Customer Reviews

Ironman ATIS 4000 Inversion Table

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

*Update to review at bottom*

Let me start by saying that this is a product review, not a review of inversion therapy. I'm disappointed so many people gave inversion tables 5 stars when they were rating inversion therapy rather than the inversion table. I would advise anyone to read these reviews carefully. I would rate inversion therapy as a 5 - do it yourself traction is great for your back. It can help older people with compressed disks to find pain relief and help younger people from developing such problems as quickly. For more advanced degenerative spinal disease you should definitely seek medical advice before purchasing such a system.

OK that said, I just received an Ironman ATIS 4000 Inversion Table and put it together last night, which took about an hour and a half. It would have taken less time if I didn't have two little helpers constantly in my way. The only part missing was a metal washer, which (being a guy) only took a trip to the garage to address. Still, it's very disappointing when assembly hardware is missing. Assembly instructions were clear, all tools were included and it was easy to assemble, but there are no usage instructions. I hung upside down (180 degree inversion) after assembly like you're not supposed to do, had the blood rush to my head, got immediately congested, and had a subluxated vertebra in my lower back slowly and painfully slide itself into proper spinal alignment. Ah, I haven't felt this good in weeks! The table is very heavy duty, and I was very pleasantly surprised with the quality of the back board. It is of the minimum base quality I would expect to see in a gym - not the highest quality, but still very solid and able to last a lifetime of home use.

There are a number of problems, however. First, The Amazon ad for this model states the product includes "a removable lumbar support pillow for additional lower back support" - there is no such lumbar support - the sloppy description is incorrect. Not a huge issue, but I disdain false advertising. Second, when fully inverted and hanging completely by the ankles, your feet/ankles will be uncomfortable. The very well-padded ankle straps are not completely pain-free, as the moulding-line cuts into the top of your feet. Given the pain in my back, a little momentary discomfort in the ankles is a very small price to pay, but if you're considering purchasing an inversion table know it exists if you're not pain tolerant (probably regardless of brand/model). Third, and most importantly, the table does not lock. It is advertised as having "10 different inversion locking angles", but the locking mechanism is cheap, it sticks, works sometimes and not others, and I refuse to ever use it again. Ironman, whoever designed your locking system should be fired. I locked myself in at about 160 degrees from vertical and then the mechanism stuck. If I freed my feet I would slide off the table, head hitting the metal stand. Fortunately after much jiggling I got the mechanism unstuck. I am certainly not an expert on inversion traction but I would think being stuck inverted for a long span of time could be potentially dangerous. This completely undermines the units ability to be used for inverted sit-ups where locking is a necessity. You can only use it to hang upside down on, and have to haul yourself up by the handles (weight shifts when you hang by your ankles and your weight is no longer balanced, but shifts towards your head). Note that some of the other Ironman inversion tables have this same faulty locking mechanism design - and this is supposed to be their best design!

This table comes under the category of great idea, very well made otherwise, but a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link and the "Smart Gear System" is a complete piece of garbage. I'm going to look at the locking mechanism more this evening; if it is not something I can fix myself, I will return the unit. This is one reason I buy from Amazon - they pay for return shipping when they sell faulty equipment like the Ironman ATIS 4000 Inversion Table. If I spend $300 on a piece of equipment and it is not what is advertised and arrives broken, I should not have to pay to return junk.

**UPDATE**

I have decided to keep the table. The locking mechanism is completely broken, but it's in the unlocked state, so I can invert without any issue. I am unable to do inverted sit-ups, but oh well. It is not worth my time & effort to disassemble and repack this monstrosity for shipment. It does work well for inversion therapy, which is the main reason I purchased it. So yes, I'm keeping it, but if I knew this is what I would get for $300 I would have bought from another more reputable manufacturer.

I strongly advise looking for a better manufacturer than Ironman. I noticed on negative reviews, there is always one "not helpful" vote on the review - from the seller or manufacturer of the item, who is notified of any reviews of their products. Regardless of your final purchasing decision, no one could honestly consider this review not helpful in making a decision as to whether or not to purchase this item. I challenge anyone who feels this review is not helpful to COMMENT ON IT and specify what information is inaccurate or lacking, and I will gladly correct that oversight. The only thing unhelpful about this review is that it's unhelpful to Ironman in gaining additional sales of an inferior product. Sorry, Ironman, people will still read this regardless of your ploy to bury the comment.

