20 Best Workout To Increase Vertical (2023 Updated)

Outstanding construction and very functional design! Will use the knee raise station each and every day as intended. Superior product above all others available! I would highly recommend to my friends and family!😀Easy to follow instructions made it extremely simple to assemble! The price was very, very competitive along compared to other company web sites along with free shipping.

😍.

I am beyond pleased!! I just turned 43, have been working out & been in sports/dance since high school, & this little guy really exceeded my expectations, honestly. I just used it for the first time this morning for a good 47 minute workout, and it did NOT disappoint! The resistance, even at levels 2-3 are a decent challenge, so if you’re worried about whether or not you’re going to get a good cardio/full body workout out of this machine-please don’t.

I absolutely mustered up a great sweat!! I just moved to a small home in West Virginia from Chicago and really needed something to accommodate my living arrangements that I could count on at the same time.

I’m just overjoyed that I happened to stumble upon this company! Assembly was a breeze, and I love that I can wheel this machine easily from room to room! If you’re on the fence about purchasing this-please go for it! Smooth, EXTREMELY QUIET (the husband slept like a baby in just the next room), and gives a good workout.

Nice product!!!.

I was concerned about making this purchase because I have had (two) prior faulty machines (not from Sunny) so I reached out with my concerns and heard back from a rep immediately. I was convinced based on the information provided that Sunny was a reputable company that stands behind its products and would make sure to make good on any faulty/damaged equipment.

Welp, I received the machine on 2/4/22, assembled it on 2/5/22 only to find the front stabilizer defective and unable to be secured to the machine, rendering it unsafe and unusable. I submitted a ticket with supporting pictures on 2/5 and have not heard a word back.

It’s been over a week and the machine is sitting unused, and there’s been zero resolution. What is frustrating is it only took minutes to get a response when inquiring to make the purchase but now that I have the machine and there’s an issue, I have not heard back.

Any company that will promote their products, tell you they stand behind them, then not even acknowledge when there’s an issue is not a company to make a purchase from.

The item arrived in a beat up box and one little plastic cover was broken. From the get go the left foot pedal slid off the railing. After contacting Sunny the made me send videos of the problem which I did, then sent video back with a “ fix” that didn’t work.

Then they sent me a new crank with a video explaining how to replace it. Never could get old crank out due to it probably being in there wonky in the first place, don’t know. When I contacted them again they wanted me to start all over and send another video of not being able to fix the crank, ignoring my request to to send me a partial refund or a new machine.

So I said I was done. I can use the machine as long as I stand on the outside of the left foot pedal. I like the machine itself but never got satisfaction with these issues from Sunny.

The machine it self is fine works ok and is comfortable. But I did encounter a couple of nuisance issues. The item comes with no paper instructions and the online version seemed to be constantly interrupted by ads and when i tried to print it, well lets just say it did not work.

I complained and had a pdf sent to me by e mail within a day. So that was really pretty good. However when I went to assemble I had another issue. The bubble pack which you would expect to have just the right amount of bolts and washers and nuts — did not.

I had to run out to the hardware store to pick up a few pieces in order to put everything together. Finally you should likely put some silicone on the up right pieces to make them slide a little more easily.

So I would give the machine a 5 but because of the silliness I deducted one star.

4. 5/5 stars. It would not be fair to rate this at 4/5 or 5/5: Pros: -Price is just right at 400 for the quality of the overall machine and what it offers -One of the best options for a leg press if limited on space -Provides a great workout front and back of legs all the way down to glutes, I always feel sore after 5 sets for a few days -Can do calf raises very conveniently without having to take the pins out which is nice for convenience AND safety -Good range of motion, and is better for persons 5’8″+, if shorter you can use pads on the backpad to get your feet and legs closer to the footplate to allow for a greater/deeper range of motion -This specific vertical leg press is easy to put change plates in the middle slot for a faster “superset” or when you are working out in general.

Most other vertical leg press’s only have 2 available loading pins, as this one has 3 -The finish on the leather is very nice for the headrest and back support -The finish on the overall unit on the outside is also very nice Cons: -Footplate can increase in size but you can still put your feet in different angles for different parts of the legs, especially when doing calf raises -It does wobble past a pair of 45 plates (90lbs, one plate on each side, nothing in the middle) -The wobble does not mean the unit is “unsafe.

