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Vanko Trading Inc
2777 Darlington Road
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
724-359-2289
Vanko Trading Inc
2777 Darlington Road
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
724-359-2289
Last week the Teeter Hang Ups Teeter Fit-100 Inversion Table was released to a handful of select retailers, including Better Health Innovations. I had some hands-on time with the new table when it was unveiled at the Health+Fitness Business Expo last month in Las Vegas. I also spent quite a bit of time with the folks from Teeter, including their founder, Roger Teeter. In this post, I will walk you through the new Fit-100 inversion table and describe how it compares with other tables in the Teeter Hang Ups line. I also cover other (non-Teeter) tables at the Fit-100′s price point.
This table is being launched at $289, but we are currently discounting it to $229. At this price it competes with the other budget Teeter Hang Ups table, the Fitform at $219. Going from a Teeter Fitform up to the Fit-100 for an extra $10 will depend on the features you want (mainly the bed design), but going from the Fit-100 to the $299 EP-550 is a more difficult choice. I’ll cover this in more detail below.
Teeter Hang Ups Background
First, a quick bit about Teeter Hang Ups: They have been in the inversion business for more than 30 years, longer than any other inversion table manufacturer. Teeter is the only company that demonstrates their commitment to quality by having their tables independently tested and certified to UL 1647, making them the only company with tables that carry the UL mark. Most notably, inversion products are the only products offered by Teeter Hang Ups, making inversion tables their sole focus. All other inversion tables are from companies who produce all sorts of equipment. In fact, most competing tables are produced by Asian contract manufacturers who make all sorts of products and sold in the US by marketing companies.
Fit-100 Features & Impressions
The Fit-100 carries the UL Mark, which is impressive for a table at the price. In order to have the UL Mark, an inversion table must be tested by an independent lab to a 400% safety factor and for 30,000 cycles.
“Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit product safety testing and certification organization. We have tested products for public safety for more than a century. Each year, more than 17 billion UL Marks are applied to products worldwide.”
© Copyright 2002 Underwriter’s Laboratories, Inc. (www.ul.com)
© Copyright 2002 Underwriter’s Laboratories, Inc. (www.ul.com)
The Teeter Fit100 incorporates their new FitFlex inversion table bed. This is a two-piece injection molded bed that provides a rigid and secure feel while flexing enough for the user to move and stretch while on the table at partial inversion. Other tables in the Teeter Hang Ups line have either a one piece molded bed (the Flex Technology bed on the EP series), or a stretched nylon bed, like on the Fitform. 
I found the FitFlex bed to be comfortable enough, and it may provide a bit more support than the Flex Technology bed. I prefer this type of inversion table bed over the stretched nylon. In fact, many people find the stretched nylon on other tables to be extremely uncomfortable, especially those with back pain to the point where laying on a hard, flat surface causes lower back pain.
When you look at a table, it is easy to focus on the bed. However, when you are on a table I feel that the ankle clamps to be more important for the inversion experience. A poorly designed ankle clamp will feel insecure and even painful. The ankle clamps on the new table are similar to other Teeter Hang Ups ankle clamps. The foot rest portion rotates in order to adjust for larger or smaller feet, which goes a long way in providing a feeling of security and comfort. For most people, the ankle clamps on the new model will be just fine in terms of comfort and security.
Like all other Teeter inversion tables, the Fit-100 has a very smooth rotation and “controlled lock out” at full inversion. This lock out means that the table bed rotates a little past full inversion so the user can do exercises and stretches while completely vertical. The new table also has stretch handles, which is optional on more expensive models like the EP-550. These handles, located on the top of the A-frame allow the user to reach up while inverted and push with their hands to receive a bit of manual decompression of the back.
Obviously, to get the Fit-100 down to the pricing they wanted, Teeter had to leave out some features found on the next expensive model, the EP-550. Unlike the more expensive models, the main shaft is not chrome plated. The main shaft is the part that the ankle clamps attach to and it moves in and out of the bed frame to adjust for user height. Chrome is an extremely hard finish and resistant to wear caused from moving in and out of the frame. It is still a high quality (black) finish, and will not be a big deal for a users who do not have to move the height adjustment often. We do know several husband-wife users who have to adjust the height when switching between themselves. In this situation, we would recommend a machine with a chrome plated main shaft, such as the EP-550.
