It seems that no one can really stop themselves from one-upping the good old fashioned push-up. Today I’ll be putting the PushupsPlus through a massive thrashing to see if it can deliver. I’ve already tried a few pushup gadgets in the past (PowerPushup 3 and BodiRocker). The really cool thing is that while all of the devices try and improve upon the original exercise, they all do so in their own unique way… so I don’t have to sit here, bored to death of yet ANOTHER similar knock-off to a normal pair of pushup bars.

Product Name: Pushups Plus
Company: PushupsPlus
MSRP: $49.95 + Shipping
Availability: Low (Online Website Only)
Risk Reversal: 30 Days (Owner Will Pay To Have It Shipped Back)

First Impressions:

Upon receiving the ginormous box… I knew exactly what I got in the mail. Sometimes I’m a little confused or unsure about the boxes I receive. It’s like “hmm… wonder what’s in this one”. With the PushupsPlus, the sheer size gave it away (and the lettering on the side…) That’s not to say it’s a monstrosity, but it’s bigger than most “fitness gadgets”.

Inside you get the base, the two handles, two clips to hold them in place, 3 resistance bands and a wall chart that mentions all of the exercises. When you pick up this unit, you immediately realize why it’s so hefty, the thing is made of pure metal. There is no cheap plastic to be found anywhere… fantastic!

The one problem though was that during the shipping process, moisture probably got inside some how and ended up rusting the washers on top of the ball bearings which are supposed to allow the handles to move smoothly. But even if moisture DID get inside, this essential component should be made of stainless steel to prevent this kind of thing. Fortunately, a quick splash of WD40 and we were in business.

I also couldn’t help but notice that there is a circular cut-out in the Styrofoam… and it’s the exact size of a CD or DVD. So either they are working on a video to be included or this random circle just ended up there. Nevertheless, the inclusion of an instructional DVD would have been a good idea. I mean the website itself has decent videos on there showcasing all of the exercises… how hard would it be to burn that shit on a DVD and get it duplicated for penneis? Not hard. And they WOULD want to do this because the competition of similar products have been doing this for a while now.

Here’s how this thing basically works:

• You select the width you want by slotting the handles in the appropriate holes – close, medium or wide grip (you can also mix and match by putting one close and one wide etc.)
• Then you select the amount of resistance you want to add during the contraction phase of the pushup (one, two or three bands).
• Start your damn workout

Real World Results:

I’ve been using the PushupsPlus for just over a month now and I have to say that out of all the other pushup products I’ve used… nothing comes close to this in terms of sheer intensity. Set the pushup handles on the widest setting, throw on all 3 resistance bands and prepare yourself for the most brutal pectoral burns of your fucking life. The only other exercise that comes close is a heavy set of dumbbell flat bench press… awesome stuff. Also, because you are squeezing the handles “in”… the motion is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced in the past. This experience is very unique to this machine and since it’s patented, you probably won’t find it anywhere else.

And while you can cater it’s intensity to the most hardcore of the bunch, it can also be scaled down for the measly little prunes that call themselves “men”. Just set the handles to the medium width, take off all the bands and turn them till they are in a locked position facing outward. No band resistance, no stabilization work… just a standard pushup that’s comfortable to perform because you now have grips to work with. Nice to know they thought about everyone of all skill levels during the design process.

So it does what it’s supposed to – deliver a great pushup style workout. But there are a few things to be aware of.

The machine itself for example… isn’t what I’d call “portable”. It’s big and heavy since it’s made of metal so this thing belongs in the house or in a car that’s got a larger trunk. The only way it’s “portable” is if you want to transfer it from one room to another… but unlike my set of resistance bands, I certainly won’t be bringing this with me to any hotel rooms during future trips.

It can only workout a limited number of muscle groups. I mean yes, it’s a pushup machine and it does that brilliantly, but I couldn’t help to think… why couldn’t the handle/resistance band set up be implemented into a base that also doubles as a standard door pullup device? I mean, they double nicely as pushup bars and are quite stable on the floor because of their massive surface area. I really don’t see why someone can’t put the two things together for the ultimate upper-body fitness device. Shit, maybe I’ll do it.

Then there’s the price. Yes, at $49.95 it seems like it’s a bargain… and it is. The only problem is that because it’s so hefty, you will pay dearly for shipping. US customers are still ok because your exact total will come out to $62.90. But for my fellow Canadians… we’ll have to fork up $89.95! This is practically DOUBLE the price of the machine and to be honest, that’s a little much. A product of this size needs to get it’s ass into stores, an online-shipping model may work locally but internationally, there is a value/performance disconnect.

Let’s Wrap This Up…

Pros:

• Great intensity for an upper body workout & it can be scaled!
• The ball bearing set up is smooth and demands good stability work (I WD40’d my slightly rusted ones… but I’ll assume that’s an anomaly)
• Plenty of different variations to choose from. There is no reason why 2 of your workouts should ever be the same.
• Rock-Solid construction. Even after an absolute smashing, it’s still as good as new. If you manage to break this thing somehow, you were trying way too hard. Get a life.
• PushupsPlus will replace the resistance bands free of charge if they should ever break or start to crack. Nice!

Cons:

• Price. The base price is excellent, and for $50 I’d totally pick it up at a local WalMart or some shit, but the shipping charge really sucker punches you.
• Not exactly portable. If you are planning on buying it, expect it for home/garage use.
• No included DVD. Not a huge deal since the website has clear videos with description but what if your net is down? Instructional DVD’s are industry standard these days, so get with the program guys.

And there you have it. You know, I was going to give it a super-high rating but when it comes down to it, I have to factor in the REAL world cost that people will be paying (that includes shipping) with the performance that you can get out of this thing along with it’s longevity (which is high… fortunately). So I’ve decided to award the PushupsPlus 4/5 stars, because you really can’t fault it’s function… it’s fabulous.

- FitJerk

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