” The frame supports the entire unit and does its job -The rods absolutely NEED to have 3-in-1 all-temp silicone oil (can get at local hardware store or amazon. com) for a smoother glide, if no oil is used then you WILL feel AND HEAR the metal rubbing against metal, it’s very annoying -It needs to be lubed frequently, every few months.

The best way is to drip 4 drops in (1 in each corner) with a disposable glove, rub it up and down the rods with your hands, then do a few presses with some weight to really get the lube inside the unit -The main reason for the half point deduction is going back to the wobble, it is caused by the “slim rods” that go up and down, the same rods that are used to press the unit up and down.

For version 2 I’d like titan to increase the width/diameter of the rod by at least 1-2″ for a more stable press and less wobble, I believe if the rods were much larger the wobble would not exist under heavier loading weight -The safety pin can also increase in diameter AND length to increase safety of the unit (I feel as if the ones provided are just “good enough” and they wanted to save on overall production costs).

-The safety pins can be longer for safety purposes and the handle should not be a “T” style but a hitch pin style would work much better (hitch pin like the Titan or Rogue ones that are large and fit inside the 1″ or 5/8″ holes on their racks).

If the system had larger rods, longer and larger safety pins, it would be an A. For now until these adjustments are made it’s a solid B+, still a great piece.

I just received mine today. I had it assembled and ready to use in a matter of minutes. Yes, there’s a misprint on the instructions (the pulley knobs don’t “click” into place, they just sit on the L-brackets, held in place by the tension of the cords), but I watched the setup video on QVC and quickly realized the written instructions had that one minor error.

Also, the back of the chair should curve inward toward the seat, not outward like the static pictures of the product on QVC’s page. (Just look at the videos of the chair in use to see the proper placement).

As for using the Chair Gym. holy moly, it works! I’m an overweight desk jockey who has had both my hips replaced, so I’m starting with the gray band just to get my muscles used to being used for more than typing on a keyboard.

The exercises on the intro DVD were easy to follow. Pro tip: If someone who has had very limited physical mobility finds it difficult to keep up with the videos using the cords, simply follow along and do the same movements without the resistance cords, at least at first.

Once your muscles and joints get used to the new ranges of motion you can grab the handles, put on the ankle straps, and go through the exercises with the added resistance of the cords. Also, I’m taking the Twister seat thingy with me everywhere because twirling while seated is ridiculously fun!!.

I’ve only been using this for about a week, but am happy so far. I ordered the zebra (not normally a pattern I’d use) because it did not have the logo in the middle of the seat, so it blends in a little better in a room.

I was a little worried it would not be challenging enough. no worries on that! I’ve got it on the lowest level and my bad knee can barely handle that on some exercises, and I can only get partial range on some of the arm and leg motions in the video.

I’m confident I’ll be able to go full range as I get stronger. It does seem a little wobbly (I’m far less than half maximum weight), but if you’re careful to keep your foot on the rest on the floor it’s fine.

It does tend to leave stripe impressions in the carpet, though, and I wish they offered a mat to go with. It would also be nice to have an extra set of handles to make moving between exercises quicker, but they are really quite easy to switch out.

Their website is no help in the accessories department, as it has none. If it’s a real problem for anyone you can pick up nice extras (not Chair Gym brand) on Amazon. Same with the ankle straps if you prefer the over the foot/boot style.

The great thing is that I finally found something my husband has decided to use!.

Did it click or did it not lol don’t know did not pay attention. If it breaks in a year I will return with my 5 year warranty duh. Do I like omg yes I LOVE it. I swear my pants that I wore yesterday got more loose overnight.

Yes I wear my Quaker Factory 2 days in a row 2nd day just to water my plants before I take a bath there is my not needed excuse. I would recommend this chair to everyone. I go to a gym yes but the core workout here is second to none and the time flys when I am twisting and to go into the next exercise is so super easy and then I don’t know how many times a sturdy chair is needed for you tube exercises like Barre and physique 57 I plan to use this chair its so easy to move around.