Another noticeable feature not on the Fit-100 are corner feet. Again, not a huge thing. I do like the corner feet on the more expensive models as they extend the area the table contacts the floor. Without the corner feet, the Fit100 was plenty stable though.
The new table comes with support material that exceeds what comes with similar priced models. However, it does not come with a DVD, which is kind of odd since the lower priced Fitform does come with a DVD. I think that this may be a feature missed by users. Our recommendation with the EP Series models is to play the DVD on a computer or TV close by while the table is being assembled. We have decided to offer our Inversion Coaching Program free of charge with the Fit-100, which should help make up for the lack of a DVD.
Teeter beats competing models with warranty (2 years for this table), but the warranty period is less than half that of the Teeter EP series.
Competing Models
The main competitor in this price range to this table are a couple models with the Ironman brand name. Honestly, I am not that familiar with the Ironman brand, but I have tried their tables on several occasions. The last I had heard, they had gone out of business and sold the name to another company. I’m not sure who is making Ironman now, but the tables are still available. A couple years ago Ironman tables had weld failure issues resulting in a recall. Most noticeably in comparison, the Fit-100 has a smoother rotation, more comfortable foot clamps, and is much less complicated. Ironman tables do not carry the UL Mark, so I presume they are not tested to the safety factors of Teeter inversion tables. Also unlike the Teeter models, they do not have the two year warranty or 30 day money back trial period (we extend this to 90 days for any Teeter models sold through our Better Health Innovations site).
Purchasing any Teeter Inversion Table through our Better Health Innovations site, you will receive several upgrades our competitors simply can not match, such as our 90 day personal coaching program, 90 day return period, price guarantee, and more. Click Here For Details
Deciding between the Fit-100 and the EP-550 is a bit more tricky. This is a bit like comparing a high-end Toyota to a Lexus. Both are world-class quality, and while you won’t be disappointed with the lower cost option, you won’t get the features of the higher-end model. So, here’s some basic guidance:
If you absolutely can not afford a $299 Teeter EP-550, then go with the Fit100. You won’t be disappointed, and your back will thank you for years.
If you plan on using the table a couple times a day on a regular basis, or if there is more than one person in the household using the table, then try to stretch to a Teeter EP-550.I would feel more comfortable using an EP-series table for heavy regular use, especially with the longer five year warranty period of the EP-550 versus the two year warranty on the Fit-100.
Teeter FIT 100: What You Need To Know
- Teeter’s Budget Inversion Table ($229)
- Very smooth and stable inversion
- UL Tested and Certified for Medical Equipment and to the UL inversion table standard
- 2 Year Warranty
- A good buy, but go with the EP-550 if you can.
Bottom line: The Fit-100 is a great table, especially for the price.
Remember that purchasing any Teeter Inversion Table through our Better Health Innovations site, you will receive several upgrades our competitors simply can not match, such as our 90 day personal coaching program, 90 day return period, price guarantee, and more.
If you have any questions about the any of the Teeter inversion tables, please give us a call/email. If you would like a to share your questions or experiences, please leave a comment below!
Over the years, there has been no better spokesman for Teeter Hang Ups inversion tables than the founder, Roger Teeter. I found this article very interest in how his Teeter Inversion Table changed his life, just as it has for thousands of others. From the Teeter EP-550 inversion table to the Teeter Contour Power inversion table, Teeter continues to set the bar high for all others.
