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As with buying any piece of fitness equipment the more you spend the better the machine, with vibration trainers this is probably even more the case. The cheaper models will have limited programmes, smaller motors and platforms but may still deliver some benefit. At the higher end you'll obviously get much, much more and they invariably produce far better results. We've listed below the things you should consider when deciding which model to buy. You can also check our price table where you can compare the features of each model within your budget. Vibration Plates: The Technical Bitsa GCSE physics lesson:- Size of motor (watts) A powerful motor makes for a more reliable and versatile machine and most manufacturers will quote its size in horsepower (HP) or watts (W). A higher value means the motor is more capable of handling heavy usage and delivering the power to vibrate the plate at a higher amplitude - see below - even with a heavier user. A bigger motor will invariably be quieter than a smaller one as they don't have to work so hard to deliver the necessary power. The noise level is important if you'll be using the machine in a small room, in a flat or if you want to watch TV or listen to music whilst you train. Currently you'll see trainers with motors ranging from 120 to around 900 W (0.4 to 3 HP). Frequency Range This is important and the wider the range the better. The frequency is how fast the plate can vibrate and is measured in impulses per second, for example, at 60 hz the plate will move 60 times a second. The higher the frequency the harder the workout as the force applied to your muscles and bones increases, a lower frequency is advisable to start with and for working with injuries. Look for a machine with a range of 30 - 50 hertz (most models cover this range) and with the ability to step up in small increments such as 5 hertz. You may also see this referred to a RPM (revolutions per minute) - to compare it to other models as a rough guide you can divide the RPM by 60 to convert it to hertz. Amplitude This is the distance the plate travels from the lowest to the highest position. It's measured in mm so it the amplitude is 3 this means the plate moves a total distance of 3 millimetres in one vibration. The higher the amplitude the more intense the workout. Some of the higher priced models give you the option to change the amplitude level therefore increasing the variation of the workouts. Pre-set programmes: The majority of trainers come with their own programmes. These are specifically designed workouts that will control your machine and automatically alter the settings to save you having to press the buttons yourself. Size of plate: Also look at the size of the vibration plate as the bigger the plate the more exercises you can do and in more comfort. A bigger plate requires a larger motor to operate properly, so a general rule is you'll have to spend more to get both. Warranty: When you're spending a substantial amount of cash you want the re-assurance of a good warranty. The lower priced models generally come with 12 months cover and as you spend more this rises to 24 months. The warranty will come with conditions which include usage (domestic or commercial) and maximum user weight so do check you'll be within these before you buy. For example, a home use machine should not be used in a gym or commercial setting where it will be used by multiple users who may exceed the weight limit. |
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