The Econo Prowler: A Review
By
Steven Morris
This review originally appeared at
www.explosivefootballtraining.com/blog.
The Prowler is a strength and conditioning tool sold by EliteFTS.com. Let me
first say that I have ZERO financial interest with EliteFTS.com or the Prowler.
I review various fitness tools and supplements from time to time, and if they
receive a positive review, it’s simply because I like the product.
Ok, with that out of the way, on Christmas night of 2007, I opened a huge box
from my rather generous girlfriend. Inside, I saw a mass of metal tubes and
pipes known as the
Econo Prowler. I had been not so subtly hinting that I wanted
this for several months, and I was so excited when I saw it. I almost tried it
out right then and there. However, I decided to be normal for once and wait
until the next day.
Putting the unit together took all of five minutes. It’s simply a matter of
fastening two heavy duty bolts, and you’re ready to go. In my first session, I
tried just about every movement that I could think of—pushing on the high bars,
pushing on the low bars, attaching a chain to a handle, and pulling it forward
and backward, on grass, and on the driveway. I quickly found that different
areas had different effects. It was much easier to push or pull it on pavement
than on grass. The length and “wetness” of the grass also played a role. Pulling
was easier than pushing so I had to add more weight.
Since then, I’ve walked with fairly light loads (155 lbs) for 20 minutes,
sprinted with more moderate weight, and done all out push-pulls with heavy (300
lbs +) weights. All have distinct possibilities. I like the light walking
push/pull for general conditioning and body fat loss. It’s also great the day
after a heavy training session for pushing the blood through the system and
relieving stiffness. The more moderate weight sprints are excellent for
conditioning, and the heavy push/pulls are best saved for special occasions.
The great thing about pushing the Econo Prowler is that it causes almost no
soreness. No matter how much my legs were screaming while pushing it, I’ve never
encountered any real soreness the next day.
Any drawbacks? There’s only one that I’ve come across. The front of the sled
is not weighted and has a single “foot” that can sometimes get caught or jammed
into soft grass/ground. It’s not a huge deal, but when you’re sprinting with it,
hitting a soft patch and getting jammed can feel like you’ve run into a wall.
The best remedy that I’ve found for this is simply putting a few “standard”
(weight plates with the small holes) plates on the low handles. A pair of 25s
seems to work best. This will keep the sled from jamming and also from coming
off the ground when pulling.
A common complaint used to be the cost, but the new
Econo version of the Prowler makes it extremely affordable and well worth
every penny. I can’t recommend it highly enough! I've used it with clients
ranging from football players to stay-at-home moms, and the results have been
nothing short of amazing.
Steven Morris is a personal trainer and strength coach in the Philadelphia
and South Jersey areas and the owner of UWA Fitness. He has been lifting weights
for over fifteen years and has been helping people achieve their fitness and
strength goals for over a decade. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in
psychology. You can learn more about his methods and services at
www.explosivefootballtraining.com and
www.UWAFitness.com.
Elite Fitness Systems strives to be a recognized leader in the strength
training industry by providing the highest quality strength training products
and services while providing the highest level of customer service in the
industry. For the best training equipment, information, and accessories, visit
us at www.EliteFTS.com.