Parameters,
characteristics, specifications compared are listed below, left column: |
Al Carter's Half-Fold ReboundAIR™
24 years of innovation
-Patents Pending- |
Half-Fold Needak
brand
Notes:
"Cellusizer" brand is very
similar to the Needak.
The new "Life-Tec Healthbounder"
differences added in purple. Otherwise it is a Needak copy.
|
Jump King and Sporting Goods
Store Brands |
|
Lifetime All-Component Warranty |
Included. Our Lifetime Warranty covers ALL components, plus Wear and Tear
Replacement (if ever needed) for the life of your ReboundAIR™ |
Not included. 2 years on the springs, leg tips, and spring
cover. 5 years on the mat, cleats and spring pins. Lifetime only on the
frame.
|
Perhaps a 90 day warranty. Most, warranty
not included. |
|
Hinges |
ReboundAIR™: Continuous with frame, internally bolted
Small hinge radius, new round design, safe
For more information, please read "Evolution
of the Safety Hinge, Exclusive to the Half-Fold ReboundAIR" |
Needak and their design copies: Externally welded.
Bulky, jaw-like, may injure fingers, commonly pinches carpet or tears spring cover.
Outdated design from the early 80's.
|
Store Brands:
N/A |
|
Frame paint |
Baked on enamel coat |
Spray painted |
Spray |
|
Permatron mat |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
High resilience, soft bounce springs according to
composition and pre-load tests by BYU, Dept. of Engineering and Geneva Steel Corp. |
Y
36 high caliber wide-belly shape springs,
20 coils per spring, even distribution of stress, uniform shape, no weak bends in the shape of the spring |
Y
36 springs,
20 coils per spring, sharp bend at ends creating weak points in shape Life-Tec's
unit, under mild product testing, depressed too far resulting in abrupt
"bottoming out". Our 160 lb participant could hit the floor at
will. |
N
Low grade, coils vary, unacceptable rate of failure |
|
Double-sided mat circumference bands |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
Spring cover |
ReboundAIR™: Leather-like, superior thickness, superior
appearance, black |
Needak and their design copies: Plastic-like, thin nylon, black, tears are
common Life-Tec's spring
cover, under mild product testing, had an unacceptable rate of failure. We
removed it for the remaining tests. |
Plastic-like, assorted colors |
|
Leg length |
10" |
9" |
7" or shorter |
|
Spring loaded folding legs |
Y |
Y |
N |
|
Quarter-Fold portable model |
Y
The Ultimate
Rebound™, a revolutionary new composite Quarter Fold model, custom fitted
to an airport dolly |
N |
N |
|
Spring cover designed to allow folding without
tearing |
Y |
N
Spring cover tears, common complaint |
N/A |
|
Rubber leg tips |
ReboundAIR™:
Yes.
Widest diameter (larger surface area), longest length along leg, concave shape
at bottom for increased longevity |
Needak and their design copies:
Yes.
Medium diameter, 1" shorter along leg, 33% less rubber, flat shape at
bottom, difficult to remove for stabilizing bar attachment |
No.
Plastic tips. |
|
Endorsed by Al Carter, the Pioneer and Innovator of the Rebound Exercise Industry |
Y
About Al Carter |
N |
N |
|
Accessories: Carrying Case
Stabilizing Bar
Weights |
Y
Y
Y
To our on-line catalog page |
Y
Y
N |
N
N
Y |
|
Supporting educational materials |
Unlimited.
This is the source, the official site, the "Voice of the Rebound Exercise
Industry." Al Carter has been lecturing since his first book in 1979.
On-going exercise program development and equipment testing. **Our next
seminar will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for Dr. Duane Smith and
friends!**
Link to books, videos and equipment! |
Some.