FlexBike is my favorite purchase but my second would be this chair and my aeropilates. hope to get a total gym for Christmas a tsv would be nice in November QVC just saying buy this its great.

This is the exact same climber as the Costway Foldable Vertical Climber that I bought from Walmart in July 2019 for $119. 99. still has the same problem as the older versions of the same climber that I have owned.

Really like the multiposition hand grips–up and down is more natural for long workouts and less strain on the wrists; and really like that this uses a chain and not a cheap pulley like other models.

that said, those items always outlast the climber because the foot pedals start to rotate and end up grinding on the housings. This last one seemed better designed so I again let myself get roped in by the better hand grips and the chain, but once again I was going along and there was a “pop” and now the right pedal moves inward and catches on the housing, making a click-click-click as it moves up and down, exerting weird friction that makes the climber essentially useless.

This is my 4th climber 3 years and the all go the same way. gonna try one that has round cylinders instead of this square tube flawed design. FYI, I only weigh 180lbs.

If you are considering this exercise machine, chances are you are also looking at the Maxi-Climber. Spend the few extra dollars and get the Best Fitness BFMC10. I had a MaxiClimber, and while it provides a good workout, the rollers are not made to last.

It doesn’t take long for the rollers to freeze up and break. I’ve only had the Best Fitness Machine a short time, but it is definitely more solid than the Maxi-Climber. The frame is sturdier and the moving parts seem more durable.

Time will tell if the Best Fitness BFMC10 will last longer than the Maxi-Climber, but I expect it will. The assembly instructions are well written, thorough, and very clear. It comes with 3 tools, all you need to assemble.

And the assembly couldn’t be easier. As I said, I’ve only had this machine a short time, but I would recommend it.

I’ve been doing it just a little each day (15 – 20min slowly) but I can feel the results from working out after just a week. I put it together all by myself in about 45min or so. The directions are very easy to follow.

I just couldn’t find anything about the white bottle of oil included The machine fits nice in my small apartment so I don’t fold it away. I easily slide it against the wall. Love the color so it doesn’t stick out much against my other furniture.

Good sturdy quality. I’m very happy with the purchase and highly recommend for getting a good workout.

I just got this a week ago. Love it! Been using it at least 4 times now since then. My first home gym equipment and needed a space saver in my bonus room. This is absolutely perfect! It got really good reviews which is why I chose it as I’ve been deciding on this or a treadmill.

I’m so glad I decided to get this! I’ve sweated so much doing a great fast workout on this. It’s pretty stable being a light weight piece of equipment. Super easy to put together. Only 5 steps and the main base came together already.

Just had to have help carrying it upstairs. So far so great! I’d highly recommend. The tension on it definitely enhances how hard you wanna work out. I was pretty sore the first day I used it. Which is what I was hoping for!.

Okay 1st is was so easy to put together took about 45 minutes. I followed a video on YouTube. I found the instructions it came with to hard to read. It’s extremely quiet. I love the fact that you can download an app to track your progress.

There’s also YouTube videos for this specific machine to get you started and to challenge yourself. The one feature I have not figured out how to link or setup the Bluetooth to the app. Hopefully I will figure it out soon.

I did a short 20 minute workout to see how it felt i found it easy to use. It was easy on my joints very comfortableI I will update soon.

I bought this last week and assembled it today. You definitely get what you pay for, because it truly doesn’t feel safe at all. I’m 6’5″ 320 and when I do a pull up or a dip on it,the entire machine bends and feels like it’s about to snap.

I feel that way with most equipment, but this is actually listed as supporting 600 lbs. nearly double my weight. This was a pretty bad investment on my end and I don’t recommend it to anyone else.

Two things, when you receive it, lay the box down, then open. Not only is there probably 62 pieces total, but you will also need help at a certain time to put it together. I also didn’t realize how unworked my core really is.

I’ve played with this a the gym, but boy, just being able to get on it and doing a few crunches, really tells you how much you really need this. I have now incorporated this into my workout routine. I love it, you will to, it is well made, weights about 75-80 lbs when fully completed.

It is built strong, tall and stable. Try it.

