IRONMAN High Capacity Gravity 3000 Inversion Table, 350 lbs

This is a life-saver - literally!After aggravating my back yet again recently from planting some tulip bulbs in the garden (!), my back went out for 2 weeks. I was in bed for a week and then stooping at almost 90 degrees for another week. I noticed that, this time round, the pain was lasting far longer than usual and I had to do something about it. Speaking with a friend who's uncle also suffers tremendously fom back pain, he recommended I try an inversion table as he had eased his suffering. I had once looked into these but thought they were a gimmick.I ordered this on a Sunday and it was on my door on Wednesday (good job as usual Amazon). Set up was easy and I did it singlehanded although it's easier if you have someone help you lift the backboard onto the frame. In all it took me about 30 minutes to set it up on my own using the tools provided in the box.I set it up and tried it out. Although I didn't go 'vertical' immediately, I found my pain easing after only a few days especially when standing up afetrwards. I'm able to stand normally without any issues whatsoever !!! This table has hopefully saved me from further surgery and I know that I'll be using it every day for the rest of my life.FEATURES?:For the price, quality, and features of this table, I can honestly say that you don't need to spend $300-$400 on an inversion table.1. This one has a comfortable memory foam back board which supports your back and head.2. It's adjustable - based on your height - to create a balanced pivot point.3. It has great ankle holders (as opposed to those foam rollers type holders which you can potentially slip out from, this one actually grips your ankles).Yes - any table which is going to hold you by your ankles and turn you upside down will grip your ankles tightly and make them hurt slightly. However, the ankle pain is not unbearable and is minor compared to back pain!!! I'm willing to put up with that if it cures my back pain.4. The ankle holder also has a long quick release handle so that you don't have to bend down too much to release your ankles. This was one of the main features that attracted me to this particular model. Many other tables which grip your ankles have such a small lever that you're liable to put your back out just bending down and trying to undo the mechanism. In fact, even on this machine, i wish the handle was another 6 inches longer.5. The tables is stable and well built. I never feel that it's going to collapse and take me with it. The frames are sturdy and it all seems well balanced.6. The handlebars come in very useful for pulling yourself up after a 'workout'.7. The safety strap is adjustable and you can adjust it so that you don't go any further than you want to. I have it set so that it allows me to go vertical.CAUTION ON USE:I did ask my doc about an inversion table and he said 'go for it'. So take medical advice first.If you take the plunge be aware of certain factors:a. Don't try and go vertical immediately. Take it easy the first few days and go to just over 90 degress (ie just past horizontal. This will help your body become accustomed to having blood rush to your head. If you go vertical immediately, you WILL feel dizzy and/or nauseous. Then take in slowly for another couple of day and go to, say, 130 degress (40 degress past horizontal). After about a week, you can go further towards vertical or thereabouts.b. Come up slowly. Again, you don't want to come back to the head up position too quickly for the same reason as a). I usually come back from 180 (almost) to about 130 degrees and then horizontal before straightening myself. This helps the blood to flow normally once again.c. Don't spend too long on the table. I do this 3 times a day for about 5 minutes each time and I have absolutely no issue with nausea or dizziness etc.d. Anyone who says that as soon as they used it, the machine took them vertical and they hit their head on the floor etc, has totally set-up the machine wrongly (and this applies to any inversion table). These machines work on the basis of a simple balance. They have a fulcrum (pivot point) which moves in one direction or the other base on your body's weight. The pivot point won't tip if the table has been set to your correct height. (BTW, this machine didn't balance until I set the table at 2 inches taller than I am - so if it doesn't work at your height, just try some different heights and get on the table and see if it becomes balanced.e. Above all - RELAX. It makes the session go much quicker and helps control your body. You can do some core exercises once you're used to it.How do you know when the table is balanced? EASY - When you lie on the table and your hands are at your side on on your tummy, it should go to the horizontal poisiton. When you move your arms and hands to your chest, the machine should tilt past horizontal. If you bring your arms back to your side on to you tummy, it should should go back to being horizontal.How your move your arms will determine where the machine goes to. When you stretch your arms past your head, the machine should go towards vertical. Remember not to do this suddenly - otherwise you'll go towards vertical very quickly !!!So - if you suffer from back pain - get this and use this every day. Good luck and stay pain free.

Update:I've been using this table for about a month now. I’m 56 years old and I do stretches & AB crunches every morning & evening. I've lost 6 lbs and my abs are becoming very firm. It also relieves tension in my back and shoulders.The unit is very well built and yet I can this from room to room by myself. The adjustments are very easy.The Model 3000 has handles in the back corners. The Model 4000 has a lumbar support. I still like the handles but rarely use them now. I decided I could easily add a lumbar support but haven't need one.It has 3 adjustments that control the degree of inversion. To lock the unit fully inverted to perform exercises I place it in the most aggressive of the 3 settings and experiment with the height setting that will allow me exercise without swaying. (I’m 6’1 but set it at 5’10)It took about a week for my head to acclimate to hanging upside down. The foot capture system is comfortable & easy to get in/out and is the main reason to buy this table. I can hang fully inverted while I exercise with no discomfort on my legs and feet with this table. That wasn't the case with other I tried.My wife doesn't fully invert and really likes the memory foam back support.I'm more impressed now than when I first bought it, but they won't let me give it 6 stars.....Original review:I researched inversion tables extensively before deciding to buy this one. It wasn't until actually testing a couple at a local sporting goods store that I understood how critical a good foot capture system was. The store had two tables. One had a capture system that required the user to bend over and pull out a pin at the ankles before sliding the front pads away. This was terrible. The other unit had a bar extending up towards the knees that the user could simply push a button and lean it forward.I resumed my research with that in mind and found the Iron-Man tables. I read all the reviews and questions and finally decided that the Iron-Man tables had the foot capture system I wanted. It seemed that the Iron-Man Gravity 4000 was my choice but in looking deeper I discovered the Gravity 3000 actually has these handles on the rear base that could come in handy while inverted. The Gravity 4000 has a Velcro secured lumbar support but in my test on the Teeter brand tables I couldn't see why I would want that. The Gravity 3000 was actually a bit less money and had the handles that I wanted so I bought it.The other reviews and questions I read discussed how robust this table is and I agree that it is very sturdy. I weigh 205 lbs and everything on it feels very secure from the foot supports, frame and table. The mechanisms all slide properly and the fit and finish are impressive for something so inexpensive. The Teeter model we liked was $400 and I paid $185 for the Iron-Man. After using them both I would take the Iron-Man over the Teeter if they were both $400.Some reviews told about poor packaging and freight damage. It appears they have made adjustments. My table arrived fine. I found the packaging to be acceptable. 2 of the inner pieces of foam were broken but the product was secured well and was not damaged.The pieces were clearly defined, the hardware was placed neatly on a placard and heat-shrinked. It was impressive that they took that level of care to assure the correct pieces in the right amount and wouldn't get lost during assembly.Other reviews talked about difficulty of assembly. It took me just under an hour from start to finish and I ate dinner at the same time. It was easy to follow the instructions. I used my own tools. The tools provided seemed fine except for the screw driver was too big to easily drive the small screws for the rear pads.So far I really like this table.

comfortable and sturdy , still applying the angles slowly .

Overall is good

Easy assembly. Have been using it for about 2 weeks now, great product.

love it