Today we’re looking at the best inversion tables out there for under the £200 mark. (With some bargain finds coming in at substantially less than that).
This (UK) guide will look at things such as build quality, feature set and a ton of other important criteria and find the best machine your money can buy for this price point. There’s actually some top quality machines available in this price range.
If you’ve got any questions or recommendations, as always, please let us know in the comments!
What we look for when reviewing inversion tables
What can you expect to get for your money in the £200 (ish) range?
Our mission was simple: find the very best inversion table you can buy for £200 or less. Setting out with a limited budget is something we’re good at on Home Gym Experts and we were excited to dig into the world of inversion tables – a form of back therapy and training that’s ideal for a wide range of back injury, therapy, or abdominal work.
Things we’re looking at in this price range:
- Build quality – Perhaps more importantly than any other machine, a good budget inversion machine should be very sturdy and safe to use.
- Comfort – While the idea of hanging upside down and being comfortable don’t seem to go hand-in-hand, it’s very important that the ankle grips and the back rest on the table make the process as comfy as possible and give plenty of support.
- Weight – Unless you REALLY love looking your inversion machine, it’s likely you’ll want to store it somewhere after use, rather than have it take up that space. We looked at the weight of each machine and how easy it was to move around.
- Assembly – Another day, another bit of gym gear to assemble. We don’t mind. We’re used to it. We looked at how tricky it is to assemble each bit of equipment. The good news with these tables is there’s not much to actually put together. Phew.
- Folding goodness – Along with weight, we looked at how each back machine folded and what the profile was like once it’s collapsed. This definitely varies, to say the least!
- Ease of use & safety – While back inverters are actually a lot easier to use than they look, it’s important to get a machine that makes flipping upside down smooth, easy and doesn’t require a lot of effort. We looked at the ease of getting on board each machine and getting inverted.
So, what are the best upside down tables up to £200?
For this low price, you can expect a solid, reliable machine that will last for many years. Here’s the tables we found were actually worth the money, starting with the top pick first.
5 Quick tips for picking the perfect budget inversion table
If you thought there’d only be a few cheaper inverting tables out there on the Interwebs, you’ll be in for a surprise. While choice is a great thing, it might also leave you asking ‘how the heck do I pick beween them?!’ So let’s take a super-speedy look at some of the things you should be looking at on this price backet.
1) Check the ankle supports
How your lower extremities are locked in place on your inversion table has a huge impact on how comfortable you’ll be when you’re tilted back to 20, 40 or up to 180 degrees.
The best systems offer a ‘ratchet’ with a lever which will allow you to gently increase the ‘clamp’ on your ankles. While this sounds draconian, it’s a lot more comfy than it sounds.
2) Look at the levels of incline
When you get an inversion table, you’ll strap yourself in and then rotate backwards. This can take some getting used to but to make things safer and easier, a good back-stretching table should have a simple metal bar that will limit the degree you can roll back.
Look for a budget table that has at least 2 – 3 levels of incline. And, if you want to eventually go the full hog – check it can go 180°.
3) Lumbar support
Another thing you might have noticed is that some inversion tables come with in a lumbar support backrest. That will be a little bump that appears on the backboard. This can offer extra support for your back and should also be adjustable.
4) How much space does this thing take up?
Just about every inversion table will fold up to some degree. However, they’re not all created equally in this regard. If you’ve only got a small space to store your table in, add this to your list of important specs to check up on. Some tables can fold away to a super-slimline 8cm profile, while others have a far more bulky, space-hogging design.
5) Build quality and frame width
Last, and perhaps most importantly, make sure you get an inversion table that has a solid, wide frame. There are a couple of hidden things here that are worth keeping an eye on too:
- How heavy is the table? We’ve seen a few inversion machines that were sturdy, but you wouldn’t want to move them around on your own too often!
- What’s the max user weight? While inverted tables usually cater for height no problem, there are limits to body weight. Check this stat carefully if it applies to you.
Tell us about your inversion table
Got a cool table you want to shout about? Please let us know in the comments if you’ve found a good back stretching machine that’s not mentioned here, or about any of your own training experiences with inverting tables.
Further reading
- There’s a good article on back inversion and if it’s safe here.
- You might also like our guide to inversion tables here
