Cardiovascular workout, tones legs, arms and bottom ! Will help you lose weight if you push yourself . Excercise releases endorphins which give a sense of wellbeing : O)
Disadvantages:
Can be noisy and safety mechanism limits how long a stride you can take . You need to be motivated to use it !
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Are you feeling chubby? Are you feeling blue? Don’t be glum, get off your bum and do the AirWalk it’s goooood, lol.
Sorry for the introduction to this review but I felt it needed a bit of a rhyme (not a very good one, I admit).
In June of 2002 I felt the need to get into shape, I’d given birth to a beautiful daughter in April and was feeling a little out of shape to say the least! While I was pregnant I managed to put on a whopping 4 stones, wow! Thanks to ice cream and various other treats my butt was looking for a sign that said “Wide Load”.
I’d seen loads of Air Walkers in magazines and heard good things from a few people who’d used them and thought they where a great way to get into shape so I thought I’d check out the net to see how much these things cost!
After a good investigation I decided to go for the Gravity Walker Plus as it was on special offer at the time and there’s no better time to buy than when it’s on offer is there?
I bought mine from Littlewoods Index and it cost me 99.99 GBP at the time but they have put up the price to 104.99 GBP, which is still a bit of a bargain as they have still reduced the price from the RRP. I’ve seen this sold on various websites for the princely sums of 145.00 GBP so do shop around!
It was delivered to my door and it weighs approximately 4 maybe 5 stone (maybe even a little more). So getting it out of the box was a bit of a struggle. As the main frame of the Walker is already assembled it didn’t take long to add the rest of the equipment. I’d say 15 minutes using the easy to follow instructions and it was ready to use.
If you’re wondering what an air walker/gravity walker is exactly then let me explain. It’s a piece of exercise equipment; it has a sturdy frame and two moving footrests, which you stand on, and has dual action handles attached at the other end to workout your upper arms. This piece of equipment is a non-impact aerobic exercise machine, which can help trim up your lower legs, thighs, hips and bottom area, it can help tone the arms too if you use the duel action handles and can improve your cardiovascular fitness!
Warning> before starting any exercise programmes it is advised you consult with your doctor. I did this and got the go ahead.
*”*”*” Features “*”*”*
As well as the above incentives this piece of equipment has a little computer added to it, which is attached to the handrail and runs down though the walker and finishes by the side of the walker where it can monitor your progress. The information the computer will give you is as follows:
ON/OFF – The computer automatically comes on when you start your workout and will switch off automatically when left for 3/5 minutes of non-use. Strides Per Minute (from here will be known as SPM) Total Strides During Your Workout Calories Burned! Timer (so you know how long you’ve been striding :O) Scan – press the button on the computer until it is on scan and the computer will flick from one feature to another throughout your workout so you don’t have to keep pressing for how many calories burned or how many strides per minute you’re doing etc.
*”*”* Dimensions *”*”*
Not a small piece of equipment by any means, the dimensions are as follows:
84 x 80 x 120cms approx and weighs somewhere in the region of 4 to 5 stones!
The Gravity Walker is suitable for users weighing 265lbs/120KG/16 stones or less.
**||** Work It Baby Work It **||**
As with all new experiences you need to show a little patience with the gravity walker, as it’s a bit weird to use to begin with! You should start off using the handrail and don’t go straight on it thinking you can go super fast and use the handles as you may end up in a heap on the floor which could be a bit off putting!
Luckily for me I read the instructions properly and noticed this but unfortunately for my brother he had not and jumped on and fell off within the space of 10 seconds, much to the amusement of everyone present (I only wish I’d had my camcorder handy, lol)
Balance is the key to a good workout; once you have your balance and can use the handles then you can work on increasing speed and the amount of time spent working out.
Positioning yourself is also important. You should stand up straight (do not lean forward when first starting out) but comfortably and bend your knees slightly, by this I mean more unlocking your knee joint so you aren’t tensing the leg muscles as this will start to hurt you before you’ve had a chance to work up a sweat!