The Grey Slider Came Jammed, on one of the calfs, send me a new one please, I spent over $70 on this

The only issue is that the strap that is placed under the heel will slide off when the knees are bent and the body is suspended. Maybe add another flexible strap to go over the top of the shoe so the strap under the foot does not slide off.

As a fairly fit older lady who is quite active I wasn’t sure what to expect with the Maxi Climber but took it steady and feel I’m going to get a lot out of it. I already have other equipment but this one is totally different to everything else and it feels to target your legs and core really well.

It’s tough but feels good. It’s early days so time will tell but so far, I’m really pleased with it. It came with a wallchart so you can log your progress and when (!) you climb as far as Mt Everest, they send you a tee shirt – I think I’d need an oxygen tank if I ever got there.

At the age of 69 I just don’t see that happening.

Pretty decent piece of equipment if you don’t have much space! It’s easy enough to fold up and tuck away. The screen on mine doesn’t work, but that doesn’t bother me. You will need to have something on your feet as the grippy pedals are quite painful for bare feet.

Doesn’t take long to work up a sweat either with this!.

The step counter doesn’t work. Very are aware of this and the fact that you can’t find this out until you have put the machine up. Then very ask you to take it down and send it back if you can be bothered.

What use is a climbing/step machine without a step counter? Changing the battery did not work in my case. Would have been ok (not amazing) without this issue.

The machine is very easy to set up and comes nearly ready to go. It is light and compact, quite simplistic in general. I couldnt afford a treadmill or stair climber and this seemed to be something that would get the job done.

I recently had foot surgery and gained weight and need to get in cardio. Although I like the idea of this machine, it’s a tad more on the challenging side (good for getting results) but not easy on the knees.

It does put pressure on the knees so it’s hard (for me) to use this for a good amount of time. So far I’ve used it a few times and was able to get about 5 total minutes until I was having some joint pain and tired out.

I’m hoping with time I’ll develope some endurance and be able to see results with longer uninterrupted training time on it. It has a timer, tracks your distance and records info like that. You can use it where you just use legs and keep hands on handle bars that don’t move, or use the movable bars (more of a full body cardio workout) that go up and down in sequence with your leg movements.

The option for over hand or underhand grip allows you to change the muscle groups in arms. Not as much versatility as a stair climber or treadmill but it is quite cheap comparatively. If space and money is an issue then this may work well for you.

But be careful, you have to position yourself directly as machine indicates; it’s too lightweight to allow for any sort of leaning or it may tip over.

Kaged muscle messed with success and reformulated a great pre workout. Pre Kaged used to be one of my favorites and I always got the Orange Krush flavor which tasted more like Pineapple but I loved it.

Today I opened my latest order which was placed in September and I immediately noticed the powder looked different. Grabbed my older container and started comparing here is what I found: 1) Old formula was 588G and new formula is 558G.

You are getting 30 less grams of an inferior product. 2) Old formula one scoop serving size was 29. 4G and new formula scoop is 27. 9G. 3) Nutrition label information is misprinted. Ingredients and amount per serving are misaligned.

4) Old formula 10 calories per serving and new formula 20 calories per serving. 5) Old formula sodium was 5 mg and new formula sodium content is 40 mg. Almost 8 times the sodium and probably one of the reason why the new formula tastes bad.

6) New formula does not have QU995 (Quercetin Anhydrous) under Pro Pump. 7) Old formula had 2g BetaPower (Natural Betaine). New formula has 2. 5 Betapower (Betaine, no more natural?) Rest of the ingredients are still the same but like I said this doesn’t taste the same.

Marketing spin is that this was reformulated for easy mixability but I never had a problem mixing this before. In my opinion cost cutting has ruined a great product. I finally thought I had found a great pre workout and unfortunately they ruined it.

I got two containers and most likely will sell the unopened one. I will have to look for some other option when it comes to preworkout now.

This pre-workout doesn’t have many reviews so I was pretty skeptical, but I’m pretty happy with it. Not many pre-workout are stim free, which is important to me because I lift in the afternoon usually, and also want to avoid the accumulated fatigue that comes with stimulants.

