The best vibration plate for the home should have enough power to vibrate effectively, should be easy to use, and of course should be affordable.
The Hurtle Fitness Vibration Platform meets all 3 criteria. It’s compact size makes it an easy addition to any home gym. Or, if space is limited, with the included exercise bands you can turn any area in your home into your own workout area.
But before we get too ahead of ourselves, lets take a closer look to see how this vibration plate by Hurtle Fitness made it to the top of the list.
The Hurtle Fitness Machine Vibration Platform
Vibration machines go by a lot of names: “whole body vibration machines”, “vibration plates”, “vibration platforms”, “power plates”. They really all mean the same thing. Well, let me take a step back. I do like to make a distinction, but that doesn’t mean everyone else does.
For me, a “vibration plate” or “platform” is a machine that doesn’t have handlebars. These devices only consist of the vibrating portion of the machine. The Hurtle Fitness Vibration Platform is a perfect example. You can see there is no where to hold on for balance. This design has its advantages. For one, it gives you more room to perform exercises without being restricted by the width of the handlebars.
Of course, on the other hand, it also means that you have to have enough balance to be able to stand on the machine without falling off. There’s no where to hold on to support yourself. Worse case, I guess you could always place a chair in front of you to grasp for stability. Or, you could always purchase a “vibration machine”. In my book, a vibration machine has handlebars, a vibration plate does not.
But this rule is not written in stone anywhere. You will see all kinds of different terms for these machines. This is just how I like to differentiate them.
So as to the title of this article, I consider the Hurtle Fitness Vibration Platform to be the best vibration plate (no handles) for home use. There are some awesome vibration machines on the market (with handles), but that’s a topic for another day. If you would like some more info on vibration machines in general, click here.
Back to Hurtle Fitness.
Before I go into too much detail, I wanted to give you the 3 top reasons I chose the Hurtle Fitness Vibration Platform to be the best vibration plate for home use:
- Power- the Hurtle Fitness Vibration Platform puts out 400W of total power (dual motors). This is plenty of power to vibrate with as much intensity as you prefer.
- Vibration Options- this machine gives the ability to choose whether it vibrates vertically, horizontally, or a combination (oscillates)
- Easy to Use- this vibration plate is simple to use, all you have to do is stand on it and hit the power button. Operating the remote is straight forward.
Power
Let’s go into a little more detail here. Because I think this is one of the most important things to consider when looking at vibration machines. When comparing models, you will find that the power of these devices varies greatly. You will see motors with numbers ranging anywhere from 120W to 2000W. With power, more is considered better.
The more powerful a machine’s motor is, the less it will have to work. This typically means it will be quieter too. More powerful motors will also be able to handle heavier users.
The Hurtle Fitness Vibration Platform has a total power output of 400W. This is delivered by 2 motors in the unit. This amount of power if capable of operating with a 265 lb user up to 3300 revolutions per minute (RPM). RPM is a measurement of how fast the platform can vibrate. You will also see this measured in hertz (Hz), or vibrations per second.
Most professionals will tell you to look for a vibration plate that can keep you in the 20-50 Hz range during your workout. The Hurtle Fitness Vibration Platform can reach 55 Hz (3300 RPM / 60 sec). For more information on what frequencies you should set your vibration machine too, check out this interesting article.
So, as you can see, this vibration plate has enough power to get the job done (as long as you are under 265 lb).
Speeds
This vibration plate has 20 different adjustable speed levels. I just mentioned that at top speed this device is vibrating at around 3300 RPM or 55 Hz. This machine doesn’t tell you what frequency you are exercising at, it just shows your level from 1-20. So, if you are interested in finding out exactly what frequency you are at, you may have to do a little math and estimating.
For example, if you are at 55 Hz at level 20, we can assume at level 10 you are at roughly 27 Hz. At level 5 you are at roughly 13 Hz. And so on.
Vibration Options
The Hurtle Fitness Machine Vibration Platform gives you 3 different options for your vibration direction: vertical, horizontal, or combined (oscillating). A lot of folks are interested in the oscillating mode, but it’s nice to have the option of all 3. It really gives you a lot of control over your workout.
You may find that some exercises feel better or are more challenging on certain vibration settings. For example, squats may be harder on horizontal vibration than vertical vibration. Try all 3 modes and see what works best.
Workout Programs
The Hurtle Fitness Vibration Platform comes with 3 preprogrammed workouts. Hurtle Fitness doesn’t provide much info on the differences between the workouts, but they all start off slow and gradually increase in speed as the time progresses.
This vibration plate has a max user time of 10 minutes, so the machine automatically turns off after that time. If you want to workout longer, you will have to turn it on again.
Remote Control
This vibration platform comes with a handy remote control. That really is a must with vibration plates because you need to be able to control it while you are on it. Since the console is on the platform, it would be quite challenging to make adjustments during use.
The remote control Hurtle Fitness provides is easy to use and straight forward. You have the on and off buttons and controls to change speed and time. You also have a quick speed selection if you know you want speed level 10 or 20. You can also change the vibration direction from the remote as well as choose one of the 3 preprogrammed workouts.
Resistance Bands
Hurtle Fitness includes a set of resistance exercise bands with their vibration plate. A lot of companies do this and it’s a great idea because it really gives you the ability to perform a full body workout. The bands attach to either side of the platform and can be used for performing upper body strengthening exercises.
You could get really creative with these bands too, don’t think they are just for doing arm curls. Shoulder presses and shoulder flys work well with bands. How about holding an isometric shoulder press while isometrically squatting (while vibrating)? Now we’re talking…
Price
I can’t finish a review on any product without talking briefly about price. The Hurtle Fitness Vibration Platform costs a little over $200 on Amazon. In the world of home fitness equipment, this falls in the budget category. In terms of home vibration plates, this price falls somewhere in the middle of the field.
There are plenty of vibration plates running in the $100-$150 range and there are a few upwards of about $1000. I think this vibration plate is pretty well priced considering it’s power and vibration options offered. Cheaper products tend to have lower weight capacities and weaker motors.
If the price tag on this model is a little steep, but you like everything else, you may want to consider this other Hurtle Fitness vibration platform. Very similar machine, but only a 200W motor and costs about $150. Also very well reviewed.
Pros
- Powerful dual-motor (400W output)
- 20 adjustable speed levels capable of reaching 3300 RPM (or 55 Hz)
- 3 preprogrammed workouts
- Choice of 3 different vibration modes
- Easy to use remote control
- 2 exercise bands included for a full body workout
- Transport wheels for rolling
- Durable, heavy-duty construction
- Affordable price
- Good customer service
- Easy storage
Cons
- Display doesn’t show frequency (RPM or Hz)
- Weight capacity only 265 lb
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think the Hurtle Fitness Machine Vibration Platform is a great product and the best vibration plate for home use currently on the market. It’s user friendly, has plenty of options, and is powerful enough to vibrate fast enough to give users of any fitness level a challenging workout.
For such a heavy-duty vibration plate (it weighs in at just over 50 lb), I wish it had a higher weight capacity. I’m guessing it’s more of a power limitation than a structural one.
Remember the heavier the user, the more power it’s going to take to keep that plate vibrating at the higher speeds. If you are over 265 lb, you may want to consider a vibration machine with handlebars, they tend to be a little more robust and can handle larger users.
User reviews are overwhelmingly positive for the Hurtle Fitness Vibration Platform. It’s currently boasting an average user rating of 4.2/5 on Amazon.
The negative comments are rare, but the most common are due to parts not working correctly upon delivery.
