BeakerBuys

So I know what you’re thinking…Beaker spent nearly $200 on bags…full of sand…

It’s a natural reaction, but let me explain why these sandbags are much more than just dufflebags with sand inside and why I bought them.

I do a lot of different workout routines; some are very basic and are bodyweight-only, while others are focused on what are called functional movements and use supplemental equipment to really force form and balance to compensate for things like weak spots, imbalance or compensation for injury.

I am just getting into kettlebells as they are very functional in this regard and I am really enjoying my hybrid TRX suspension trainer/Kettlebell routine (which I shall review shortly.) That said, one day I saw a weblink to a TRX and sandbag routine.  It’s there that I was introduced to the Ultimate Sandbags and Coach Henkin’s products.

These sandbags have 7 different handle/grip combinations and allow for flexible weight loading due to their modular internal sandbag filler bags.  They are very durable and come with a number of available DVD routines.  Due to the nature of the shifting loads inside the bag, the loads are unstable and it’s almost impossible to groove a routine, meaning every rep is different and since the weight shifts, it hits your weak spots instantly.

Functionally most sandbags are identical, but it’s the handle configurations, variable loading capability and well-made construction that sold me on these.

We used them in our conditioning class the other night; a 35 pound bag on the suspension trainers for sprawl squats and a 50 pound for cleans/squats. Everybody hated/loved them because they were unlike the barbells and kettlebells in many ways…it was an excellent first session that got rave reviews of the product from some very skeptical people.

The sandbag combo I got came with the “power” and “strength” versions and a couple of started DVDs as part of a bundle. The instructions are decent enough, but it just takes seat time in front of the Basics DVD to get the foundations down.

Check out www.henkinfitnesssystems.com for more information.  The sandbags start at $85 and go up from there. You must supply your own play sand, available at places like Home Depot or Kmart.

I give ’em 4/5 Beakers.