Activ5, produced by the Activbody company, is a palm-sized device and accompanying app that pairs isometric exercises with gamified fitness.
Disclaimer: if it’s bulging biceps and a body like Thor that you’re after, you might as well go ahead and check out some more substantial home gym equipment instead. For anyone with lofty fitness goals, this little pocket rocket isn’t going to get you very far. However, for strength, flexibility and a quick-fix way to work your muscles when you’re on the move, Activ5 is surprisingly effective. Here’s how I got on with it.
Men’s Fitness verdict
If you’re a beginner, or perhaps are returning to a fitness routine after time away, this is a fun way to start. However, if you’re looking for more substantial results, look elsewhere.- Makes fitness fun
- Very portable
- Over 100 different exercises to choose from
- Limited gains to be had from using it
- Quite expensive for what it is
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We often hear about strength exercises being categorized by whether they’re a ‘push’ or ‘pull’ activity, but with Activ5, the focus is different (hence why you shouldn’t expect to see any huge muscle gains). Instead, isometric exercises are all about maintaining resistance in a fixed position. Using just your bodyweight, you can force your muscles to work against each other. This leads to increases in strength and muscular endurance, but isn’t the best way to put on mass. As such, it’s tailored more towards people who might need fitness products to help them get back into exercise.
Game train with Activ5
So, what is the tiny, app-based bit of kit all about? Well, Activ5 measures your force in pounds and tracks your improvements on the accompanying app. Workouts on the app are then tailored to your strength and fitness levels. This is represented by a variety of Space Invaders-style games that require you to release and apply pressure to affect the on-screen animation.
Each workout – of which there are over 100 to choose from – lasts for around five minutes. This makes Activ5 a useful tool to keep at your desk or in your bag to stay active and keep your muscles engaged throughout the day.
What difficulty level is Activ5?
As there’s no real limit to how hard you can press down on the device, the exercises – from squats to planks and everything in-between – are as tough as you make them. Plus, the in-app games do a decent job of maintaining focus if you’re prone to distraction.
If you’re looking to transform your fitness and get in the shape of your life, you’re going to need a little more than just an Activ5. However, for anyone who travels a lot, or needs to freshen up their routine, it offers a fast and fun introduction to isometrics and a new way to train.
What other home fitness equipment should I consider?
If you’re in the market for some low-footprint, entry-level fitness gear, there are plenty of other home gym accessories that could or should be on your shopping list.
Let’s start with resistance bands. These are great for strength training and pretty simple to use. Our favorite selection of resistance bands is the Gorilla Bow Travel kit. It’s admittedly pricey, and can be cumbersome, but it allows you to train with up to 350lbs of resistance weight across your full body. Impressively, you can even mix and match bands and use them simultaneously.
Dumbbells are another vital piece of home equipment if strength training is your goal. The JaxJox 22.6kg Dumbbell Connect kit is the set we’d opt for. Despite being tech-heavy, they are genuinely simple to use. They use a USB-powered digital dock for weight selection, and have a companion app to suggest exercises and help you track your progress.
Finally, from high-tech to low-tech, why not invest in a skipping rope? These are great as part of a cardio session. Our pick would be the Crossrope Speed Performance Set, which has brilliantly ergonomic handles and a solid range of rope weights – plus a lifetime warranty.
