TITAN heavy duty sled vs TrueForm Runner

This is a comparison between the TITAN heavy duty sled 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".

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

Better posture
Easier adjustment of speed
No power supply needed
No programming needed
Less impact
Good resell value
Low maintenance

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 heavy duty push pull weight sled

This is an overview of the TITAN heavy duty push pull weight sled 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 of the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push Pull weight sled

The heavy-duty High low Push-pull weight sled from TITAN is a clone of the Rogue butcher sled. This sled has two load pins and is built for heavy loads to be pushed around. This sled has a considerable size and is, therefore, harder to store than a dog sled. This is the right choice when you want to make big burly Rugby players and NFL players move seemingly immovable objects. The full specifications are:

- Heavy Duty 11 gauge steel

- Dual Plate Horns at 10" High

- High/Low push/pull handles with strap hook

- Black Powder Coated frame

- Breaks down easily for Quick transport or storage

- 600 lb plus Capacity

- Post spacing: 26-in.

- Dimensions: 46-in (L) x 30.5-in (W) x 36-in (H).

- Sled Skis: 8-in x 5-in x 8mm thick

- Weight: 64 lb.

This is a big boy toy and needs space. Do not consider it when you can not exercise outdoors or have considerable space indoors.

Pros of the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push Pull weight sled

The pros of the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push-pull weight sled are:

Price
Size

This sled is all about moving as much weight on a sled as possible without paying big bucks for it. If that is the kind of thing you need, you found your companion in the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push-pull weight sled.

Cons of the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push Pull weight sled

The cons of the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push-pull set are:

Size
TITAN finish

While the size is great if you are looking for a big sled it can become a problem when you do not have the space to store the sled. Especially in a home gym, it can just get in the way as you will not use it as often as other equipment and can not just lean it against a wall like a dog sled to store it away.

As TITAN offers some of the cheapest equipment around that also comes with its perils. There is a higher possibility, that you have to force some of the parts as they do not fit snug. This can be fixed when you are a good handyman, but can also become so extreme, that you might question why you bought something new from TITAN rather than used from a different brand.

Alternatives to the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push Pull weight sled

If you run a respectable home gym and want to add a sled, the TITAN Pro sled might be a better choice from TITAN. If your goal is to add some resistance to your sprints and push a bit of weight around, the TITAN Pro Sled is more than enough in capacity and offers more versatility while taking up less space.

The low bar push pull drag sled from Rogue is a simple $100sled that comes with everything you need. It is simple and can be used with a harness or at the handle. A very cheap way of getting fit and not to be sneered at, especially if you only use low loads and find the Pro Sled too expensive and the Heavy Duty sled too big.

The power bar weighted sled with leash and harness is the ideal sled to keep in the back of your truck or car. If you like to take a sled outside to your favorite hill, this is the one to get. The plate pin can be collapsed so that it can be easily stored in tight spots. For the price of roughly $80, you can even consider getting more than one and just wreck them. The only downside is that this sled has a lower plate capacity and the metal drags directly on the ground.

Conclusion for the TITAN Heavy Duty High Low push Pull weight sled

The heavy Duty high low push-pull sled from TITAN is a good choice if you want to save money, have space to run and store it, and just occasionally do heavy loads on it. If you have a team of players that will abuse this sled around the clock you might want to upgrade to the Rogue butcher as it will last longer.