Needak sends our Immune System Video, one of Al Carter's lectures, with every
rebounder. |
None |
|
Web page support |
Y
Rebound-Aerobics Links
www.ReboundAIR.com
www.immunesystem.org
www.Ultimate-Rebound.com |
Y |
N |
|
Same-day shipping |
Y
only 4 to 6 business days to destination via FedEx, fast, guaranteed mint
arrival condition
|
N
often required to order through a distributor, additional third party steps in
the shipping process, unregulated and variable
|
N/A
purchase at local store |
|
Retail Price, Standard |
$199.95
check the products
page for current discounts and gifts with purchase |
$199.95 |
$29. to 69. |
|
Retail Price, Half-Fold Model |
$249.95
check the products
page for current discounts and gifts with purchase |
$249.95 Life-Tec
and Life-Tec copies sell at around $150 |
N/A |
|
Retail Price, Quarter-Fold Model |
$339.95
check the products
page for current discounts and gifts with purchase |
N/A |
N/A |
Question: How does the ReboundAIR compare to a treadmill?
A: Lets go!
Compare a rebounder to a treadmill.
Recently, in national health and fitness news, rebound exercise has been receiving some attention due to its resurgence, but this time within the clinical and health club settings.
Question:
How is the ReboundAIR used in a clinical or therapeutic setting? For starters, here is a letter from Neil
Primack, Physical Therapist:
Dear Darren,
Thank you for calling to see how I'm doing with the ReboundAIR. I appreciate your concern and was delighted how well you took my suggestions. I've been a licensed physical therapist since 1986 and have experimented with many types of exercise equipment. The ReboundAIR is, without a doubt, an exceptional piece of exercise equipment that will benefit people of all ages as well as a wide variety of patients in the arena of musculoskeletal, neuromuscular and cardiovascular rehabilitation. It's simple, extremely sturdy, inexpensive and easy to learn. As a Pilates Method exercise instructor and Swiss Ball enthusiast, I really appreciate low impact workouts. In fact, the ReboundAIR both compliments and extends the therapeutic benefits of both the Pilates Method and Therapeutic Ball techniques. The ReboundAIR is an excellent exercise technique for people who dislike health clubs or for so many folks who complain of lack of time for exercise. Patients are really drawn to the ReboundAIR, and in a period of about a week, two doctors purchased the unit after trying it in my office. I am very impressed with the ReboundAIR, how it's been engineered and expect to be using it personally and recommending it to others for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Neil Primack, P.T.
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
More questions about therapeutic rebounding? Read about the applications of rebounding for the…
- sedentary (gentle first step)
- elderly (balance, endurance, delaying osteoporosis)
- disabled ("ability")
- athletic (complimenting mode of training)
- executives (during the "brainstorms" at work)
- injured (rehabilitation)
- children (balance, coordination, fun)
- patients (safe, effective cardiac and cancer rehabilitation, lymphedema management, etc.)
- weight watchers (while enjoying your favorite show or follow one of our rebound aerobics video tapes)
…in the best seller The New Miracles of Rebound Exercise by Al Carter.
Question: What is the difference in strength between the units that fold and the non-folding models?
A:
Product testing and long-term client use shows no structural integrity differences between the folding and non-folding models.
Question: What are the dimensions and user weight limitations for the
rebounders?
A: The dimensions are the same for all the ReboundAIR models: 40 inch diameter frame-to-frame and a large 28 inch diameter mat. Under the
Lifetime Warranty, there is a 300 lb. client weight limitation (400 lb. on the
Quarter Fold).
Question: "Mr.
Carter, I am interested in rebounding. My parents have owned a mini tramp
for years. But, my husband thinks it is all a gimmick, just someone
selling 'snake oil'. What evidence can you provide beyond claims and
testimonials?" -Lisa Taylor
A: Thanks for the inquiry!
We welcome your questions.
This we do know, and even the folks
who are discipline-challenged have to admit, "Exercise is favorable
for the body." Based on this common belief, we know
rebounding is at least a legitimate aerobic modality because
we are able to safely achieve and maintain our target heart rate by using it
as recommended. This duration and intensity places demands on the Krebs
cycle within the mitochondia of the cells, related to endurance improvements,
energy consumption (fueled primarily by free fatty acids from our adipose
fat stores) and ATP production, the energy currency of the cells. The
by-product of this process at this aerobic intensity level is CO2, water and
heat, rather than lactic acid and heat.