Most pre-workout tend to give me an upset stomach when lifting, this one for the most part does not do that. This is also the only pre-workout I could find with the appropriate dose of citrulline, which is the main reason I went with it.

I have a fairly large sample size of pre-workouts I’ve tried and I’d say this is the one I will stick with until I find one with similar ingredients at a better price. Over all I’m happy with it for the price.

I wouldn’t expect a better pump than many other similar products, but it does it’s job, you get the tingly feeling from the beta alanine. Noticeable difference in vascularity while lifting as opposed to no pre-workout.

If you’re looking for a pre-workout you can drink in the evening and still get some quality sleep that night this is the one I’d recommend.

I have now tested pre-Kaged twice, only using a half-dose and have been happily surprised of how subdued the assistance was to my training, but in a good way. A lot of previous pre-workouts used to go too far, get me too psyched too fast, lasting only through the first two or three exercises and then making me worse than I’d be without.

I took it within the hour preceding my workout and didn’t feel any crash or loss of effectiveness over time. It feels like it’s a smart design. Otherwise the taste is fair enough if you shake your bottle enough.

It tastes like candy, drink it like you would any medication. So, great quality product overall. The only drawback seems to be the flimsy seal, which didn’t last through the journey and spilled some of the powder into the shipping box.

Great stuff! I used the old and the new formula (not sure the formula changed much, but the packaging did). It works! I try to incorporate a 60 minutes cardio work-out during, and I am using this product during.

The first 20 minutes just fly by, and you stay very focused. The other 20 are more gruesome, but you manage to push through. I think CI gives you the extra umph! The last 20 minutes you tap into your reserves, and usually you are able to do a semi-sprint in the last 5 minutes or so.

There is just this rush of energy. DON’T over do it though! I usually use a scoop and a quarter. You don’t get the jitters, but anything more than – you feel the heart in the chest (rate is usually elevated over by 10-20 bpm than what it should be).

This is by far one of the greatest supplements ever made. I take this before any endurance activity. I take it when i run marathons, mud runs or any cardio day. It has replaced my energy drinks when i do physical activities.

I have been taking it a little over 3 years and i always have a container of it on hand. I remember the first time i took it. im at the gym and i was a guy who never really ran or did any cardio for a long time.

The first day i doubled my normal distance on the treadmill. then i got on the bike and i went 24 miles. Ive been hooked ever since and its the number one supplement i make sure i have. Just trust me when i say how great this is.

There is no crash afterwards. there is no jitters. also when you really know its working it feels like you get your second wind. and that second wind never goes away.

I purchased this years ago on overstock for a very reasonable price, I paid under $100 for it and it was a very good investment. I absolutely love it. Don’t let the simplicity fool you you will get a full body workout.

I use this machine 3 days a week for a half hour each session and it is very effective at firming arms, legs, butt, and back and if you do it correctly it will even tone your abdominals. During covid when the gym was closed I really relied on this to get some type of exercise.

This is a good machine if you have knee problems it does not put any stress on the joints, of course you should check with your doctor first before undertaking any exercise regimen. It is fun to use, it’s sturdy, foldable and you will get many years of use out of it.

If you’re interested in burning calories and toning up in the privacy of your own home then I highly recommend the gazelle, It’s practical, affordable, and effective.

My mother bought our first one nearly 2 decades ago when she saw it on an infomercial when it first came out. She used it to keep herself toned and active as she was undergoing chemo and battling cancer.

Some years after she passed I bought one for myself because I remembered how good of an actual workout you can get on it. For those who poo poo it because it doesn’t offer resistance, I challenge you to learn about calisthenitcs, using your body to achieve a workout.

If you do kettlebells, or “jail” workouts you know what I’m talking about. You can push yourself forward and use that resistance to tone your upper body and increase heartrate and you can lean back a little and work your legs more.

Either way you use it, it is a great piece of equipment and what makes it even better is that you can fold it up and tuck it into a closet or behind a door and you gain your floor space back. I had considered a MaxTrainer for years before I bought my Gazelle but for thousands of dollars less I am satisfied with my Gazelle.

Give it a shot, you won’t be disappointed. Also I workout everyday and while i’m not a gym rat I do know about exercise and routines.