Amplify’d from www.teeter-inversion.com
Back Pain and Decompression
TR 4 Triumph
When I was in my late teens, I was in a very serious car accident in a TR 4 Triumph, which is the model prior to the roll-up windows that has a cut-down door. The top was down and I remember the front wheels catching on gravel in a turn so that the car flipped end for end, flying upside down. The windshield sheared off and I landed with the car on top of me (no seat belts in those days). The driver and I were half in and half out of the car with that cut-down door just touching our chests. It was only by the grace of God that we both not only survived, but the only injury between us was a severe contusion in the middle of my back where I had landed on a rock. That contusion took 8 months to dissipate, after which I felt back to normal for the most part. What I did not learn until 30+ years later was that a significant chunk of bone had broken off the thoracic T7 vertebra and, over time, had welded T7 to T6, effectively immobilizing movement between these two vertebrae. In the X-ray, the welded chip looked like a tea cup handle joining the two vertebrae. The doctor who read the X-ray said those two vertebrae were firmly welded together by the time I turned 25.
It was 10 years after that accident when I wrecked my back testing water skis and went through 5 years of back pain problems finding no significant relief… until I tried inversion. I was skeptical that 5 minutes of inversion could do anything for me when, after all, I was upright 16 hours a day. I reluctantly gave it a try. The back pain relief was temporary, but much better than anything else that I had tried in the past 5 years. By inverting on a regular basis, I have been virtually free of back pain for the last 30 years. The dramatic relief I experienced is the reason my wife and I started Teeter Hang Ups in 1981.
OK – here is where the two stories above come together. During the first several years of inversion, every time I inverted there were about 7 distinct pops and snaps as my spine decompressed. One day about 4 years into my daily dangle routine, after the usual pops and snaps, I was doing some additional stretching such as pelvic tilts and side to side rotations. All of a sudden there was a very loud crack and my head dropped notably closer to the floor. I was terrified and sure something had broke. Testing all body movements and finding them working, I was greatly relieved but puzzled. A few days later, the crack repeated but not as loud, then it became almost daily. About that time, a doctor who taught chiropractic principles at a local college arranged for me to have full-body X-rays both standing and inverted (initially a marketing plan to prove the elongation of the body during inversion and it worked!) With full-body optically correct x-rays, anyone could take a tape measure and measure body length from the atlas (smallest vertebra next to the skull) to the ankle joints. In the first minute, I lengthened 1 inch and at 10 minutes, it was 1- 7/16″! You could see every joint was opened up, some more than others. The knee joints, for example, showed about 1/8” open space while standing and ¼” open space while inverted. We also discovered that T6 and T7, previously welded, had broken free – surely the cause of that loud crack after 4 years of daily inversion.
Teeter tables are often touted for relief of lower back pain and neck pain, but little is said about benefits to the thoracic. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the thoracic, which supports the ribs, is much less flexible and therefore less subject to injury. In my experience, a high percentage of thoracic problems are due to trauma as in my case. The benefits to decompressing the thoracic are, however, no different than the decompression benefits to the rest of the spine.
Those 8 pops and snaps that I counted every time I inverted (which have slowly one by one stopped) are proof of my continued improvement of spinal health through daily inversion. Today, I occasionally get one pop from my left S1 joint – that’s it. To me, that means a more supple, flexible spine which allows me to continue to do the things I enjoy. I will be 73 in a month and I am still wake boarding, surfing, cycling, running (on soft ground only) and resistance training. The only thing I currently don’t do that I did as a younger man for years is water ski jump using a ramp (I trust you will agree this was a prudent move).
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Overview & Background
Teeter Hang Ups set off to produce a more affordable inversion table and still meet their strict quality standards. What they came up with is the Teeter FitForm inversion table.
Before we get into the FitForm, here’s a quick review of their most popular tables:
- Teeter EP-550: The base model of the EP series has everything needed including the EP Flex Technology bed.
- Teeter EP-550 Sport: This is an EP-550 upgraded with Gravity Boots and stretch handles.
- Teeter EP-950: Includes a ratcheting handle so you do not have to reach to your ankles to fasten into the table.
All of the above are tested and certified so they are able to carry the UL Mark. They come with a five year warranty of all parts and a 30 day return period (90 days if purchased at Better Health Innovations).
