TITAN 88lb punching bag vs TrueForm runner
This is a comparison between the TITAN 88lb punching bag and TrueForm runner including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally published in Which cardio equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for more details.
Overview and review of the TrueForm runner
The TrueForm Runner comes in at $5695 - $6195. In this article you will learn more about the product itself, its Pros and cons and alternatives you might want to consider. This article has originally been published in the overview "
Which conditioning equipment to buy from Rogue".
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Overview of the trueform runner
The
TrueForm runner is the latest and greatest in the treadmill industry. Compared to other treadmills it has the advantage that it is not motorized and propelled by your own weight. In addition, the surface you run on is curved so the impact of your footfall is not as hard as on a flat surface. This dynamic is achieved by a conveyor belt that runs on bearings. Think of the conveyor belt at the airport but moved by your own bodyweight. It has been used at the CrossFit games and has gained popularity since then. The dimensions of the
TrueForm runner are:
- Height 57’’
- Width 36’’
- Running surface 54’’ x 17’’
- Weight 325 LB
You can choose from two different options, Enduro and Performance. Both options come in at the same price and with the same dimensions. The performance model provides a higher railing. This is especially useful when you have athletes who run very fast on the machine.
Apart from this, you can pay $500 extra to get grass or track and field topping on the running surface. If you use the
TrueForm runner to train track and field or football athletes you might want to go with one of these options.
Pros of the TrueForm runner
There are several pros to the
TrueForm runner
Based on the setup of the
Trueform runner it actively helps your clients and athletes to have better running form. If you strike with the heel the curve of the machine will help to remedy and correct this over time as you push the belt from the front to the back.
With the
Trueform runner, you can adjust the speed at any given time yourself without worrying about faceplanting. Doing interval training on motorized treadmills can be really annoying as the acceleration and decelerations come in jumps rather than continuously when you program them in at the start of your workout. If you adjust them while exercising it is almost impossible, especially at high speeds.
If you deploy a whole row of these (10 - 20 machines) you might also be pleased that you do not need to plan for cabling when the gym is built and powering these treadmills all year around.
As mentioned before you can free run on these machines to your hearts contempt. No buttons or panic stops needed. Just slow down and the belt slows down with you. You will not be catapulted into the wall behind you.
The curve will also be helpful to have less strain in the ankles and knees from the impact of the food. This helps you to train longer for harder.
As with most things which are "hip" and high price you usually get a higher resell value out of them than for the lower range options. While this is mostly less important for individual buyers it can be important for a chain that regularly closes off unprofitable subsidiaries and wants to shuffle equipment around.
As there are no motors which can break down you will also have fewer maintenance needs. Although you are probably more likely to need a welder rather than an electrician when this beast breaks.
Cons of the TrueForm runner
The cons of the
TrueForm runner are in my opinion:
-
Hard to do pace training
-
Not for beginners
-
Price tag
-
A big piece of equipment
-
Poor monitor
When I prepared for my marathons there was one thing I liked about treadmills, you could set an exact pace for some of your long runs. This is actually a strength rather than a weakness of a motorized treadmill. For me, it was handy to plan my splits and hit my target time as the pace I chose was slightly challenging. I would do one of these a week slightly above the planned pace for the marathon and add distance each time. The rest of my training would be outdoors. This raised my confidence to reproduce the exact pace I needed on race day. With the
TrueForm Runner, it would have been hard to have that reference, but it would have been better to do Interval runs indoors.
Tell me what you want but this thing is not for beginners. This is designed for people who want to go like cheetahs and could not do it properly on normal treadmills. Fast acceleration and breaking are where this is at home. Not for beginners or someone who is wobbly on their feet because they do rehab or are overweight. A slow motorized treadmill is the better option here.
With $5000 a piece, this is a steep price. If you want to signal to your clients that you are doing well and justify the membership of $300 a month, this is a strategy. For two of these, you can get a 10 pack of concept 2 rowers,
skiergs or bikes. 10 x $100 in membership fees from a spinning class is more than 2x $300 with a bigger spread of risk in your income.
Last but not least these are big. If you have a garden or basement gym I would almost consider this no option unless you live in a mansion. If you want to maximize floor space in your commercial gym this is also not the way to go. CrossFit boxes might like this, especially if they are in the middle of a busy city.
The monitor is poor compared to some of the concept 2 options where you have leaderboards implemented to keep yourself motivated.
