If you’re itching to get to our recommendations for the best vibration plates on the market then simply click below. If not, read on for our testing results and buyer’s guide…..
We constantly try and stress that there is no single holy grail for toning up your upper body and core. The tried and tested formula for success is to embark on a regular routine of cardio, weights and possibly some simple home exercises such as plank or press-ups. This can pay dividends over time in conjunction with a diet tailored to your personal objectives – be it weight loss, muscle growth or simple maintenance of the status quo.
But technology does not slow down, and now there are increasing numbers of helping hands which can be bought at fairly reasonable prices for home use – they won’t take the pain out of the training process, but they can certainly put a different spin on your motivation and progress with potentially faster observable results.
We’ve recently been impressed with the impact vibration plates can have on your upper legs, core and arms in terms of toning and weight loss. In particular, the best vibration plates for weight loss combine high frequency oscillations to stimulate muscle twitch whilst improving circulation and consequently cellulite and bone density.
So what is a Vibration Plate?
A vibration plate is essentially a motorized “wobble plate” which you can stand, sit or balance parts of your body on while you exercise. It can vibrate at very high frequency which means the muscles in your body have to react to try and keep stability. This muscle ‘twitching’ is very useful at burning calories and toning your shape effectively.
A vibration plate should not be confused with a massage gun such as the Pulseroll Pro which is a handheld device primarily designed to soothe and work muscles via direct stimulation. Vibration plates are stood or lent on directly rather than a tool which work directly on you.
“Vibro” plates are fun to use and keep interest in exercise high. The best vibration plates on the market include extra features like built-in bluetooth speakers to wirelessly play music from your phone as you train, user-friendly LCD display screens, workout plans and remote controls to change the level of vibration mid-exercise.
Health Benefits of Vibration Machines – Our Tests
But what are the results like when you incorporate a vibro plate into your routine. Will it aid fat burning and/or weight loss in particular or are they just another gimmick?
We gave four of our WeightWise lab rats, erm I mean clients a Bluefin 3D vibration plate each (one of our best buys below) and set them on a four week training plan. The routine was simple – they were to use the vibration plate for a set of five different exercises, two times a day (morning and evening) whilst maintaining their standard training and diet regime at a constant level. i.e. they were to remain in ‘maintenance-mode’ and the only change to their regime was the introduction of the vibration machine. This gave a controlled reference point for each client so that we could judge the impact of the vibro plate itself on fat levels, weight, BMI and visual muscular tone. We used a reference set of smart scales for the measurements.
Vibration Plate Exercises
We recommended five exercises for the clients to perform at 5 minutes per exercise for a total time of 25 minutes in the both morning and evening every day for four weeks. This is more challenging than it sounds as the workouts can be intense, especially the plank. If the client could not complete the 5 minutes then it was ok for them to stop when it became too much.
The following table lists the exercises we recommended for this trial. In all cases the vibration plate was set at 10 oscillations per second (10Hz).
Vibration Power Plate Weight Loss Before And After
The results from our testing were interesting, and are tabulated in the table below. It is clear that the best impact from using the vibration plate was seen from the clients with the highest BMI to start with, and the lowest level of exercise in their standard daily life. This is no different from all forms of exercise – you tend to make the biggest gains at the start of your new routine. However, all four clients saw a reduction of their BMI which could be considered significant.
The trend of BMI reduction with age is less conclusive and this is due to the small sample size in our trial. We would need to look at a group of 100 or so people to get some better statistics, but it appears that the vibration plate offers good results for everyone if you can dedicate the time and commitment to regularly use it.
All clients reported that the vibration plate was a fun but challenging way to exercise. Our highest BMI client found it extremely taxing on the 10Hz setting, and did not last the full 25 minutes at any point in the month. They also reported considerable muscle ache at the start of the trial, and so this reminds us to tell you to take care when starting any exercise or diet plan.
The Bluetooth connection on the vibration plate allowed the exercise time to be spent productively by listening to music (and in one case politics podcasts!).
Cellulite and Bone Density Improvements from Vibration Machines
The scientific data for the use of vibration plates is quite extensive, but the results are not always conclusive. In one study on eighteen previously untrained females, knee strength was found to increase, but there was no overall weight loss after 24 weeks. This is contrary to our findings on an admittedly much smaller group. Other studies have shown significant improvements in total fat mass, but less impact on % body fat.
In terms of cellulite and bone density improvements for osteoporosis which are claimed by the manufacturers of vibration plates, the performance of the machines also show promise. One trial showed definite improvements in cellulite following random testing after only 10 sessions. Bone density showed some improvements too in another.
In our view, exercise itself is a definite good for the human body, and so it is the motivational side of the vibro plates coupled with standard exercises which can help with BMI improvements. We would warn our readers again that no machine is the Holy Grail if you don’t use it enough – it is dedication and routine with a balanced training plan and diet which makes the difference.
On the whole though, we are satisfied that vibration plates help with many aspects of bodily fitness and can be conveniently used at home too.