If you haven’t noticed, there is a lot of competition in the inversion table market. Teeter has differentiated themselves by providing high quality inversion tables for more than 20 years. They are considered the top brand in the market, and generally cost more. They are the only tables that are tested to medical equipment standards and carry the UL Mark. The overwhelming majority of other inversion tables are produced by contract manufacturers in Asia and imported to the United States by marketing companies.
With the influx of cheap tables coming into the United States, it appears that Teeter introduced the FitForm to compete with the $179 to $249 tables. Teeter kept to their quality principles with the FitForm; this table classified through independent testing to both UL 1647 (inversion table standard) and UL 60601-1 (medical equipment standard), just like it’s more expensive siblings in the EP Series.
Features and Impressions
The FitForm does not have all the features of the EP Series. Most noticeable, this model lacks the Flex Technology bed and has the older-type stretched nylon bed. I rather like the Flex-Technology bed on the EP series, but I also think that the flatness of the stretched nylon bed offers advantages to those who may want a more rigid surface to lay on during partial inversion.
FitForm Features
The frame is different from the more expensive EP-series as well. Even though I am one inch taller than the rated 6’6″ capacity, the table was perfectly stable for me. Unlike the EP tables, the mainshaft of the FitForm is not chrome plated. This is surely a cost savings area that helped allow Teeter to get the FitForm where they needed it with price. While it does not affect function of the table, chrome is much harder than paint, and would certainly look nicer longer, expecially if the table is being frequently adjusted. If you look at one of the pictures in this post, the mainshaft is the part that connects to the foot clamps and slides in/out of the bed frame for height adjustment.
Foot clamps are similar to the EP-550, but with perhaps less padding on the top clamping surface. They are easily adjustable for foot size, just like the EP series.
I was surprised that this model comes with many of the features unique to a Teeter inversion table like the pivot bearings, anti-rattle knob, and the roller hinges. For a model where Teeter is attempting to compete with the lower-end units, they did not cut corners in critical areas and relied on their years of experience in knowing what works.
Set up was really simple. Most of the big stuff comes pre-assembled and the manual is very clear. It took me longer to find a spot big enough to unpack the box than it did for me to assemble it. As with other inversion tables, if you have back pain, you may want a friend to help you maneuver the 65 pound box around and to get the bed onto the table.
The Fitform controls angle using a simple tether strap that can be adjusted. I prefer this simple solution over the angle adjustments I’ve used on other tables where there is a mechanism with dial-type adjustment on the top of the A-frame.
Purchasing any Teeter Inversion Table through our Better Health Innovations site, you will receive several upgrades our competitors simply can not match, such as our 90 day personal coaching program, 90 day return period, price guarantee, and more. Click Here For Details
Inversion is smooth, and I had no trouble getting on the table. Balance was fine with my initial adjustments. Like with other Teeter inversion tables, simply raise one hand above your head to start inversion and then the other to keep going. Reverse the process to go upright. I felt secure on the table when inverted fully, including when I moved around a bit.
Comparing the FitForm To Other Inversion Tables
Comparing to other brands, the FitForm is at a lower, but kind of odd price point. It’s almost like they set out to build a $179 table, but couldn’t do it with all the features Teeter requires and the expense of UL testing. Looking at tables below the current FitForm $219 price, this low-cost Teeter has them all beat hands-down. It is more stable and has better fit & finish than any table I have experienced at a lower price. Not only that, but it is UL tested and has a 2 year warranty, unlike the other tables on the market.
The only other popular tables around the FitForm’s price are the Ironman series. The last I had heard, they had gone out of business and sold the name to another company. I’m not sure who is making Ironman now, but the tables are still available. A couple years ago Ironman tables had weld failure issues resulting in a recall. I have tried a couple of their models. Most noticeably in comparison, the FitForm has a smoother rotation, more comfortable foot clamps, and is much less complicated.
Using the Teeter FitForm Inversion Table
Comparing the FitForm to more expensive non-Teeter inversion tables, it has most of them beaten with the warranty and UL Listing. It does lack some features you see on the more expensive tables, but not many that I think a typical user would miss.
