If you’re looking for an efficient way to lose weight, tone your muscles and strengthen your core, then a vibration plate could be the perfect exercise equipment for you.
Vibration plates send constant pulses through your body, forcing you to engage all of your muscles and burn off energy, just to stay on the plate.
But there are a huge range of vibration plates on the market, and a number of factors you need to consider before making a purchase.
So, I’ve reviewed the 7 best vibration plates out there and rated them, to help you make the right choice for your fitness goals.
Bluefin Fitness Ultra Slim Vibration Plate
The Bluefin Fitness Ultra Slim Vibration Plate is a small, easy to use and well-built vibration plate. Containing 5 different in-built programmes, 180 levels of vibration speed and all of the auxiliary kit you need, it’s a great addition to any home gym set up. Safety features include large non-slip surface and a remote control, meaning you can change settings without having to crouch down during the use.
The sleek, easy to store design coupled with the silent vibration technology means that even if you live in a flat or apartment, you’ll still be able to use this kit. The Bluefin vibration plate also includes a bright LCD display and Bluetooth speakers, allowing you to listen to music whilst you train.
Finally, the package comes with additional workout materials such as resistance bands, workout ideas, a recipe guide and set up instructions.
Pros
- Great all-inclusive package (vibration plate, resistance bands, nutrition guides).
- Great design and easy to use.
- Simple to store after your workout.
Cons
- Build quality is OK but heavy use cause damage over time
Bluefin Fitness Vibration Plate | Pro Model
The Bluefin Fitness Vibration Plate Pro Model takes a lot of the features of the previous model and takes them up a few notches. You still get the benefits of the complete package (nutrition guides, resistance bands, workout ideas and posters), but the unit itself includes various additional features that make the pro model a totally different product.
There are 10 in-built programmes compared to the 5 on the Ultra Slim model. You also have the arm supports, the 360 lower body rotating platform, the additional vibrating power of the plate and BMI/Calorie monitors, meaning this is more than just an exercise station, it’s a lifestyle tool as well.
Of course you’ll need more space for this machine as it won’t just slide under the bed, but it’s certainly an upgrade on most of the vibration plates designed for home use.
Pros
- Additional bonus package – resistance bands etc
- Lower body exercise options upgraded with the rotating platform
Cons
- Bigger than other models so not as easy to store
- Vibration not as powerful as other models
Mirafit Vibration Power Plate Gym Machine
Mirafit are known to make a wide range of really high quality fitness gear and the Mirafit Vibration Power Plate is no exception. It’s a small, but feature-packed and very easy to use machine with an excellent build quality, making it an ideal addition to most home gyms. Again, because of the size and design it is a very easy machine to store under the bead or in a cupboard when not in use.
The Mirafit vibration plate contains 9 pre-set programmes and up to 99 speed levels. There are three different foot positions available so you can vary your workout by more than just exercise and the speed of vibration, which is helpful from a fitness and a rehab point of view. In addition to the plate itself there are resistance bands to add workout variety.
Movement of the device is made easy by the addition of a handle and wheels and the reliability of the device is increased by anti-jamming and anti-static protection.
Pros
- Well built and very reliable
- 9 pre-set workouts
- Easy to move and store
Cons
- No additional fitness package (posters, charts, nutrition guides)
Gym Master Slim Crazy Fit Vibration Plate
The Gym Master Slim Crazy Fit Vibration Plate is a no-frills yet extremely well-built item. What it may lack in additional features such as speakers, it makes up with being extremely reliable, good at what it needs to be good at and very simple to set up. The reduction in features also means it comes in at a lower price than most of its competitors.
It’s not totally devoid of additional features – it has a remote control for easier settings change, is available in a number of different colours and comes equipped with a couple of built in resistance bands to increase workout variety. The Gym Master Slim Crazy Fit Vibration Plate has 6 built-in workouts and 99 vibration levels.
As with the others of this style, it is very easy to store, quiet during operation and is relatively light weight, making it ideal for home use.
Pros
- No frills design, easy to set up
- Fantastic reliability
- Quiet operation
Cons
- Lack of in-built programmes means you’ll need to find your own workouts online to increase variety
Confidence Pro Fitness Vibration Plate Trainer
The Confidence Pro Fitness Vibration Plate is a model that fits the home gym perfectly. The machine itself is easy to assemble and because of the lower vibration power, it’s both quiet during use and suitable for anyone – especially beginners.
There are four in-built programmes for users to follow and the maximum power is 600w, so it is very beginner friendly. Given there are only four programmes built into the machine, you’ll have to look on YouTube for workout inspiration to keep your training varied and interesting for the longer term.
The unit is bigger than other models on the market, but the ease of use, the large console and the simple navigation menu means the Confidence Pro Fitness Vibration Plate will find plenty of fans.
Pros
- Easy to use – simple set up and navigation
- Large machine and handles attached, helping with balance and exercise variety
- Very beginner friendly
Cons
- Only 4 in-built programmes
- Low maximum vibration
AGM Vibration Power Plate
The AGM Vibration Power Plate is another of the simple but very effective designs. Alongside a lot of the other home vibration plates the motor isn’t hugely powerful, but the benefit of that is the reduction in noise, meaning even on full power it is less than 30 decibels (it won’t wake a sleeping child!)
