Vibration plates are useful machines for core strength and balance work. Here’s our pick of the best vibration plates for home use…
If you’ve set foot in a gym, you’ve likely seen a vibration plate gathering dust in the corner. Otherwise known as power plates, they were all the rage a decade or so ago, but have since fallen unjustly out of favour. We’re here to tell you why they deserve more love.
Once they were bulky, cumbersome machines that took up much of the gym floor. Now, vibration plates are also available as slimline units, capable of delivering the same muscle-toning benefits but in a smaller form factor. As such, they’ve become much more suited to home use.
The benefits of vibration training
Whether you stand or sit on, or just use them to massage tight muscles, vibration plates work by sending vibrations through your body’s muscles – stimulating them to contract and relax. In general, our muscles tend to contract once or twice a second. But when standing on one of these plates, you can cause automatic reflex muscle contractions of up to 30-50 per second depending on the vibration frequency – also known at the Hertz (Hz).
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And the facts back up the supposed benefits of the best vibration plates. Scientists not only suggest that training regulary on a vibration plate (15-20 minutes per sesson, up to four days a week) with a frequency of 20-45Hz can improve strength, speed, flexibility and vertical jump height, but also that the equivalent of 60 minutes of conventional strenuous exercise can be achieved in just 20 minutes when using a vibration plate. That’s because the frequent, vigorous vibrations cause instability in the muscles which have to contract to stabilise themselves.
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The constant movement of the plate also creates an unstable platform. That causes the target muscles to constantly adjust in order to compensate for the instability. That, in turn, increases the effectiveness of each exercise performed – while of course activating your core, which has to work extra hard to keep yourself centred on the platform.
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How do vibration plates work?
To use a vibration plate, you simply stand on it and choose a setting that’s suitable for your workout. You can then perform any number of bodyweight exercises – including push-ups, squats and triceps dips – on the platform rather than the floor.
If you have a choice of frequencies, generally a frequency of 30Hz or less is best for relaxation and massage. A frequency of 30-45Hz is best for strengthening muscles, and 45-50Hz is for more intense stimulation and massage.
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Types of vibration plates
Vibration plates come in many forms and sizes. When looking for the best vibration plates for your needs, it’s important to assess beforehand how you’ll be using your plate. Some machines are large, free-standing pieces of gym equipment with the vibrating platform at its base. These offer the advantage of having a bar to hold onto. However, they do take up significant space. They’re best in a home gym or other dedicated workout space.
Other vibrating platforms are much more compact and can be easily stowed away when not in use. Below, we’ve rounded up and tested the latest vibration platforms that will suit a range of different budgets and spaces.
These are the best vibration plates for home use
(Keep scrolling for full reviews)
- Power Plate Move ($3,295 / £2,699)
- Eilison FitMax 3D XL ($269.97 / £301.97)
- Bluefin 4D ($399 / £389)
- Motive Fitness Elegance (£239.99 – not stocked in the US)
- Mirafit Slimline (£129 – not stocked in the US)
Power Plate Move
BUY IT NOW:
$3,295 / £2,699, powerplate.co.uk
Features: 4/5
Comfort: 5/5
Vibration range: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
Weight: 39.5kg (87lb) | Dimensions: 76.2 x 60.9 x 22.9cm (30 x 24 x 9in) | Frequency range: 30-40Hz | Colours: Black / Red / Silver | Accessories: Remote control / strap set / rubber mat
While the price might be prohibitive for most casual home fitness users, Power Plate brings all its experience and know-how to bear on its Move model. It features a wide, roomy plate with six levels of vibration to choose from, as well as a 30-40Hz frequency range.
There’s a two-year warranty for additional peace of mind, as well as a rubber mat and straps for a wider range of workouts. If you buy the Power Plate Move you’ll have access to plenty of videos and other useful resources on its website, as well as an app, virtual coaching and fitness workshops.
Read our full Power Plate Move review
Eilison FitMax 3D XL Vibration Plate
BUY IT NOW:
$269.97 / £301.97, amazon.co.uk
Features: 3.5/5
Comfort: 4/5
Vibration range: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Weight: 13.9kg (30.6lb) | Dimensions: 72.4 x 40.1 x 14.5cm (28.5 x 15.8 x 5.7in) | Warranty: lifetime | Colours: Copper / Silver | Accessories: Remote control / strap set / fitness tracker
With a wide speed range of 120 levels, the Eilison FitMax also features a useful acupressure system to massage and stimulate the soles of your feet. Its base is large enough to accommodate a wide range of movements, while suction pads keep it locked to the floor.
You also get built-in Bluetooth speakers so you can have a soundtrack to your workout, as well as a handy fitness tracker and resistance bands. An impressive lifetime warranty rounds out this excellent-value vibration plate.
Read our full Eilison FitMax 3D XL Vibration Plate review
Bluefin 4D Vibration Plate
BUY IT NOW:
$399 / £389, bluefinfitness.com
Features: 5/5
Comfort: 3/5
Vibration range: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Weight: 17kg (37.5lb) | Warranty: lifetime motor warranty | Colour: Black | Accessories: Remote control / resistance cords / workout and nutrition guide
The Bluefin 4D’s USP is a striking multi-colour rim that gives you useful feedback on how intensely you’re working. Three program modes and seven manual options give you plenty of combinations to vary your workout too.
Three silent motors control vibration, oscillation and micro-vibration for a variety of stimulation, and useful extras include a workout and nutrition guide, resistance bands and a wearable remote for hands-on control mid-workout.
Read our full Bluefin 4D Vibration Plate review
Motive Fitness Elegance Vibration Plate
BUY IT NOW:
£239.99, very.co.uk (not currently available in the US)
Features: 3/5
Comfort: 3/5
Vibration range: 4/5
OVERALL: 3.5/5
Weight: 10.7kg (23.6lb) | Dimensions: 60 x 36.5 x 13.5cm (23.6 x 14.4 x 5.3in) | Frequency range: up to 50Hz | Colour: Black | Accessories: Remote control / exercise strap
The Elegance vibration plate is a fairly basic machine that’s ideal for beginners, but its four operation modes and 30 intensity levels still give plenty of options to vary your workouts. What’s really impressive is the Elegance’s ability to reach vibration frequencies of up to 50Hz, which is the highest on test.
It’s a lightweight and portable unit, too, so it an ideal choice if you’re looking for easy storage or to use your plate in different rooms – rather than looking to perform expansive exercises or micro-control their vibration plate session.
Read our full Motive Fitness Elegance Vibration Plate review
Mirafit Slimline Vibration Plate
BUY IT NOW:
£129, mirafit.co.uk (not currently available in the US)
Features: 3/5
Comfort: 3/5
Vibration range: 5/5
OVERALL: 3.5/5
Weight: 13.5kg (30lb) | Dimensions: 68 x 38 x 14.5cm (23.6 x 14.4 x 5.3in) | Colour: Orange / Black | Accessories: Remote control / resistance bands
The Mirafit Slimline is one of the cheapest vibration plates available, but it still packs a pretty powerful motor. It also features nine program modes as well as 99 vibration levels.
It has a wide, grippy surface, suction cups for extra stability and resistance bands to increase your range of workout options. It’s light and not too tall, either, so is ideal for storing away under beds or tables. For £129, it’s hard to fault the Mirafit Slimline.
