Introduction
Training sleds are used for pushing, pulling, and dragging to improve speed, strength, and overall conditioning. It’s one of the more popular ways to train outside and is a solid way to keep workouts at home fresh. However, the neighbors hate traditional sleds. They are very loud and produce a rather unflattering noise. They’ll draw a ton of unwanted attention. Good luck with the HOA.
The Torque M1 Tank helps solve this problem. It makes next to zero noise and includes a few other benefits that don’t traditionally accompany sleds, like a storage option and the need to add weight plates for resistance. Plus, it’s a smooth ride that provides numerous workout options.
The Resistance
The built-in magnetic resistance is the first feature that deserves to be highlighted. It allows for four different resistance levels to be adjusted on the fly. Starting with “neutral” and ending with “level 3,” it takes just a “click” to update resistance levels. The magnetic flywheel is the same technology used on the TANK M4 and TANK MX, which are beefier options with a higher price point that are not necessarily designed for your typical home gym.
For most sleds, adding resistance means loading weight to the top with plates. This can be a hassle, and a typical sled may not be used where you’d typically find plates. Therefore, you’d need to haul out plates to where you’ll be using them and then add or remove them each time you want to update the resistance. The M1 is much more efficient than these other options.
When in use, neutral is pretty effortless to push, while level 3 is very challenging. In addition, the faster you push, the harder it gets. It is up to you to determine the desired intensity. This is similar to using an air bike or rower. Therefore, you have the ability to walk or run with the Tank, and it has the ability to leave your legs burning and your heart pumping.
The back tires will pop up and lose some traction at times, but this can easily be fixed by adding some weight to the weight horn at the front of the unit. One or two plates are all that is needed. In general, this makes for a better experience, so you’ll most likely want to leave at least a plate on at all times.
Bi-Directional
The M1 can be pushed or pulled in either direction, meaning you don’t have to whip it around once you come to the end of one direction.
On one end, you have the removable handles, which have two different grip options. The top is just below hip level, while the bottom is slightly above the knee. These are removable handles that wiggle a bit, but this cannot be felt when in use because you are driving forward. There is no fear of these popping out while the TANK is being pushed.
The other end has a low handle at the shin level where you can push as well or even pull. All three are equally as challenging but provide a nice set of pushing variety.
Nevertheless, it is still pretty easy to tip back and turn if interested in simply pushing on just one side.
Space Friendly and Easy to Transport
The overall weight of this unit is 67 lbs, and the overall dimensions (L * W * H) are 45.1″ x 31.9″ x 37.5.” It also included removable arms and the ability to fold down. Therefore, it’s easy to store, especially with Wall Mounted Hanger, although it fits this garden tool storage nicely pictured below.
In addition, it’s easy enough to throw in the car and take to the park or some other space to train.
Space Necessary for Use
For most, it would be tough to take advantage of this tank if you only planned on using it within your garage. For example, in the pic below, there are about 20 feet of open space. While possible, it takes just a few seconds to get from one end to the next before needing to turn around. However, it’s not ideal and can get old quickly.
Some driveway or sidewalk is almost certainly necessary for a home gym owner to take full advantage of this machine. In addition, for those of us with four seasons, it’s unlikely that this will be used in the winter if snow is on the ground.
Therefore, if it’s one of your first pieces of cardio equipment, someone may benefit more from an air bike or rower, which can be used within a single spot.
Price
The M1 is not cheap and would be considered a premium product for most home gyms. At $795, it’s at least twice the price of a traditional style sled and around half the other Torque Tank prices. It is priced in the same range as an air bike or rower.
Other Info
- The overall quality and aesthetics of the TANK are top-notch. It’s a good-looking piece of equipment that shouldn’t have any issues holding up over time, especially within a home gym setting. A 10-year warranty is offered on the frame and welds, and 1 year is included on parts and finishes.
- As mentioned above, tools like this can improve speed, strength, and overall conditioning. Therefore, a wide variety of people can benefit from it. Plus, it is easy to teach how to use. The learning curve is not as steep as teaching someone how to use a barbell, for example.
- A rope can be added to the front for pulling movements.
- The M1 is delivered somewhat assembled and takes less than 20 minutes or so to put together.
Conclusion
In the end, the TANK M1 Push Sled is a dream sled for many home gym owners. It’s one of the more impressive cardio machines available, and the design is well thought out. In addition, it’s quiet, easy to store, has several different push/pull options, and would add variety to your typical cardio workouts. Of course, it does come at a premium price, and space to push is needed, but it does have the ability to add another dynamic to your (maybe boring) cardio workouts at home.