There are three training channels, giving you some basic workout variety. Additionally you have the built-in features to make it more home-gym friendly such as USB and Bluetooth speaker connectivity, meaning you can listen to your own music whilst you do your training.
The AGM Vibration plate is the smallest and lightest on the market, but the build quality means it stands up to all the use you can give it. It’s simple to use, very easy to store on account of its size and weight and comes in at a lower price point than many of its competitors in the market.
Pros
- Simple to use
- Quiet, so perfect for home use
- Small and light, so easy to store
Cons
- Only 3 built in workouts
- Motor not particularly powerful
See also: Best home spin bike UK – Best home gym flooring – Best stepper machine
Bluefin Fitness Dual Motor 3D Power Vibration Plate
The Bluefin Fitness Dual Motor 3D Vibration Plate is a piece of kit with the more serious home gym user in mind. With a dual 500w motor, it kicks out 1000w of vibration power, giving you a more intense workout and massage. You also have the customary built in Bluetooth speakers, giving you a music option as you train.
The dual motor has another feature that goes beyond many of the competitor models – 3D vibration This means the plate vibrates both up and down and side to side, giving the user a more challenging workout. The muscles are forced to work harder than normal as they are dealing with a couple of directions of vibration!
Like the other Bluefin Fitness Vibration Plates, the package includes the training and nutrition guides. There are resistance bands to increase workout variety and a range of 5 built in fitness programmes to follow so you won’t get bored of the training. The whole machine is made easier to use thanks to the remote control and the simple interface.
Pros
- Powerful dual motor, allowing 3D movement.
- Complete fitness and nutrition package
- Wide variety of fitness uses
Cons
- Potentially louder than similar machines
- Significantly more expensive than the competition
Why use a vibration plate?
A vibration plate is a relative newcomer to the fitness market, but it has a lot of uses. From helping to engage muscles for a longer period of time than normal, all the way down to providing a post-exercise massage, vibration plates have a lot of uses in both home and commercial gyms.
Benefits of using a vibration plate
Using a vibration plate has a wealth of fitness and wellness benefits, such as;
Tone and strengthen muscles
The vibrations generated by the plate cause muscles to contract and relax, which increases strength and muscle tone, when combined with a high protein diet
Boost metabolism and burn fat
Steadying yourself on a rapidly vibrating plate requires lots of energy and therefore burns calories and helps you to lose weight.
Improve balance and flexibility
Holding poses and stretches on vibration plates engages your core and hip flexors, and when practised over time will create a more flexible functional body
For new exercisers they can provide a gentle introduction to exercise, stimulating muscle usage. In more advanced exercisers they can be used to make traditional exercises much tougher, adding another dimension to training.
Finally, the intense vibration has a fantastic massage effect on muscles when used correctly, so they can benefit people who either want a great leg or lower back massage and those who have flexibility issues. They can help rehab injured limbs as well.
How to use a vibration plate
Vibration plates provide an unstable surface on which you are training, so they force the muscles to work extra hard during the exercise. Different exercises and intensities of work will require a different setting so there is a lot of variety in the workouts.
Vibration plate exercises
You can either stand on the vibration plate and hold a static position, such as a squat, for a given amount of time. This is known as a static exercise. You could also do a dynamic exercise such as a push up or squat, where you perform the exercise as normal but the vibrating plate makes it more challenging. There’s also a plyometric exercise, where you use the plate as a platform to perform powerful, explosive movements from such as jump squats.
Finally, you can use the vibration plate as a massage platform where you lay a muscle flat on the plate and put it on a high frequency vibration, allowing it to massage the muscle.
How to choose a vibration plate
Look at the following factors when making your decision.
Cost
With any item of fitness kit, cost has to be a consideration. You can spend anywhere from £80 to multiple hundreds of pounds, but make sure you are spending your money wisely. Look at features, build quality etc. Don’t be tempted to pay for features you simply won’t use.
Features
What features do you want? Is power important? A remote control? Bluetooth speakers? Built in programmes? Consider your requirements before you buy.
Power
If you want to really push your training hard, you’ll have to buy a powerful vibrating plate – you’d outgrow a low power model, so consider your requirements first.
Storage
If you don’t have a huge amount of room you really have to consider the size of the machine. If you buy a large plate with a long stem and handles, it won’t slide under the bed like a flat plate. Consider storage too.
Noise
Typically, the more powerful the machine, the more noise it will make. If you live in a block of flats with neighbours below, you may have to opt for a quieter model so you don’t annoy people who live around you!
The best vibration plates
In the guide to vibration plates I’ve given you a wide variety of models and brands to look. I’ve outlined the features of them all so you know what to expect from them. Consider each one carefully and make a decision based on what you want and need, not just on what you think would be suitable! Buy the right one and you’ll take your training up a few notches!
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