**2ND UPDATE**

Inverted sit-ups without the lock are possible, but you do experience some swing as your center of gravity shifts relative to the unlocked table's pivot point. Inverted crunches do not have as much sway. You have to go slow, but it's achievable.

**3RD UPDATE**

This unit is now sitting in my garage. Wish I would have put the money towards a camera lens instead.

The slogan from Rice Krispy, "Snap, Crackle, Pop," is fitting for inversion tables, as thats the sound your joints make when being inverted... at least it was in my case.

Prior to purchasing this Ironman ATIS 4000 Inversion Table, I had no experience with inversion tables. I knew what it did, but never tried it. All I knew that it relieved back pain. As you'll notice here on Amazon, there are quite a few Inversion Tables to choose from. Though there were no reviews of this unit when I purchased it, I decided to give this one a shot.

Pros:
- Solid construction
- Lumbar pillow (removable)
- Extended head rest (others that I've seen don't seem to extend that far)
- Long hand grips
- "Ratchet Gear" lock to lock ankles into place
- Easily adjustable for different heights

Cons:
- Heavy, at 111 lbs
- Does not fold up for storage
- The greater the angle of inversion, the ankle holds do get a little uncomfortable, but certainly bearable.
- After some use, the screws need to be re-tightened.
- The ratchet lock is difficult to unlock at times. Requires you push in towards your legs before pushing away.

By far the one feature that sold me was the "Ratchet Gear" lock. I do not know how other tables lock your ankle into place, but this one is simple to use. I have trouble bending down too far, but am able to utilize this easily. Simply step onto the platform, push down the ratchet lock and thats it. To get out, press down firmly, push towards your leg, then push out.

I have had this table for about a month now, and use it daily. When I get on it, within seconds of inverting, I can already hear and feel my joints relaxing and popping.

When setting this unit up, I would recommend having at least two people, as it'll make things a lot easier.

The unit is not manufactured by IRONMAN. This company merely uses the name IRONMAN.

On a unrelated note, if you do decide to order this unit, or any inversion table from Amazon, be sure to follow up with Amazon, and their shipping carrier, about the shipping date/time. The shipping date came and went without even a call to schedule a delivery. The tracking information Amazon provided me did not match anything the freight carrier had. After several calls back and forth, they sent out another unit, which arrived on time.

The Ironman ATIS 4000 was delivered yesterday (a week earlier than the projected delivery date). My wife and I put it together in an hour. I would recommend having access to a metric socket during the assembly. We proceeded to put it through its paces and we immediately felt relief in our lower backs and shoulder areas. My wife did not take any Advils today, which she attributes to the utilization of this machine. Before you purchase the Ironman be aware that this device takes up the space equivalent of a treadmill and you cannot fold it up and put it under a sofa. I would like to see some recommended exercises and possibly a demo DVD included so that I could more effectively harness the table's advantages. Overall I think that the quality of construction gives the user a sense of comfort and safety, that lesser machines might not afford the user.

I love it! I was looking for an inversion table that was well built and one that didn't have the common complaint of being uncomfortable on the feet. It's hard to buy a product without trying it out ahead of time, but I am completely happy with the Ironman ATIS 4000.

First of all, is is built very well and is extremely solid. It took me about 1-1/2 hours to assemble it by myself. Although it's heavy (~100 lbs), I can slide it around by myself. The foot/ankle restraint has to be one of the better ones out there. It has padded clamps on the lower calves and ankles and it is easy to get in and out of. I can hang for 20 minutes at a 45deg angle without any discomfort.

Once you get the height/weight balance bar adjusted properly, it is very easy to rotate into an inverted position. I like the adjustable lever that locks the table into a position without having to worry about it rotating if you move your arms around. Best of all, my back feels wonderfull after using the table. It relieves any sciatica pain almost immediately and after only four days of using it, I'm starting to have a longer residual effect before I feel any pain again.

I would highly reccommend this machine!

This is a great product. Let me start by saying I started having back pain about a year ago. I felt like a pinched nerve in my lower back. I would have a sharp pain that would also go down my leg at times. I knew it had to be something related to the spine because it moved from one side to the other randomly. I decided to give an inversion table a try because I figured that stretching out my spine might at least give me some comfort. I felt results after using this machine for one day. I still use it 2-3 times a day for about 1-3 minutes each time. This machine has given me the relief I was looking for and has enabled me to keep being active as I have always been.