This product worked fine for the occasional use it endured for 3 years although it did development an irritating squeak that I couldn’t cure. I got on it 2 days ago and noticed that the right rear pedal began to clip the front bar.

It had never done this before. Upon inspection I discovered that the steel bar at the front of the pedal with the hole to connect the bolt had split causing the right foot swing to swing crooked causing it to clip the bar.

I was and remain shocked that the steel bar split like that. It’s now useless to me. I did not get my money’s worth. Disappointed.

I’ve used this product as my pre for two years. Usually three to four times a week. This is the best pre workout. Focus. Dilatation. No speed effect but great body buzz and results. But above all. your body never quits responding to this! Which is unlike the others out there.

Actually did many different ones before Jym. Had to. I got used to them and lost the effect. With one well known product it literally worked 3 times then quit. Don’t waste your money. Get Jym. It’s a bargain at this price.

I love it.

This machine shake left and right, maybe it’s cause by manufacture defect. So, I put a small piece of a thick card board ( approximately 3/4 inches) under the right rare leg of the machine, it stop shaking left and right.

Other than that, I really like this machine, because it is able to step very wide, and I am able to stretch my legs on every step when I ride on this machine. Moreover, I am so glad this machine doesn’t install oil pressure resistance, so the item is not very heavy at all, according to the product official website, the product weight is approximately 46 lbs.

Since it doesn’t installed oil pressure resistance, so I place this machine outdoor every time when I use it, this is absolutely wonderful to work out under under the sun and detoxify my body at the same time, and I won’t need to worry about if the oil pressure resistance will cause explosion during overheated.

It is a low-impact workout machine, it wouldn’t hurt my knees in the long run. I really appreciate the design of this machine! When the time I placed an order last week, the price was $189. 99, but today the price went up to $249.

99, I am very lucky to bought it at the low price. The shipment is very fast, it was shipped by a vendor whose name is called Spreetail, I received the package in 2 business days, and the package is in a very good condition.

I don’t get out of the office much during the day, and already have a desk riser to keep myself from sitting at the desk all day long. After having purchased a Sunny treadmill (and loving it!), I thought that a stepper might be a good way to add some more activity to my day.

I’ve been using it off and on for a week and have already begun to feel better with the added activity. As for the machine itself, I like the twisting action, and smooth motion of the steps. It’s very natural in gait.

The counter is easy to read and accurate. When the new Sunny Health and Fitness App comes out, I hope there will be a way to incorporate my stepper activity in the fitness tracker. So far, I have exercised with one Sunny stepper workout video.

I will definitely be checking out the rest! This stepper was on sale, and at approximately $80, I feel it was a steal! As the owner of two Sunny products, I highly recommend Sunny to everyone I talk to! I will definitely be shopping here first when looking for fitness equipment and accessories!.

I live in a tiny home, in a mountain resort town: so, I have limited space, and exercising outside isn’t always an option, but I can’t afford the gym membership costs, either. Enter this fantastic stepper! It cost less than one month at a gym would, took all of 5 minutes to set up and learn how to use, and can easily be stored under my desk or kitchen table.

Its height is great for putting at a standing desk to use while working at a computer. The adjustable stride length is great for customizing workouts to the pace and intensity you want. The twist is almost imperceptible, except for how it helps all of my glutes and the muscles in my lower back engage.

This has already proven to be a fantastic purchase, so I hope it’s as durable as it seems to be thus far.

I was skeptical when ordering this stepper, but the skepticism quickly went away. My first time on the stepper, I went only three minutes because my heart was beating! Over the course of the week I worked my way up to 10 minutes.

I use this stepper in conjunction with my bike. I’m 10 minutes on the stepper and 10 minutes on the bike. I use each for a total of 30 minutes (for a 60 minute total workout 6 days a week). There are numerous videos on Youtube on various ways to use the stepper for more than just stepping.

They show you how to use the bands for other exercises as well. I’m glad I bought this stepper and I use it day after day.

I have to give the three flavors this comes in at launch a 3 way tie; they are all really good. If you don’t like coconut, the tigers blood flavor is likely not for you though. Now about the actual experience.

