Some health gear is price your cash; others are gimmicks that ought to keep on the shelf. It’s not at all times simple to know which is which. For instance, at first look, the Sanddune Energy Stepper is a squishy platform that, for $280 a pop, leaves you questioning why you possibly can’t simply run and soar on flat floor.
In fact, you possibly can, however as Muscle & Health’ Zack Zeigler and Frank Sepe lately discovered whereas touring The Energy Membership (positioned in New York, NY), the Sanddune is a power coach-approved instrument for lowering joint influence and bolstering stability. And that, people, is why M&F’s Fitness center Excursions collection exists—to study new coaching instruments that we (and also you) would miss out on in any other case. Hold studying for extra in regards to the Sanddune.
What’s it?
The Sanddune Energy Stepper is a foam field that mimics the texture of transferring on sand. It options two particular person platforms, so your toes and fingers work independently of each other. Each platforms are additionally barely angled to position your fingers or toes on a decline or incline.
You possibly can run, soar, and push off of the Sanddune, which gives extra cushion to your joints whereas additionally difficult your steadiness. It’s sometimes used as a warm-up and conditioning instrument. Widespread actions on the Sanddune embody excessive knees, strolling in place, vertical jumps, and push-ups.
What We Like
- The Sanddune is joint-friendly. It mimics a sandy floor, coaching on which has been proven to cut back muscle soreness and stress. A research printed within the Journal of Human Kinetics in contrast the outcomes of seaside handball gamers, half underwent regular preseason coaching; the opposite half added plyometrics carried out on the sand to their protocol. Within the textual content, the researchers write, “A sand floor is related to a higher diploma of shock absorption and decrease stress to tender tissue and bones on the decrease limbs throughout plyometric train.” (1)
- It’s warm-up and conditioning instrument. The Sanddune’s inherent instability gives advantages to your conditioning and warm-ups which might be laborious to copy on secure floor. For one, the stabilizing muscle tissues surrounding your ankles, knees, wrists, and shoulders will fireplace constantly whereas utilizing the Sanddune. Consequently, your muscle tissues ought to change into extra secure over time. You’ll additionally enhance your potential to steadiness and produce extra power.
- It has a small footprint. The Sanddune is 26” vast, 22” lengthy, and weighs 12.5 kilos, so it doesn’t take up a lot house in your fitness center. Whereas it gained’t match comfortably in your bag, you possibly can simply toss the Sanddune in your automobile and haul it into your native fitness center.
What to Take into account
- It prices $280. That’s a reasonably steep value to pay for a chunk of kit that we’d hardly name important. Take into account the Sanddune a nice-to-have, assuming you already personal free weights, a rack, and a weight bench.
Its functions are comparatively restricted. You’ll get probably the most mileage out of the Sanddune leaping, squatting, and working on high of it. That’s about it, which is ok in the event you routinely carry out plyometric exercises. There are just a few different makes use of for the Sanddune, however they aren’t widespread data. For instance, you need to use it as a knee pad for Nordic curls or lay on it for dumbbell pullovers. By itself, the Sanddune is an adjunct, so take into consideration the way you prepare and the way usually you’ll use it earlier than clicking “purchase now.”
