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Reebok Deck Review
by Julie Chapman
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Having heard a lot about the Reebok Deck, and seen all the
hype on the Reebok micro site
www.reebokdeck.co.uk, I was looking forward to actually
having a go on one myself. Although my pessimistic side was
ready to be disappointed, I have to admit Reebok are bragging
for a good reason.
On paper the idea of the Reebok Deck, an exercise platform
that changes in a transformer type way to support a multitude of
exercises seems genius, but I wanted to find out if it really
worked.
The answer to that question has to be yes, yes, oh yes. The
Reebok Deck really is that good and I’m so pleased to say it has
been extremely well thought out.
Out of the box:
The Deck comes out of the box in the original
Step position (which is the most practical way to store it), and
looks like a Reebok Step, the give away that it isn’t a normal Step is
the length and weight. Don’t get me wrong, most people will have no problem
lifting a Deck, it’s more the fact that the Deck is heavier than
it looks, which I personally find quite comforting as it means I
can go hell for leather on it and not worry about it toppling
over.
Changing Positions:
This is where the pessimist in me reared
its ugly head expecting a large amount of fiddling, huffing,
puffing and probably a workout while just trying to change the
position. But it is actually simpler than a transformer and
takes a mere few seconds.
Turn the Deck on its side and simply move the legs out until
you hear a click, which is the leg locking into position. To
release the legs you just squeeze the handles that are neatly
located in either end of the Deck and fold the legs back in.
Moving the Deck’s back rest is equally simple, you squeeze
the handle on the right hand side of the Deck to release the
backrest and lift up the top of the Deck that will now become
the back rest. Then pull out the prop from under the backrest
and slot it into one of the three fixed positions.
I was so impressed.
Using the Reebok Deck:
There are hundreds of exercises you
can do with the Deck, so I had a go at some of the most
conventional ways of using it.
- As a Step.
With the legs folded in it is the same height as
a normal step with two rises on, no problem. At the full height
stepping becomes a lot harder, anyone who regularly does a Step
class will probably adjust quite quickly, but if like me it is
not part of your regular exercise routine you should definitely
start at the lower level and build up to the second height.
- Using the incline.
Pop just one of the legs up and you get an incline bench. This is great for doing stretches on, I also
found it good for adding resistance when doing sit-ups/stomach
crunches, by lying with my head towards the lower end of the
Deck.
I also found it surprisingly comfortable to lay
on when I was doing my stomach crunches, and again when using
hand weights lying in a flat position. The Deck has rounded
edges which means it doesn’t dig in your sides and it’s slightly longer than a Step so you can
lay flat without having your bum or head hanging off the end.
- Free Weights
Using it for free weights is great and the added
bonus of the back rest meant I could do loads more exercises
than I would normally be able to do with just my dumbbells.
However it is not designed for heavy weight training and Reebok
advise not to use anything heavier than 15kg when using the
Deck.
- Resistance Tubes.
You can pop resistance tubes into
guide channels on both feet and in four positions on the
backrest, and because they still move freely within the guide
channels while you’re exercising you can switch from exercise to
exercise with ease.
The Deck can be used for lots of other things including
circuit training, and add any accessory like a medicine ball for
example and you’ve got another whole range of exercises the Deck
can assist you with.
Clever Features:
Earlier I said Reebok have really thought their Deck through
and this is why; as well as taking just seconds to change
positions, the ability to add resistance tubes to it, its’ well
formed size and shape, plus the lack of space it actually takes
up when storing it after use, make it perfect for home use.
Reebok have cunningly put a storage compartment inside the
deck where you lift up the top to create the backrest. At 410 x
140 x 1000 mm it’s not to be sniffed at and it means my
dumbbells that are usually strewn across the living room floor,
now have a proper place to live. I’ll undoubtedly find loads of
other stuff to pop in there as well over the next couple of
weeks though as there’s still some room in there.
Little Niggle:
Reebok don't supply instructions in the box. OK, so it’s not exactly
rocket science to work out how you change the Reebok Deck from a
Step to a bench position, however I expected it to come with
some instructions anyway. It would also have been good if Reebok
included some examples of the different ways in which to use the
Deck, like the mini workout plans you usually find in exercise
products like this.
Disappointing, but not the end of the world. There is however
a DVD coming out in November, again it would have been nice if
it was released at the same time as the Deck so I could try it
now. If you order your Deck from
Diet and Fitness Resources it comes with a pack of hints and
instructions for use.
Conclusion:
Even without any instructions, I love the Reebok Deck as it’s
ideal for what I want to do. It means I don’t have to get
dressed and go to the gym, nor do I have to fork out for gym
membership or spend a small fortune on home gym (not that I have
the money or space for that).
I like working out when it’s convenient for me (often when
I’m still in my pyjamas), to the music I like and the Reebok
Deck means I can do all that in the comfort of my own home and
at a fraction of the other option’s cost.
The Future:
I’m looking forward to trying the Reebok Deck DVD
when it comes out in November as I’m sure it will give me more
ideas of things I can do with my Deck, as well as giving me a
workout routine to do for those days when I need some
motivation. So I’ll let you all know what I think when I’ve had
a go!
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