The Ab Coaster is one of the newest abdominal machines in the fitness equipment industry, but is it really effective? Many of the products you see on television have come out in recent years, each claiming to be the best abs workouts, such as the ab roller, ab lounge, ab rocket, etc. Honestly, most of the aforementioned abs users were disappointing and users quickly started leaving negative reviews. I don’t like buying products that don’t work, and I don’t think people want to spend money on abdominal exercise equipment that doesn’t really work. So I set out to provide a full and unbiased review of the Ab Coaster Pro and its various models.
The device is designed to mimic the effects of hanging leg raises, with the major exception of being one of the best total abdominal exercises. The problem with hanging leg raises is that they are difficult to perform. You should be able to stay suspended in the air and lift your legs up to your chest for multiple reps. Or even more difficult, roll your legs to the side as you lift them to work your obliques. The ab roller coaster has been designed with a directional adjustment seat to allow you to perform a forward knee lift motion and a side lift, effectively hitting all the core muscles. The unit has also been designed with additional strength in mind by allowing the user to add weight plates to the base of the seat. This means that as your core gets stronger, you can easily increase the challenge of exercise by adding more weight. All units also include wheels on the front to make it easier to move around and all have a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The first thing someone will notice about the ab coaster is that it is much more expensive than any previous product with a base price of $ 399. I must say that the price of this unit is quite justified by its robust construction and utility. Remember, quality generally comes at a price. For those who think the ab roller coaster is too expensive, I advise you to try to find comparable equipment on the market for under $ 500. The truth is, you just can’t because there is none.
As for the details of the unit, it comes in a few different flavors. The Ab Coaster PS500, formerly known as the Ab Coaster Pro, is the base model and should get the job done for just about everyone. It has a 300 pound user weight limit, can hold an additional 20 pounds of weight plates for added strength, and is made of steel construction. The most expensive “personal” model, the PS750, has stainless steel rails and polyurethane rollers on the underside of the seat, but costs an additional $ 100. These units weigh approximately 69 pounds shipped and are fairly easy to assemble with all the included tools and hardware. One note: when you start to remove the entire part, be sure NOT to cut the plastic ties that hold the seat together before you have fully assembled the unit. If you cut them too soon, the seat will slide all over the place as you try to put it together!
The toughest commercial models start at $ 900 and go up to $ 1,500; These are the models you will see at reputable fitness centers like Gold’s Gym and 24 Hour Fitness. I haven’t seen any of these personally, but from what I can tell they have heavier users, allow for more weight to be added for strength, and have slightly better build quality with things like adjustable grips. I think most home users will stick with personal models.
In conclusion, if you are looking to buy this product, you can take comfort in the fact that the majority of consumer reviews have been positive and with the money-back guarantee, you don’t have much to lose by trying it. If price is still a concern, you can try searching for a used roller coaster on Craigslist or eBay.