Alternatives to the TrueForm runner
There are the following alternatives to the
TrueFrom runner:
The
assault air runner is one alternative to the
TrueFrom runner if you still want a self-propelled treadmill. The
assault air runner comes in at a lower price point than the
TrueForm runner. The mechanics are also a little different which makes running easier on this one.
The
Versa Climber is often referred to as one of the hardest things you can do in endurance on a machine. It simulates climbing a steep wall with a good grip. It comes in at about half the price and takes up less footprint than the
TrueForm runner. If you want a good machine for your home to knock you out this is can be a great pick. For a commercial gym, you might not have the uptake as many people just want their treadmills.
The
Rogue Echo bike is a solid choice for the home gym that wants to kick your butt. Combined to the Versa Climber and the
TrueFrom Runner it comes in at a fraction of the cost. A good air bike workout will still challenge you and is highly recommended.
Summary for the TrueForm runner
This is a well-built piece of equipment which is worth the price if you have the need and space for it. Athletes who know how to pace themselves, have balance and want every workout to be as challenging and adaptable as possible will love this.
For the average gym with average clients it is probably a bit too intimidating and high performance. I do not see overweight stay at home moms or retired manly beer bellies stepping on the
TrueForm runner first thing through your gym doors.
Overview and review of the TITAN 88lb punching bag
This is an overview of the TITAN 88lb punching bag including pros, cons, and alternatives. This article was originally published in Which cardio equipment to get from TITAN. Follow the links for more details.
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Overview of the TITAN 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag
The
Titan 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag is a classic heavy punching bag that you see all over the country. This is a solid punching bag for a more than reasonable price. Not the best in the market, but it will suck up a lot of your punches.
Height: 57.5-in.
Diameter: 15.5-in.
Product weight: 88lb
- Durable outer shell provides consistent striking performance
- Mixed fill contains sanitized, synthetic fibers for prime shock absorption on impact
- Sufficient mass for people weighing 170 or more pounds
- Heavy-duty straps offer increased security
There is not a lot you can do wrong with a heavy bag for only $100.
Pros of the TITAN 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag
This is a well-priced bag that does what it says on the tin. The design is understated so it will fit many different gyms. With this bag, you can start or buy in bulk for your commercial gym without breaking the bank.
Cons of the TITAN 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag
Compared to high-end boxing bags ranging from 400 to 600 Dollars this is not the most durable, fanciest, or hardcore bag. You can get bags filled with water, pebbles, and all kinds of media and made of a stronger leather than this one. So if you have the Klitschko brothers pounding your bag day in and out maybe get something a little more solid.
This bag is only a bag for putting $100 on the table. With a bit of research, you can find some deals for slightly more where you get the gloves and some other small items thrown into the trolley too.
Alternatives to the TITAN 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag
The
power strike punching bag is an alternative to the 88lb that is easier to move around and swings more, especially when kicked. This is the better bag when you only want to box and get the bag off the hook easily and often.
The
Muay Thai boxing bag is a good alternative to the 88lb bag that costs slightly more but is therefore longer. This will enable you to also practice low kicks on this bag while giving up a little bit of thickness compared to the 88lb bag.
The
pivoting reflex training bar is a great alternative to another 88lb bag to train your reflexes for blocking and ducking. The bar will spin and hit you when you give it a push if you do not get your guard up in time or duck away.
The
RDX free standing punch bag is about $100 more than the
TITAN 88lb punch bag. The big advantage is that you do not hook this bag up to the wall or the ceiling. To provide stability it can be filled with sand or water at the base. One big downside of free-standing punch bags is the base itself. As it is there, you can not get up close to the bag to simulate fighting and clinching.
The
RDX heavy punching bag might be the better choice for beginners as you can get it in a nice set with gloves, a wall-mount, and other extras. This will only be slightly more than $100.
The
RDX hanging filled face might not be the first boxing bag you are getting it maybe the second. It simulates the shape of a body with a face on it without costing you the money of a terry torso.
Conclusion for the TITAN 88lb Heavy boxing punching bag
The
88lb TITAN heavy boxing punching bag is a great extra to throw into your shopping basket if you intend to build an entire gym with TITAN. Just get the bag and something to hook it on the wall on the same delivery as the rest. If you buy in bulk because all of your boxing bags in your boxing gym need to be replaced this is also a good bet. Just keep 1 - 5 of the more expensive bags for your veterans but for beginners, this is more than enough.