I found once I’d gotten used to the feeling of striding in the air I could increase my speed. It took a relatively short time to accomplish this. I must say though on my first workout on the walker I felt a bit like I was walking on the moon when I alighted from it, I suppose this is partly due to the fact that it’s a new experience and partly to do with the fact I’d been on it for an hour! I soon got used to that though and I don’t have that strange sensation now. I asked my niece (who also owns a walker) if she experienced this when she first started using it and she said she had to but also got used to it really quickly!
Okay so now you get the general idea of the walker you’re probably thinking it’s something you’d get bored with really easily and you’d be right!
I now give myself goals to reach and change my routine slightly every time I do a workout. I find if I alternate my routine it’s less boring and give me a mission to reach.
At first I started doing the regular striding motion and holding the handrail I worked on getting my SPM up as much as possible.
To begin with I was doing between 120 and 130 SPM which soon raised to 150 and onto 160 SPM which is really pushing it and going like the clappers so to speak but started to get a wee bit boring so I started using the dual action handles which takes a little getting used to and will reduce your speed a little to begin with but I was on a mission and soon raised my SPM up to between 145 and 155.
Another workout, which really gets a sweat on, is to use the dual action handles and lean slightly forward or back. This will really get your arms pumping while still toning the legs, bottom area and getting your heart pumping, it can be really exhausting. I wouldn’t attempt that until you’re really sure of your balance though.
Other goals can include beating your previous SPM, Calories in your total workout and length of time spent on the walker. It’s also a good idea to do your workout to music as I find it really makes me work harder and it’s more fun!
I tend to do an hour 3 or 4 times a week.
Do I feel better for it?
You bet I do. I won’t lie and say I don’t have to push myself to use the walker sometimes because I do but once I’m on it I’m raring to go. I have even been known to do a 90-minute workout on it so it can’t be all that bad. I’ve managed to go down 2 dress sizes and feel so much fitter than I previously felt. My butt looks a lot trimmer too and I see a change in my legs and arms. I’m not talking huge muscles here, just more toned and firmer. I’m happy with the results I’ve achieved so far but I do still have a little way to go before I’ll be totally happy with my shape.
The Disadvantages>
With all products there are down sides and this is no exception. My biggest moan about the Gravity walker is the size of it and where to put it. I’ve already said it weighs between 4 and 5 stone (perhaps more) and its rather bulky to say the least. I tend to keep mine in my utility room where its safely out the way of my children but I must admit that it’s a pain to wheel through to the living room as it’s very heavy.
I think you’d find it awkward to hide under the bed too as the handrail is shaped in such a way that when the walker is folded the rail is about 8” off the floor.
You are limited to how long your stride can be as there is a safety mechanism stopping you from taking to long a stride. This may not be a problem if your not tall but I’m 5” 8 or 9 (I can’t remember which, lol) and I find I make a lot of noise hitting the safety mechanism if I’m not careful.
As well as the noise off hitting the above-mentioned safety mechanism I find the walker gets rather squeaky when I’m on it for longer than 30 minutes. It’s not something I really notice much but my other half does tend to moan a bit as it gets on his nerves!!
Advantages>
Well the health benefits are obviously going to be an advantage.
It’s a super way to get some exercise at home.
It’s non-impact aerobic exercise, which works the cardiovascular system and tones up muscles without any strain on joints and would be great for people who may suffer from back pain!
You can go at your own pace; you don’t have to stay on for an hour if you don’t want to. You could do 10 minutes and still be getting exercise!
It WILL help you lose weight if you are determined.
It DOES tone up your wobbly bits.
Thanks to regular usage I can have my cake and eat it so to speak! I have the occasional bowl of guilt free ice cream and know it won’t go straight to my thighs and if it does then I will work it off on my walker.
I’ve also found that taking a regular form of exercise has made me generally a happier person. All those exercise-induced endorphins flying around my body give a feeling of well being, I find :O)
Conclusion>
I’ve been using my walker for 7 months now and feel happy with my purchase. I’ve almost reached my personal goal and will continue to use it for some time to come. I’ll probably add another piece of exercise equipment to my routine soon as my fitness level has improved a lot. I have lost a bit of weight and gone down 2 dress sizes and feel more confident and attractive.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, highly recommended.
More details
Why did you buy it?
Recommendation
Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