Now the tough comparison, the FitForm vs. the EP-series. This is a bit like comparing a high-end Honda to an Acura. Both are world-class quality, and while you won’t be disappointed with the lower cost option, you won’t get the features of the higher-end model. So, here’s some basic guidance:
If you absolutely can not afford a $299 Teeter EP-550, then go with the FitForm. You won’t be disappointed, and your back will thank you for years.
If you plan on using the table a couple times a day on a regular basis, or if there is more than one person in the household using the table, then try to stretch to a Teeter EP-550. I would feel more comfortable using an EP-series table for heavy regular use, especially with the longer five year warranty period of the EP-550 versus the two year warranty on the FitForm.
Teeter FitForm: What You Need To Know
- Teeter’s Budget Inversion Table ($219)
- Very smooth and stable inversion
- UL Tested and Certified for Medical Equipment and to the UL inversion table standard
- 2 Year Warranty
- A good buy, but go with the EP-550 if you can.
If you have back pain to the point where you can not reach your ankles, you can go with the FitForm, but plan to have someone helping you with the ankle clamps. While it’s significantly more money, you may appreciate an EP-950 with the ratcheting clamp mechanism that has a handle so you don’t have to bend all the way over to reach your knees.
If you want it all, go with the Teeter EP-550 Sport (currently $419). Your ankles will love the Gravity Boots it comes with and you may enjoy the traction handles.
Bottom line: The Fitform is a great table, especially for the price.
Remember, purchasing any Teeter Inversion Table through our Better Health Innovations site, you will receive several upgrades our competitors simply can not match, such as our 90 day personal coaching program, 90 day return period, price guarantee, and more.
If you have any questions about the any of the Teeter inversion tables, please give us a call/email. If you would like a to share your questions or experiences, please leave a comment below!
I was pretty happy to see us featured on the Teeter Hang Ups Blog earlier this week.
We go way back with Teeter. BHI was less than a year old when we began selling Teeter Inversion Tables. Back then it was the old F5000, F7000, and F9000 inversion tables, and we were selling them mostly on eBay and a few on our one website.
How times have changed. Now eBay is no longer part of our core business, we run a total of five ecommerce web sites, maintain three blogs, and run a few other related businesses. Along the way, Teeter Hang Ups has been one of our favorite products and taught us what kind of product we want to sell. Quite simply, Teeter inversion tables: (1) solve a problem, (2) are extremely high quality, and (3) are backed by a customer-focused company.
Of the thousands of Teeter inversion table customers we’ve had over the years, there are many who I know on a first name basis. Many have called or emailed to thank us for offering a real solution to back pain. I’ve gotten to know others through our exclusive inversion coaching program, where we work one on one with every inversion table customer.
Whether you’re in the market for a “base model” Teeter EP-550, an EP-550 Sport, or a EP-950 inversion table, I hope you check them out on our Better Health Innovations site or give us a call. I think that Teeter and Better Health Innovations make an unbeatable team.
Amplify’d from www.teeter-inversion.com
Merchant Monday: Better Health Innovations
Better Health Innovations
Corporate Headquarters: Beaver Falls, PA
Phone: +1 (877) 326-3303
Website: www.betterhealthinnovations.com
Customer Service Hours: 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through FridayBetter Health Innovations, founded in 2006, is based in the rugged hills of Western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. BHI has been a Teeter partner since 2007.
Better Health Innovations seeks to improve the lives of people by providing innovative solutions to problems that affect daily life. Individual coaching for all customers who purchase a Teeter Hang Ups inversion table along with a full 90 day trial period are just two of the differentiators that demonstrate their focus on the complete satisfaction of their customers.
“Teeter Hang Ups has been with us almost since the beginning” says Steven Kirchhof, President of the company. Steven goes on to say that Teeter inversion tables “are one of our favorite products. They are extremely high quality and they are backed by a company that insists on satisfying their customers, as do we.”
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/jGPJrZ
Independent lab, Dynamark Engineering evaluated inversion tables from all the major brands to the new Underwriter Labs inversion table standards (UL 1647). Test criteria included testing in the following Continue reading »
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