Abs in the Pool
In water, focusing on the core can be a great thing. Because water offers resistance, you must compel more deeply into your muscles.
Effective Core Workouts:
- Flutter Kicks: Hold a pool noodle or edge and kick your legs fast.
- Treading Water: Use just your legs and core muscles to stay floating.
- Side Twists: Hold a pool noodle with both hands and twist from side to side.
Advantages of Swim Spas
A swim spa is a versatile and compact all-in-one fitness and relaxation solution. Here’s why it stands out:
- Space-saving design: Perfect for small backyards or indoor installations.
- Year-round usability: Temperature settings are adjustable for every season.
- Customizable workouts: Jets give adjustable resistance for all levels of fitness.
- Hydrotherapy benefits: Warm water helps to relieve tension in the muscles.
- Low maintenance: These pools will have less cleaning and maintenance than large pools.
Swim spas can be a perfect solution for those who prefer to have a single type of water hobby equipment or those with a small family.
Advantages of Exercise Pools
Exercise pools are designed for those who value linear swimming the most. Key benefits include:
- Ample space: They can be used for freestyle and lap swimming, athletic training, exercise classes, aerobics, and workouts.
- Durable construction: Designed to withstand the impulses of the outdoor environment.
- Aesthetic appeal: It gives a natural and antique look to the property while giving it a royalty look.
- Family-friendly: Freely used by groups of people for leisure or exercise.
Well suited for families that prefer swimming regularly.
Choosing Between a Swim Spa and an Exercise Pool
Deciding between a swim spa and an exercise pool depends on several factors, including:
Space Availability
- Limited space: Swim spas are compact and versatile.
- Ample space: Exercise pools demand a lot of space, preferably open space.
Fitness Goals
- Diverse workouts: Exercise in swim spas can range from moderate exercise to professional swimming.
- Traditional swimming: Exercise pools are designed for those who are keen swimmers and for group exercises.
Budget
- Affordable option: Swim spas are less expensive to install and the cost incurred in maintaining swim spas is relatively low.
- Long-term investment: Exercise pools demand higher costs but add value to properties.
Lifestyle
If you prefer to use your swimming pool all year round and is a bit versatile, a swim spa may suit your liking. However, if you are interested in utilizing your backyard for swimming in the pool and are more into swimming the laps, then an exercise pool will suit you much better than the swim spa.
Conclusion
Deciding between a swim spa and an exercise pool is not just about size or cost; it’s about how you plan to use it. Are you aiming for therapeutic relaxation, exploring swimming pool exercises, or seeking intense workouts like exercises for abs in the pool? Both options have unique advantages, and the right choice depends on your lifestyle, budget, and fitness goals.