Vibration Plates: Our Recommendations
At BDA WeightWise we often get asked for our opinion on the best vibration plates available on the UK market. There are certainly a range of devices on the market, from single to multi-motor options and other features such as integrated resistance bands and balance rails included.
In the next section we highlight the best vibration plates currently available for home use and why we think they are the best.
LifePro Turbo 3D Vibration Plate
We already highly rated the LifePro Turbo 3D Vibration Plate, but our heads were completely turned after we lent the review unit to my 75 year old mother who has had bad hips for many years. After 3 or 4 days of trying out the LifePro, she was professing to feeling the best she had felt in years and I was feeling extremely chuffed with myself. Needless to say I bought her one and she hasn’t looked back. Let’s take a look at why it’s so good…
The Lifepro Turbo measures around 78 x 39 x 15 cm and weighs a fairly hefty 18.2kg. Maximum weight of the user is 150kg (around 24 stone). The body of the vibration plate contains dual motors which offer vibrations in both a side-to-side tilting oscillation as well as a less severe up and down “pulsing” movement. Combined together these create a compelling 3D whole body vibration. A decent rubber grip on the step surface helps attain a quality finish with a solid feel, and we think it looks stylish with either a blue or full black surround. The Lifepro will just about slide under the settee in the lounge if you have >15cm space under there under there.
In the box you get a remote control (useful for changing vibration modes mid-exercise and bungee cords for a decent upper body workout when you’re stood on the vibro plate. Lifepro also give you online access to a whole host of videos which allow you to tailor the 8 onboard vibration modes to the areas of interest of your body.
In Use
We would class the Lifepro as a medium-powered vibration plate. Even on the maximum power setting, it is not quite as body-shattering as some of the more expensive options, but that’s not to say that it cannot revolutionize your training. We immediately felt increased blood flow when stood on the plate, and the feeling of movement in your hips is excellent.
Lifepro state that the Turbo 3d can improve bone density and relieve chronic pain, and we can vouch for that after our review time with the unit. In addition, as a weight loss and fitness tool it is excellent. Lifepro also guarantee lifetime support for the Turbo, so you can stay confident that you own’t be left high and dry if something goes wrong.
The LifePro Turbo 3D Vibration Plate is an excellent choice for a home vibro plate and both looks good and works efficiently to get your joints and muscles moving more freely. We don’t hesitate to recommend the Lifepro Turbo at the current price.
Sportstech 3D VP300 Vibration Plate
German-made equipment in all walks of life is invariably well-made with functional design, and the Sportstech 3D VP300 Vibration Plate carries on that trend admirably. It’s a “3D” vibration plate incorporating dual motors to offer pulses in multi-directions for a reasonable price.
The VP300 can shift laterally left to right, it can tilt like a seesaw and it can offer a circular motion too – shift left, raise, shift right and drop, then repeat. This variation and the ability to change the speed between 120 different set levels means that your muscle fibers get a great workout.
The display screen on the YP300 is excellent, offering touch controls, and we really like the remote control which is supplied – it is essentially a small clip on “badge” incorporating buttons to change speed and mode – this means you can change the mode very easily indeed whilst using the machine.
The VP300 comes with quality bungee cords and also incorporates one of the best Bluetooth speakers we’ve heard on a vibro plate. You can really start grooving out when you’re working out!
In Use
The first thing we noticed in use was the excellent ergonomics and look of the VP300. It measures 80 x 45 x 15cm and weighs 19kg which is pretty standard. Max user weight is 120kg, which is ample for all but the biggest people.
On firing up the vibrations, we were struck by how quiet the dual 200W motors are, even running at the maximum 15Hz level. Performing simple squats on the Sportstech at maximum speed was a lesson in how to create wobbly legs very quickly – it’s an exhilarating experience, and really gets the blood flowing and your hips moving.
Attaching the bungee cords to the VP300 was simple – they hook under the back corners of the unit (we might have preferred the sides), but again they have a nice feel to them which belies the price of the machine.
After using the Sportstech VP300 for a week we were left impressed and can highly recommend it to people looking to embark on their first vibro journey.
The Sportstech 3D VP300 is a classy vibration plate which in truth could garner the full 10/10, but nothing is truly perfect in life right? From the Bluetooth sound to the excellent 3D vibrations for a class leading price, we can wholeheartedly recommend it.
Power Plate Personal Vibration Machine
If money is no object then we would say look no further than the Power Plate Personal Vibration Machine. Power Plate are a very well-known company in the vibro plate world, and their gear is renowned for reliability and efficiency – their vibration plates are medically certified and are the only models which can offer multi-directional vibrations to help increase blood flow, improve bone density and flexibility.
The Power Plate Personal is an exceptional machine in our opinion with a class leading pulse rate of 35Hz – this means it vibrates more than three times as quick as the cheaper plates on the market which typically operate at a max of 10 vibrations a second. In addition, the amplitude of the oscillations can also be adjusted from low to high which means not only are the pulses the fastest, but their intensity can be varied as well. This is exceptionally useful for varying the impact of your workout over time so that your body does not get used to the stresses you are putting in through.