In short, we are able to workout within all
the parameters (frequency, intensity, duration, mode) outlined and recommended
by the American College of Sports Medicine for optimal health benefits. (More:
Rebound
Aerobics Video)
Rebound Exercise is fun for
most people so it will be performed more often. "Exercise is effective
only if the person actually exercises!" One key is to find
something you enjoy doing. Our follow-along video called "Keep on
Rebounding!" is enjoyable. Clients lose weight and tone up with
this routine three to five times a week. They often comment how enjoyable rebounding
is, especially compared to the treadmill or stationary biking
("spinning").
(More: ReboundAIR
vs. Treadmills)
Some describe how convenient
it is, requiring no special clothing (barefoot, socks, athletic shoes,
shorts... all optional) or no time consuming trip to the club.
The low level of trauma and impact to
the joints gives it additional benefits superior to many forms of high
impact exercise. Joint health is a hot topic for baby boomers, joggers
and injured athletes. Incidentally, this is why rebounders are used as physical
therapy tools for the disabled, obese, elderly and just about anyone else with
a special need.
The up and down motion effectively
opens and closes the millions of one-way valves found within our Lymphatic
Systems. Yes, other exercise forms of exercise result in lymph
circulation, but because of rebounding's vertical motion, it seems to do
this particularly well. Most of our valves are positioned
vertically, hence vertical motion is favorable simply due to our anatomy.
For example, interstitial fluid from the lower extremity is moved upward where
it is filtered and finally drained back into the blood in a particular
location, up at the clavicle level. ("Thoracic Duct" of
the Lymphatic System, our internal vacuum cleaner.)
Beyond this, rebound exercise is an
unfamiliar environment that your body must adjust to by developing
additional balance and coordination. This is an interesting topic
because, to me, it is an amazing process. It involves feedback from the
proprioceptors in the joints telling the cerebellum instant information about
the joints' angles and the limbs position in space. This is combined
with visual clues of the fixed external environment and the motion
detected in the inner ear. Oversimplified, the result is a keener sense
of balance, kinesthetic awareness or "air sense".
Put your hands on your abs and back
while jumping. Feel them contract to keep your body upright at the
bottom of every bounce many times per minute! Try it! With time,
you will tone up and notice the difference. We like to call this a
result of the "G-Force effect". For a split second at
the bottom of the bounce, as your body slows down, loading the springs,
changes directions and starts its way back up, you will weigh about 2 to 3
times your own body weight. Your muscles and connective tissues must
respond to this increased demand placed on them by getting stronger.
Sure, this demand is applied with other forms of exercise, but not
without instantaneous impact to the joints, which could have chronic
pain/damage ramifications over time. Question is, will damage occur
sooner or later? We feel it preferable to obtain the same exercise
benefits while protecting and strengthening the skeletal system.
We must rely on our skeletal framework for a lifetime!
These are just a few thoughts.
More can be found in Al's best seller The New Miracles of Rebound
Exercise. He is currently writing a new book, the title to be
announced. (View products
page)
I understand your husband's "snake
oil" suspiciousness. I received a BS in Exercise Physiology and
a Registry in Cardiac Sonography (RCS). I perform diagnostic tests on
heart patients and assist the Physicians in prescribing personalized lifestyle
changes to help recover from heart disease or to prevent it from ever
occurring in the first place. In hindsight, my college major should have
been named "rock solid health and fitness in a quackery infested
field." Outrageous things have been said about Rebound Exercise
that I, personally, do not agree with. Unfortunately, the entire health
field is full of such suspicious claims. Evenso, there are plenty
of obvious benefits that earn rebounding a rightful place beside other
forms of fun, safe exercise modes. In fact, a few key benefits and many
advantages of regular rebounding have been shown to be superior to other forms
of exercise. We have 23 years of results making this quite clear.
But don't let this change what is working for you. I enjoy virtually all
forms of exercise and recommend people to continue what it is they do to make
exercise enjoyable for them. Biking? Excellent.
Walking? Great. Swimming? Keep up the good work! Now
try rebounding between workouts and see what happens. You just might
find more endurance, strength, weight loss and motivation, among other
benefits we have observed! (For
more information, please read 33 Ways the Body
Responds to Rebounding by Al Carter and Dr. Walker.)
Again, thanks for your inquiry!
Please keep those questions coming!
--Darren Carter, Research and
Development, AIR, Inc. Research@healthbounce.com