Even though it shares many ingredients in the original pre-jym this feels much different. I did get some jitters the first time I took it but the energy was very smooth and no jitters after day 1. This has me focused for 6+ hours, long after your workout is over.

The pump is slightly better than pre-jym. Now the focus and drive you get once you get into your workout truly is next level and unmatched. If you are getting any nausea, try spacing any meals 2 hrs before your workout.

Then have a protein shake about 1 hour before your workout and also drink this preworkout over the course of 45min-1hr. You might not have time to follow that. However just note you’ll probably have a better experience if you don’t rush your preworkout process and ritual.

Experiment with what works best for you. But if this product isn’t too much for you— it’s an amazing thing.

I have taken many pre workouts in my day and have always felt great! Pre Jym X has taken me to the next level! I feel amazing! More endurance & stamina, HUGE pump and veins are extremely noticeable during my workouts! Tiger’s Blood also tastes great! A bit pricey, but well worth it! Also, on a side note, I’ve seen some reviews mentioning how they didn’t feel well after taking this or dealing with stomach issues.

I have not encountered these issues but I do know that Jim Stoppani recommends that you take this with 20oz of water and consume it over a 15-20 minute time period and not to chug it down. I don’t know if this would help people, but I figured I’d share his recommendation.

I’ve found my new pre work out for sure! #JymArmyStrong.

So many positives about this machine. Firstly it doesn’t take up much space at all (my old traditional elliptical was annoying on this front!). It is sturdy and quiet when in use, the built in screen is easy to use and bright, the built in speakers sound great.

The only thing I don’t love (just like) is the built in fan which feels too close to my face but for a taller person (I’m 1. 62cm) it may not be an issue. The best best best thing about this machine is the 1 year free iFit membership.

As the machine connects to my Wi-Fi, i’ve been able to login and join trainers around the world to workout together. Right now I’m doing a walking tour of Turkey, and it’s like I’m literally walking the streets, the ruins, famous buildings, and my machine’s resistance adjusts automatically, and the trainer (real human) acts as a guide – I just follow on my machine.

Very motivating and educational! Now being a Hiit stepper with a bit of an elliptical movement, means this machine gets down to business. It’s manageable and gets easier as you adjust to the movement particularly as resistance increases, but each time I’ve used it, I’ve felt like I’ve gotten a solid workout.

Assembly is a little bit fiddly, but with some patience and a second person easy enough.

Great compact size and loads of features and fitness goals that will keep me and the family busy for years. Paid extra for installation and the guy was passionate and knowledgeable about the machine.

He provided lots of tips and recommended a spray to protect if from the outdoor elements. The electrical cord is very short so you may want to invest in a surge protector and extn cord. All in all i got this at a bargin and so far i have only managed to complete the warm up and once around the virtual track.

So JL have prompted me to write a review on my purchase. By way of background this is the 4th piece of fitness equipment that I have ordered on line from JL – previously 2 elliptical cross trainers and a waterrower.

This is a big heavy machine and the order confirmation was clear that this was a 2-man delivery. On the day of delivery a man and a woman accompanied the machine and the woman stood there with a clipboard while the man struggled to get the box of the back of the van – I hasten to add that the van did not have a ramp so the man had to carefully walk the box off the van – a precarious operation! It took over 3 days to assemble the machine – I work full time so only had evenings to do this – the instructions are clear and it has taken 2 trips to the tip to get rid of the packaging materials.

When I finally finished assembly there were 2 screws left over and having re-checked I have no idea where they were meant to go! Having been away on holiday then I have only really used the machine over the last two weeks.

There is a myriad of programmes and workouts – to be honest I just jump on and exercise as I can’t operate it past level 3 on the resistance (52 years old and reasonably fit). Also for that reason I haven’t subscribed to the i-fit programme either – there’s no point in my mind.

So in use when I am training it squeaks rather loudly – I’m 110kgs and exercise vigourously. When my wife uses it – she is lighter and slower – it doesn’t squeak as much. It is more ‘stepper’ than ‘cross-trainer’ and 30 minutes a day is more than enough for me.

In checkout I specifically selected the option for someone to put this item in my room of choice, and im assuming install it. I paid $50 more for this for my two items. This did not happen. They just left the package at my door.