The form factor is fairly standard at 70 x 47.5 x 15.7cm with a unit weight of 18.2kg. Maximum weight of the user is recommended to be under 120kg (19 stone), but we’re pretty sure it could take more. A remote control and bungee cords are included in the pack, and the overall quality of finish and design is a clear step up from the cheaper plates. The Power Plate looks and feels pure quality, and the motors are virtually silent. Power Plate offer a two year warranty on this model.
So it worth the money?
This is a tricky question to answer. When you go to a gym you get used to using the best equipment available because gyms need to entice fee-paying clients in each month.
The Power Plate Personal puts me in mind of professional gym gear, and you could certainly argue that this could be construed as excessive for home use. After all, what is under the hood? Some motors and some electronics, and yet the price is around 5x some of the other options on the market.
However, the results speak for themselves. Over a 2 week test program with the Power Plate our tester lost more weight than using any of the other vibration machines we’ve reviewed. Now this could be due to other factors that our tester was doing such as diet or other exercise (it wasn’t a controlled experiment), but we can’t help thinking that if you’ve got money to spend on creating a top of the range home gym then the Power Plate Personal should be in it. They hold their value very well, and you should be able to recoup a substantial portion of the purchase price if you ever feel like moving it on.
The Power Plate Personal Vibration Machine is easily the best performing vibro plate we’ve looked at for home use, but it’s around 5 times more expensive than good (but not as good) alternatives. It has to lose points for this, but the performance and quality on offer cannot be ignored. This is not a cheap Chinese item of kit. The 5* reviews speak for themselves, but only buy if you don’t care about the cash!
Bluefin Fitness Ultra Slim – Best Value Vibration Plate
Bluefin make a wide-range of vibration plates towards the lower end of the market, and in our opinion the best of the bunch is their entry-level model – the Bluefin Fitness Ultra Slim Vibration Plate. Yes it only contains a single electric motor inside and five programs (accessible via a nice LCD screen), but the combination of Bluetooth speakers, bungee cords, resistance bands and even a remote control in the box make it a compelling value proposition.
So the price is exceptional, but does it have the performance to improve your muscle definition and burn fat? Well yes, but not as efficiently as some of our other more expensive choices. The single motor is restricted in speed, amplitude and variation. It can literally only vibrate in one plane of movement, and so you will not get all the different angles of muscle fibers to twitch, limiting energy burn as a result.
However it cannot be denied that you are getting alot of gear for your money – in fact, you get more in the box than the 10x more expensive Power Plate Personal which is the best performer on test. When it is framed in that way then the Bluefin is a no-brainer and will certainly add extra dynamics to your home workouts without hurting your wallet too much – the danger is that you get bored too quickly with it and your results plateau.
Saying that, the Ultra Slim is the best Bluefin on the market in our opinion because you’re getting most of the functionality at a fraction of the price of their 3D and 4D models (2 motors and 3 motors respectively). The Bluetooth speaker works quite well although sound is a little tinny as you might expect, but it’s amazing to even have the feature included for the price.
Customer Service
It’s worth mentioning that there are a few negative reviews regarding Bluefin customer service, and so you should bear this in mind when buying. While there’s not alot to go wrong on these vibration plates and they do offer a lifetime warranty on the machines, after 6 months you will be responsible for sending a very heavy item (17kg) back to them – it won’t be cheap!
The Bluefin Fitness Ultra Slim is the best value vibration plate on the market and certainly worth a try if you are just dipping your foot into the market. We love the range of items in the box but do worry that it might not have the longevity of other models or give the all round toning and health benefits that a full body vibration can offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Speed on Vibration Machines for Weight Loss
A typical oscillation frequency for home vibration plates is 10Hz which is 10 pulses per second. This is an adequate level of vibration, but it pays to seek out machines which are capable of increasing speed beyond this, say to 20Hz or even 30Hz. The Power Plate Personal hits a whopping 35Hz, but it has a whopping price to match.
Equally important is the range of motion of the oscillations. It’s a bit like using a weight machine vs free weights for strength building – free weights are far superior because they cause muscle twitch in multiple directions at the same time as your body fights to control the barbell. The same principle is involved with vibration plates – having 2, or even 3 electric motors in the machine can offer different directions of motion for your muscles – eccentricity if you like. It causes higher calorie burn and consequential toning and fat burning in your legs, arms and core.
Are Vibration Plates Dangerous?
It could be argued that continual jigging of your body may not be good for you over the long term, especially if your brain is getting moved around. Some studies have shown an increased propensity to back pain after even a minute of operation at high amplitude and 30Hz. However, these studies are often done in an exaggerated way – for instance, as long as the legs are bent to act as shock absorbers then the transfer of energy through to the neck and head is fairly small and we had no adverse reactions or have heard of any reports.
As always, it pays to be careful and certainly start your vibration training off at the lowest possible levels so that your body gets used to the exposure, and you learn what you can endure without problems surfacing.
