Octaslider is a fitness program that incorporates a system of sliding grips on a smooth surface which forces you to stabilize your body as you do different exercises. But how well does this actually work, and can you really get results with it?
Overview
We’re always on the lookout for the next trend in fitness, and there’s no shortage of fitness products that get released to the market. Some are better than others, and some are plan ridiculous. But what we’ve noticed is that people will buy just about anything to try to lose weight and get fit, just as long as it looks like it might work.
The Claim
The makers of the Octaslider program say that you can slide, glide, and burn your way to a new body. They say by performing exercises on their mat you’ll be creating resistance that is very intense, because more of your muscle groups are engaged at one time.
The Hype
The hype is that there isn’t another workout program that is using the sliding technique as the crux of the entire workout. We’ve seen sliders like this being used for aerobic workouts that you have you sliding back and forth, but not for a resistance workout where you’re supposed to be getting stronger. That makes it pretty unique, and also raises the question on whether or not a workout like this can be effective.
The Cost
The Octaslider program is $80 if you pay for it all at once, and that includes shipping. They’ll break up the payments for you if you want, and so the minimum out of pocket you can pay is $29 for the first payment and then three more $20 payments. When you consider that you’re getting everything you need in one complete package, include 2 handles to grab onto, two knee sliders, a bag to hold it all, plus guides that show you how to get started quickly and what you should be eating, as well as a calendar to keep track of everything, it doesn’t seem like a bad price point.
The Commitment
As with any workout program you’re going to have to show up an actually do the exercises if you have any chance at making it work. Also, dietary changes should take place in conjunction with using this, since this is going to account for a bulk of the results that you want to see.
Evaluation
When you compare the way Octaslider works to using a piece of equipment at the gym, it’s pretty clear to see that you’ll be using more of your muscle groups at any one time, because you’re being forced to stabilize yourself as you do them. This means that your core should stay engaged almost at all times, and you’ll really be feeling the burn. They’ve done a good job designing this program, and you can tell that it was done by professionals. Users say they’re impressed with the quality of the materials used to make it, and also with the way it performs with repeated use.
There’s only three 8 minute workouts with this, so it’s going to get a bit monotonous in no time at all. It would be nice if they could have come up with more workouts for it. You can upgrade and get an additional workout included, but that would only bring your count up to 4. That’s part of the reason why we’re suggesting this only for those that are already somewhat fit and into working out. You’ll need some serious dedication to do the same workouts over and over again, and most people will get bored and move on to something else.
The handles are well-designed, and you can tell that they spent some time figuring out how they should look and feel. They say that this can be used by anyone, regardless of their fitness level, but this is where we have to disagree, as there’s just not a way to substitute the exercises they’re suggesting, and not everyone would be able to do them. They say it works well for both men and women, and that appears to be accurate. They also say that you can take this anywhere, making it a great travel workout option when you’re taking a work trip or a vacation.
Final Octaslider Review
The Octaslider is getting our Solid Try rating, but it would only be for those that are already pretty fit and are looking for a way to get even more fit. The level of difficulty on this is not something that can easily be overcome by just going at a slower pace. Right from the first exercise it’s going to be pretty intense, and this will cause many people to give up in frustration. If you need something that will provide results but that allows you to go at your own pace, you may want to try 10 Minute Trainer first and once you get your fitness level up you can move to something like Octaslider.
Our Recommendation
When choosing a fitness program you have to be strategic and evaluate yourself fairly. Know where you stand and what you’re capable of and push yourself just a little more, and then a little more after that. You don’t need a quantum leap, and you don’t want to get discouraged by buying a workout program that makes you feel like you’re out of shape and can’t do a simple exercise.
There are so many different ab workouts out there, and I think it is really up to the individual to try out different techniques and see what he or she is most comfortable with. Some people do not mind doing crunches at all while others absolutely despise them. Others even get spasms and cramps in the abdominal muscles when they do crunches. It is great to see that there are innovative products like this to keep people challenged. I agree, though, you probably already need to have a stable enough core to do these routines, though.
Ok I like this, but what is it sliding on? In the video it looks like they’re on some kind of linoleum, which is fine, but does this work on carpet? I mean, trying to sell a home fitness programme that requires a certain floor type upon which to work seriously limits the application of the programme. What if you have carpet everywhere? That being said, this is a great way to use your own body weight to develop fitness and lean muscle mass. As always, don’t take any notice of the models they use to sell it, those guys and girls work out for a living.