And the instructions are horrible. It only seems to have 4 steps, and they amount to “Do this and this and this” without explaining how, without explaining what exactly im bolting into what. The picture is also weird because the size of the items are not to relative scale with each other at all.

The items are also not labeled so i have to guess based on the picture. I couldnt find any tutorials online. Basically i cant install this myself and i have to find someone who can help me. Huge annoyance, why cant someone install this complicated stuff for me or at least leave me good instructions?.

Sturdy construction uses metric hardware. It’s the most basic design that offers all the necessary options. It does help to have a friend help build it initially. It is tall so if you have low ceilings you might hit your head on a pull-up.

Tall is good though for pullups if your house has the height.

Stamina 1690 Power Tower It took me about 30 minutes to install everything. I opted to use my own socket, ratchet, and combination wrench instead of the included “wrenches”. The entire set up is fairly heavy and once installed, takes up a sizable amount of room in the corner.

I weigh 150 pounds, and mainly wanted the 1690 for pull-ups and chin-ups. However, the knee raises and dips come in handy. I’m not really interested in the push-up or sit-up functions of the 1690 though, but it is available.

I noticed that if I have a lot of hip/leg motion while performing chin-ups and pull-ups, the 1690 can sway a bit although I do have medium-pile carpeting. However, I never found it to become unbalanced enough that it would topple over.

There is foam padding on the top bar, but I am already starting to get calluses at the lowest joints of my middle and ring fingers on both hands. The Stamina 1690 manual comes with photo illustrations showing the different exercises that can be performed, which is a nice touch.

In normal use, I find the Stamina 1690 to be very sturdy. I am not feeling or seeing any flexing of the bars or hardware. If the bolts somehow snap, one could easily go to a hardware store and procure high-strength metric fasteners to replace them but it is unlikely we’ll put enough shear force to snap one of them.

Overall: 5/5 stars, fairly pricey for use just as a pull-up or chin-up bar, but far more sturdy and stable than those that grip into a door jam/wall.

VersaClimber replaced my rowing machine for bad weather exercise. Smaller footprint, so I can step right on and go. I have to fold the rowing machine for lack of space, and with severe chronic fatigue I am tired out just from unfolding and moving it.

At first, I set the resistance much too low, and could only do a 2 minute interval. Max resistance minus 1/2 turn or even 1/4 turn allows 12 1/2 minutes so far, hope to increase to 30 minutes. At such high tension, I feel and hear a small pulse in the chain for each sprocket tooth.

I am looking for advice whether this is normal, or whether the chain is too tight. VersaClimber hasn’t answered my query. When not in use, the display is annoyingly like an arcade game come-on, so I unplug between use.

Lack of heart rate max/min/ave is too bad, but I get that from a separate device. Distance travelled disappears in a few minutes, so I need to record it promptly. The description seems to imply that you can switch between parallel and diagonal hand/foot motion, but it comes set for parallel, and the diagonal requires a custom build with a different chain configuration.

The description is ambiguous regarding whether the heart monitor strap is included. It is, which saves a separate purchase and about $80 if you don’t already have the right one. There is a warning about supporting the unit while unpacking.

The warning is in the middle of the manual, so of course my movers overlooked it, bent the metal slightly, cracked the plastic slightly. No loss of function, but such a warning should be on a prominent sticker to be seen immediately on opening the box.

The driving factor in my review is that the resistance between left pedal and the right pedal is not equal. I thought it was a symptom which would dissipate after breaking the machine in but the problem persists.

I put one pedal at the top of its range of motion, attached a heavy weight, timed the drop and did the same with the other pedal. The times were different and I can feel the difference when using the machine.

I did the test because I thought I had a physical imbalance instead of the machine. I’m reaching out to the manufacturer for help, if they figure out the issue and help me balance the resistance then I will consider this a near perfect machine.

I have Tourette’s and ADHD and can’t stop moving. I run so much my legs break, but this gives me a fantastic low impact alternative that gets my heart rate way up. My back is also much stronger and I feel like it’s made me a stronger runner who is now less prone to injury.

10 stars, no 20, maybe infinity stars.