Now onto the machine. I was a little concerned about getting in one of the portable or flimsy inversion tables that are on the market. You are going to be hanging from your ankles upside down so the table better be secure and sturdy. This one is sturdy and doesn't move or sway at all. I did find that a few of the screws had very tight tolerances when putting it together. The key is to be patient and not force anything together but rather wiggle the parts around until they fit. Some of the screws did need a little elbow grease to get in but as long as you have all the holes line up properly, you should be good. It definitely helps to have a second person during the assembly.

The ratchet locking mechanism for your ankles works very nicely to secure you. You will need to set leg attachment for your proper height. Once you do this and lay on the back pad, you should be parallel to the ground. Simply raise your hands above your head to go inverted. There are two L shaped bars for you to use to get yourself to a full vertical position. You can then lock yourself in a hang like a bat. There are also a number of other locking positions if you don't want to go fully vertical. The over-sized handles are perfect for assisting you to get back to the starting position after inverting although it isn't very hard since the table is so well balanced. The only issue I have is that the handle to lock the table at a certain inversion angle is difficult to use. I need to bang it pretty hard to get it to lock and then use a good amount of force to release it. This could just be my table though and I have gotten use to it so it isn't a big deal for me.

I give this table five stars based on its performance and the results I have achieved after only a couple of weeks.

Pros:
*Very sturdy*
Ratchet ankle lock mechanism is easy to use
Easy inversion because of balance point
Many locking points for different degrees of inversion depending on your preference

Cons:
Heavy (but needed for a sturdy machine)
Tight tolerances for assembly
Inversion release can be difficult to use (might just be my table)

I've been dealing with a low back issue for many years. One of my healthcare providers suggested getting an inversion table seeing the other methods of treatment were not working. I did a ton of research on the internet, talked to friends, and tried other units. The Ironman ATIS 4000 is a well built unit. It's very heavy and not one you'd move very often. The installation directions were fair, and had some issues with a couple small parts being defective. The only reason This unit didn't get a higher rating was due to the boot clamps. Inversion tables tend to be very hard on your ankles. I can only hang for about 10 minutes per day before the pain becomes too intense. I've found this system to be better then most of the styles, but didn't come close to solving the problem. I've even tried wearing shoes, and wrapping towels around my ankles. If possible, try out any inversion table before you buy!!!

A great machine! It arrived on the exact date we were told, shipping folks were efficient and friendly, and we had it assembled in just about an hour. It works for my husband's bad back, and our son likes to use it for muscle toning. We like it lots!

UPDATE 11/23/08: We have used this every day for over 4 months now. I have started doing "regular and side sit-ups" while inverted. This is a great unit for that due to the multi-position locks and its sturdiness. The ankle locks are also quick and convenient. Older units did not have the lumbar support, but it is also useful.

OLDER: I previously rated this unit low due to a defect. However, the company was quick and helpful in its resolution. I can really recommend inversion tables and this one in particular. It does not fold, which we wanted as it is a very sturdy unit. It also has new ratcheting type ankle grabbers making it easy to get on/off and no need for boots. It also has 10 locked positions. It is large and heavy, but well made. For this one (probably all others too) keep in mind the ratchet mechanisms lock and set, so a little push towards tighter (or more upside-down) allows the ratcheting handle to unlock. That is not clear to the average user.

I would have given a 5 star, except the leg cushion is bad, after 4-6 mins on it your ankle will start hurting and eventually you will have to come back up. I try to put a belt and clamp my foot to the bottom to avoid the pain on ankle, because when you are @ 90 degree, your entire body weight will be on ankle and without proper cushion it hurts real bad. If you can buy a pair of cushions like the ones you find for weight lifting and replace them it will be great. over all the machine is good.

It arrived sooner than expected, it took me around 2 hours to setup, it does come with extra bolts and washers, so do not be surprised if you have some bolts left, instructions could be better, very sturdy, adjustable, love the ratchet function, I am not sure if I have setup the foot holders incorrectly but they are not as comfortable as I thought they would be. Several of my friend have also tried the table and they all claim it hurts their feet. at full inversion it can get to be painful.