This is my second vibration plate review, following on from my earlier review of the BH Fitness VIB PRO Vibration plate back in September 2010. In this review I will focus on ease of construction, ease of use, specifications and price in comparison with similar products on the market.
Ease of Construction
Firstly, it ought to be said that I am no DIY fan. Anything that requires a level of self-building sends me into a panic, so I entrusted this part of the process to my husband. He was delighted to find that the level of DIY required to build this product was minimal, and although at times two pairs of hands were required, the instructions were easy to follow, all the necessary components were clearly marked and it took very little time and effort from start to finish.
Ease of Use
The Pro Wave is an attractive vibration plate, and looks really stylish. I like how the handle bars are just at the top of the machine, rather than extending down to the base of the machine. This means that you can perform a wide range of unrestricted routines on the platform which you cannot do on similar priced models.
The computer console is bold and brightly lit and the instructions supplied with it were clear and simple. I soon got the hang of what each button was for and was happily setting my own workout programmes after just a few sessions.
The platform area is generously proportioned and this is a huge benefit. You don’t get much out of a vibration plate if you just stand on it so you need a bit of room from which you can perform some simple exercises. The plate is plenty big enough for lunges, squats, press ups, calf massages etc and I never felt unstable when stood upon it.
Specifications
Ideally, when buying a vibration plate you should look for a model that can offer a variety of settings. The main settings on any plate should be frequency (measured in hz and is the speed the plate vibrates at) and time. I was pleased to see that the Pro Wave offers both. In fact, the 4 frequency settings that are available with this machine are not usually found on a plate of this price band, so this was an added bonus.
There are some nice added extras supplied with this machine, the first being arm straps. It can be a little too easy to simply grab the hand rails when exercising, but with the arm straps you can work out your upper body too. The plate is also supplied with a really detailed exercise chart, showing you a wide range of exercises to try and where on the body they benefit.
Once you understand the basic principles of vibration training you can start using the pre-programmed routines. These are 5 challenging routines that will really help you get the most from your session.
Price
The Pro Wave has an RRP of £995 but is currently available from Orbus Leisure at £479. This is an extremely competitive price for a model that is specified so highly. The specification levels mean that is sits comfortably with competitors such as Vibrostation and Power Plate MY5 but is available at a substantially lower price.
Summary
Overall I have found the Pro Wave Vibration Plate to be a great product, especially for the sub £500 price tag. It is a solid plate that is feature packed and really simple to use. It comes highly recommended and I am sure will soon have an army of loyal fans who are keen to benefit from whole body vibration training.
